$4 Billion dollars of licences – and counting…..
I’m not dead on this topic, yet. But I’ll give you an update on the wireless spectrum auction going on in Canada. Right now, $4 Billion CDN worth of licences are pushing forward to allow more competition in the Canadian Wireless Market. Rogers is leading the pack and carries $900 million CDN worth of 53 licences. Telus bid $816.4 million CDN for at least 57 licences. Bell on the other hand only bid $680.3 million CDN for 49 licences. Newcomer Globalive Wireless LP looking to become the next national carrier had bid $422 million CDN for 28 licences. Quebecor, who is trying to break ground into the cellphone market had bid $548.8 million CDN for 16 licences.
40% of the available spectrum is reserved for new entrants while the remainder is reserved for anyone. If the auction would have ended today or tomorrow, many new carriers would attract customers. For example, if you live in British Columbia or Alberta you would either choose Shaw, Globalive or Data & Audio-Visual Enterprises. For the rest of the other provinces, click here.
In other cell-phone related news, Rogers has recently unveiled the prices for its’ iPhone slated to be released on July 11th, 2008. A 8GB iPhone will set you back at least $199 or a 16GB will set you back at least $299 CDN! Don’t forget to top off the system access fees, regular voice plan and other stuff and you would end up paying at least $3500 to $4000 CDN for three years!! There was one time that Rogers planned to release an unlimited data plan, but they lied to us!!! Another user’s perspective on that can be founded here. If my friends Bobby, Tarin, Laura, Jenny and Meghan would end getting the device, how they would end up paying for this attractive device? What about Paul Gigliotti and Dave Thomson (the guys of the now-defunct band called “Wave”)? Will they still be around paying up their bills just to have this device? My guess is they won’t end up like Justin Ezarik, an American who received a 300-page iPhone bill! My response from that: Oh dear.
To finish off this blog, I’m leaving you a funny video from Rhett & Link. The song is called “Dead iPod song”. The iPhone fits in the same scenario too. Enjoy:
Rhett and Link – “Dead iPod song”:
Justin Ezarik (a.k.a. iJustine) – her ordeal about a 300-page iPhone bill:
References:
“SpectrumWatch: Round 111 – $4-billion and counting.” National Post. 23 June 2008. 23 June 2008. <http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fpposted/archive/2008/06/23/spectrumwatch-round-111-4-billion-and-counting.aspx>
“SpectrumWatch: Where will you be able to sign up for new cellphone service?.” National Post. 23 June 2008. 23 June 2008. <http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fpposted/archive/2008/06/23/spectrumwatch-where-will-you-be-able-to-sign-up-for-new-cellphone-service.aspx>
“Spectrum auction bonanza allows for proactive thinking.” Toronto Star. 23 June 2008. 23 June 2008. <http://www.thestar.com/sciencetech/article/447426>
“Bragg Communications active in wireless airwaves auction.” The Chronicle-Herald. 21 June 2008. 23 June 2008. <http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1063380.html>
“Fido, Rogers to offer iPhone with 3-year contracts.” CBC.ca. 12 June 2008. 23 June 2008. <http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/06/12/fido-iphone.html>
“Monthly plan could be key to Rogers iPhone success.” National Post. 10 June 2008. 23 June 2008. <http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/tradingdesk/archive/2008/06/10/monthly-plan-could-be-key-to-rogers-iphone-success.aspx>
“Canadian iPhone users ‘unlikely’ to get big price drop.” Macworld.co.uk. 23 June 2008. 23 June 2008. <http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=21751>
“Hold the iPhone, gadget nuts.” Montreal Gazette. 20 June 2008. 23 June 2008. <http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/business/story.html?id=3d13dbfa-3745-433e-93cf-ad11f51b586e>
