I just contacted Rogers via their website, to try to gather some information on iPhone availability plans in Canada. I know, it’s a longshot, but if I don’t ask…
Upon visiting Rogers’ website, I was presented with a “language preference” page that, in my opinion, is rather badly crafted.
Maybe I’m being overly sensitive, but I really don’t like being referred to as a “Consumer” – it casts the relationship between an individual and a company in rather explicit terms.
Here’s the message I sent Rogers:
Will Rogers be providing service for the Apple iPhone? I would like any information you can provide on plans to roll out service. Further, I am holding off on purchasing a new cell phone until the iPhone is available in Canada.
ps. the “For Consumers” choice on the front page of your website is demeaning. It might be more appropriate to relabel that “For Individuals” – casting all non-business visitors to your website as “consumers” makes it pretty explicit that the primary goal of the website is for us to, well, consume. Better to treat us as individuals, rather than sources of revenue.
Update: 2007/07/09 – I just received this response from Rogers:
Thank you for taking the time to write to us, we appreciate your use of
online customer service.In your recent email, you have informed us that you wish to inquire when
the new Apple iPhone will be available through Rogers and regard the
format of the website.Description
On Tuesday, January 9, 2007, Apple announced the unveiling of their new
iPhone, a combination mobile phone/digital music player/cameraAvailability
” The iPhone will first be introduced in North America
” Cingular is the only wireless carrier to launch the iPhone in the
United States
” 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
” Apple is planning to introduce the iPhone in Europe (Q4 2007) and Asia
(2008)
” Please be advised that Rogers will be offering the iPhone exclusively
in Canada
” Launch date and pricing for Canada are not yet available
” Other Canadian wireless carriers will not launch the iPhone, Rogers
will be the only Canadian wireless carrier to offer the iPhoneTo learn more about the iPhone, you may visit www.apple.com/iphone.
Unfortunately we are unaware when new products and services will be
released until they are launched to the consumer market. We suggest you
visit www.rogers.com/phones because when new products are released they
are listed here.We would also like to assure you that we take your concerns very
seriously and we appreciate any feedback that you can provide us. We
appreciate your feedback because this is information that we can use to
address any similar problems that may arise in the future. On the whole
it makes us better able to address our customers concerns. We are
presently changing the website.We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and thank you
for choosing Rogers.com.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
D’Arcy-
I hate to tell you this- got my 8gb iPhone yesterday- and it’s all that and a bag of chips.
Even worked with my $10 special bluetooth headset (way better than it ever worked with my Treo 900P).
So far- missing a search function in the contacts (I have over 1400- that’s a lot of finger waving)- video capability- and most of all- some way of running “Now up to date” and “Now Contact” on it- (address book and iCal are poor imitations).
It came in super handy on a sales call today- could show the client why their site sucked- right on my phone.
I hope you don’t have to wait too long.
Not sure if you caught this or not, but in the paragraph below, they refer to all individuals as ‘consumers’:
Unfortunately we are unaware when new products and services will be
released until they are launched to the *consumer* market. We suggest you
visit http://www.rogers.com/phones because when new products are released they
are listed here.
Thanks for posting this D’Arcy. I’ve been searching around for Canadian release news as well. I heard through the gossip mills that the hold up in Canada is negotiation over pricing… Who knows, it is Rogers? I ran into an old friend the other day and he had an iPhone – here in Canada. The catch, no phone – just data and email. Apparently he’s on the Rogers EDGE plan. So if you can do without the phone, there’s a possibility. I think I’m going to wait – once Rogers officially releases I imagine Apple will have gone through a few more revisions of the iPhone. Might be a while though.
Honestly tho, how many more times could they have fit in the fact that Rogers will be the only Canadian carrier offering the iPhone?
wait, Rogers will be the only Canadian carrier for the iPhone? where did you hear that?