Yesterday I was contacted by Nestor Arellano from ITBusiness.ca to give my thoughts about what it would take to get Canadian Consumers to really latch on to the iPhone for an upcoming article. The resulting article can be read here (make sure to read all three pages... their links are not so clear).
The chat we had, and the resulting discussion that the article creates got me thinking about mobile data, and how it is used in Canada.
Currently, of my non-technology industry acquaintances, I can honestly say that not a single one uses any sort of data related service on their current cellular phones, except for SMS and MMS services. Of those in the tech industry, most are not using a smartphone, but those who are have for the most part, company funded BlackBerry devices, and they do not access the mobile web.
Why do I think this is? Lack of a really functional web experience or other software that they would find useful, as well as the exorbitant costs of a data plan.
The iPhone, and the media coverage it has and will receive, will help to eliminate the problem of regular every day users not having a need for data access on their phones, as at the very least most people would find the weather application and Google Maps handy!
It is up to Rogers to now sort out the data plans. In the itbusiness.ca article, I mention that I think a consumer targeted plan needs to be offered for less than $75 including voice and data for mass consumer uptake to occur. It is yet to be seen if this will be the case, but if this article over at electronista.com is in fact true, Rogers may really have a winner on their hands!
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