Did Rogers Get the Apple Shaft?

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews

As I wrote earlier, Canadians are up in arms over the prices of service plans that Rogers has set up for them upon the launch of the iPhone 3G. It’s led to petitions, a website, and even editorials telling Canadians to hold off on buying the iPhone 3G.

Now reports from the web are that Apple has severely reduced the allocation of iPhone 3Gs due the Canadian carrier Rogers. While this is so far based on a single blogger’s “inside information,” it does make sense, but perhaps not for the reasons given in the post.

It should be noted that a Rogers representative contacted me via email after my original post, making sure that I was aware of the additional choices available to customers. This was sent to me on June 30th, so it’s not a change in direction for them based on the above news.

Rogers customers have more choices available to them and can use their existing voice and smartphone data plans if they wish. For example, they can select from the new data pricing (ranging from $30 for 300MB to $100 for 6GB or $50 Flex Rate plan) and add a voice plan, or they can choose a combined voice and data plan to best suit their individual needs.

Customers are not required to take the value packs, and can order most other features a la carte, such as $7 for Caller ID.

Existing customers can keep their existing voice service plan and pick a separate data plan (not in the iPhone 3G bundle) to meet their needs.

Sure, the prices are still very high, and people basically want unlimited data in the price range of the U.S. (or less). Rogers doesn’t seem to think people want to be able to browse as much as they want, without limits, telling me:

With regards to an unlimited plan, Rogers believes that unlimited plans could end up costing customers more for what they don’t use. Rogers’ iPhone 3G plans will more than accommodate the vast majority of customers.

Sounds like some ISPs’ view of hard caps on broadband service in a way …

However, while some around the web seem to think that this rumor (still unverified, of course) is an attempt by Apple to show Rogers who’s boss, it’s more likely that looking at all the reactions to Rogers’ pricing, Apple has simply decided to re-allocate supply, based on perceived poor demand.

That would make sense, a business case rather than a slap against Rogers. And hey, if it gets more iPhone 3Gs into our hands in the U.S., I’m all for it, though I’m definitely against Rogers’ pricing. Will Rogers change its pricing before Friday? Readers?