The iPhone 3G Coming to Canada

Mark July 11th on your calendar. The iPhone is coming to Canada and 22 initial countries on its roll out to more than 70 countries worldwide. Rogers in Canada will require a 3 year commitment but pricing will be the same as the US: $199 for the 8GB version and $299 for the 16GB version. Data and voice plans will be announced at a future date. The full press release is listed below.

As expected, along with the new iPhone supporting 3G technology, Apple announced a number of products at WWDC including the replacement of .Mac with MobileMe and further clarified features in iPhone OS 2.0 and iPhone SDK. Apple

Here are some notes of interest around the new iPhone:

no longer includes Dock.
includes USB Power Adapter
supports HSPA (High speed packet access), technically 3.5G technology
not available through the Online Apple Store
activation in-store only
requires iTunes 7.7 (not yet released)
continues to feature 2.0MP camera
A-GPS technologies
Enterprise support
significantly improved battery life
new App (“application”) Store.

Apple also announced the next version of its operating system nicknamed Snow Leopard. MacDailyNews reported the following:

Apple today previewed Mac OS X Snow Leopard, which builds on the incredible success of OS X Leopard and is the next major version of the world’s most advanced operating system. Rather than focusing primarily on new features, Snow Leopard will enhance the performance of OS X, set a new standard for quality and lay the foundation for future OS X innovation. Snow Leopard is optimized for multi-core processors, taps into the vast computing power of graphic processing units (GPUs), enables breakthrough amounts of RAM and features a new, modern media platform with QuickTime(R) X. Snow Leopard includes out-of-the-box support for Microsoft Exchange 2007 and is scheduled to ship in about a year.

Rogers Press Release:

Rogers/Apple to Bring iPhone 3G to Canada on July 11

    WWDC SAN FRANCISCO and TORONTO, June 9 /CNW/ - Rogers Communications and
Apple(R) today announced that the highly anticipated iPhone(TM) 3G will be
available in Canada on July 11. iPhone 3G combines all the revolutionary
features of iPhone with 3G networking that is twice as fast(*) as the first
generation iPhone, built-in GPS for expanded location based mobile services,
and iPhone 2.0 software which includes support for Microsoft Exchange
ActiveSync and runs the hundreds of third party applications already built
with the recently released iPhone SDK.
    "Rogers has a long history of bringing Canadians the very best in
wireless services, networks and handset innovations," said Rob Bruce,
president, Rogers Wireless. "With iPhone 3G, we will provide our customers
with an amazing mobile experience over Canada's fastest wireless network."
    "We're excited to be working with Rogers to bring iPhone 3G to Canada,"
said Tim Cook, Apple's COO. "We can't wait to get this revolutionary phone in
the hands of even more people around the world." iPhone 3G will operate on
Rogers' High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) wireless network, the fastest mobile
network in Canada. HSPA is nationally available in the top Canadian urban
centers from Vancouver to Halifax, covering more than 60 percent of the
population. iPhone 3G will also operate on Roger's coast-to-coast GSM/EDGE
network, proven to be the country's most reliable wireless network. Starting
July 11, iPhone 3G will sell for $199 for the 8Gb model and $299 for the 16Gb
model, on a three-year plan. More details on price plans and retail
availability will be available soon.

    (*) Based on 3G and EDGE testing. Actual speeds vary by site conditions.

    Rogers Communications is a diversified Canadian communications and media
company. We are engaged in wireless voice and data communications services
through Wireless, Canada's largest wireless provider and the operator of the
country's only Global System for Mobile Communications ("GSM") based network.
Through Cable and Telecom we are one of Canada's largest providers of cable
television, cable telephony and high-speed Internet access, and are also a
full-service, facilities-based telecommunications alternative to the
traditional telephone companies. Through Media, we are engaged in radio and
television broadcasting, televised shopping, magazines and trade publications,
and sports entertainment. We are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange
(TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B), and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI). For
further information about the Rogers group of companies, please visit
www.rogers.com.

    Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the
Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh.
Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its
award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional
applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its
iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered
the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.