There has been a lot of unrest surrounding the rate plans offered by Rogers Wireless, all of which has culminated in the gathering of 41,000 signatures on a petition protesting their high prices and low data ceiling. Rogers’ competitor Bell Mobility has even decided to take advantage of the bad PR by offering the Samsung Instinct, the iPhone’s chief competitor. As a result, rumor has it that Apple is unsatisfied with Rogers and is diverting shipments of iPhones away from Canada.
Written by Edward Kirk on July 7th, 2008 with no comments.
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If I seem like I’m focusing on the iPhone in Canada situation a lot, I apologize — but obviously, this is a topic that hits where it hurts for both me and Jody, and for millions of other Canadians from what I’m reading.
Virtually no one is happy with Rogers’ rates, and the displeasure ranges from disgruntled comments to corrosive venom, with the only “what’s the big deal?” comments from data neophites and people who don’t understand the full scope of what kind of data-hungry apps iPhone 2.0 engenders. The day that Rogers announced their plans was the same day a petition site with a harshly-worded URL went up. E-Mail addresses of Rogers execs and links to a report page to the Competition Bureau of Canada flew (and the Competition Bureau has subsequently stated that they’ve been getting many reports). The blogosphere is humming with derisive articles. IntoMobile, iPhone In Canada, macQuebec (en français), p2pnet, andPOP, iPhone User and others feature pieces on Rogers’ highway robbery. The forums are similarly hopping mad, with threads on Howard Forums (and here), The Computer Mechanics, MacRumors, iPhone in Canada forums, the Engadget thread, — even Digg commenters. Canadians are not happy with Rogers. But what choice to Canadians have? Rogers have a virtual GSM monopoly in Canada, and even with the wireless spectrum auction looming, Rogers won’t see any potential competition come from that for a few years yet. Our voices are a faint buzz in Ted Rogers’ ears, barely able to penetrate the fingers he has inserted into them on a more or less perpetual basis, and what sound leaks through is neatly drowned out by repeatedly shouting “lalalala I’m not listening lalalalala!“ They even went so far as to defend their pricing plans amid the consumer outcry — and they didn’t even get their cites right.
Petitions don’t go very far unless the number of signatures is enough to cover Ted’s entire field of vision. Complaining with our wallets — not buying into Ted’s outrageous rates — is a good way to get the message across, but provides little instant gratification, especially since we’d be depriving ourselves of a coveted device. What we need are voices that carry more weight than our own. Perhaps the news media can help with that.
In browsing the media this morning I’ve come across a number of articles from reputable sources that echo our despair, albeit in a much calmer, more media-friendly manner. Reuters Canada had a rather non-committal article that spent a paragraph or two echoing the sentiment. The Toronto Star starts off more optimisic, positing that these plans put the iPhone “in the realm of reality” for many Canadians, though its position seems to come from comparing the current rates to last year’s even more astronomical ones, rather than comparing our overall rates to other countries. It does delve into the disappointing aspecs of the rates though, citing market research firm KDC’s Kevin Restivo as saying that the rates are aimed at people who treat web browsing as a novelty rather than a core function. The Winnipeg Free Press is fairly neutral on the issue, simply stating the basics.
The Globe and Mail’s article lands more firmly on the pessimistic side, offering up Info-Tech Research Group senior analyst Michelle Warren’s quote, “These rates are just another indicator that Canadian cellphone rates are really high and that essentially the carriers feel like they can charge whatever they like. Rates should be going down, they shouldn’t be going up, and these are expensive rates.” Amen, sistah.
C|Net Crave decided to get downright scathing. “In its press release, Rogers does provide a convenient chart to gauge your data usage–apparently, 2G amounts to 16,000 Web pages (who knew?)–but we don’t approve of such an arrangement at all. The iPhone’s Web browser is one of its top attractions, particularly on a 3G network, and asking users to limit their data certainly isn’t putting the “Internet in your pocket.” Rogers is offering unlimited Wi-Fi access at all Rogers and Fido hotspots, but that in itself is limiting if you have to be in one place.” Yeah, they know what’s up.
So with all of this negative press, both small-time and mass media, will Rogers pay attention? It’s hard to say. We are all painfully aware that the Rogers collective lives in its own universe, separated from the hoi polloi by mile-thick steel walls that nothing short of the CRTC’s Regulation Cannon can penetrate, but can the massive consumer backlash that is building fast and hard create enough ammo to threaten these plans with the death of a thousand paper cuts? We’ll have to wait and see — but if I wouldn’t go holding my breath. Even if the riots break into Ted’s world, they’ll still have to contend with Ted’s fingers.
Written by Eric March on June 28th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Rogers Wireless and canadian data rate rip-off and iPhone Canada and iphone 3g and jolly rogers wireless and robbers wireless and rogers iphone data rates.
So, Rogers will be brining the iPhone 3G to Canada. And if you live up there, that’s a good thing. Still, formal pricing had yet to be announced until today. Update: Fido announced their price plans as well, which are identical to the ones announced by Rogers Wireless.
Written by Chris Barylick on June 27th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Canada and Fido and News and Rogers Wireless and calling plan and data and iphone 3g and rate plans/tariffs.
I remember back when the original iPhone came out, there was much buzz surrounding the possibility of it being released in Canada. Unfortunately the only carrier that uses GSM phones is Rogers Wireless, and due to their outrageous data plans, it was unlikely that it would ever be introduced to the north. However, with the impending release of the iPhone 3G, will Rogers be updating their crazy data prices?
Rogers Wireless president Madir Mohamed announced recently that they are, in fact rolling out new data plans to accommodate more frequent data usage. He notes that the average Rogers customer pays roughly $63 each month for voice, data and messaging service. They expect that the average iPhone subscriber will end up paying more like $90, with most of the additional expense being attributed to data usage.
This gives Canadian users an idea of what they can expect to pay per month for their iPhone. Unfortunately it will still be a couple of weeks before the actual plan prices are revealed.
[via Electronista]
Written by Scott Barr on June 18th, 2008 with no comments.
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It’s that time again. Sunday morning can mean only one thing, week in review. This week has been full of 3G iPhone rumors, new software, and even a new Goldstriker iPhone. While it has not been a terribly active week for iPhone news, there is still some exciting things that have gone down. Hold tight while we update you on the last week for iPhone Buzz.
As far as software goes on the iPhone, Sun discussed porting Java to the iPhone. According to the CEO of Sun Microsystems, Jonathan Schwartz, Java will be in the future of the iPhone. He noted that there are no technical problems getting Java ported, however there could be some problems with Apple’s EULA. Either way, he seems optimistic about the process.
Java is not the only software related news that came about this weekend. McAfee’s anti virus software for the iPhone was leaked. At first, it seemed the software was a fake, and was not made by McAfee. It was later shown that it was software by McAfee, but it was a proof of concept. The official word is they do not yet know if they will bring this software to the iPhone. They did say they are pleased with the community reaction.
The folks at Goldstriker are up to it again. This time with a Lamborghini themed iPhone. The device itself is a 16GB iPhone, running with 1.1.4 firmware. I don’t know, I kind of like it. Maybe a little over the top, but hey, you only live once. The price tag on this special edition iPhone is just under $1500.
A image of what is rumored to be the 3G iPhone surfaced this week. The device, actually bears resemblance to the LG Vu on AT&T. The back looks very scuffed up. Why allow the hottest discussed device to get all messed up like that? It seems very unlikely, that this is the new iPhone. The photo is at the top of this post; you decide!.
It is also rumored that the specifications and dimensions of the new iPhone have been leaked to accessory manufacturers. This is not confirmed, but it is possible. It makes sense, as then the new iPhone would have all sorts of cases and accessories at launch. I guess we will know for sure when the device launches. Until then, unless a manufacturer steps up and says this is true and can prove it, this one is done.
Apple fans in Canada finally have something to get excited over. The iPhone will be making it’s way to Rogers by the end of the year. This information comes right from Ted Rogers, the president and CEO of he carrier. All that was said is “it is coming”, and to “stay tuned”. Details are very few at the moment. In reality, only Apple and Rogers know for sure.
Written by Chase Higgins on May 4th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on 3G iPhone and Carriers and Featured and Rogers Wireless and Software and Weekly Rewind and iPhone 3rd Party Apps and iPhone archive.
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