Apple's iPhone may have a poisonous bite for Canadian consumers who want the much-desired touchscreen phone when it finally goes on sale later this month.

Analysts said Wednesday that consumers will have to pay the voice and data rates set by Rogers Communications Inc. if they want the high-end device unless early sales are slow.

Rogers is the only Canadian carrier that has a network capable of running the iPhone, which goes on sale on July 11.

"Right now Rogers thinks that the iPhone is such a compelling device that people will essentially pay anything to get one," said PC Magazine's Sascha Segan.

The summer launch of the iPhone in Canada was supposed to be a time for Rogers Wireless Communications Inc. to celebrate. Instead, the company with exclusive rights to the hottest new tech gadget finds itself on the defensive, stung by public criticism over pricing.

Rogers should be basking in the glory, riding the Apple Inc. wave of wireless hipness, in addition to readying itself to enjoy a profit windfall from customers who get hooked on new services, such as Web browsing, e-mail and video streaming.

But some consumers who are looking at annual fees that could easily exceed $1,000 are crying foul, noting that Rogers' pricing plans are more complex and expensive than those offered in the U.S. and many other parts of the world.

Between the mobile phone and the laptop computer a new class of device is emerging, and control of it is up for grabs - it appears the next battle will be fought between seasoned industry scrappers and young bloods over the 'armtop'.

Mobile phones are becoming more and more like computers - link one to a Bluetooth keyboard and an external VDU, and it can offer an approximation of a desktop computing experience. It might be a pale imitation, but the important thing is that the attempt can be made.

Meanwhile, laptop computers are getting smaller and cheaper, partly because even Windows struggles to consume the processing power available in today's top-end machines - thus reducing the need to buy new ones - and partly because the manufacturers are trying to expand the market.

Samsung Electronics has informed downstream customers it will start reducing its supply of NAND flash chips to them from July as its key customer Apple has placed a large batch of orders, according to sources at the company's customers.

The sources indicated that Samsung recently informed them it has secured orders for 50 million 8Gb-equivalent NAND flash chips mainly for use in Apple's iPhone. Amid the new orders, Samsung said it would sharply cut supply to other customers in July, they added.

Unlocked iPhones may soon become a thing of the past.

That's because AppleAAPL and service provider AT&TT have made new 3G iPhone customers pay a premium to opt out of a two-year contract with the carrier's network.

Coupled with the increased availability of the 3G iPhones worldwide and an impending deal with one of China's mobile service providers, the demand for unlocked iPhones could shrink, analysts say.

Love the MacBook Air's keyboard? Who doesn't - it's probably the best keyboard I've seen so far. Heck, even Steve Jobs said it's the best keyboard Apple ever made, and you know he cares about the details…

Anyway, what do you think about having that kind of keyboard on your iPhone? Naturally, you won't get the feel - just the look. But it's worth it, or at least that's my take.

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