News today that Rogers is offering a 6GB plan for the iPhone and other 3G phones. So, no unlimited data plan for you – you’re still too stupid to make decisions for yourself! And the kicker – Rogers is saying that the plan is a “limited-time promotional” plan, available until August 31 only: “What we’re trying to do is satisfy a very small group of people, the early adopters,” he said. “When those customers are done, we’re back to our basic user.”
So, all early adopters that will ever be interested in the iPhone will have to buy by August 31. It’s a ridiculous idea, and an obvious attempt to turn a concession demanded by the market into a cudgel against its customers – not only can you not have an unlimited plan, but you can’t buy at your leisure – for example, waiting a few months to see if users reports overcharge horror stories from Rogers’ miserly plans. You have to “buy now!!!, this offer is **limited**”. What nonsense. If the plan is a bona fide effort to respond to a recognized customer need in a responsible manner, it should not be time limited.
Not only am I not going to bother with the iPhone, I’m actively exploring replacements for every service I now buy from Rogers. I want a service provider I can trust to do the right thing.
Update: From the Globe – everything is AOK and you should buy, buy, buy!! is there something in MSM water that suppresses the skepticism gene?
Updater: if you have good suggestions for economical and effective GSM mobile phone and email (device and plan) please feel free to leave a comment. I’m in the market, termination fees be damned.
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There’s been a lot of chatter about this deal going on and as I have no plans to replace my current phone (a $100 motorola held together with duct tape), I’ve ignored most of it.
Your headline, however, made me laugh (as they say on the internet) “out loud.”
“Rogers Pretends to Respond to Data Plan Controversy” is just great copy.
“…is there something in MSM water that suppresses the skepticism gene?”
Yes. See: their business model. You think Rogers doesn’t buy a ton of Globe / CTV ad space?
Or were you just asking rhetorically?
In related news: Dear Bell and Telus, Ian Bell could host the whole Canadian SMS traffic on his home Mac Mini infrastructure. So don’t lie to us about stress on the network:
http://www.ianbell.com/2008/07/08/more-canadian-wireless-carrier-greed/
I have no idea how much data I use on my smartphone but I think having to worry about a limit like that is really lame. You’re still gonna have a huge bill if you exceed it. I have no desire for an iphone, but if I did I’d be glad to not be in Canada in this case. They act like demand for large amounts of data is going to go away any in the near future. This is only going to get worse.
Unfortunately, there are no Canadian alternatives to suggest if you want gsm. And even if you don’t want gsm the alternatives leave you frustrated. I’m still with Bell despite the ridiculous announcement about charging for incoming texts (greedy, greedy) because currently there is no choice I like and I do still want a cellphone. The Samsung Instinct from Bell will supposedly have unlimited data though.
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