Apple's iPhone is finally coming to Canada on the Rogers network this week. In addition, Rogers today announced a new 6 Gigabyte per month data package for a mere $30.

I say "mere" $30/month because that is BY FAR the cheapest data rate in Canada. And it's also the fastest data network out there. Yet absurdly, Canadian blog-commenters are out in force complaining that this isn't good enough. "American's have unlimited data and calling for cheaper", they scream.

Other Canadian wireless networks don't offer any data packages that even come close to this. Yet, these yuppie punks think that demanding American-type service from Canadian companies is somehow reasonable. How is any wireless provider in this country supposed to cover a larger land-mass, with a population that of California, and charge the same amount of money to provide equal service? It's madness. However, if American wireless providers were allowed to operate in Canada, who knows what kind of opportunities that would open up. AT&T would have had iPhone's in Canada at a cheaper monthly rate a year ago when they were released in the USA.

The $30/mo deal is exactly what I've been waiting for. I'll be waiting in what will probably be a stupid line-up to switch carriers from MTS to Rogers and get me some sweet iPhone loving. If anybody wants a 16gb iPod Touch for cheap, drop me a line.

Labels: Business, technology

The next time you hear Gary Doer or Sam Katz talking about how downtown Winnipeg is being saved by the MTS Center or the Manitoba Hydro building, remember this:

United Army Surplus Sales, a store that has helped Winnipeggers brave nature for nearly six decades, has lost its battle for financial survival.

Bonnie Hooley, of LC Taylor & Co., confirmed this morning that more than two-thirds of the creditors voted not to accept a repayment deal.

Court documents state the company has about $443,000 of assets but owes 132 creditors $680,000.

The store could close as early as today.

It's sad to see that the business of government-spending downtown is booming, those businesses that actually pay taxes are still being forced out of downtown Winnipeg.

Sam Katz needs to get rid of the business tax, and hurry. If not, Portage Ave. will be nothing but vacant buildings from Main St. to Maryland.

Labels: Business, Gary Doer, Sam Katz, Taxes