No way to use it on Citywest at all. They don’t use GSM. It’s also the reason you can’t use a citywest phone in Europe or Asia etc.
If you were to use one of the no contract options above, you should be able to take your phone number with you.
It would take 10 minutes to unlock the iPhone. I’m sure your friendly neighbourhood nerd could do it.
[quote=“trilinearmipmap”]
OK can I assume that these phones will work with Rogers wireless when they set up here?[/quote]
Yes. On a pay-as-you go SIM. Or Fido, or 7-11 Wireless, or even Petro-Canada wireless. All without a contract.
You answered your own question.
iPhone in Canada may cost $300 per month
from
macnn.com/articles/07/07/10/ … rs.iphone/
‘Realistic’ Canadian plan still costly for iPhone?
Rogers data limit an iPhone barrier?
Rogers to offer Apple iPhone in Canada
Rogers: iPhone coming to Canada
Exorbitant data pricing could be the primary barrier to the iPhone launching in Canada, according to University of Ottawa Internet research chair Michael Geist. The professor and expert notes that a distinct lack of rivals in the Canadian cellphone business has let providers effectively monopolize pricing for accessing mobile Internet services, creating a situation where the companies can charge exceptionally high rates and refuse to offer unlimited data plans. The situation is particularly dire for the iPhone’s likely carrier Rogers, which is the only major GSM network provider in Canada and has no incentive to discount its services.
“The barrier to the iPhone in Canada is not Apple,” Geist says. “Rather, it is the lack of wireless competition that… leads to pricing that places Canadians at a significant disadvantage compared with other developed countries. Is it any wonder there is a petition calling on Rogers to introduce a more competitive iPhone data plan?”
The university chairman highlights the gap through the differences between AT&T’s least expensive iPhone plan and Rogers’ most expensive, noting that to match as many features as possible would cost a Rogers subscriber $295 Canadian ($281 US) per month – more than $220 over what an AT&T customer would pay. And Rogers users would still be handicapped as bandwidth use would be limited to 500MB (versus unlimited) with only a tenth of the night and weekend minutes, Geist says.
Rogers has so far confirmed that its talks with Apple are “not very far” but has attributed much of the delay to preparations by Apple for its US launch. Terms discussed between the two companies have not been revealed, and no indication has been made that Rogers intends to change its plan structure for the iPhone. But the carrier may be forced to rethink its pricing, Geist notes, as the plans may neuter not just the iPhone but local firm Research in Motion and any others that want to sell data-focused phones in the country.
“Canada is not even close to being competitive with countries around in the world on data prices, which hurts Blackberry sales and reduces the use of mobile services when compared to other countries,” he says.
Also go here to send petition to have unlimited data plan
petitiononline.com/iPhone99/petition.html
To: Rogers Canada
We, the future users of the Apple iPhone, living in Canada, would like to see an unlimited data plan at a reasonable price, comparable to those seen in the United States, prior to the Q4-2007 release of the iPhone in Canada.
Increasing numbers of users have paid several hundred, and in some cases more than $1000, during one month for data usage that would have not been charged extra on any other North American carrier on their best data plan. Some customers have posted messages about their Rogers data overage costs at the following forum websites:
howardforums.com/showthread. … ge=3&pp=27
blackberryforums.com/showthread.php?p=164173
We, as Rogers customers, Rogers representatives, and Rogers resellers of Rogers products, are all requesting Rogers to do the following: Readjust the 25 megabyte limit to more representative industry standard levels. Rogers Canada is the carrier in North America with the lowest data limit on their best “Unlimited” data plan (www.rogers.com still uses the wording “Unlimited”)
Rogers permit Fido Unlimited Data users to roam on the Rogers network without the 25 megabyte limit. Also, Rogers permits Treo 100 megabyte plans on the same network. This implies that the Rogers network has sufficient data capacity to support the removal of the 25 megabyte limit.
New data-intensive iPhone software such as Google Maps integration (maps, directions and satellite imagery displayed seamlessly) from google.com/glm can be accessed via the new iPhone software. Out-of-the-box, the iPhone models (4GB and 8GB) support the capability to do full HTML web browsing with images, flash, Java and JavaScript, Email (POP3 and IMAP) quick accessibility (including Yahoo Mail fetcher in the background), Various Internet Messenger Applications, Safari Web Browser with multiple tabs (demanding more bandwidth), various widgets (stock reports, weather, etc.), likely Flickr upload integration, full multitasking abilities (including, but not limited to, viewing webpages while downloading email), and other software now pre-installed on the iPhone that use even more bandwidth. This is expected “normal” non-excessive usage of the iPhone, on top of Calling, SMS and Voicemail. 25MB by today’s standards are nowhere near “unlimited”
Rogers needs to not just look at their Canadian competitors but also other GSM carriers in North America which offer higher data usage plans with a lower monthly service fee. Since the acquisition of Fido, there has been no effort to offer a real-time voice/data tracker for the customers even though Fido still offers this.
This 25 megabyte limit was designed back when Mobile Phones only did email. The iPhone can do much more than email. Fido Wireless has no data limit. Bell Mobility recently eliminated their 100 megabyte cap. TELUS Mobility now offers a 250 megabyte BlackBerry plan for $100 per month. We would like to see a comparable data plan given to Canadian iPhone users. Data usage charges are outrageous compared to other global markets!
Mobile phones are becoming more consumer-friendly. Even RIM has redesigned their website to appeal to non-business users. Therefore, Rogers Data Plans need to be more consumer-friendly and small-business friendly.
Additionally, There is no way to self-monitor data usage, until the end of the billing period. It is easy to accidentally exceed the data limit before you receive the bill. We would like to be able to check our data usage easily, through a simple webpage.
Readjusting the Rogers data plans will help Rogers sell more iPhone subscriptions, bring more iPhone users online, make the iPhone more consumer-friendly, make it easier for Rogers stores to sell iPhones, and make it easier for people to switch from Bell/TELUS to Rogers. This benefits Rogers Canada, Rogers stores and representatives, and Rogers customers as a whole.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
So don’t sign up with Rogers. Get a pay-as-you go deal.
I wonder what they’d think of Rupert if they think that there’s no competition in Toronto? Even though you have 6 or 7 carriers to choose from there.
[quote=“MiG”]
So don’t sign up with Rogers. Get a pay-as-you go deal.[/quote]
I know I’ll be looking into that kind of deal. I pay a lot for a lot of service that I don’t use.
By the way, Google maps rocks on the iPhone. You zoom in and out using the multi-touch … very cool.
[quote=“MiG”]
By the way, Google maps rocks on the iPhone. You zoom in and out using the multi-touch … very cool. [/quote]
Don’t play with your phone too much. You’ll get an Icramp in your fingers.