Filed under: iPhone
Rogers revising iPhone plans?
MacNN reports that Rogers Wireless will be revising its iPhone plans on October 1 to include a new 250 minute plan for $60, among other changes.
The new bundles, MacNN says, would feature a $60 plan with:
- 250 daytime minutes
- 75 texts
- 1GB data
- Visual Voicemail
- three months of unlimited local calling
- a permanent MY5 Local option
A $75 plan may also be available, with 400 minutes, 100 texts, and 2GB data.
Early on, Rogers has had a rocky relationship with iPhone customers, many of whom are unhappy with the relatively high cost of plan rates and miniscule data allowances.
Canadian readers: Is this an improvement, or does Rogers still have a long way to go? Let us know by leaving a comment.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Christopher Kalanderopoulos said 11:08AM on 9-05-2008
Listen, I hate Rogers as much as the next guy, but this is a MASSIVE improvement. I'm a pretty heavy user and am currently on the promotional 6GB/$30 plan and have used about 600MB in about a month and a half. I would seriously switch to this new plan if I wasn't on an already amazing plan courtesy of the Retentions Dept. at Rogers.
In short - this is a pretty great improvement, and for those users who do use the service a lot, $75 is not a lot to step up to double the GBs and more minutes.
Much improved, Rogers, much improved.
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iBearTouch said 11:08AM on 9-05-2008
I don't know it seems to me to be simple economics... better rates, more iPhone buyers. More iPhone owners, more income from people going over their plans in minutes/data use, and more options sold... I mean, geez how stupid could Rogers be.
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Scott said 11:24AM on 9-05-2008
I Posted you this story over a week ago when it was announced in the news, twice in fact. No one picked up on it, and now its old news.
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Robert Palmer said 11:25AM on 9-05-2008
That's OK. Those grapes would have been sour anyway.
pd18 said 11:26AM on 9-05-2008
Compared to where data rates were in Canada just a few short months ago... I have to admit, I'm pretty happy with Rogers... I got my 3G on launch day, and my plan is:
450 anytime minutes
500 annual minutes for overages
Canada-wide My5
2500 outgoing texts (unlimited incoming)
Early evenings and weekends (starts at 5pm)
Visual Voicemail
6 GB data
total = under $100
That's not a bad plan, IMHO... These new Rogers plans aren't as robust as the plan I currently have - BUT - most users will NEVER hit a GB of usage in a month... So, while Canada may not have the best rates in the world, they're not nearly as bad as they used to be (25mb of data for $60, anyone?)...
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Mike said 11:30AM on 9-05-2008
Don't forget the $10 system access fee, and then taxes on top of that. Then multiply it out for the required 3 year contract. $200 for the phone and over $2600 in phone bills.
I'm going to wait for Globalive's launch next year. Hopefully they'll introduce some real competition.
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akzes said 11:36AM on 9-05-2008
I hope rogers dies...rots in hell...and gets roasted by saitin :D
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Khris said 1:06PM on 9-05-2008
I hope you learn to spell "Satan" someday.
Jeff said 11:36AM on 9-05-2008
Rogers has always gouged it customers; same with Telus and Bell. This new plan is just them tossing a few more crumbs at their customers. I think it's still unaffordable for most people, including myself who would only be able to get a data plan like that if it's supplemented by my office. Yes, I'm poor. No iPhone plans for me anytime soon. *sniff*
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kev orng said 11:37AM on 9-05-2008
That was me. I phoned them and told them that my contract is up and I'm ready to jump ship... but I'll reconsider if they come up with better iPhone plans, and maybe ensure I have internet connection more than three evenings a week, holy frack!
They obviously took my threat seriously. You're welcome!
I'm kidding, of course, I know it's not all about me, although I did tell them that.
I'm now torn between going for this improved-ish plan, and running down the street like Charlton Heston screaming "Ted Rogers eats people! HE EATS PEOPLE!"
Although a better Rogers plan usually means a (slightly) better still Fido plan.
Of course, Fido is to Rogers as Anakin is to Vader. Less evil, more whiny, same guy.
And hey, when will anybody come up with a plan that acknowledges us light talkers/heavy data users? whydo I have to increase the voice when I increase the data? that's just dumb. All I want is a hundred anytime minutes and unlimited data for, say, $50.
If I could get that, and maybe some reliable internet, I'd eat my Rogers' Brand Soylent Green with a smile.
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Jeremy said 11:37AM on 9-05-2008
As a Canadian living in Rogers land who refuses to buy into their evil plans (bad pun, yeah)...
I still won't bite at this.
The previous plan with al the extras, gotchas, fees, and taxes bites your bum for about a $125 a month after it all shakes out. This one is more like $95 (after fees and taxes etc.).
It also still includes an unethical dodge or two, so it's not like evil Rogers has changed it's spots or anything. The "first three months free" thing is as bad, and as unethical a practice as the traditional "crippling balloon payment" a la Simpsons.
The reason I won't go to Rogers is that they have a long history of being anti-customer, and anti-service. They are a dishonest and conniving bunch to say the least and until *that* changes, I eon't be doing business with them.
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natco said 11:38AM on 9-05-2008
These plans are worse and I suspect the first couple posts could be rogers plants.
here's my plan.
6 gigs of data for$30, my520 for $20, that's 250 min voice and unlimited calls and texts to 5 numbers with unlimited eve and WE.$ months free calling.
no text plan..I only text the people on my my5 plan.
Sys access fee and 911 is $7.99. I don't have visual voicemail...don't need it.
I have basically the same plan with 6 times the data for 50 bucks plus fees and tx.
And because I had such a nightmare with billing in the first couple weeks...retention comped me free call display, 6pm early eve and 1000 long distance minutes.
Everyone I know who has an iphone has the same plan...the my5-20 and the 6 gig.
I used about a gig the first month and I'm at 400mb for the first 8 days of month 2.
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Dane Chi said 12:22PM on 9-05-2008
Natco, how did you get my5 20? They said that you had to have a $30 voice and $30 data plan, so I was forced to go with my5 30 to get it... which I didn't want.
nateco said 12:38PM on 9-05-2008
I didn't have to take the 30...it's any voice plan+data.
And you don't need to take the data...you can have them disable it.I was going to pass on the data and only subscribed to the 6gb deal a couple days after having my iPhone.
Rogers is getting less than 60 a month from me. Compared to what regular cell plans are in Canada..that's not bad for what I would call the best phone going.
adisor19 said 11:41AM on 9-05-2008
This is BS. Robber's plans are still pure rape. If they take off the 6G for 30$ promotion, you can expect another Internet revolt although most of the iPhone fans have gotten one by now.
Adi
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Grodesh said 11:47AM on 9-05-2008
It's a massive improvement.
I currently have a 25$ MY5 Local plan with 100 daytime-minutes and 1000 minutes after 9pm, with the added 6GB 30$ data and the 15$ Visual-voicemail-caller-display-etc. plan.
That's 70$ right there, and over my first month I downloaded about 500MB worth of data. Plus, I didn't have any system access fee. So my plan cost me 70$ plus taxes. I think it's already a great deal.
If Rogers really gave up on system access fees, I might as well call them and change my plan to this one. I'll check in a few months if I still don't have access fees or if it's just some sort of 3-month deal like they have with a lot of new contracts.
But, maybe I'll start using data like a crazy, then I'd regret leaving the 6GB for 30$... time will tell so I'll wait a few months before making the move.
BTW, a MY5 Local plan gives you unlimited voice for 5 local phone numbers. In my situation, it's basicaly an unlimited voice plan. There's also a MY5 Canada-wide plan.
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Aristophanes said 11:49AM on 9-05-2008
Not good. Still the worst in the world.
The data rate is the killer. People I know who work for Rogers say that the adoption rate for the iPhone is a money-loser for them. Too few subscribers. When you add up the total costs it's simply not worth it. Unlimited data is a must to get the breakthrough they need.
Not one of Canada's better companies. Poor service, draconian policies, time to break the monopoloy.
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Kurt Tappe said 12:41PM on 9-05-2008
"Worst in the world"? Um, no. Not even close. Go look at the rates in India, compare them to the average income of someone living there, and then tell me again this is worse. It's not even close.
Eric said 12:02PM on 9-05-2008
Don't forget: network access fees, 911 fees, Caller Id and you're at 75$ a month before taxes, which are arround 14% in Quebec.
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_Don said 12:06PM on 9-05-2008
What gets my goat about all this is the data plan, and the fact I *have* to take it. I mean, the darn thing has wireless. There are plenty of free wireless hotspots that I connect to with my iPod Touch, and I typically only use it at home or office to check email.
If I could forgo the data plan, I would be more interested. As is also mentioned is all the extra fees that are tacked on, and the Government's "fair" share. And to buy the thing. My current phone was $20 and with the plan I have, I pay about $60 total. No, I don't use the phone much.
I would love to have an iPhone to consolidate the iPod Touch and cell phone, but I won't pay that much for it.
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