Comments on: Rogers Wireless Pricing Could Undermine BlackBerry Bold in Canada

By: GaryD

GaryD — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 04:32:52 +0000

Keeping in mind that the target market for this device is the current base of corporate Blackberry users, the $400 is not the hurdle it is in the consumer market. As well, most mid to large corporates get anywhere from 15% to ~40% off list pricing.
I suspect that this is part of a Blackberry portfolio pricing strategy – especially if other rumoured Blackberry models better targeted at the Consumer market are coming out later this year or early next.

GaryD
http://cell-canada.com

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 23:21:48 +0000

Telus and Bell Mobility both operate EV-DO networks, do they not? I realize that those networks aren’t as fast as HSDPA, making EV-DO devices less competitive compared to the 3G iPhone. Selling the Bold at 2x the cost of an iPhone, however, will also make competition difficult, which is the point I was trying to get across.

That said, I realize that RIM was between a rock and a hard place here.

I agree with Chris H that Rogers could still redeem itself by offering competitively priced data plans for the BlackBerry Bold. But will they undercut the iPhone, upon which they have already staked so much? Not likely, in my opinion.

– Editor.

By: looloo

looloo — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:01:51 +0000

nice little snide comment you made at the end “Perhaps if RIM wanted to put forward some genuine competition for the iPhone, it should have dealt with a different carrier than that of its arch rival, Apple”

Um, who exactly are they supposed to go with to offer a 3G phone in Canada? Fido? But aren’t they owned by Rogers? Telus and Bell are CDMA… so who exactly are they to team up with to give the iPhone ‘genuine competition’ as you so lovelingly put it.

maybe before bashing RIM for teaming up with Rogers you should’ve thought about the choices they had to team up with.

or maybe you should use your time and wit to attack the wireless industry as a whole for not having any variety for phone manufactuers to choose from when picking a wireless company to distribure their handsets through.

By: Chris H

Chris H — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:37:29 +0000

Rogers and it’s subsidiaries are the only GSM (and therefore 3G) providers in Canada. Thus, Blackberry had no choice but deal with the same carrier as the iPhone.

Additionally, it is data pricing and contract length that will make or break this deal, not the price of the handset itself.