Deal struck to launch iPhone in Canada

TORONTO, April 29 (UPI) -- Rogers Communications Inc., announced in Toronto Tuesday it has secured an agreement to offer Apple's iPhone service in Canada.

In a statement, Rogers Chief Executive Officer Ted Rogers said he couldn't reveal all the details yet, the Globe and Mail reported.

The company's cell phone division uses the global wireless standard technology known as GSM, which is required by the iPhone. Rogers' nearest cell competitors, Bell Mobility and Telus Corp., don't use GSM, the report said.

The announcement came just weeks before the federal communications regulator in Ottawa is scheduled to auction off more wireless spectrum and other cable companies including Shaw Communications Inc., and Quebec's Videotron Ltee are reportedly interested in launching their own cell phone services, the newspaper said.

Apple's touch-screen phone service was launched last year and was available only in the United States and Europe before the Rogers announcement.