Article content

Shaw Communications Inc. executives knew a deal with Apple Inc. was important for its wireless division Freedom Mobile, but they didn’t anticipate just how much of a game changer it would be to finally be able to sell iPhones.

“I underestimated the importance of the iPhone to our business,” President Jay Mehr said on a conference call with analysts Thursday. “It has changed all aspects of our wireless business.”

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or 'It feels like a new business': Shaw underestimated iPhone impact on Freedom Mobile, hints at major growth Back to video

Mehr spoke hours after the Calgary-based communications giant reported financial results that slipped below analysts’ expectations for the three months ended Nov. 30. Its wireless results were strong – it added 34,310 subscribers, up from 9,470 in the same period last year, and finished network upgrades in Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton – yet disappointing losses in its traditional cable business dampened performance overall.

But analysts on the call were more interested in what happened after the quarter ended: namely, Freedom’s December launch of the iPhone for no money down and its “big gig” data plans that sparked retaliation from the Big Three carriers.