AppleInsider is reporting a rather curious (and interesting) trend; exclusivity starting to end for the iPhone in various parts of the world. Now that includes Canada.

An excerpt from the report:

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Apple’s exclusive carrier contracts for the iPhone in each country continue to fall, as a new report has claimed that two new carriers in Canada will offer the handset.

Citing sources within both companies, The Globe and Mail reported that Bell Canada and Telus Corp. will begin selling the iPhone in November, bringing the previously exclusive contract held by Rogers Communications for more than a year to an end.

“The country’s two largest incumbent telecom companies, under pressure to re-ignite growth as new wireless competitors begin operations this year, are banking on Apple Inc.’s ground-breaking smart phone to help them sign up bigger-spending customers and shift the balance of

power in Canada’s mobile market,” the report said.

The inhibitor for Bell and Telus had previously been incompatibility with the iPhone on their 3G networks. However, both providers have reportedly caught up with Rogers and are prepared to offer Apple’s handset.

Neither carrier would officially confirm the deal, and Apple also refused to comment on the matter. However, the report cited people familiar with the matter who said an announcement was likely to come this week.

The news comes just weeks after both Vodafone and Orange announced they will carry the iPhone in the U.K. in the coming months. Until now, Apple’s smartphone has been exclusive to O2 in Great Britain.
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Personally, we believe choice is a good thing in the long run, and it appears that the bell is close to tolling for AT&T in the US given the recent actions of Apple.

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