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Rogers/Fido had significantly toned down their smartphone plans to make sure the iPhone 3GS sold like hot cakes, but because of low inventory levels, a lot of iPhone 3GS enthusiasts have been deprived of their iPhone action, not to mention the smartphone option that was exclusively set up for the iPhone 3GS. So Rogers, sympathizing with all of you has extended the iPhone 3GS promotion to September 15^th. Yay! The discount promotions for original Rogers/Fido iPhone 3G owners as well as the 6GB/$30 data plan all fall in this category. The details are exactly the same as they were the first time around. So time to sweet talk your friendly sales rep and get that iPhone 3GS.

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Every Canadian is sitting on the edge of their sagging chair in front of the PC waiting for news on either Rogers or Fido about the release and pricing of the Apple iPhone 3G. Early adopters in the Canadian region made the iPhone 3G the coolest kid on the block or at least as far as wireless communication and carriers go. The two carriers, Rogers and Fido, had this to say regarding their offers for the iPhone 3G.

There has been a lot of excitement around the new iPhone 3G S and we wanted to recognize the early adopters who helped make the iPhone the hottest-selling handset in Canadian wireless history. We will be discounting the price of the iPhone 3G S by between $250 and $500 to provide savings to many of our iPhone customers.

What this means is that eligible iPhone owners can acquire the iPhone 16GB 3G S for as low as $199 or the 32GB for as low as $299 until July 31, 2009.

For Fido customers, we’re offering the Fido Rewards iPhone 3G S promotion. This enables iPhone customers to redeem FidoDollars towards a new iPhone 3G S with an additional $100 top-up from Fido.

For customers who don’t qualify for these extra savings, we are pleased to offer Rogers Wireless customers the iPhone at our cost on rogers.com. This cost – $580 for the iPhone 3G, $680 for the iPhone 3G S 16GB and $780 for the iPhone 3G S 32GB – represents the price we pay for the device plus a nominal fee for the SIM card. Customers can access these devices at retail locations for just $19 more for the three devices.

We’re also happy to announce that Rogers and Fido are extending the 6GB/$30 data promotion until July 31. This offer is valid for customers on a new or existing iPhone plan or customers buying an Android-powered HTC Magic or HTC Dream.

Five ways to save

1) For Rogers Wireless customers who bought an iPhone 3G between July 11 and Sept. 30, 2008, and with an average monthly spend of at least $100, Rogers will provide $500 off the cost of an iPhone 3G S. This special offer expires July 31, 2009 and comes with the addition of a one-year term to the customer’s existing service agreement.

• 16GB 3GS $199
• 32GB 3GS $299

2) For Rogers Wireless customers who bought an iPhone between July 11 and Dec. 31, 2008, but aren’t eligible for the above offer, Rogers will provide $250 dollars off the purchase of an iPhone 3G S. This special offer expires July 31, 2009 and comes with the addition of a one-year term to the customer’s existing service agreement.

• 16GB 3GS $449
• 32GB 3GS $549

3) All Rogers’s Wireless customers can upgrade to the iPhone 3GS at our cost at Rogers.com, or for a suggested retail price of just $19 more than our cost through our retail channels.

• 8GB 3G $580/$599
• 16GB 3GS $680/$699
• 32GB 3GS $780/$799

4) Fido customers can take advantage of the Fido Rewards iPhone 3G S promotion:

• Use FidoDollars towards the purchase of a new iPhone 3G S
• Fido will top up the FidoDollars amount by $100
• This promotion does not include an extension or renewal of their service agreement.

5) New and existing iPhone customers can take advantage of a limited-time promotion of 6GB of data for $30, now extended until July 31. Other Rogers and Fido data plans will remain the same, including the only national standalone data plan at $25 per month for 500 MB. We know that this is the right plan for most Canadians – 93 per cent of current iPhone customers on a data plan use less than 500 MB of data per month

As for the iPhone 3G S  and Rogers/Fido, it seems that the initial spur that the no-contract retail price for the 16GB and 32GB models of $699 and $799 respectively were right on. Of course this news hasn’t been met with any degree of enthusiasm; Canadians are not taking kindly to the fat price tag. There was a little speculation going around that maybe it would be a lighter on the checkbook to get one from Apple directly.  Sadly not so. The 16GB and 32GB models are selling for $699 and $799 hold true no matter how you cut it, even Best Buy Mobile has the same retail price.

“For non-qualified customers, including existing Rogers or Fido customers who want to upgrade from another phone or replace an iPhone3G, the pricing without a new agreement is $599(8GB), $699(16GB), or $799(32GB).”

Another interesting fact is that nine Apple stores in Canada will be selling the iPhone 3G S, something that Apple didn’t do with the iPhone 3G. The only positive (somewhat) point to note is that both Rogers and Fido aren’t too keen to sell the iPhone 3G S sans contract. So yeah, they will sell ‘em retail, but they don’t wanna.

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As reported earlier, both Rogers and Fido are indeed intending to offer the new Apple 3G iPhone for the many excited Canadian fans. However, prices quoted aside, we now have details on what kind of package the two Canadian carriers will be offering. Source of the info is the ever trustful Best Buy’ Inventory system. The really great news is you can’t smell a contract with in miles of the offerings. Canadian users are going to be getting their iPhone 3G 32GB at $799.99 and the 16GB at $699.99.pretty good deal. Check out the pics for your personal pleasure.

Canada certainly has a lot to rejoice for, two carriers are going to make sure that no part of Canada is left where you can’t buy and get network support for the new Apple iPhone 3G. Both Rogers and Fido will be bringing in the iPhone candy, separately no corporate partnership here, and will be available at the same time and price as in the U.S. That’s right; the 16GB will be going for $199 and 32GB for $299. And wise cell phone price predicting wizards have confirmed that the price of the 8GB will drop to or around $99. And Canada can look forward to the comeback of data promos for the 6GB going at $30 only without a release date. So basically it’s just a building up anticipation type promo. And get this Canada; you can tether your heart out with the small stipulation that your data plan offers 1GB or more and that sounds reasonable. Tell someone your still on 500MB and they’re gonna think you jacked your iPhone from someone anyway. MMS all covered once the OS 3.0 launches on June 17^th. And saving the best for last, if you’re already the owner of an iPhone from either of the carriers, and you don’t qualify for the HUP snag, you can buy with no Contracting price. Let’s hear the happiness Canada.

For all you who thought that Fido was done for and being treated as a stepchild by its new parent, think again. Some slides have found their way to web, and while their authenticity can’t be confirmed entirely, they do seem real. Any way, the most interesting and eye popping piece of information on this lot is the presence of the $99 4GB iPhone 3G…you read that right, 4GB iPhone 3G and for $99, and it comes packing with quad-band EDGE, tri-band HSDPA, a 2 megapixel shooter and, believe it or not, iChat video calling (read: front facing camera). Ok so the image on the slide is not the original handset, but the fact that such a device is on the way is defiantly interesting. Among other handsets are BlackBerry Curve 8320 for $50, Nokia E71 for $50 and Nokia E55 for $25, Sony Ericsson Z780i for $75, not to mention some down low-end treats.

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Back in November, Twitter had dispensed with SMS updates in Canada because they were having trouble handling all that traffic. Now, after what seems like a near eternity, it looks like Rogers and Fido (now owned by Rogers) finally realized the pain of the Canadians and brought their beloved Twitter SMS back. The Canadian carrier has entered a partnership with Twitter that will revive SMS and allow users to both send and receive tweets via text. Hence shortcode 21212 is back in action.

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Anyone who denies that Apple is about to bring out a new iPhone needs to just stop using smartphones altogether. Why waste technology when you can’t add. Is there any new evidence to suggest that this rumor is leaving the gray areas as we speak and entering the light of confirm-dom? Why yes; Canadian Fido is offering refreshed iPhone 3Gs to clear house. Given that these are ‘refreshed’ iPhones, but refreshed is different from ‘refurbished’. A refreshed iPhone is one which has been returned within 15 days or 30 minutes of talk time after purchase. A refurbished iPhone is one your dog chewed up and Apple had to put in a few new parts. See the light? You won’t be saving fortune on this one, a refreshed iPhone will save you about $50, making the 8GB $149.99 and the 16GB $249.99. The warranty lasts for six months, so enjoy yourself while you still can with the last of the 3Gs.

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Yup Fido has actually delivered on the much rumored BlackBerry Pearl. Ok so the handset isn’t the latest thing from RIM, in fact the Pearl 8100 is nearing extinction. Oh and to add insult to injury, Fido wants people to cough up $400 for a month-to-month plan or $25 a month for a 3 year contract. Hello?? Have they heard of the BlackBerry Curve 8900 or the Bold? These are the RIM devices they should be launching if they want users to actually buy. Or at least make rates somehow compatible with those offered by Rogers. Anyway, here’s the plan, and in all honesty, they could definitely have done better.

·         $15 – Unlimited personal email and IM

·         $25 – 500MB

·         $30 – 1GB

·         $60 – 3GB

Fido brings Canada the BlackBerry this February 4th, or at least that is what all the reports say. It pretty definite though because it has begun shipping out the units and many stores have received their inventory.  Fido has already trained their staff and everything looks like it’s good to go but the BlackBerry that is coming is the Pearl 8100. Sort of a letdown but hey, it’s still a BlackBerry. The package plans available are

·         $15 – Unlimited Personal Email + IM (BBM, WM, Yahoo, AIM etc…).

·         $25 – 500MB BIS Data

·         $30 – 1GB BIS Data

·         $60 – 3GB BIS Data

The Pearl itself will be priced at:

·         $400 MTM / No Contract

·         $350 on a 2 Year

·         $25 on a 3 year w/ Voice + Data (no minimum monthly total cost required).

Tethering will be allowed but no BES, I guess Roger would prefer you run it through them