Canadian consumers are visibly upset over the price plans Rogers will offer for the iPhone 3G, and now it looks like Apple might be a bit miffed, too. It appears that the Mac and iPhone maker might be diverting iPhone inventory originally intended for Canada to Europe as part of a move to show its displeasure with the high-priced contracts Rogers attached to the combination iPod and smartphone, according to Smithereens.

Citing unnamed insiders, Smithereens claimed that stores in Canada may receive only 10 to 20 iPhone 3G units for the product launch on July 11, and that some stores have been firing staff members they brought on board for the roll out event. Stores are being warned to "exercise caution not to over-promise" product availability.

The iPhone 3G service plans Rogers will offer include 800 week day minutes and a 2GB data cap for CA$115 a month. For $60, subscribers will get 150 week day talk minutes and a 400MB data cap.

Customers have been upset enough about the pricing schemes that over 40,000 have signed an online petition denouncing the rates and data caps. The Web site hosting the petition, RuinedIphone.com, plans to deliver a printed copy of the petition, signatures, and comments to Rogers.

Since Rogers and Apple aren’t commenting on what might be happening behind the scenes, no one is confirming whether or not inventory is really being diverted away from Canada, if Apple is posturing to pressure Rogers into changing its pricing, or if the rumor is unfounded. Even if the rumor proves to be false, it still underscores how upset potential Canadian iPhone customers are with the Rogers iPhone 3G price plans.

Apple’s iPhone 3G is set to go on sale in about 20 countries on July 11. It will offer 3G wireless data, include a built-in GPS, support Microsoft Exchange, and more.