Apple Inc.'s recent release of the iPhone 6 has sparked an "upgrade cycle" among Canadian consumers that is likely to pad the bottom lines of Canada's major wireless providers, according to analysts at Barclays Capital. Phillip Huang and Ali Pervez said in a research note Monday that demand for cheaper devices in the iPhone 5 series is actually a bigger factor than the iPhone 6 sales, in terms of upgrades to LTE devices that will drive data usage by users. They noted that incumbents BCE Inc., Rogers Communications Inc. and Telus Corp. recently raised prices by $30 on the iPhone 5C and 5S after lowering them to $0 and $100, respectively, in conjunction with this month's launch of the iPhone 6. The note said the typical price for a mid-tier smartphone data plan that...
After pronouncements from Rogers Communications Inc. about improving the customer experience and simplifying the options available to customers, analysts from Barclays said the company appears to be "shifting away from pricing discounts." In a research note issued Monday, Phillip Huang and Ali Pervez said Rogers recently raised the threshold on eligibility for upgrading smartphones. As of June 17, only customers subscribed to plans costing at least $80 a month are eligible, while previously, customers on contracts worth $60 or more were allowed such upgrades. "Store managers...