No, this is not a hoax, in-store promotion, or a figment of this writer’s imagination. In fact, one can already get iPhones in Canada for one (1 Canadian) dollar a piece.
How is that possible? While we don’t want to disappoint our Canadian readers that can already buy the iPhones, this is not exactly the same product you’re thinking about.
The iPhones in question are just cheap $1 headphones manufactured by little known company Electra, which supplies the Dollarama bargain stores chain. Not surprisingly the iPhones were spotted in a Dollarama store in Montreal. Nevertheless, this seems to be a total spin on iPhone’s popularity in Canada, including the letters capitalization.
And as for why something like this is allowed to be sold in Canada, the answer is rather simple. So far Apple didn’t have a chance to trademark the iPhone in Canada, since its trademark registration is being contested by Comwave, another company that used this name (but didn’t actually trademark it) for a long time in Canada in order to promote its VoIP phone services.
And while the legal brouhaha is going on iPhone’s future in Canada is not exactly clear — Apple still did not announce its Canadian release date while its and Rogers’ (the only carrier technically capable of offering the iPhone in Canada) representatives repeatedly dodge this question. But at least one can already get a pair of cheap iPhones, if only for the moral satisfaction of owning an iPhone. No matter what kind it is.
Written by dennis on December 5th, 2007 with no comments.
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Thanks to our reader, Douglas Michael, who’s developed a way to unlock unlimited data access for you Canadian iPhone users, we bring you some information on how to do this.
Normally you’re restricted to a contract with Rogers for data plan transfers (though in Canada, the iPhone is only available unlocked as it was not officially released here yet) and a limited amount of access, around 50+MB on regular Rogers data plan.
Mr. Michael has found out how to bypass this limit, using Bell’s network, and it’s a semi complicated process involving a cheap contract with Rogers Wireless, and Bell.ca. The list of required items is a decent one, as well, including an Apple AirPort Express and a wireless modem by Bell.
Below is the link to the entire guide and how to get full access to unlimited data. Neither us or the creator provide liability for any damages incurred, so use at your own risk.
There is a way you can get unlimited data access for the iPhone in Canada. While Rogers gets around / or not to providing the iPhone and a reduced data rate that satisfies Apple and the rest of us there is a way to get Unlimited Data for the iPhone in Canada. says the creator.
1. Buy an iPhone and unlock it.
2. Get the cheapest Rogers cellular account with Rogers that you can or one that suits your talk time, not your data time.
3. Sign up with Bell.ca for portable Internet Unplugged. It comes with a portable internet modem.
(By the way don’t go with Rogers Portable Interent because, surprise, surprise, it’s not unlimited like Bells unlimited.)
4. Buy a DC to AC car Adapter with at least two power outlets. Make sure you get enough wattage.
5. Buy an Apple AirPort Express.
6. Plug the Bell portable modem into one of the DC to AC car Adapter electrical outlets.
7. Plug a network cable into both the AirPort Express and Bell portable internet modem.
8. Plug the Bell portable internet modem AC adapter into the modem and also into the DC to AC car Adapter.
9. You might want to setup your wireless Wi-Fi Apple AirPort Express with your laptop to add security.
10. Connect to your wireless Wi-Fi Apple AirPort Express with your iPhone or iPod Touch.
For additional information, please look here.
Thanks to reader Douglas Michael, picture included.
Written by patrick on November 28th, 2007 with no comments.
Read more articles on News and iPhone Canada and iPhone Europe and iPhone Rumours.
Are you tired of seeing your American and European friend enjoying the iPhone, while Canadians can’t? It seems there is always a solution. After all, there is nothing a resourceful person, like you, couldn’t do.
First of all, you already have to be a Rogers customer. Remember that it is the only mobile service provider in Canada which supports iPhone’s EDGE network.
However, beware, since Rogers charges pathetically high data transfer rates (compared to Europe), and if you plan to use too much bandwidth, you will have a surprise bill to pay at the end of the month. So if you browse the net too much, your wallet will not be happy to empty itself.
Since you can’t buy an iPhone in an Apple or Rogers store, one will have to use other methods. Now, getting and unlocked iPhone is not a problem. There are plenty of them selling on eBay or other auctions, rather inexpensively ($400-$500). But keep in mind that there will not be any support in case your phone decides to malfunction.
You can also buy a locked iPhone, but then there is this whole unlocking thing, which you can do either yourself or find a shop where they will do it for you rather reasonably. It is interesting to note that from 1.4 million sold in USA by AT&T, around 250,000 are not being used on its network, according to Apple.
Just remember before buying, that Canada tends to charge 10% of the declared value for the duty fees. One can ask seller to declare the shipment as a smaller value, but it is a risk, since doing so is not quite legal and your iPhone might be seized. If you are lucky you will just have to pay extra.
So, once you have your iPhone ready and unlocked, just slip your mobile phones SIM card to your newly acquired device and ta-da, you’ve got an almost fully functioning device. Some services won’t work which require AT&T’s network specifically (if you bought iPhone from USA), like the “visual voice mail” feature. But it won’t matter to you since you’ve got plenty of other features to explore!
However if you are not as eager to go to such extremes, wait you shall!
Written by David on November 28th, 2007 with no comments.
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A supposedly leaked Apple iPhone Rogers ad (below), states that the device will be arriving in Canada on December 7, 2007.
According to it the iPhone will be sold for $499 CAD (USD $520 — much above American price) with a 3 year contract with Rogers (which does not offer flatrate data plans), with preorders supposedly starting on November 20th.
At the same time, Rogers Wireless spokeswoman Odette Coleman stated that Rogers is now officially allowing use of the iPhone with its SIM cards — previously Rogers discouraged use of iPhones in Canada — although she did state that Rogers does not guarantee its operation (for example, iPhone’s Visual Voicemail will not work with rogers in Canada — at the moment– due to network differences).
Thanks: BoyGeniusReport and Canada.com.
Written by dennis on October 31st, 2007 with no comments.
Read more articles on Apple News and News and iPhone Canada.
Apple is currently in a dispute with Comwave Telecom Inc. about trademark rights to the name “iPhone”. In the meantime, Apple has filed its opposition to the CIPO, or the Canadian Intellectual Property Office.
While the dispute is being settled, this could delay the iPhone from going into northern territory for an undetermined amount of time. Although previously rumored last week that it was going to be retailed by Holt Renfrew, as covered by iPhone World here, it didn’t quite happen.
The main thing keeping the iPhone away from Canada is the fact that there are no carriers willing to support the iPhone due to Apple’s required contractual agreements. Rogers Wireless, the only Canadian carrier that supports GSM (the iPhone’s main method of communication), is still a no-go, atleast until Apple secures its rights to the “iPhone” in Canada.
Comwave’s President, Yuval Barzakay, said that sharing the term would not be possible, because of how much Apple puts into it’s marketing, in comparison. “The force they put into marketing would quickly make the brand Apple’s and not ours,” he said. “It’s a case of hijacking the brand. If I asked people on the street who owns the iPhone trademark in Canada, they’d all say Apple. And their product isn’t even in the market. So co-existence is not possible.” he continued.
The dispute between Comwave Telecom and Apple is similiar to the Apple vs Cisco case we covered a while ago, where the two companies had to share the “iPhone”, though it looked like Cisco had somewhat lost due to pressure from Apple.
As for who rightfully deserves the right to use this trademark, there are only two ways to claim a trademark. One is to establish use in that country, or the other, is to register the intention for use. But either way, it’s first come first serve. This means that it depends on if Comwave can prove that it’s been using the iPhone brand since June 2004, which is 3 months before Apple filed for it’s trademark.
“Our position is Apple has one of two choices: they can either walk away from the trademark and let us keep the iPhone name here in Canada, or they can buy the brand from us,” says Barzakay.
We’ll continue to cover the iPhone’s official release in Canada as news supports it.
Thanks: CBC
Written by patrick on October 14th, 2007 with no comments.
Read more articles on Apple News and News and iPhone Canada and iPhone News.
