I’ve been covering the consumer electronics market in Canada for nine years and have been through many a hysteria-driven launch. The Dreamcast was my first and the PlayStation 2 right after it was one of the craziest. Internet rumours are always part of it. Emotions run wild, the hysteria causes standards to drop and gossip quickly becomes taken as fact. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that the rumours are always wrong.
I try to avoid them as much as possible. In serious journalism it’s considered bad practice to report on rumours without a credible reason for it. You’re bound to pass on bad information and if you work for a well known and respected news service, you only serve to give the source a sense of credibility.
For that reason I have avoided the two big rumours circulating around that suggest Apple is taking various actions against Rogers Wireless in Canada. Both rumours come from sources that have little experience reporting on the tech industry in Canada. Both rumours contain information that has been passed on with emotion and embellishment. Neither is worth taking serious.
That hasn’t stopped many of you from sending me e-mails about it, nor other reporters from asking me about, or the invitations to do interviews on it, and so I’m going to quickly respond, merely to show why I haven’t given it much coverage or thought, and why you shouldn’t either.
Note:: Thanks to everyone who e-mailed, I do appreciate all the information and stories.
The “Sanctions” - This rumour has it that Apple has redirected a quantity of iPhone 3G shipments marked for launch in Canada to Europe as part of a punishment or sanctioned response to the negative feedback Rogers has received by consumers.
My take – It takes at least a week for pick, pack and ship operations, even those using Just-In-Time practices to prepare launch supplies for distribution across Canada. (I used to work for such an operation, long ago).With the iPhone 3G launch this Friday, the initial launch supply of iPhones would have already gone through the process of being inserted into English/French packaging, and flashed with Rogers Software. Each unit would have a North American AC adaptor included, not suitable for a European release.
What is possible is that Apple could have redirected a re-supply of iPhones, shipments set to arrive in the coming weeks to replenish stores after launch, but have yet to be assigned to packaging or distribution lines. If this is the case, its standard procedure as many companies in the past, Nintendo with the Wii, Electronic Arts with Rock Band, Sony with the PlayStation 3, have re-directed shipments away from the Canadian market towards the US or Europe in order to meet higher demand. It’s happened with every major launch I’ve experienced. Nothing suspicious about it.
The Pulled From Apple Retail Stores Rumour – This rumour has it that Apple has chosen at the last minute to not sell the iPhone 3G through their retail stores in Canada, again as a kind of response to the negative feedback from consumers.
My Take – Was never part of the plan. You know what’s missing from the initial June 9th press release announcing the iPhone 3G coming to Canada? The section where it says the iPhone will be sold through Apple Retail Stores. Its there in all of their previous press releases – the AirPort Express, MacBook Air, Xsan 2, every Apple Canada product announcement I have on file includes mention of availability through the Apple Retail Stores. It’s standard practice, they push the Apple Store with every announcement. Sony, who also has retail chain, does the same. But not with the iPhone 3G.
Due to the in-store activation process, the plan was always to limit sales to Fido and Rogers outlets. Again, nothing suspicious about it.
Enjoy the crazy rumours for their entertainment value, but please don’t be so quick to take them seriously.
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