Apple iPhone finally coming to Canada

One source from the financial services industry has informed me that Rogers has finally worked out a deal with Apple Canada and yes the much heralded iPhone will be made available to Canadians later on this year.
In typical Rogers and Apple Canada fashion there is no timeline announced and there are no more details about the launch.
The source added that Apple Canada believes this will have Research in Motion shaking in its boots. I found that comment to be ludicrous because, while I can accept that Apple Canada and its customers are excited about the iPhone coming to Canada, the braintrust at RIM are not the sort of people to panic.
Lets not forget that they dominate the market here in Canada and in the U.S. The iPhone has been in the U.S. over two calendar years and it has not be able to displace or come near the Blackberry’s sales performance. According to Gartner Research, the iPhone is at 19 per cent of the market in the U.S., while RIM is at 34 plus per cent. Even the “Other” category beats iPhone by two per cent.
So lets put this expected announcement into perspective here. I am sure the iPhone will cause quite a stirr in Canada when it is made available to customers at Apple stores in Canada. I am sure there will be line ups filled with people who have drank the Apple cool-aid in all the Apple store locations across Canada. I am also sure that Rogers will do some bumper business selling iPhones.
But, even with all that hype and momentum the iPhone will not overtake RIM in sales.
The blackberry is a standard in most corporations. Several channel players and ISVs have created applications for the Blackberry. IBM and Sage are just two major vendors who have developed applications for the Blackberry specifically.
Right now RIM has the momentum in Canada because of Rogers and Apple Canada dragging its feet with the iPhone release.
What should scare RIM is not so much what Apple does but what the new employees entering the workforce may do. These people are part of the Web 2.0 generation and they will not settle for corporate policy. This upcoming generation will demand to choice and they may choose the iPhone, which might give Apple an edge.
I still see it as an uphill climb for Apple, but for today this has to be positive news for the Canadian subsidiary who must have felt like the ignored step-child at Apple for the past two years. Speaking of ignored step-children, I would be interested to know any plans Apple Canada has for its loyal Mac dealers in this country concerning the iPhone. As always when it comes to Apple we will have to wait for that news.