iPhone Finally Going to Canada

Canadian mobile operator Rogers has confirmed it will be offering the Apple iPhone...but hasn't offered any information about when that might happen.

Canadian mobile operator Rogers Communications has confirmed it has inked a deal with Apple to market the iPhone in Canada—although the company has released absolutely no other details, including when the iPhone might be available, how much it will cost, and whether Rogers will be offering the currently version of the iPhone or the much-anticipated “3G” version expected from Apple later this year.

“We’re thrilled to announce that we have a deal with Apple to bring the iPhone to Canada later this year,” said Rogers CEO Ted Rogers, in a statement. “We can’t tell you any more about it right now, but stay tuned.”

The news broke with two sentences in Rogers’ first quarter financial statement, noting it had reached an agreement to bring the iPhone to Canada “later this year” and availability and service plans would be announced later. Since the iPhone’s launch, many industry watchers had speculated Canada would be one of th first countries outside the U.S. to offer the iPhone; while there are certainly unlocked iPhones roaming Canuck airwaves, the iPhone has instead found its way to European nations.

Here in the U.S., AT&T has announced its Text Accessibility Plan (TAP) for iPhone, which offers a flat-rate $40/month plan for people who are deaf, suffer from hearing loss, or have a speech disability. The plan offers unlimited SMS and data usage, visual voicemail, and $0.40/minute voice calling. To qualify for the plan, customers must sign up for a standard iPhone voice and data plan, activate the iPhone, and then send the National Center for Customers with Disabilities an application for eligibility; current iPhone customers who qualify for the plan can also submit an application to the NCCD. AT&T offers TAP plans for most of its mobile devices.