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Originally Posted by Azure
First of all, while you can have an iPhone without 3G, like having any other smartphone without 3G, it wouldn't make sense, and I doubt people even do it.
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Why? I didn't have 3G in Chestermere for quite a while, but my phone still works. EDGE still has data, it's just not as fast. Email, games, surfing all still work, surfing is just slower than on 3G (slow enough to make it annoying).
The first iPhone didn't have 3G remember, and tons of people used it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Azure
Even if you want the iPhone just for the apps, wouldn't you need 3G coverage to download them? Or use them?
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No, 3G does not equal data coverage, 3G just means 3rd generation.. 3G is more like a fancy way of saying "fast", it's not a technical specification. Without 3G there's still data coverage, just slower. Sorry I should have been more specific in my previous post.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Azure
Also, this is where Telus has 3G coverage already. Might be surprising.
That map is from 2007. I would assume that they added more coverage since then. |
That's where they have their high speed (3rd generation)
CDMA network. Not their new GSM network, which will require all new hardware and possibly new towers (due to the distance constraints I mentioned). The iPhone can't communicate to a single dot of coverage on that map. I would be shocked if Telus' GSM coverage covered the same area as Rogers' at launch, let alone Telus's CDMA network. The cost would be staggering. Though I would love the competition!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Azure
Rogers on the other hand...
The red is GSM? 3G? The yellow is 3.5G. |
All of it is GSM, the red is EDGE (slow) the yellow fast (3G, 3.5G). No doubt that Telus' coverage is far better for outlying areas, but again that extended coverage doesn't help Telus at all for the iPhone.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Azure
Oh, according to their site, in the red areas, you can call and text message. In the yellow areas you have high speed internet access. So, only in major cities would you have high speed internet on a iPhone.
Everywhere else, there is no point to having a iPhone.
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Not sure where you saw that on the site, but the red says EDGE which is the only data the 1st generation iPhone was capable of; I've been a lot of places in the red and used my iPhone to get email and maps and stuff.. surfing is painful but still works.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Azure
With Telus on the other hand, you have high speed internet access throughout the province. Even in remote areas. And with their new network, that coverage will probably get better.
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No doubt, but that network is CDMA, the iPhone can't use it. The new network will require all new hardware and possibly even new towers. I hope Telus blankets Alberta with GSM to the point that they have CDMA now, that would be true competition.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Azure
So, again I say....if Apple has a deal with Rogers only, that would mean they're not very smart. Telus has been working on the new network for how long? A few years?
Surely Apple could have talked to them at that time and confirm whether the network will be GSM or not.
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Sure, but if Rogers offered more $$ than the difference in people was, it still makes more sense for Apple. Or they knew that Telus' GSM was going to be limited to major centers for long enough to make the exclusivity with Rogers make sense. Too many variables to know why the decision was made, the only thing I'm sure of is it was driven by $$ for Apple.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Azure
But, like the Americans, we Canadians are stuck with a crap-poor service provider that is allowed to have the iPhone.
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Well no, when the iPhone launched there was only one service provider that could possibly have the iPhone; Rogers. And that's still true today and until Telus and/or Bell launch a GSM network.