kevin p. siu

I’m sure you all heard the big news about the iPhone being released, and having millions of people line up everywhere for the launch last Friday. Then Apple had their entire system go kaput on them and everyone who lined up on Thursday couldn’t get their phone working until Saturday.

Anyway, I figured I’d check in on a random phone store (The Telephone Booth at Hillcrest) on Saturday afternoon, right at the end of the day, to see what was up after the Friday commotion. I asked the guy behind the counter (turned out to be the manager) about the iPhone, and he said he had one left, for Fido network. Hurrah! Even better, it was the black 8GB model, which was what I wanted anyway.

Of course, if anyone’s been following the story, you’ll know that Rogers/Fido prices for the iPhone were extraordinary for the data plans and mandatory 3 year contract. I asked further, and found out I could get the phone without the $60+$7+$.5+TAX data plan. I still needed a 3 year contract, but I could get the iPhone on a $25 monthly voice plan if I paid an extra $50 up front. I get 100 weekday outgoing minutes, 1000 evenings/weekends, and 500 incoming. Way more than enough from me after coming off the prepaid services. In fact, I could have gotten the $20 plan (Fido’s cheapest monthly) and saved some more, but I figured I needed to use my cellphone more often anyway since I’ll be doing without a landline after August.

The Telephone Booth people also offered me a $90 extended 4-year warranty, which I took, since it covered pretty much everything (except battery), AND it’s refundable after 4 years if I don’t use the service. So, almost free warranty! (I’d say it’s a pretty good deal)

So, here I am, with a brand new spanking iPhone, for a steal, and no lineups! (Almost feel sorry for the guy who came in next asking for one, but didn’t get one since I took the last )

Oh yeah, wait, don’t call me yet, I need to transfer my phone number first.