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Still sucks...but at least it's better

Jul 09, 08 - 10:16 am Comment from: HMCIV

I'm shocked that Rogers gave ground. (Or to quote Barbra Walters: "Howly CWAP!")

Jul 09, 08 - 10:17 am Comment from: jtc

being promotional... how long after till they up the price?

Jul 09, 08 - 10:19 am Comment from: ron

Oh Canad - Ah. That's better - a bit.

Unlike others, with Apple, the phone MAKER is in charge, not the ignorant greedy invisible radio carrier. We know who wears the pants in the iPhone family, now don't we?

With that 6Gb - $30/month offering for 3 years, I wander if existing 1st generation iPhone users will be able add that to their existing voice plans. It's no different. It would be fair to do so. I will call on the weekend or Monday and see if I'll get a Dummy CSR who will give, if not I will keep calling until Dummy caves in. trust me, it happens.

Hope they do the same in Mexico's Telcel.....

I guess Apple will now need to re-direct those Europe-bound iPhones BACK to Canada...

MW: I guess us Canadians have SHOWN Rogers....

Jul 09, 08 - 10:31 am Comment from: G4Dualie

The operative word here is promotional.

What does it matter how good this sounds if the promotional prices expire in three months and you've just signed a three-year contract?

Jul 09, 08 - 10:33 am Comment from: January 24, 1984

History in the making.

Jul 09, 08 - 10:33 am Comment from: Botvinnik

uh it was Steve-o taking iPhones out of Canadian Apple Stores that pushed Rogers off their greedy ass.

Jul 09, 08 - 10:35 am Comment from: Roberto

MDN Take please? So I don't have to analyze all that CorpSpeak.

Jul 09, 08 - 10:35 am Comment from: jarrettdailynews

Yes, you Canadians really showed Rogers. Good luck with those 3 years contracts.

If you really want to show Rogers, don't buy the iPhone until they are willing to play nice. Apple doesn't have much patience for company's not representing their products the way Apple likes.

Jul 09, 08 - 10:35 am Comment from: Botvinnik

Lo! Behold the power of the almighty Steve-o!

This is a promotional price that will be valid for a short period of time and will not carry you through till the end of your VERY lengthy commitment time (the longest commitment in the world, clocking in at 3 years).
It is the old "Oh my god! If the rollout fails here in Canada, we will be the laughing stock of the whole world!" (as in the fact that it might be the ONLY place where the initial introduction of the iPhone is NOT a success).
So, to avoid that international embaressament, they decided to offer a special "introductory" price, to help them get this thing rolling.

It is temporary, it is still far from what they could charge while maintaining vast profit margins and most of all, it is designed to help Rogers save face in the international arena and thus avoid the potential future scrutiny of the sleepy Canadian lawmakers (who for the most part like playing golf with big Ted).

Sorry to pour some cold water of reality over this premature happiness - this is only cynical manipulation.

Canadians will never be free of Rogers's dominance of so many facets of the Canadian economy...
(mostly because Canadian by nature just submit and never really complain or become active...)

A limited promotional offer? That's not good enough. I hope everyone boycotts them. -- And I'm not even Canadian and I don't even have an iPhone!

if it's 6GB for $30/mth and a 24 month contract, we can start talking.

They say the 30$ a month can be added to, and I quote "any in-market voice plan".

They offer pay by card (if you don't use your phone that much) and also $25 a month plan (if you still don't use it that much!).

Would that make the Roger plan the lowest available plan on the planet??

Even at 3 year contract, it's still $55 (or even less if you get the pay by card) of course plus taxes and other crap that we HAVE TO pay.

If that's the case... wow! Now that's an attractive offer.

...there must me a catch...

Jul 09, 08 - 10:43 am Comment from: mike k.

the way i read "introductory" "and promotional" i understood the deal to be $30/month for the life of the contract as long you sign up by Aug 31st. After that date this deal will no longer be available and higher rates will apply.

It should have been no contract to add data to your existing voice plan. In 3 years that plan may be $10 a month unlimited and you'll be stuck with this crap. Oh Well, I'll be richer than you think.

In Canada a promotional offer runs for the time of the contract. The promotion expires at the end of August not the deal you have made. The package will continue for the length of the contract. I personally believe this has all been about hype all along. What a way to create more promotion for your product. Create ridiculous prices for your product, lower it slightly and the masses will come. I guarantee the promotion won't expire in August and will become the norm for the iphone. Simply add $30 to any existing Rogers Plan for Iphone. Doing it this way also allows them to save face from their original starting point. They didn't revise the plans they added different ways to get there based on listening to their customer. In Canada I wouldn't be surprised if the original pricing was somewhat placating to RIM. When Rogers realized how many people they could get with the adjustment in price they decided the RIM maker can't get them the additional 100-200K subscribers that the Iphone can. Rogers has always been one of the first with the RIM product as the strong connection in Canada between the two companies. Rogers definitely has had to play this one carefully as the old rule goes: Don't piss in your own backyard!

No word if this breaks the free WiFi offer and visual voicemail like the other mix and match plans...Be verrrry wary of this, people...

Who wrote that crap? Does anyone here write marketing drivel? And if so would you like to justify your continued survival?

MW Activity, as in not much brain activity in the marketing department

Roger's web site is having difficulty!

Too little, too late.

This was a feeble attempt to save face. It looks like it worked though for a couple suckers on this board who actually think this is a good deal.

Bring the plans in line with the US and then we'll talk. I can't believe Apple allowed its customers to be screwed over like this.

Pathetic is the only word I can use to describe this. They still have the longest plan term in the world. Where does anyone think their iPhone will be in 3 years? Will it still work? Will the battery charge? How many generations behind will the iPhone 3G be behind?

Jul 09, 08 - 11:02 am Comment from: theloniousMac

We can act smug, but U.S. plans are basically robbery also.

Jul 09, 08 - 11:05 am Comment from: The Other Steve

So, will Apple remove their iPhones from Apple Canada stores come August 31?

If we appease the protesters and make them go away, we can still sock it to everyone else who signs up after August 31!

I can't blame this all on Rogers. As a current customer of Rogers I know their products are suspect in quality, their customer service is terrible, and their coverage is the worst. But now one of my favorite companies is ganging up with them to stick it to me.

For me, some of the shine is gone from the Apple. What it should do is publicly say they are disgusted with Rogers, distance themselves explicitly, or at least pull the iPhone from Canada now until another carrier can be found.

MDN word: enough as in "enough already"

Doesn't sound like the guys running Rogers have a clue...

The Canadians can stop their bitching now that their iPhone data plan is better than the one offered by AT&T;in the United States. That "unlimited data" plan from AT&T;is soft capped at 5GB.

Yes, Apple is 'ganging up' on its own customers to screw you Canadians out of your money.
Oh good grief.

This is Apple's first attempt at a cell phone. First attempt at dealing with multiple telcom companies in a wide variety of countries and cultures.

Also, if Rogers is soooooo bad, WHY ARE YOU A CUSTOMER????
That's like complaining about politicians when YOU voted them in, or whining about a car YOU bought.

Get a grip.

Jul 09, 08 - 11:25 am Comment from: CanuckMac

.... here's a possible catch....

(from Rogers Data Plans fine print )
"Emails sent/received with an unsupported domain or via a web browser (not using the Windows Mobile email messaging service) are not eligible and will be deducted from the bucket of MB included with your selected option."

So, if I send an email with attachment to any email address that is not on the Rogers list - essentially major commercial email servers... hmmn doesn't include Apple yet! .... it's not free and will eat into my 6GB allotment with overage at .50 per MB.

May not be an issue at all, but I'm always skeptical when restrictions are created to essentially generate additional revenue.

The above may not apply with the iPhone, only time will tell. The first month bill will tell the tale!

Reuters has updated their article about this for a second time about 15 minutes ago.
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idCAN0939174520080709?rpc=44

Jul 09, 08 - 11:54 am Comment from: Woody

Not good enough, Rogers. Yup, everyone noticed the word "promotional." Asshats.

Canadian buds: don't cave yet till you get what you want and deserve!

......nice start, keep going.....

Happy to see the strong arm of  have an effect.

However, I still plan to boycott.

Lots of confusion here - Rogers contracts have always been 3 years; this isnt a new thing.

Email only from 'windows mobile'? I think not - email and websites is all DATA - comes out of your 6gb.

Reality:

6gb is WAY TOO MUCH for 99% of people - it would be better if they had dropped the CALLS pricing ripoff.

Used an iPhone for the last 9 months on Rpogers - my data use is approx. 40 mb per month.

Its NOT your main computer, for fricks sake.

Someone reminded them that REAL data use is low, and that offering 6gb that will NEVER be used is a marketing red herring - and most of the saps have fallen for it.

But they still won't let me buy one and give them extra money because I upgraded my phone less than a year ago!

Jul 09, 08 - 12:26 pm Comment from: Brau

as a limited time promotional offer for customers who activate by August 31.

Not much of a gamble on Roger's part. Everyone knows they won't have many iPhones at launch and six-weeks back order isn't out of the ordinary for Apple, meaning most customers will never make the Aug31 activation date.

Candians, DON"T buy an iPhone until Roger's lowers their prices. It's the only way to force their greedy hands.

dont be stupid people. its a phone. 6 gb is almost unlimited! it matches the USA. if u use 6gb unlimited in 30 days on an iPhone you need HELP!
Way to Go ROGERS!

How about this Robbers, 2GB for $10, added to any existing plan and cut the 3yr contract down. I`ll get one on the 11th.

FACTS:

1) The $30/6GB will last for the 3 year term
2) 3 year terms are too long but more standard in Canada
3) If in 1 year (or anytime during your contract) the data plan drops (say $10/6GB as one reader suggests) then you can just lower your plan at no cost. However, if your combined Voice/Data drops below $30 per month, there is a $50 charge. Standard stuff.
4) iPhone plan cancelation fee is as yet unknown but Roger's states:

"Data Early Cancellation Fee
The Data Early Cancellation Fee more fully described in your Wireless Service Agreement does not apply to the iPhone Voice & Data Packages."

This only applies to their special iPhone voice/data packages and not individual voice/data packages (ie. adding the $30/6GB package to your existing voice package and transferring to the iPhone)

5) No one know the early contract termination fees (I believe these are legislated?)
6) Most current iPhone users normally don't even push 300MB/month but power users could push 600MB. With faster 3G browsing, this could double but you are still looking at 600MB - 1.2GB. 6GB is huge and ample. The uncertainty will come with App Store downloads (capped at 10MB/App over data) or iTunes music downloads. I would be surprised to see people hit more than 2GB. Again, 6GB is massive.
7) If you take advantage of the $30/6GB plan and attach to a voice plan pricing is quite good:

a) Mega time plans
i) $30 for 200 minutes + unlimited evening weekend
ii) $35 for 250 minutes + unlimited evening weekend
iii) $40 for 350 minutes + unlimited evening weekend
iv) $25 for 250 anytime minutes

These rates change the range from $55 for 250 minutes + 6GB data to $70 for 350 minutes + 6GB data. AT&T;charges $70 for 450 minutes + unlimited data. Rogers customers can then add the Smartphone plan to get 2500 text messages for $15 while AT&T;charges $15 for 1500.

Am I missing something or (using the Rogers promotional pricing) are we not comparable to AT&T;now? The key to this is people understanding 6GB is going to be nearly impossible to touch.

My biggest complaint is Rogers lack of an international data roaming plan.

Apple discussion board on iPhone data usage:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1563648&tstart=0

Jul 09, 08 - 12:43 pm Comment from: KingMel

@ Middilay
"What a way to create more promotion for your product. Create ridiculous prices for your product, lower it slightly and the masses will come."

The parallel with the original iPhone rollout struck me as I read your post. Although Apple waited a few weeks after the rollout to lower the price of the iPhone and followed up with Apple Store rebates, the overall effect on consumer interest and publicity appears to be similar.

People really need to wait for the official announcement and read the fine print on this one. It looks good when you read "6GB for $30" but early indications are this is still a calculated rip-off.

The data increase is separate of the iPhone plans so you will be paying more for voice, SMS, messages etc.

Bottom line is that it's still a three-year lock in and it will cost you roughly $90 a month for what costs $60 with AT&T;. Add-in the hidden fees and taxes and you are going to be paying OVER $110 A MONTH FOR THREE YEARS, just to use this phone.

Prices will likely shake out a bit later, but you are still pretty much a sucker if you are thinking of walking into Rogers on day one of the new deal.

That's why it's a "promotion" and not an actual plan, right? Think about it, and do the math. Rogers is basically just dangling a bit of cheese here, nothing has really changed.

Forgot to add...

The whole point is that they are trying to overcome the customers resistance to walking into the store on the first day. This is not about giving you a good deal, it's about countering the bad PR and making the launch a success. The Promotional plan can be changed or deleted at any time, and what they want is you locked in for three years before they do that.

Hmmmm.... Too little, too late, and VERY suspicious. I'd take a very, very careful look at the fine print of the contract. Do they really want to insult our intelligence by thinking that we don't notice the fine print and the add-ons?

Anyway, who wants to be locked into a long contract? Where's the price for a month-to-month contract, unlimited data?

Come on Rogers, realise that people move, and give them an reason to stay with you. It's so much cheaper to keep a customer than get one. Let's make the Canadian contract more like U.S. and European ones.

How about something radical? Make us pay for our 'phones and then pay reasonably for what we get from you: 1) set up (ONCE); 2) traffic (it's ALL data, these days). Amortise your infrastructure costs into the traffic plans, to simplify the life of your customers. When the plan says $x/month, that should be the bottom line each month. So simple, it's too complex for Rogers' marketers.

Jul 09, 08 - 01:27 pm Comment from: Frank

@Ottawa Mark,
while Visual VoiceMail and text msging are included in the 60$+ plans they are extra with this so-called "We Listened To the Customer" plan
From Electronista

Users will also be able to upgrade to the iPhone 3G, according to the company, and should be purchasable online. However, Visual Voicemail is considered separate from the data plan and will cost an additional $8 per month, as will text messages. Subscribers can still order these individually or as part of value packs.

Again, while I a far, far, far from a fan of anything Rogers, The iPhone can be had for $25 voice for 250 minutes + $30/6GB or $55/month.

All you yuckleheads that bring in the taxes, system access fees, 911 fees etc. have a point on looking at a month to month cost but they apply to ANY cell plan in Canada. They are above and beyond Rogers/Telus/Bell. So if you remove them from the discussion, iPhone plans for 250 minutes + essentially unlimited data (6GB) costs only $55 which places Rogers ironically amongst some of the best plans available internationally.

Did I just say that? I think I am going to go visit a shrink right now.

$70 for 350 minutes + essentially unlimited data (6GB)
$85 for 350 minutes + essentially unlimited data (6GB) + 2500 text messages, Call Display, 1000 MMS (if Apple ever supports it), WhoCalled (allows you to see who called when your cell was turned off)

These are pretty good compared to most International plans. When the promo deal goes though we are back to square one.