IDEA! Cheaper iPhone Data Rates?

uPhone · Jun 29th, 2008, 11:44 AM

I just had this thought and I thought I'd share it with all of you..

Remember way back when (last week) when the BlackBerry plans at Rogers were, for example, $90 per month for something like 350 minutes and 25MB of data? Well listen to this...

Last January, my mom (who is with Bell, and has an 8800 BlackBerry) was telling me how Bell had cheaper data plans for the BlackBerry - which I believe was $60 for 30MB of data. We thought we'd see what would happen if I called Rogers and told them about Bell's cheaper rates, and threatened to switch to Bell. Well, when we mentioned the cheaper plan, the Rogers rep was saying things along the lines of "well, that's Bell's rate, and these are ours..."

So when I calmly and 'fake confused' said "Oh...? Well.... maybe we should just switch to Bell then...? Would that be better?" the rep actually said "oh, wait a minute.." and he went through my account and found that the average amount of minutes per month I use was something like 140 minutes, but the plan I had had 350 minutes included.

So then he proceeded to downgrade me to 200 minutes, but still with 25MB of data, for $60 per month.

I'm just curious if this would be a possibility for the iPhone rates, i.e., to get the 2GB plan, complain that I don't need 800 minutes, and have them reduce the minutes while keeping the data amount, lowering the monthly cost.

Now, there may be some factors that wouldnt make this happen, including the fact that Bell doesnt have an iPhone for me to switch over to and use.

But might this be a possibility?

What are your thoughts?

cap10subtext · Jun 29th, 2008, 11:58 AM

Won't work en masse. And as far as a solution goes, it falls short of the real problem. Which is, in my opinion, signing that 3 year contract in the first place.

HowEver · Jun 29th, 2008, 12:02 PM

uPhone, given that Rogers now has a $30/300MB per month plan, you may wish to reconsider your "IDEA!" just a bit.

uPhone · Jun 29th, 2008, 12:23 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by HowEver
	uPhone, given that Rogers now has a $30/300MB per month plan, you may wish to reconsider your "IDEA!" just a bit.

You don't make any sense. For your information I am on the 300MB plan now, but that is totally irrelevant to my post, as this was months ago...

Given this, I do not wish to reconsider my "IDEA!".

As a 'next step' for you, HowEver, I would suggest that you re-read my post.

HowEver · Jun 29th, 2008, 01:07 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by uPhone
	You don't make any sense. For your information I am on the 300MB plan now, but that is totally irrelevant to my post, as this was months ago... Given this, I do not wish to reconsider my "IDEA!". As a 'next step' for you, HowEver, I would suggest that you re-read my post.

I'll be more clear. I was replying to this:

	Quote:			Originally Posted by uPhone
	I'm just curious if this would be a possibility for the iPhone rates, i.e., to get the 2GB plan, complain that I don't need 800 minutes, and have them reduce the minutes while keeping the data amount, lowering the monthly cost.

From what I understand, there is flexibility with other plans, there is flexibility with longstanding customers and existing plans, and there is no flexibility with iPhone plans immediately after you sign up and agree to certain terms.

I was suggesting that you keep whatever other plan you have, go for the $30/300MB data plan (how prescient of me, you already have), and forget the 800 minute/2GB iPhone plan, since it isn't going to be rebated or discounted immediately or soon after you sign up for it. Maybe a year from now.

Unless Rogers sees all the bad press and changes its mind about the announced plans, I don't see things changing, or this working for the iPhone.

uPhone · Jun 29th, 2008, 01:27 PM

Okay,

Although I don't have a big problem with the iPhone plans, and will be buying an iPhone with a 1GB data plan.

If there is no flexibility with the iPhone plan, that is just plain stupid. Who needs 800 minutes?!

HowEver · Jun 29th, 2008, 01:57 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by uPhone
	Okay, Although I don't have a big problem with the iPhone plans, and will be buying an iPhone with a 1GB data plan. If there is no flexibility with the iPhone plan, that is just plain stupid. Who needs 800 minutes?!

It's a good question. It's probably aimed at business users. Some people send 5000 texts, some people send 5. Some use hundreds of minutes, some just check their voicemail every few days.

Some business users won't use 300MB, let alone 2GB, but they'll use the voice plan constantly.

I was hoping for some corporate deal--still hoping.

chas_m · Jun 29th, 2008, 02:48 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by uPhone
	Who needs 800 minutes?!

Well, you and I obviously don't (I'd be challenged to use 150 minutes!) but for example a real estate agent or worker of any kind who's mostly "out in the field" would probably burn through that 800 pretty quick. Someone on one of the other threads mentioned a Realtor who averages 1500 min/month and was complaining that the top of the line iPhone plan (800 min) was not nearly enough!

Jun 29th, 2008, 11:44 AM	#1
uPhone Full Citizen Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 836	IDEA! Cheaper iPhone Data Rates? I just had this thought and I thought I'd share it with all of you.. Remember way back when (last week) when the BlackBerry plans at Rogers were, for example, $90 per month for something like 350 minutes and 25MB of data? Well listen to this... Last January, my mom (who is with Bell, and has an 8800 BlackBerry) was telling me how Bell had cheaper data plans for the BlackBerry - which I believe was $60 for 30MB of data. We thought we'd see what would happen if I called Rogers and told them about Bell's cheaper rates, and threatened to switch to Bell. Well, when we mentioned the cheaper plan, the Rogers rep was saying things along the lines of "well, that's Bell's rate, and these are ours..." So when I calmly and 'fake confused' said "Oh...? Well.... maybe we should just switch to Bell then...? Would that be better?" the rep actually said "oh, wait a minute.." and he went through my account and found that the average amount of minutes per month I use was something like 140 minutes, but the plan I had had 350 minutes included. So then he proceeded to downgrade me to 200 minutes, but still with 25MB of data, for $60 per month. I'm just curious if this would be a possibility for the iPhone rates, i.e., to get the 2GB plan, complain that I don't need 800 minutes, and have them reduce the minutes while keeping the data amount, lowering the monthly cost. Now, there may be some factors that wouldnt make this happen, including the fact that Bell doesnt have an iPhone for me to switch over to and use. But might this be a possibility? What are your thoughts?

Jun 29th, 2008, 12:02 PM	#3
HowEver Honourable Citizen Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: GTEh Posts: 14,324	uPhone, given that Rogers now has a $30/300MB per month plan, you may wish to reconsider your "IDEA!" just a bit. __________________ ...

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Jun 29th, 2008, 11:58 AM	#2
cap10subtext Honourable Citizen Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,698	Won't work en masse. And as far as a solution goes, it falls short of the real problem. Which is, in my opinion, signing that 3 year contract in the first place.

Jun 29th, 2008, 01:27 PM	#6
uPhone Full Citizen Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 836	Okay, Although I don't have a big problem with the iPhone plans, and will be buying an iPhone with a 1GB data plan. If there is no flexibility with the iPhone plan, that is just plain stupid. Who needs 800 minutes?!