The sole Canadian mobile phone service provider using the GSM standard, Rogers Communications, said on Tuesday that it will start offering iPhones to its subscribers later this year.

The move will help Canadian fans of Apple's iPhone to stop buying the phone in the United States and unlock it for Canadian use.

The president and CEO of Rogers Communications, Ted Rogers confirmed the closure of the deal with Apple, on Tuesday.

We're thrilled to announce that we have a deal with Apple to bring the iPhone to Canada later this year, said Rogers.

Rogers Communications has a network of retail stores which are forecast to be used for marketing the iPhone in the region.

The iPhone will boost Rogers and help it better compete with Research in Motion's BlackBerry.

Apple introduced the iPhone in the U.S. last year in June after being in use in several European countries.

The electronics maker requires an exclusive arrangement with a service provider like AT&T that has the exclusive deal to offer the iPhone in the United States.

Apple didn't consider the major two Canadian cell phone providers; Bell Mobility and Telus because they don't use GSM infrastructure.

Electronics Apple Iphone Canada