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FEATURED ARTICLES           Wednesday, September 08, 2010                                Email to a Friend

The New iPhone: A Preview

Kate Davis

You’ve heard the hype, you’ve seen the hype, perhaps you even know someone who’s imported the hype; well, fellow Canadians, as of July 11th the hype officially crosses the border, as the Apple iPhone hits retail stores country-wide in a flurry of anticipation and controversy! From snazzy commercials to online petitions, Mac debuts its addition to the Canuck cell phone realm in a media-friendly fashion worthy of the most juicy celebrity gossip, and Campus Life has the lowdown on the tidbits to help you make your buying decision easier.

Like many Apple products, Canada has been privy to a delayed release compared to our neighbours to the south. Rewind to July 29th, 2007, when the iPhone went on sale in the U.S. at price points of $599 and $499 for the 5 gig and 4 gig models, respectively. Although the cost was quite lofty, the features and interface of the iPhone were immensely appealing and put the typical touch screen format of the Blackberry to shame. Large, colourful icons, sliding screens and crystal clear resolution made the iPhone an entity from a futuristic world of magic and wonder. The ability to navigate through YouTube, sync your iTunes, and generally load up on all kinds of neat features ensured nearly 700 000 sales in the first week alone.

Almost an entire year later, the iPhone is still a revolutionary item that deserves consideration. The 3 gigabyte Canadian version, for instance, comes complete with GPS navigation capability, web browser and instant messaging, motion-sensitive gaming, and the ability to download a host of other functional applications with a quick browse. The iPhone is a visual draw, being just as fun to watch as it is to use; and with a $200 to $300 dollar price tag, it’s about as expensive as most high-quality multipurpose phones on the market presently.

If there is one flaw to be noted about the impending iPhone release, it’s the anticipated voice and data packages offered by Rogers to accompany the Canadian version. The packages range from 60-115 dollars and require a three-year contract; and although these rates may not seem too inflated, compared to U.S. prices they offer significantly less data and time allowances for around the same price. The package quandary has gone so far as to spark an internet outcry, predominantly seen at www.ruinediphone.com which promotes a 10,000 signature petition against the Canadian public getting ‘screwed’ by Rogers.

Despite the ambiguity surrounding market value versus pricing, the iPhone will most likely still sell considerable unit amounts in Canada, and is as worthy a contender in the cell phone races as any. In months following its release, it will be interesting to see if the phone will make as much of an iMpact… sorry; impact on the Canadian public as the Macintosh empire hopes it will.

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