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While business types speculate about when the iPhone will come to Canada, Torontonians have decided that they are sick of waiting for the hottest piece of technology since the iPod.

"I wanted to be the first to have one," says Jackie Vignavong, a production co-ordinator at MTV. She had a friend pick one up on a trip to Las Vegas three months ago. Kevin Restivo, a senior software analyst, drove down to Detroit on June 30, the day after the U.S. launch, to get his. Christian Moreton, who does graphics and special effects work for the film industry, got his mother to send him one six weeks ago. Kenny Hotz, co-star of TV's Kenny vs. Spenny, has one. So does Yorkville club owner Toufik Sarwa.

According to Apple's October estimates, of the 1.4 million iPhones sold so far, about 250,000 of them have been "cracked" (by circumventing the security provisions on the phone) either in the U.S. or in other countries where the latest Apple "it" gadget has yet to be released. (The device was rolled out across Europe this past week.)

And thanks to some enterprising hackers, the product can work seamlessly with Rogers or Fido, despite Apple's intention to limit usage to American AT&T subscribers. (The companies officially discourage the practice, but have no way of knowing what device you're using when you subscribe to their service plans.) A Toronto police spokesperson said there is no law against hacking the phone.

But, as with all early adoptions, there's a cost associated with being the first kid on your block to have this iPod/Wi-Fi/PDA/phone combo. The cost of data transfer, for instance, is more than twice that in Europe. "Rogers said they'd give me 25 megabytes a month for about $40, which is a rip-off," says Mr. Moreton, who unlocked the phone himself.

"Another option was 500 megabytes for more than $100." This, he says, is also a rip-off. For a data-and-voice plan similar to one that AT&T charges $60 for, Rogers now charges more than $160. AT&T had to lower its own rates before Apple would give them the contract, so there is speculation something similar may happen here, and that these negotiations may be part of the reason for the delay in the Canadian release.

Even for those who have found ways around the high data-transfer rates - Ms. Vignavong uses prepaid cards and only transfers data through free Wi-Fi hot spots, while Mr. Moreton was able to talk a Rogers agent into a reduced rate for the first six months - just getting the phone can be pricey, as an underground economy has erupted in the city. Craigslist is riddled with ads from people either selling the phones, or offering to crack yours for you (the average rate is about $50). And for those without friends or parents in the States, the phone, which retails in the U.S. for $400, can cost almost twice that here. Modcom Computers and Electronics on College at Spadina is selling its cracked iPhones for $679.

"I'm not sure I'd buy it again," says Mr. Restivo, who has found that the iPhone is not as good for the business user as his BlackBerry Curve. For example, he says his BlackBerry automatically checks for e-mails constantly, while the iPhone will check only at 15-minute intervals. "I value messaging over music.

"But I guess I'm a tech enthusiast," he adds. "I like to fiddle with gadgets, and I'd obviously heard a lot about [the iPhone]."

With cross-border shopping reaching 30-year highs, the longer Apple and Rogers postpone their launch, the fewer Canadians there will be to tempt.