Appleinsider.com - Rogers unlimited data plan an inroad for iPhone in Canada?

ehMax · Feb 5th, 2008, 12:02 PM

Story here

Canadian wireless carrier Rogers Communications, often criticized for its exorbitant data rates, has just introduced a $20 per month unlimited data plan that could knock out one more barrier to an official iPhone launch in Canada.

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The Toronto, Ontario-based carrier said customers could start adopting the new plan, dubbed the $20 Communicate Value Pack, beginning today. In addition to unlimited on-device mobile browsing, it also offers 2500 standard outgoing text messages, 1000 outgoing picture or video messages, call display and voicemail.

Although it's believed the new plan from Rogers is an attempt to combat a $7 unlimited data offering from local rival Bell Canada alongside its HTC Touch handset, many see the move as key step towards an official iPhone launch in the region.

Steep wireless data rates have been singled out time and time again as one of the primary reasons Canadians have not yet been treated to the Apple iPhone experience..........

G-Mo · Feb 5th, 2008, 12:10 PM

If you read the fine print for the unlimited on-device mobile browsing it states:

"Plan is available on select phones only (PDAs such as Blackberry or Windows Mobile devices, PC cards and non-Rogers certified devices are not eligible)."

Wireless Essentials

I take it the iPhone is a non-Rogers certified device!?

chas_m · Feb 5th, 2008, 12:53 PM

It is NOW, but not for much longer ... *squee*

imachungry · Feb 5th, 2008, 01:07 PM

There's considerable discussion of the both the plan and the exceptions on howardforums:

HowardForums: Your Mobile Phone Community & Resource - Official FIDO $7 Unlimited Surfing & $20 Value Pack thread *Q&A in here please*

Joker Eh · Feb 5th, 2008, 01:18 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by G-Mo
	If you read the fine print for the unlimited on-device mobile browsing it states: "Plan is available on select phones only (PDAs such as Blackberry or Windows Mobile devices, PC cards and non-Rogers certified devices are not eligible)." Wireless Essentials I take it the iPhone is a non-Rogers certified device!?

And this is also in the fine print.

"Data usage incurred on ineligible devices, incurred while tethering (using device as wireless modem for laptop) or incurred using non-Rogers (3rd party) applications downloaded to your device will be subject to pay-per-use charges of 5 cents/KB.

3rd party applications are applications like Yahoo! Go or Google Maps. These are non-Rogers applications which can be downloaded to the device and incur data charges at a rate of 5¢/KB.
"

What's the point with the last part? I feel like I would be in jail. I hope this is not the plan for the iPhone!!!

TheDirtyOne · Feb 5th, 2008, 01:44 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by Joker Eh
	And this is also in the fine print. "Data usage incurred on ineligible devices, incurred while tethering (using device as wireless modem for laptop) or incurred using non-Rogers (3rd party) applications downloaded to your device will be subject to pay-per-use charges of 5 cents/KB. 3rd party applications are applications like Yahoo! Go or Google Maps. These are non-Rogers applications which can be downloaded to the device and incur data charges at a rate of 5¢/KB. " What's the point with the last part? I feel like I would be in jail. I hope this is not the plan for the iPhone!!!

It's not. It's Rogers giving all their customers who have Blackberries, PDA's and unlocked iPhones the finger.

HowEver · Feb 5th, 2008, 01:57 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by imachungry
	There's considerable discussion of the both the plan and the exceptions on howardforums: HowardForums: Your Mobile Phone Community & Resource - Official FIDO $7 Unlimited Surfing & $20 Value Pack thread Q&A in here please

And the actual Rogers thread is here:

HowardForums: Your Mobile Phone Community & Resource - Q1 2008: Product & Service Changes

Joker Eh · Feb 5th, 2008, 01:59 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by TheDirtyOne
	It's not. It's Rogers giving all their customers who have Blackberries, PDA's and unlocked iPhones the finger.

I sure hope your right.

madgunde · Feb 5th, 2008, 02:13 PM

A Rogers customer service supervisor informed me that the information on the website was an error and that they were working to get it corrected.

I wrote about the experience on my blog here:

Rogers website shows a $20 Unlimited data plan in error?

Seems I was one of the first to call them because they offered me 6 months of unlimited data for free as compensation for the error.

nasa25 · Feb 5th, 2008, 02:37 PM

the fine print on the plan (also available is the $7 mobile internet plan) states that you cannot use it on non-rogers approved pda's.....how did you get rogers to give you unlimited data (edge data) for 6 months? im a bit confused.