Later this year Netflix will be expanding their Watch Instantly streaming video service, making it available to Canadian residents.
In addition to being the first service offered by the home video rental giant outside the US, it will also mark the first time they have offered streaming by itself. To date their streaming video offering has been an add on to their popular rent by mail DVD and Blu-ray service.
That’s not likely to be changing any time soon for US customers. When the plan for streaming outside the US was first mentioned last October, CEO Reed Hastings was clear that it was purely due to the logistical issues of shipping discs internationally.
And selling the exclusively online service to Canadians isn’t a sure winner either. Although Netflix has made some headway in licensing new releases and increasing their selection of recent TV episodes for streaming, such arrangements are still the exception.
Canadians interested in the service can go to www.netflix.ca and sign up for email notification when the service launches.
Result for: coming to canada
If the Toronto Star is to believed, then the Apple iPhone should be available in Canada before the summer.
The article cites “industry contacts” who reveal that Canada’s only major GSM cell provider, Rogers, is hoping to introduce the iPhone “in time for it to be included in a campaign promoting touchscreen phones at the company.”
Rogers’ campaign will most likely start in late May or early June, before Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference in which it is widely expected that the company will introduce the 3G model of the iPhone.
Despite its reputation as having the highest-priced mobile data plans of any cellular provider in Canada, Rogers is also the most advanced. About two months ago, the carrier introduced an unlimited data bundle “that gives users both unfettered browsing on most of its devices as well as a set amount of MMS/SMS messages and voicemail.” Rogers’ also offers advanced 3G network features including “two-way video calling on supporting devices as well as 7.2-megabit HSDPA downloads on portions of its network. The 3G iPhone is understood to use a newer Infineon chipset that would support both normal HSDPA service as well as its faster variety on Rogers.”
More information as it becomes available.
Result for: coming to canada
Rogers has finally announced that it will indeed be bringing Apple’s iPhone to the Canadian market, meaning Canadian residents will no longer have to buy unlocked phones from the United States.
Rogers is the only GSM service provider in Canada so the choice seemed logical. However, Apple and Rogers had been in talks for over 8 months without getting anywhere.
Ted Rogers, president and CEO of Rogers Communications, announced the deal today. “We’re thrilled to announce that we have a deal with Apple to bring the iPhone to Canada later this year,” he said. “We can’t tell you any more about it right now, but stay tuned.”
Rogers reported a nice profit for the Q1 2008, $344 million CAD on $2.4 billion CAD revenue. Besides being the only GSM provider, the provider has a large chain of retail outlets making it easier to sell the phone from different fronts.
