June 29th, 2008
Canadians Petition Against Rogers iPhone Rates
By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews
In the U.S., despite the fact that the price for the iPhone 3G is less than the price for the iPhone, you will end up paying more when you take into account the higher price for the data plan and the no-longer-included SMS plan. That’s bad enough, but compare it to the O2 plan, and they get a free iPhone 3G despite paying less for a comparable service plan. Jealous much? Yet, Rogers users in Canada, after waiting over a year for any iPhone, are in worse shape.
On Friday Rogers revealed specifics for the services plans for the upcoming iPhone 3G. One look at them and Canadians became quite angry. The fact of the matter is, I would think Apple would look askance at it as well. Why? Take a look at the differences:
A mandatory three-year contract. O2 offers an 18-month contract and throws in the iPhone for free. The U.S. (AT&T) has a two-year contract.
In the U.S., AT&T offers 450 minutes of voice, unlimited data and 200 SMS messages. But for Rogers …
- $60: 150 minutes of calls, with unlimited evenings and weekends; 400 MB of data; 75 sent SMS messages, with unlimited incoming text messages and visual voicemail messages.
- $75: 300 minutes of calls, 750 MB data and 100 sent SMS messages.
- $100: 600 minutes of calls with 1 GB of data and 200 sent SMS messages.
- $115: 800 minutes of calls, 2 GB of data and 300 sent SMS messages.
No plan offers unlimited data, and that’s the biggest complaint. Despite what people say about AT&T prices (including me), these prices have created a megastorm of reactions, including a petition at RuinediPhone.com.
The site intends to send a petition to Rogers on July 11th, the day the iPhone 3G is available, and also to send a letter to Steve Jobs. The letter to Jobs is already written, and says:
Dear Steve,
My name is James and I would like to thank you for creating the wonderful iPhone device. We really think that you will change the world with it, just as you changed the world with the iPod. We were so happy to learn that on July 11th, we would finally be able to buy the iPhone and legally use it in Canada.
To our great disappointment, Rogers Communications Inc. has announced VERY unfair rates in comparison to AT&T in the United States and to other authorized wireless service providers around the world. As a result, a consumer movement was born yesterday (June 27th) in protest against these rates.
Nearly 6,000 people have signed an online petition to help make a difference and the list is growing rapidly. In the last 48 hours, the website has had 40,000 unique visitors from around the world supporting Canadian consumers. There are a vast number of Canadians that would take the opportunity to buy an iPhone at $199CAD but these new plans have put it out of reach for many.
I would like to invite you to take a look at all these disappointed people at www.ruinediphone.com.
I was going to buy an iPhone for me, my girlfriend and my family.
Now, sadly, I cannot afford the plan.
I hope you can do something Steve; we are loyal customers and trust that you will. We don’t want to lose faith in Apple.
Thank you,
James Hallen
Representing nearly 6,000 Canadian consumers.
He needs to rewrite that last sentence: the site has over 14,000 signatories at the time of this writing. Any Canadian readers out there: has this pricing info changed your mind about the iPhone? I’ll tell you, if I heard this type of pricing info for AT&T, I’d stay away as well.
同声传译 says:
3G iPhone will be published on July 11th. Waiting…
June 29th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Sebicas says:
Yep… I totally changed my mind about buying an iPhone… I also had plans to switch to a Mac Air Notebook, but now with these pricing I don’t believe I will do it…
June 29th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Stephane says:
Rogers can go to HELL. I live in Canada and have been a loyal Rogers customer for 10 years+. The rates announced by Rogers on Friday are a major slap in the face to Canadian consumers. We already pay the HIGHEST cell/data rates in the world and these iPhone plans are simply NOT ACCEPTABLE.
Since the market decides the price, I’ve decided not only to boycott the iPhone, but to cancel my current cell and internet services with “Robbers” on July 11th. These Greedy, corporate scum-sucking dirtbags deserve to go BANKRUPT for screwing us ever friggin’ chance they get! I’ll switch my cell to Telus and buy an iPod touch instead.
ROGERS: STOP TELLING US WHAT WE NEED AND START PROVIDING US WITH WHAT WE WANT… UNLIMITED DATA PLANS AT REASONABLE RATES! STOP RAPING YOUR CUSTOMERS!!!
Canada: Boycott Rogers and PROTEST at Rogers stores on July 11th!
June 29th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Manny says:
I was so excited about getting it. But that passed after I saw the plans. There’s no way I’ll pay that much. Something has to be done. I’m seriously leaving Rogers by the years end if nothing changes.
June 29th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Toby says:
I am a huge Mac fan and have been waiting for the iPhone to come to Canada since the iPhone was originally announced.
My wife and I were both planning to switch to Rogers just so we could both have an iPhone. Once the rates were announced we both immediately decided not to give our business to rogers. We’ll both be staying with Telus.
I sent rogers an email through their website informing them that they will not be getting our business until they rethink their iPhone plans including their contract terms. I received an automated email back notifying me that it may take up to five business days for them to respond. I am assuming that is because they have received a ton of emails for outraged consumers. Five business days to respond to an email, what kind of service is that?
Rogers is squandering a great opportunity.
June 30th, 2008 at 5:20 am
Stu says:
I signed the petition yesterday. I am writing this on a iMac, we have 2 functional iPods in the house and I am looking to get a power mac for recording. The type of consumer that Apple would be able to sell their product to since my current phone contract is up with one of Roger’s competitors. But there’s no way I’m going to pick one up with these prices.
June 30th, 2008 at 5:57 am
poopstech says:
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!
June 30th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Stephen S says:
I too am a Mac-user and looked forward to introduction of iPhone. We have three cell phones on our account and was seriously considering upgrade to three iPhones. However, pricing plans introduced by Rogers are too expensive and unacceptable.
Given the litany of unresolved customer service issues that I have with Rogers, it has only re-affirmed my intent to move to another carrier at the first opportunity.
June 30th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Nolan says:
im not getting iphone anymore
June 30th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Pieter says:
Ditto here. My contract was up with Telus in Nov. so I planned to switch to iPhone. This costing is ridiculous, so I will stay with Telus and switch to Blackberry. Its a shame to be dictated to by a monopoly. Hope things change with the new band-width auction. To Steve… nice phone… bad negotiations, thanks for the attempt.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:15 am
Fred Berg says:
Everybody knows that Rogers gauges its customers. It can do this because it has no or very ineffective competition. It is time to allow foreign competition to do business in Canada. Only competition will drive prices down and service up. Until then, we are like “lambs to the slaughter”. Everybody should boycot Rogers’ products (cellular, cable, high-speed internet, magazines, Blue Jays).
July 1st, 2008 at 4:23 am
Kambamba says:
Unfortunately, I have Internet access with Rogers. When I tried to access the protest site to sign the protest, I found that it was forbidden. I wonder who forbids it?
With Rogers having the only GSM service in Canada, what chance is there that this protest will succeed?
July 1st, 2008 at 8:29 am
kristine says:
Props to Mr. Ted Rogers for single handedly killing the iPhone in Canada!!
These data plans are an insult. How can they offer these plans when Telus now offers $30 unlimited data plans for their smartphones?? If Rogers does nothing, I will be more than happy to pay out of my contract and switch to Telus’s $30 unlimited data plan. Why can’t Rogers be the good guy for once and offer Canadians reasonable rates? There are people that want $15 unlimited data plans and that’s not fair either. Seriously, if you can’t afford to add $30 to your current voice plan then the iPhone is not for you. Rogers, open your eyes, we are not the stupid, retarded customers you claim us to be.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Long Live Anything but Apple & iCrap says:
Why do you think that these outrageous rates are out there for you iCrap users (ALL Apple products!)? Because Apple analyzes purchase data of their customer base, and basically, you morons will purchase anything at inflated prices! Apple has been selling their customer profiles to 3rd party vendors, and as a result, Rogers figures you iCrap users users are any easy target for over inflated rates….
Is there any part of this you don’t understand???
By virtue of purchasing iCrap products, you have told the world “Price Gouge ME, I’ll PAY It!!!”
Duhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!
July 1st, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Ken says:
Everything is more expensive here in Canada. I feel so sad about that and feel pathatic about those Canadian corporations. I say let Canada stays in the information mobile stone age.
The high price of data plan is hurting Canadian mobile business opportunities and put us in a very low competitive level international wise. Rogers is definitely not helping and only make it worse. The data plan is not the only way to make money. Providing a widely accessible mobile data platform to the market will create so many new opportunities. I think Rogers is short-sighted and stuck within their old thinking without the abilities to innovate their business.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Jason Belec says:
Well I will still get the new iPhone. And as soon as a competitor with a good plan arrives in Canada I will move my plan over.
I currently have a 2nd week iPhone and won’t give it up either (No I don’t use any data plan in Canada - wifi is pretty available with a few tricks.)
Rogers should be taken to court. The public paid for the infrastructure in this country, we should not be raped to use it. I would rather a reasonable fee encouraging use.
Fight for your right….
July 6th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
james says:
i hate to repeat this.. but it must be said…. your a dumbas.
its not just iphone… all rogers plans for ANY phone, are over priced. its just now people are complaining… what an idiot (im not an apple fanboy, never purchased anything from apple.) i agree what rogers is doing is wrong. and i believe your a dumbass….
“quote” Why do you think that these outrageous rates are out there for you iCrap users (ALL Apple products!)? Because Apple analyzes purchase data of their customer base, and basically, you morons will purchase anything at inflated prices! Apple has been selling their customer profiles to 3rd party vendors, and as a result, Rogers figures you iCrap users users are any easy target for over inflated rates….
Is there any part of this you don’t understand???
By virtue of purchasing iCrap products, you have told the world “Price Gouge ME, I’ll PAY It!!!”
Duhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! “end quot”
July 7th, 2008 at 12:53 am
Lindsay says:
James, easy on the side dish of a$$hole. You make a valid point but no one is going to listen to you when you are insulting them.
Telus is apparently going GSM in 2009. Since they are the geniuses who came up with Koodo, I’m assuming they will be the front runners on lowering the prices for cell phones all around, and Rogers will have to give in, or die.
This really is about Rogers. They do it because we accept it. Switch to Telus, pay half the price for data. Right now Rogers charges $60 for 25 MB of data, and Telus is giving out unlimited data for $30.
Thing is, you’re locked into paying up to $400 to cancel your Rogers contract, so they get the money from you one way or another.
These petitions will do nothing until they have valid and comparable competition. We’re all right, but they don’t have to change their rates because they don’t HAVE to yet.
It’s business. It adjusts to our trends as a consumer. That’s just life. Get over it.
July 7th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
ColdFire says:
Hi:
Yes it is really changed my mind and also hate rogers and going to chance my home phone from rogers to a VoIP services.
I might not make a big impact but I do my part
Thanks please help to make this movement noticed by Rogers
July 8th, 2008 at 11:12 am
ZION BELTRAN says:
I AM NOT AGREE THE OFFER IS NOT ENOUGH. TOO MUCH MONEY.
July 9th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Emmanuel says:
The Rogers data rate plans are outrageous. It’s really sad that Rogers have taken advantage of the earnest wait of the 3G I-phone, courtesy of apple, as an avenue to exploit the so great number of their existing and anticipated loyal customers. The level of disappointment dauntlessly out there will not only stamp a bad image on the Rogers Wireless Corporation but also cause a sting on Apple’s reputation that could eventually lead to brand damage. Apple can not vehermently stand out, not to be aware of the Rogers strategy following the release of the 3G iPhone. My understanding is that, contractual agreements have been signed and administered between Rogers and Apple. $30 for 400MB of data usage is preposterous and deemed as extortion. The Canadian Government can not fold hands without introducing policies to monitor and control these services activities.
July 15th, 2008 at 5:18 pm