> In Canada where the rule is 3 year contracts (and thus free is even more expensive than in the States), I've seen low-end Androids for $0 with 3 year contract

> In Canada where the rule is 3 year contracts (and thus free is even more expensive than in the States), I've seen low-end Androids for $0 with 3 year contract, no data plan required and 2 phones + a PS3 for 2 three year contracts. True, but Canada has a strangely high iOS adoption rate and carriers are just doing whatever the hell they can to increase that existing 9% of Canadian smartphone users that own Androids. I think it's because they can negotiate better with the individual Android device makers than they can negotiate with Apple or even RIM.