The forthcoming (if there is) of the iPhone in Canada will shed the light on the dirty little secret of the mobile industry here. While the broadband Internet penetration in households is very high (among the top in the OECD countries), mobile Internet is crippled mainly due to the high cost of the data package. With the current rates, it is impossible to use an iphone in Canada.
The iphone tends to connect to the Internet every so often and is bandwidth hungry (using Google Maps for example). Rogers does not seem to be impatient to get the iphone to market before Christmas or anytime. They say it will happen when it happens. Rogers has to review the data pricing if they want the iphone to be a commercial success.
Also, there is also a ripoff with the mobile post-paid pricing. On top of the advertised price, there is a $6-$7 system access fee. For example, if a package is advertised for $25, you will have to add the $6-$7 fee + the GST/PST. IIRC, the access fee is not mandated by the CRTC and does not go to a common fund. It’s all pocketed by the mobile companies.
Finally, the liberalisation has gone. They have merged back. Rogers buys Fido. Telus buys Clearnet, Quebectel. There are only 3 providers: Rogers, Bell and Telus. And Rogers is the only GSM provider. Let’s hope that the iphone will be the stepping stone for wider mobile internet usage and lower pricing. If T-mobile can come here and kick their asses, I’ll be glad but we’re only 33m, not a large market.