Rogers Canada Offers 6GB Data Plan for $30/Month

[GradientMac]

I'm pissed at Apple. First Rogers is screwing us over and then Apple COMPLETELY screws us over. At least we'd be able to damn well GET one when the plans were high! What the hell is this? I was willing to pay the ridiculous prices before to get the damn thing and now I'll never be able to! I'm royally LIVID at Apple.

 

[flashEX]

Maybe its about time people like you realize that in Canada, 3 year contracts are the norm and has been for a LONG time. Rogers isn't going to go about changing that any time soon. The iPhone isn't going to change it.

And besides, if it was a normal phone, would you change it up every year?

I don't know what everybody's issue with the 3 year contract is.

When was the last time you've been without a phone in the last 3 years?

If you answered never, then I don't see your point. Are you not going to have a phone in 3 years from now? As we've seen with 1st generation iPhone providers, when a new iPhone comes along, you'll be able upgrade to it by starting a new contract.

The other good thing is that you can add or remove from your plan whenever you see fit. If in a year their rates go down, you can sign on to those rates.

Prices in Canada (rates and hardware) will only get better from here. When Yak (GSM) hits the market and begins selling the iPhone, watch how fast Rogers adheres to better customer service practices and reduces their rates to become competitive.

3 years might be the norm and to most Canadians but you know what, it used to be 2 years max until Rogers decided that they wanted to offer free phones for 3 year contracts. lo and behold, Robbers are selling more phones to some new customers and given them ideas 3 years is the norm to most consumers. As the years goes by this became the norm. 3 years is a LONG time for technological evolutions ( especially for cell phones. it is one of the fastest ever-changing piece of technology out there.). You might argue that some ppl. don't change their phone in the 3 year span, but that's because mobile phones are priced in a way, people can't consume new technology because of these 3 year restrictions. Like it or not,this is the sad reality of the mobile telecom crisis in Canada with Rogers being a monopoly in the GSM market.

I change phones about every 12 to 18 months and I don't want to be treated like dirt because Robbers/Fido know I am locked down for 3 years. If it was 1 year contract, I am more than happy to sign. 2 yrs, maybe, but still red light goes on, 3 yrs is a fist up mr Roger's butt. Imagine in 18 months a new GSM provider is here and you are locked in still and can't take advantage of the reduced prices. That's why I will never sign a contract that long, especially not even knowing what technology advancement will come in 1 year and beyond.

and to ipedro's comment, if you want to remove something off a Rogers/Fido voice plan it's $50 service charge. Sometimes they play nice if you beg them but the key is you have to BEG them to waive that fee. After they do you that favor, you will feel like they have treated you to a fine dining meal. In reality, you should be cursing them and should be no charge in the first place!!

 

[gavinauzzie]

Aussie Prices

its so bloody annoying..

the prices are so different in each country.. im not convinced at all yet in buying one in australia. Might have to stick my Ipod to phone.. and go on a cheap phone plan..

very disappointed in the prices telstra, optus and Vodafone have released...


i think an australian petition against to get the 6GB over here would be good...!

 

[queshy]

Besides the differences you noted there is one big one. In order to get all of Rogers coverage it will cost you $5 extra, otherwise when you are outside of Fidos original coverage (what they had before Rogers bought them) you will be charged extra.



I wonder how that works on a family plan? Would both phones be subsidized?

Damn, looks like I'll be going with Rogers then.

Question: does rogers have the same plan? 20$ /month for 200 minutes anytime?

 

[CalmEnvy]

I may actually get an iPhone now since I just got a job. Meaning I could sign up before August 31st and get the 6GB of data for $30.

 

[goosnarrggh]

Damn, looks like I'll be going with Rogers then.

Question: does rogers have the same plan? 20$ /month for 200 minutes anytime?

Rogers has a Mega Time 20 plan that costs $20 per month for 200 daytime minutes and unlimited nights and weekends.

$6.95 SAF and $0.50 (or more depending on your province) 911 fees are mandatory additional costs.

Voicemail, caller ID, outgoing texting, etc are all optional additional costs.

 

[ipedro]

3 years might be the norm and to most Canadians but you know what, it used to be 2 years max until Rogers decided that they wanted to offer free phones for 3 year contracts. lo and behold, Robbers are selling more phones to some new customers and given them ideas 3 years is the norm to most consumers. As the years goes by this became the norm. 3 years is a LONG time for technological evolutions ( especially for cell phones. it is one of the fastest ever-changing piece of technology out there.). You might argue that some ppl. don't change their phone in the 3 year span, but that's because mobile phones are priced in a way, people can't consume new technology because of these 3 year restrictions. Like it or not,this is the sad reality of the mobile telecom crisis in Canada with Rogers being a monopoly in the GSM market.

I change phones about every 12 to 18 months and I don't want to be treated like dirt because Robbers/Fido know I am locked down for 3 years. If it was 1 year contract, I am more than happy to sign. 2 yrs, maybe, but still red light goes on, 3 yrs is a fist up mr Roger's butt. Imagine in 18 months a new GSM provider is here and you are locked in still and can't take advantage of the reduced prices. That's why I will never sign a contract that long, especially not even knowing what technology advancement will come in 1 year and beyond.

and to ipedro's comment, if you want to remove something off a Rogers/Fido voice plan it's $50 service charge. Sometimes they play nice if you beg them but the key is you have to BEG them to waive that fee. After they do you that favor, you will feel like they have treated you to a fine dining meal. In reality, you should be cursing them and should be no charge in the first place!!

I don't say that you won't change your phone in 3 years, I'm saying that most likely, you'll go 3 years uninterrupted with a phone. The contract only means you stay with Rogers for that long. If you weren't with Rogers, you'd be giving your money to somebody else.

With regards to changing your plan, I got the impression from looking at the site when logging in that you can do that yourself. You can add a plan to your contract and then remove your previous one. I've done this with my cable plan and it looks to be the same with wireless.

In another related subject, if David McGuinty's proposal comes into law, we'll have unlocked phones, no monthly system access fees and no contracts. If this law comes into effect, we'll finally see some real competition benefits come into play. The telcos will have to earn your business every day, not every 3 years.

 

[flashEX]

I don't say that you won't change your phone in 3 years, I'm saying that most likely, you'll go 3 years uninterrupted with a phone. The contract only means you stay with Rogers for that long. If you weren't with Rogers, you'd be giving your money to somebody else.

With regards to changing your plan, I got the impression from looking at the site when logging in that you can do that yourself. You can add a plan to your contract and then remove your previous one. I've done this with my cable plan and it looks to be the same with wireless.

In another related subject, if David McGuinty's proposal comes into law, we'll have unlocked phones, no monthly system access fees and no contracts. If this law comes into effect, we'll finally see some real competition benefits come into play. The telcos will have to earn your business every day, not every 3 years.

Last time I removed the fido to fido option from the plan, Fido ( Rogers ), they said they will charge me $50 because i was on a 2 yr agreement. Later it was waived since they were playing the good-will card with me. This was through customer service through 611. I sounded like a f*cking begger at the end but wtf? I am the customer, I am their boss, I am feeding them my cash.

As I said before, the only reason why you would ever go 3 years without changing a phone is because you are tied down like a b*tch and c*ck slapped by Mr Rogers. You have to either renew your love with the company or pay hefty exit fees. For example, my friend found a job south of the border and he spent $300+ buying out the last 3rd of his 3 year agreement. It comes down to freedom of choice. We so dearly lack that here in Canada. If David McGuinty's proposal does ever go through as Law, I will be in front of every rogers office and moon them with the bill number on both my butt cheek!

 

[bobbleheadbob]

I thought the big fuss was over the lack of an unlimited data plan. Seems to me that still hasn't been addressed. It's nice that they gave in to public pressure (although at the cost of a 3rd year guarantee), but the fact is that there will still be some people for whom 6GB is not enough and that having any cap will require many people to monitor their data usage -- which is something I think most people would rather not spend time worrying about. I know I wouldn't want to.

I think they still don't get it. Sorry, Canada.

 

[jameslwood]

Data rates - Outside your 'home' area

So I just talked to FIDO to enquire about my voice and data iPhone options as I live in an area where I am frequently outside of my 'home' area = long distance voice charges (I CANNOT believe we do not have a National cell phone plan like in the US...arrrrg).

So, FIDO they said that data rates are .05 cents per Kilobyte when you are outside your home 'area'!!!! WHAT???? This is impossible as the data rates would be astronomical @.05/KB.

Has anyone been charged for data (on any smartphone) outside their 'home' area?

 

[Chef Medeski]

Question: Rogers vs. Fido? Are the networks the same? Is the only difference that Fido has per second billing + evenings start at 7? Or am I missing something? I understand it's just left pocket/ right pocket for Rogers, but there must be somethign else?

Networks are the same. Yup, Fido is better in those terms. Plus Fido has better service and better personnel I find in my personal opinion.

 

[!¡ V ¡!]

Rogers has a Mega Time 20 plan that costs $20 per month for 200 daytime minutes and unlimited nights and weekends.

$6.95 SAF and $0.50 (or more depending on your province) 911 fees are mandatory additional costs.

Voicemail, caller ID, outgoing texting, etc are all optional additional costs.

My phone plan with Bell give me the following:

200 min daytime
unlimited weeknights starting at 6 pm ends at 8 am (no extra charge)
unlimited weekends.
100 long distance North America anytime
Call Display/ Caller ID
Voice Mail
3 Way calling

Taxes included 33 CAD a month. Can Rogers or any other mobile SP match that.

 

[ipedro]

As I said before, the only reason why you would ever go 3 years without changing a phone is because you are tied down like a b*tch and c*ck slapped by Mr Rogers. You have to either renew your love with the company or pay hefty exit fees. For example, my friend found a job south of the border and he spent $300+ buying out the last 3rd of his 3 year agreement.

Ok, it seems that we have a communication problem.. lol... let me try to use different language:

What I'm saying is that odds are that within the next 3 years you will have a phone at all, any phone, even if you switch your hardware every 6 months.

You'll have a phone service for 3 years regardless of the hardware.

So why be so afraid of a 3 year plan? It's not like you're going to stop using a phone and be unable to communicate with your family, friends and work contacts.

I'm signing this 3 year contract with Rogers. Odds are, within 3 years, I'll still need to be using a phone regardless if I've switched my hardware often.

 

[ipedro]

Last time I removed the fido to fido option from the plan, Fido ( Rogers ), they said they will charge me $50 because i was on a 2 yr agreement. Later it was waived since they were playing the good-will card with me. This was through customer service through 611. I sounded like a f*cking begger at the end but wtf? I am the customer, I am their boss, I am feeding them my cash.

I often switch my plan according to my needs and I've never been asked for a fee to do so. Very odd that you would.

Just today, I switched my BlackBerry $75 plan to a Mega30 Incoming plan in anticipation of getting an iPhone on Friday. Nobody asked me for any switch fee.

I just went back to my account page on Rogers.com and there are options to add and remove services. Go check for yourself.

 

[rkertesz]

Ok, it seems that we have a communication problem.. lol... let me try to use different language:

What I'm saying is that odds are that within the next 3 years you will have a phone at all, any phone, even if you switch your hardware every 6 months.

You'll have a phone service for 3 years regardless of the hardware.

So why be so afraid of a 3 year plan? It's not like you're going to stop using a phone and be unable to communicate with your family, friends and work contacts.

I'm signing this 3 year contract with Rogers. Odds are, within 3 years, I'll still need to be using a phone regardless if I've switched my hardware often.

Yes, but if new players show up in the marketplace in the next 12 to 18 months as some industry experts anticipate then you are stuck with Rogers for another 18 to 24 months.

 

[RJones]

2 Questions:

1) Can we get an iPhone without a data plan (only voice).

2) Can we get an iPhone without a data plan and have data disabled so that no data charges may be incurred.

 

[ipedro]

Yes, but if new players show up in the marketplace in the next 12 to 18 months as some industry experts anticipate then you are stuck with Rogers for another 18 to 24 months.

That's true, however, the good news is that when these new players show up, every consumer will benefit, not just the ones willing to change providers.

Rogers, Bell and Telus (along with Koodo and the other quasi telco's) will have to drop their rates to compete and will have to keep up that customer satisfaction in order to retain customers.

 

[Cobalt`]

So I just stopped in at a rogers store on my way home from work to confirm all this stuff. So to summarize what i asked and found out is

- can use any voice plan available
- can add $30 of 6GB data on to that for whole contract
- must have plan of $60+ to get phone at subsidized price
- phone price is paid day of not on your monthly bill later

So ya im excited im thinking of getting their $30 unlimited incoming calls and unlimited evenings and weekends with 150 minutes then adding $11 value pack with 125 text + voicemail + call display + some other stuff i dont care about. and then this $30 6GB data. for a total of $71 plus other fees and tax but that sounds pretty good to me fits my phone use perfectly and gives me way more data then id use.

you only get the $11 (it says $15 on the site...) value pack ONLY with the "iphone voice + data plan" - you get 53% off because your getting them as a set thats what they say on the site anyway, otherwise you get it for $26. you also forgot the $35 Activation fee, $6.95 monthly system access fee ($250 for your entire contract period)..


$26 + $60 + $35 + $6.95 > $71
$26 + $60 + $6.95 > $71

and the price doesn't even include taxes yet ^^

 

[canadianpj]

L

How "limited" is this? Why are they not keeping this as a solution for someone who buys the phone six months from now or something like that. I get the feeling they'll yank the 6GB plan as soon as people stop paying attention. I would and never have trusted Rogers so it would not surprise me much.

 

[Cobalt`]

2 Questions:

1) Can we get an iPhone without a data plan (only voice).

2) Can we get an iPhone without a data plan and have data disabled so that no data charges may be incurred.

Get an ipod touch and use your current phone is that what your asking for?

 

[rkertesz]

That's true, however, the good news is that when these new players show up, every consumer will benefit, not just the ones willing to change providers.

Rogers, Bell and Telus (along with Koodo and the other quasi telco's) will have to drop their rates to compete and will have to keep up that customer satisfaction in order to retain customers.

I wouldn't count on them dropping their prices for a while. They will have many people locked in for another 18 to 24 months with little motivation to reduce costs for existing customers. I'm sure they will find a way to have special sign up plans to attract new customers but for those still on contract I am fairly certain we would be hosed. That's the way all of them work.

 

[stakis]

Temporary Band-Aid

C'mon Guys... you're missing the big picture.... The fact that this expires August 31st is a big slap... they're just giving people this 6gb to get huge sales in the first 2 months and then screwing everyone else after the 31st.... Its a win for Rogers because they won't support 6gb the whole way through.... With that, I'm still not sold July 11th..

people buying in September and so on, should get the same deal. This shouldn't be a promotion, it should be the norm.

 

[spaz8]

Easy

How "limited" is this? Why are they not keeping this as a solution for someone who buys the phone six months from now or something like that. I get the feeling they'll yank the 6GB plan as soon as people stop paying attention. I would and never have trusted Rogers so it would not surprise me much.

They want your money now. A dollar on July 11 is worth more than a dollar in september cuz it has had 2 months to collect interest. Before a new carrier shows up with the iphone. To pay for all the iphones they bought from apple, they dont wanna eat that for x months, they want their money back asap. To mitigate the risk of their investment, keep the share price steady etc.

 

[Wakakanada]

I get the feeling they'll yank the 6GB plan as soon as people stop paying attention.

Isn't it more likely that Rogers always intended to drop the price after the "early adopter penalty" that iPhone bloggers have grown to love? Rogers probably always had a data increase in their business plan to kick in after initial stock availability caught up to demand. Our complaining has just accelerated the discount scenario seen last summer in the US when Apple did it's price drop. I mean, really, would anybody actually buy an iPhone in September if they couldn't get at least as good a deal as offered to early adopters? I think not.

 

[Animalk]

Those ridiculous "Rogers Iphone 3G" plans still remain. Rogers/Fido are still charging ridiculous rates all across the board. Offering 6GB for 30$ per month is a step in the right direction but it is nowhere near to solving the problem. It reminds of American car companies offering free gas with the purchase of a gas guzzling monster of a car. Has anyone even bothered at looking at the voice plans of rogers/fido pre-iphone? It's almost just as sad.

There is absolutely no reason why the Canadian plans should be so different then the ones offered in the United States. We should be much much closer then we currently are. No excuse for it.

I will not be purchasing/signing up/upgrading nothing with the current state of things.