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While we're still marking this as rumour alert, a Holt Renfrew insider has told DigitalJournal.com the luxury retailer will be carrying Apple's iPhone across Canada by mid-October 2007.
Digital Journal — The Apple iPhone is arguably this year's hottest gadget, but until now there has been no news about when the popular phone would be available in Canada. Both Apple and Rogers (the suspected carrier) are notoriously tight-lipped.
When the iPhone was launched in the U.S., Canadians were left out in the cold and Apple fans outside the U.S. have cried themselves to sleep for months.
However, DigitalJournal.com has learned from an inside source at Holt Renfrew that the luxury retailer will have the iPhone in about two weeks.
We have to say this is still in rumour phase, as Holt Renfrew's publicity department would not confirm it with DigitalJournal.com. However, the source inside Holt Renfrew was adamant the phone would be arriving shortly, after speaking with the retailer's buyers.
If the rumour is true, it would be the first confirmation of the iPhone's arrival in Canada.
The Holt Renfrew source says the 8GB phone will be a GSM phone, retailing across the country for $799. Anyone familiar with the GSM market in Canada knows that Rogers is the leading GSM provider in the country.
Holt Renfrew is a luxury retailer with locations across Canada. The retailer is known for carrying high-fashion brands and hosting flamboyant parties. - Photo by DigitalJournal.com
Launched in the United States in June, the iPhone re-ignited the iPod-era Applemania. The company announced on Sept. 10 it had sold its one millionth iPhone, and later followed up by announcing a Nov. 9 launch date in UK, and Germany.
A Rogers customer service employee let news slip the company would have the iPhone exclusively in Canada back in January, which the company retracted a week later. A DigitalJournal.com Citizen Journalist (  Sarawanan Ravindran) reported more feedback from Rogers in June, when the carrier confirmed once again it would be have the iPhone exclusively in Canada.
When DigitalJournal.com approached Rogers for comment on this Holt Renfrew news, the company would not confirm or deny anything.
Elizabeth Hamilton, director or corporate communications for Rogers told DigitalJournal.com today:
"The iPhone is a phenomenal product and at Rogers Wireless we look forward to being able to offer it in Canada. When we have a public announcement to make, we'll let you know."
Apple did not return our calls for comment.
For all Canadians hoping to get their hands on the iPhone, here's hoping this rumour is true.
UPDATE: We have learned new information from Holt Renfrew's executive director, Mario Manza. Scroll down to comment #11 for full details.
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Chris, you must be excited with this news. It is about time, I don't understand the delay by Apple, they could introduce it in faraway Europe, but why not the neighbor. They could have also had an unlock phone so everyone could have used it from day one. Apple is getting greedier with this iPhone strategy.
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@ Chris V. (cgull)
Chris, you must be excited with this news. It is about time, I don't understand the delay by Apple, they could introduce it in faraway Europe, but why not the neighbor. They could have also had an unlock phone so everyone could have used it from day one. Apple is getting greedier with this iPhone strategy.
I heard it was because someone else owned the copyright to the name Iphone in Canada already. -
Well done, Chris I also liked the interview on Homepage.
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I can see Holt carrying the LG Prada phone or the Samsung Armani phone, but how is Holt Renfrew going to get the iPhone in Canada before Apple or Rogers?
And $799? You can drive over to Buffalo and pick one up in the Apple Store for $399.
I think your "insider" doesn't have their information right.
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AFAIK, the iPhone has been delayed in Canada because Rogers was insisting that they be able to customize the device with the usual rogers branding. Aside from this issue, data prices here are still way too expensive, rendering many of the iPhone's cool features useless. For example, I went over my data limit last month by less than 2MB, and had to pay aprrox $60 for this. In comparison, a good unlimited data plan in the states costs just $20.
On another note, Chris, I saw your interview this morning on BNN and wanted to pick a few bones with you. First off, re: iPhone vs. blackberry; c'mon, the iPhone doesn't even offer push email (.mac, i know), so how on earth would this devices' sales negatively impact RIM in more than a small way?
Secondly, saying that the iPhone is the apple of every tech geeks eye is pure fiction. People who own or want to own the iPhone now are the same people that have been buying razors and the like. Real tech geeks, like me, would not consider the iPhone because it lacks many features that have been found in high-end pocket pc phones for years. The HTC TYTN II for one, blows the iPhone out of the water feature wise; GPS, 3G, qwerty, 3rd party apps., etc.
HTC has already sold 800,000 "Touch" phones since June, this being their answer to the iPhone, and have just released the second iteration of the device. Not bad, considering all the money apple has spent on marketing vs. HTC, not to mention this is only one of a handful of phones in their stable.
I'm done.
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I think the biggest stumbling block is Rogers not having data plans that are consumer-friendly. When the Blackberry Pearl came out (and now with the Curve), they had a huge opportunity to make a BIG consumer push with data (Web browsing, GPS, messaging, email, etc.) but they've totally missed the point. Consumers aren't going to pay $60+ per month on top of their voice plans for mobile data... especially when it's capped and there are exorbitant overage fees involved.
In my estimation, Apple won't give Rogers the iPhone until Rogers has made a commitment to affordable unlimited wireless data.
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@ lorettaboy
AFAIK, the iPhone has been delayed in Canada because Rogers was insisting that they be able to customize the device with the usual rogers branding. Aside from this issue, data prices here are still way too expensive, rendering many of the iPhone's cool features useless. For example, I went over my data limit last month by less than 2MB, and had to pay aprrox $60 for this. In comparison, a good unlimited data plan in the states costs just $20.
On another note, Chris, I saw your interview this morning on BNN and wanted to pick a few bones with you. First off, re: iPhone vs. blackberry; c'mon, the iPhone doesn't even offer push email (.mac, i know), so how on earth would this devices' sales negatively impact RIM in more than a small way?
Secondly, saying that the iPhone is the apple of every tech geeks eye is pure fiction. People who own or want to own the iPhone now are the same people that have been buying razors and the like. Real tech geeks, like me, would not consider the iPhone because it lacks many features that have been found in high-end pocket pc phones for years. The HTC TYTN II for one, blows the iPhone out of the water feature wise; GPS, 3G, qwerty, 3rd party apps., etc.
HTC has already sold 800,000 "Touch" phones since June, this being their answer to the iPhone, and have just released the second iteration of the device. Not bad, considering all the money apple has spent on marketing vs. HTC, not to mention this is only one of a handful of phones in their stable.
I'm done.
Thanks for your comment lorettaboy. You bring up a lot of good points here, but it's the same debate that is happening everywhere in the consumer tech world.
Indeed, iPhone doesn't have push email but that doesn't mean it's unsuccessful at competing in a world where people want email access. I would say that push email is a necessity for anyone who uses a Blackberry for business. But on the same account, I would argue that not all consumers will demand the same functionality. As for impacting RIM: as I mentioned on BNN, there is a distinction in markets here, as Blackberry and iPhone are clearly attracting different markets and where they overlap (the consumer space), there is a free-for-all in terms of functionality that consumers want. If the iPhone is successful at attracting millions of people in a much shorter period of time than sales of RIM's Pearl, I think it's clear that people are making a choice about the type of smart phone they want.
As for what tech geeks want: This is debatable and your points are excellent. Hardcore techheads will likely look for things like push email, GPS, 3G, qwerty, 3rd party apps but there are other hardcore tech geeks who like the bells and whistles in the iPhone.
In my opinion, the demand for functionality you are talking about is not what everyone is looking for in a phone. The people who buy a Razr, as you mentioned, are the people who could go iPhone.
But the RAZR was incredible seller for Motorola and if that market is looking to go smartphone, I would bet products like the iPhone will be attractive to them.
RIM also offers great functionality with the Pearl and push email is far superior (IMO), but it does not have the same chutzpah or marketing buzz of the iPhone. That is how a lot of people make their buying decisions.
Thanks for your comment once again lorettaboy. This debate could go on forever :) -
Thanks everyone else for your comments with regards to Holt Renfrew carrying the iphone.
As we mentioned in this story, it's purely speculation right now and a two week window does seem short even to us. We've done more follow-ups since yesterday and we have had more Holt Renfrew insiders turn to us to say this is very likely going to happen. We'll now have to wait to see if it actually happens.
Another source inside Holt Renfrew told us yesterday that the company is trying to be the first in Canada to bring out the iPhone. They say the phone will be unlocked to work on a GSM network, theoretically meaning you could pop out your SIM card and put it in the iPhone.
This goes entirely against Apple's stance with AT&T in the U.S. and is arguably unlikely (this is what caught us off guard most). But after publishing this report we have heard more and more people from within Holt Renfrew call us to say it's not as far-fetched as it sounds.
I will also clarify, that after publishing this, we got a second message from Holt Renfrew's PR team to say this has NOT been confirmed. My guess is that some people inside Holt Renfrew have spoken early and the management there does not want to confirm this yet.
Other insiders at Holt Renfrew (outside of the publicity department), however, are standing by this story saying it's very likely to happen. They also say Rogers will bring the iPhone to market in January. I don't know how they know that, or if it's accurate, but the rumour mill is in full swing in Canada.
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I highly doubt that this is true. Holt is a clothing retailer, the most electronic thing they sell is a nose hair trimmer. If Apple was to go to a retail source, it would be a Future Shop or Best Buy. Can anyone in such a store have a clue about the functionality? Give me a break!
Of course, if this did happen, I would be there the first day buying one.
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@ naftalim
I highly doubt that this is true. Holt is a clothing retailer, the most electronic thing they sell is a nose hair trimmer.
Have you been in Holt Renfrew ever? They actually sell all sorts of high end electronics, including cell phones from Nokia, etc... -
An update for all DJ readers.
We have received word from Mario Manza, Executive Director of VIP Services at Holt Renfrew, that they will not be carrying the iPhone for now. He said he confirmed this information with the buyers this morning and apologized for any misinformation on behalf of the company.
It sure is a weird scenario: Yesterday we placed cold calls to their accessories department and they were telling everyone the iPhone would be there in two weeks. They were even going so far as taking down phone numbers of people who called, informing them they will call back when it arrives in two weeks. They even quoted the exact price of $799.
Yesterday we also received a panic-sounding call from Holt Renfrew's PR team saying this deal was not confirmed "yet" -- "yet" being the operative word.
If you call today, however, the same employees are now saying they are no longer getting the iPhone anytime soon. Digital Journal's insiders are now saying the same thing.
As we mentioned, and as most people agreed, Holt Renfrew sounded like a very unlikely place for the iPhone to be launched in Canada. But the retailer does carry expensive Nokia, D&G and Prada phones, and they have carried iPods in the past.
So rumour is quashed, for now (according to Mario Manza). Holt Renfrew insiders still say Rogers will have it in January but they say it's not clear why a potential Holt Renfrew deal fell through. We'll see if we can get more information on that.
We'll keep you posted if we learn anything new.
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Exclusive: Holt Renfrew Insider Says iPhone Coming to Canada in Two Weeks
