Rogers Announces iPhone Plans in Canada

[Garemz]

You guys should listen to #772 of the Daily source code with Adam curry he talks to one of the government officials about lowering plans in the Europe nation, its very interesting.

We need our government to put their foot down and impose taxes or laws for charging so much, just like they are doing in the European nation, they understand what High Data plans and roaming charges mean to the average working family.

 

[PumaGuy]

MacRumors has a new friend! (May not last)

Hey the ratings for this story are still a tad "negative" if you might have seen...

I wonder who those 115 positives are ???

It might not be those Rogers reps after all, but maybe the MacRumors admin base.

Wouldn't want to lose Ad pay from Rogers, would ya?

Puma

 

[ashjamben]

i dont want to rub it in or anything, but the UK plans on o2 have really become quite reasonable, and is pretty much the same price as most other smartphones with the same capabilities. you even get free unlimited data on PAYG for 6 months.

i've seen quite a few petitions about the rogers plans, so might be worth getting you and everybody in your house to sign it, even your imaginary friend and his pals

 

[Garemz]

With Rogers prices and the price of Gas these days who can afford this stuff.

It would be cool if Rogers dropped their prices a bit, save 30-50 Bucks here and there sure helps.

 

[macdingleberry]

Hotspot doesn't mean universal though

No they mean anywhere with the "Hotspot" logo, like Starbucks. So just wifi.

The Hotspot Logo may be everywhere, but the use of Rogers and Fido Hotspot are the only ones allowed.

Rogers Wireless Hotspot :Second Cup, Timothy's, East Side Mario's, Boston Pizza, Rattlesnake Country Club, others


Bell : Starbucks, UPS Store, etc.

But I don't think Fido has any hotspot branding so it's essentially Rogers. I wasn't able to find any Fido Hotspots anyway :


In any case, you shouldn't have to move to your location for furking Wifi! I think this was the basis for the iPhone. So you use the phone, and not worry about the data, which enhances user experience. I hope Apple seriously isn't endorsing this. I know it's not possible, but I hope deep down that Apple didn't know about this. It's the only way I can rationalize buying an Apple product without feeling totally lousy.

 

[goosnarrggh]

2. Their coverage area sucks compared to Rogers and since they cover less it costs them less to maintain compared with Rogers.

Certainly that statement varies from one region to another. In Nova Scotia, Rogers has deplorable coverage compared to Bell-Aliant.

3. If you combine the userbase of Telus, Bell, Virgin and any other CDMA provider using Bell's network you still end up with less users meaning they have more bandwidth to spare on their CDMA networks for data.

Bell's total market share (including virtual operators) is somewhere in the neighborhood of 36%. Telus's share is around 27%. Rogers has the remaining 37%.

You can pretty much count on the fact that in any given region, either Telus owns the towers and sells some bandwidth to Bell, or vice versa. You will not find many places where both Bell and Telus operate their own towers independently. So GSM (Rogers) has to have tower capacity to serve 37% of the market, whereas CDMA (everyone else collectively) has to have tower capacity to serve 63% of the market.

GPS? GPS does not cost data but rather the google maps app. If you don't have google maps open, you won't be using data for it.

Pure GPS wouldn't require any data exchange other than receiving the public domain satellite signals, for sure. But according to Apple's specifications, the iPhone doesn't use pure GPS, but rather Assisted GPS (AGPS).

With AGPS, a cell phone receives fragmentary GPS satellite signals, but the signal is generally degraded due to a less-than-ideal satellite receiver and poor line-of-sight conditions. It generally doesn't have enough computational power to piece together its exact location based on this fragmented information. Instead, it relays the fragments of satellite data it does receive to the cell tower, which uses its own high precision satellite reception and more powerful computer, along with a rough estimate of the phone's location based on terrestrial tower triangulation techniques, to piece together the phone's supplied GPS fragments into a precise location. This data is then relayed back to the phone.

Are you sure this data exchange won't count towards Rogers' data limits?

 

[queshy]

Hey the ratings for this story are still a tad "negative" if you might have seen...

I wonder who those 115 positives are ???
Wouldn't want to lose Ad pay from Rogers, would ya?
Puma

Hahaha, that's the funniest thing I've seen all week!

You inspired me to create this:

 

[mwickens]

The Hotspot Logo may be everywhere, but the use of Rogers and Fido Hotspot are the only ones allowed.

I would like to see a clarification on this from Rogers, but their website always talks about "Rogers Wireless Hotspots" while all reports from users say that any Hotspot works. This leads me to believe we'll be able to use an iPhone to get free Wi-Fi at Starbucks, and any other Bell- or Telus-branded Hotspot.

Mark

 

[goosnarrggh]

I would like to see a clarification on this from Rogers, but their website always talks about "Rogers Wireless Hotspots" while all reports from users say that any Hotspot works. This leads me to believe we'll be able to use an iPhone to get free Wi-Fi at Starbucks, and any other Bell- or Telus-branded Hotspot.

Mark

To use a Bell hotspot, you must be a Bell subscriber. It is possible to connect to a Bell hotspot using any device, but you are initially only able to access a welcome webpage which prompts you to either enter your Bell username and password, or else provide credit card information to purchase some airtime.

Some hotspots may have special deals in place where a certain amount of airtime might be provided for free, or included with the purchase of a coffee club card, or whatever... But that would be up to the franchisee, rather than being a network-wide policy.

Some shops might provide a private hotspot (not affiliated with any major network) and they would set their own rules for determining access.

 

[gogojuice]

Emails from Rogers

Someone said that rogers is now saying that they are unaware of the pricing.

Well.. its still on there iphone page.

http://www.rogers.com/web/content/wireless-products/iphone_voice_data_packages

I was getting two.. but not anymore

I think Rogers is in for a double wammy.
1. Launch day.. People are going to buy it with media watching...BUT
2. A month later when peoples bill come in and its a monster... the media will be watching too.

I'm going to be watching this one from the side lines for now.

 

[OttawaGuy]

Hopefully, the political groups in Canada are watching.

The parties are looking for "wedge" issues.

I would think that the telecom situation, the new copyright bill and net neutrality issues would be a platform that would attract younger voter's interests.

 

[Phronetix]

I see the thread is losing momentum.

Of course, what Rogers wants is for this to die as a result of the extended long weekend we have this year. Items released on the Friday before a long weekend are notorious for flying under the radar. It is a business strategy to deal with perceived negative news.

What we need to do is make sure that when business returns to normal on Wednesday, that business does not return to normal for Rogers.

 

[cere]

The Hotspot Logo may be everywhere, but the use of Rogers and Fido Hotspot are the only ones allowed.

Rogers Wireless Hotspot :Second Cup, Timothy's, East Side Mario's, Boston Pizza, Rattlesnake Country Club, others


Bell : Starbucks, UPS Store, etc.

But I don't think Fido has any hotspot branding so it's essentially Rogers. I wasn't able to find any Fido Hotspots anyway :


In any case, you shouldn't have to move to your location for furking Wifi! I think this was the basis for the iPhone. So you use the phone, and not worry about the data, which enhances user experience. I hope Apple seriously isn't endorsing this. I know it's not possible, but I hope deep down that Apple didn't know about this. It's the only way I can rationalize buying an Apple product without feeling totally lousy.

You can use any Wifi network that you have access to. Rogers will allow 'free' access to their their hotspots. if you want access to Bell's hotspots or others, then you would have to pay to use them, just as Rogers would change non-subscribers to use their hotspots. (that is if either allows non-subscribers to pay to access)

 

[cere]

I see the thread is losing momentum.

Of course, what Rogers wants is for this to die as a result of the extended long weekend we have this year. Items released on the Friday before a long weekend are notorious for flying under the radar. It is a business strategy to deal with perceived negative news.

What we need to do is make sure that when business returns to normal on Wednesday, that business does not return to normal for Rogers.

Hope everyone is writing to their local and national press outlets. In most cases, a story of high prices for cell access is a non-story, but if enough people write in, maybe they will think it is worth at least some coverage.

 

[cere]

What kind of pricing plans do you guys want to see?

I would like to see something like

$60 includes 350min talk time unlimited Data call display

That would be an ideal starters package for a 3 year contract

I'd like to see:
1) data packages that can be added onto existing voice plans without requiring apply KY first
2) Reasonable prices and features available with the canned iPhone packages. Include call display
3) A real unlimited data plan

 

[Peruchito]

I see the thread is losing momentum.

Of course, what Rogers wants is for this to die as a result of the extended long weekend we have this year. Items released on the Friday before a long weekend are notorious for flying under the radar. It is a business strategy to deal with perceived negative news.

What we need to do is make sure that when business returns to normal on Wednesday, that business does not return to normal for Rogers.

i'm back! i hope everyone enjoyed their weekend. still another day off tomorrow for all canadians, but i figured i keep the fire going..

Lets see what the other carriers of the world are doing?
http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/06/30/the-iphone-in-hong-kong-a-bargain-at-24-a-month/

and compare that to roger's response.
http://www.electronista.com/articles/08/06/27/rogers.defends.iphone.data/

 

[Kordic27]

1) is it a better idea to get an older generation iPhone from ebay now? That's what I'm planning on doing now... forget 3G and just use WiFi.

2) Join the anti-iPhone/Rogers Facebook group!

 

[colemanj4]

i'm back! i hope everyone enjoyed their weekend. still another day off tomorrow for all canadians, but i figured i keep the fire going..

Lets see what the other carriers of the world are doing?
http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/06/30/the-iphone-in-hong-kong-a-bargain-at-24-a-month/

and compare that to roger's response.
http://www.electronista.com/articles/08/06/27/rogers.defends.iphone.data/

I am the "Jason" that posted the comment on the CNN site you linked. I just brought to their attention what it really costs since we have a 3 year contract and need to add in extras to get similar things as ATT. Hopefully that helps a little with getting this horrible word out as well

 

[jerkjosh]

There are talks of protest groups on July 11 at local Rogers locations. I find this hilarious. If I find out that there is no data-less (the $100 DECF cancel method is not confirmed for iphone) approach to get an iphone through Rogers, I will gladly devote some time to the cause. Sounds fun

 

[BigMacIain]

No training

I called Rogers yesterday to find out how the voice element compares with the Canadian One-Rate plan because I need country-wide coverage with no roaming charges. The answer? "Sorry, we haven't had any training on this yet".

 

[seedster2]

It's just a phone people...

While I understand the outrage some may feel about the exhorbitant pricing of iPhone packages, I think you all should calm down a bit.

If you really want to send Rogers a message, don't buy the iphone!

Since Rogers is subsidizing the iPhones they offer, they will adjust the pricing in order to move unsold inventory. Price adjustment will not happen on 7/11 as some of you hope, but it will ultimately happen (e.g. UK price adjustment). Getting the word out is a great first step, but it will all be for nothing when customers still go out and buy it. Vote with your wallets

I think many of the complainers in this thread will still go out and buy the device because of their allegiance to Apple and their thirst for the device. So I think that Rogers has made precisely the right move to satisfy their shareholders and the bottom line. After all, Apple did the same when they initially released the device locked and unsubsidized for $600!! People complained and still bought it. It was only once sales started to flatten did apple miraculously discount the price.

 

[T-Bor]

Jolly Rogers. As in Pirates. As in ram upside your obsession with an iPhone and rob you blind while you are delirious from the smell of the packaging of new technology.

I'm not happy.

 

[Sharkus]

Just thought I'd update the thread with the latest reply I've received from Rogers (you can probably guess what it's going to say )

This was my question:

What is the situation in regards to customers, like myself, who are not currently eligible for an upgrade? I had to replace my handset in January 2008, and thus do not qualify. Will I need to sign a completely new contract if I wish to purchase the iPhone? Does this mean I will have to pay the $400 early cancellation fee as I have more than 20 months left on my existing contract?



Dear Sharkus

Thank you for taking the time to write to us, we appreciate your use of online customer service.

In your recent email, you have informed us that you are interested in the Apple iPhone.

We apologize; at this time, there are no further details available regarding the overall launch of the iPhone including retail availability, functionality and pricing.

We are pleased to have been able to address your inquiry. For additional information please visit our website at www.rogers.com. You are a valued customer and we thank you for your business.

For future email correspondence with respect to this e-mail, please quote reference number 000000000

Regards,
XXXXX X.
Rogers Online Customer Service
http://www.rogers.com

 

[PumaGuy]

iphonerogerswireless@gmail.com; Waste of time...

It's a waste of time sending e-mails to the guy at iphonerogerswireless@gmail.com

Just look at this:

Puma

 

[CrzyCanuck72]

did you honestly think that Rogers uses a GMail address?