Many Canadians Dissatisfied with Rogers Wireless iPhone Pricing

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Many Canadians Dissatisfied with Rogers Wireless iPhone Pricing

6:30 am on June 30, 2008 | Category: Business, Telecom Services, Mobile Devices, Wireless, Cell Phones

Rogers Wireless, the Canadian cell phone carrier set to launch Apple’s iPhone device on July 11, has finally released pricing details for the long-awaited device, but not all consumers are happy about what they see.

iPhone service plans, which include unlimited calling on evenings and weekends, will range in price from $60/month (for 150 daytime minutes and 400MB of mobile data usage) to $115 (for 800 minutes and 2GB of data). All plans include unlimited Wi-Fi access within Rogers and Fido hotspots.

The main drawback of Rogers’ plan is a severe lack of flexibility in terms of both service and pricing. Unlimited mobile data access (which is available in the U.S. for an extra $30) is not available in Canada.

And unlike other countries, where a variety of purchase and contract options are available, Canadian customers must sign a three-year service contract to purchase the device. Furthermore, it is impossible to mix and match voice and data plans, or obtain a discount on an iPhone device by ordering a more expensive plan.

“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,” said Info-Tech Research Group analyst, Michelle Warren, noting that Rogers had chosen to charge a premium for the coveted handset. “Rates should be going down, they shouldn’t be going up, and these are expensive rates.”

Dissatisfied Canadian consumers are currently circulating a petition, to express “indignation” towards Rogers. Located at RuinedIphone.com, it has already received more than 15,000 signatures.

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I must say i was at first very excited at the opportunity for an iphone. but when Rogersa rleeasef thier pricing plans i was apauled. Wicked canada has 1 provider capable of providing the iphone.. and its good ole price gouging rogers. these prices are ludacris! like seriously? 400MB? thats nothing when you think about it. u can brun through that with a couple of sessions on google maps.

the only thing that is keeping me interested in the iphone is that rogers has no Deal with apple, which means other carriers may be popping up offering much better service, such as something similar to koodo.

another Option is to order an Australian version of the iphone as they come Unlocked out of the box and just a get a normal data plan.

Comment by Dave — June 30, 2008 #
Rogers is a monopoly, straight and simple!
I wanted the iphone but I think im just gonna wait until another provider brings it, then I will move everything from Rogers to the next provider.

Haris

Comment by Haris — June 30, 2008 #
The best form of protest, in this case, is to simply resist purchasing the Rogers/iPhone package in its current form. Rogers could care less how much moaning and complaining you make when you had them up to $5400 over three years. They will mind, however, when nobody signs up.

I can resist. Can you?

Comment by stephen — June 30, 2008 #
Yeah, those plans totally suck. They should’ve cut the price in half.

Comment by mark — June 30, 2008 #
SMart people will just stick to Bell and use their $30 per month unlimited data plan. Its a beautiful thing and the only way Rogers can do well with the iphone would be to do the same.

Comment by tanner — June 30, 2008 #
Rogers Rule!

Comment by amit — June 30, 2008 #
ROGERS SCREWS CANADIANS… AGAIN!

I hope the iPhone launch in Canada is a COMPLETE FAILURE while being a huge success everywhere else!

BOYCOTT ROGERS!!!

Comment by Steph — June 30, 2008 #
Rogers has done it again! No UNLIMITED Data plan for iPhone

Well Rogers has done it again, showing it’s yellow monopolistic teeth! 2GB of Data per month with the $115 Package? This is highway robbery! Are these corporate bloodsuckers for real?

All this is stemming from he fact that there are no competition for Rogers in Canada! No other GSM Service Provider! I was planning to at least buy 3 iPhone 3Gs, but I changed my mind! No iPhone till Rogers stops this draconian pricing for their data plan! What is hard to understand is this: Why Rogers has such a problem with DATA? Why? At least can they stop issuing decrees and actually explain to their clients why they are so stingy with their data bandwidth? May be also explain to us why the majority of Service Providers selling iPhone can sell their phones with an unlimited data plan?

Only 2GB a Month? This is a disgrace and it shows what Rogers really thinks about their Canadian Customers! They truly think that we are stupid & ignorant and that we neither know - nor are we capable of learning anything! Well I have news for you, Rogers: WE ARE NOT! I am canceling my plans for purchasing 3 iPhone 3G, until they offer UNLIMITED Data Plan! I am sure that most people, after finding out what Rogers is really doing, will cancel their plans as well. So I guess it was all for nothing to wait a full year for the arrival of iPhone to Canada!

Knowing about Rogers underhanded decision not to offer UNLIMITED data plan, Apple should have NEVER given iPhone sells rights to Rogers in the first place! Unlimited Data has been the cornerstone of Apple’s agreement for allowing a Service Provider to sell iPhone. Rogers held out for a full year, knowing that they have the monopoly on GSM market, and Apple gave up, which is very uncharacteristic of Apple. I guess Apple doesn’t care about their it’s Canadian Clients either!

Comment by PooPsTech — June 30, 2008 #
Why can’t canadian cell phone companies crawl out of their cave and join the rest of the world in the 21st century???? I am so sick and tired of getting ripped off, while the rest of the world uses open GSM cell phones that are totally portable, and CHEAP!!! When will the marketing GURUS realize that offering options and flexibility coupled with affordable prices will actually make them MORE MONEY?? I currently use Rogers, as both Bell and Telus suck as well, but will not upgrade to the iPhone that I’ve been looking forward to since the keynote that introduced it until they get their head of of their ‘@&&’ and treat us like human beings. I honor contracts so as soon as I’m done with Rogers…Koodo here I come.

Comment by Ken C — July 14, 2008 #