Does 3 Years In Canada Equal 2 Years In U.S.?
Recently we caught an announcement on Howard Chui.com for the rollout of the Treo 680 on Rogers Wireless in Canada, and we noticed the price: $299 with a 3 year agreement.
The $299 price refers to Canadian dollars, which explains why the price is higher than the $199 price Cingular charges for the phone in the U.S.
But what’s the deal with the 3 year agreement?
While U.S. carriers have all settled into offering their best discounts with 2 year contracts attached, Canadian carriers like Rogers and Fido also offer 3 year deals, at reduced prices.
Why hasn’t a single major U.S. carrier gone the same way? Are citizens in the states more likely to get sick of their phones sooner, and want something new?
Do phones stay fresher in Canada longer, because it’s so cold up there?
From what I know about Canadian culture I have no idea why a 2 year deal in the United States should equal 3 years in Canada. Of course, my knowledge of Canadian culture consists largely of the Red Green Show and Great White North segments on SCTV.
Maybe U.S. carriers are missing an opportunity. Then again, maybe we U.S. citizens would rather not tie ourselves down to one phone and one carrier, for that much time.
Treo 680, Canada, Canadian culture, Great White North, Rogers, Fido, Red Green Show, SCTV
[via Howard Chui.com]
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