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article imageRogers Retracts Statement Claiming it Will Carry the Apple iPhone in Canada

Posted Jan 29, 2007 by  Chris Hogg in Technology | 6 comments | 2062 views
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Last week we reported that Rogers would be the official provider for the iPhone in Canada, but that looks like it might not be the case. Well, sort of. Maybe. We don't know, because Rogers is retracting its statement, blaming it on miscommunication.

Last week, we posted a link to a Gizmodo post that said a Rogers rep has confirmed that the iPhone will be available exclusively through Rogers in Canada.

The post read: "Rogers is actively working with Apple to launch the iPhone in Canada as soon as possible and will be the exclusive provider of the iPhone in Canada."

While Gizmodo was right in saying that a Rogers rep spilled the beans about the iPhone, we want to clarify one thing: Rogers does not stand behind that employee's leak. Sort of.

We spoke with a Rogers rep today to confirm this announcement and ensure it wasn't a rumour. She told DigitalJournal.com the news actually came after someone in the company's call centre sent an email indicating Rogers would have the iPhone in its portfolio, but that person misspoke, as the company has not officially announced anything.

That "big-oops" email ended up getting printed in dozens of newspapers across Canada, and thundered through the blogosphere.

When prodded for more info, the Rogers rep simply told us "Rogers is the only GSM network in Canada, so make your conclusions however you want." That non-answer suggests that Rogers will in fact be the provider (the iPhone is a GSM phone), but it isn't officially announced. And Rogers is going out of its way to cover up this PR blunder.

In a last-ditch effort to ensure all their bases were covered, we also received a statement via email which read:

The email you are referring to did in fact come from Rogers customer service. The "actively working with" and "soon to launch" is not language that has been approved because we are not in a position right now to make such a statement.

While Rogers is trying to save face, we'd like to propose the call centre employee gets a promotion: Chief Marketing Officer. What other wireless provider has seen this much media coverage in the last year?
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  • avatar Posted Jan 29, 2007 by  Critical_Conformity
    		#1
    Rogers is always having the Big oops lol Really Canada needs more Communications Companies, Internet HighSpeed, and Cell Phone and Cable Carriers.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Jan 31, 2007 by  jello
    		#2
    agh.. I hate Rogers. They've monopolized digital cable in Canada and are doing a terrible job of it. They are moving all the useful channels into digital so many of us are forced to switch to Digital, and then when you switch, a whole ton of channels are in the upgraded version too!!!! And it's either Rogers, or Satellite, both very expensive. I hope that the internet TV business such as Apple's iTV will be able to beat out the competition in the future because it's kinda ridiculous right now. Just shows how fast the cost of living is rising. Even when the Canadian dollar is also improving as well.

    I hope Fido can contract the iPhone. :) their plans are much consumer friendly.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Feb 1, 2007 by  Chris Hogg
    		#3
    @ jello:
    agh.. I hate Rogers. They've monopolized digital cable in Canada and are doing a terrible job of it. They are moving all the useful channels into digital so many of us are forced to switch to Digital, and then when you switch, a whole ton of channels are in the upgraded version too!!!! And it's either Rogers, or Satellite, both very expensive. I hope that the internet TV business such as Apple's iTV will be able to beat out the competition in the future because it's kinda ridiculous right now. Just shows how fast the cost of living is rising. Even when the Canadian dollar is also improving as well.

    I hope Fido can contract the iPhone. :) their plans are much consumer friendly.

    Fido is owned by Rogers :)
    quote
  • avatar Posted Feb 3, 2007 by  jello
    		#4
    ... That kind of sucks, actually. But how come their plans are so different and the evening and weekend times are different too? I guess it attracts more customers to have a better variety.

    Another BIG problem I have with Rogers is the whole Skydome issue. Skydome is the best name you can give it the skydome. But no, they had to rename it the Roger's Centre. Not even The Roger's Skydome. I just think that that was a very foolish decision and doesn't respect the city of Toronto and also the person who came up with the name. Just another one of those things about globalization and the role that advertising plays in our world.

    Everything needs to be branded before the big corporations are happy.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Feb 7, 2007 by  BeeHive
    		#5
    As long as we have to pay a fortune for data packages in Canada the idea of an iPhone or any smart phone for that matter is not something that interests me very much.

    Even though Rogers owns Fido their rates and phones are different. Fido cost is for the most part is lower, however it shows in how often calls are dropped and the customer service isn't the best.

    I believe we need to get, or should I say I really HOPE that Canada will soon have more options when it comes to the cell phones - it would be nice to have the same type of plans as they have in the US.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Feb 19, 2007 by  Competetant414
    		#6
    Too bad Telus can't get the iPhone. Their service is much better, - after having tried the other 2 monopolies.
    quote

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