Rogers / Fido annouce new way to scam customers. I mean a new unlimited data plan. - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

photon · 02-05-2008, 10:54 AM

Rogers $7 Plan: http://www.rogers.com/web/content/wi...e_mobile#start
Rogers $20 Value Pack: http://www.rogers.com/web/content/wi...=20_comm#start
Fido $7 Plan: http://fido.ca/portal/en/domore/sdp_options.shtml
Fido $20 Value Pack: http://fido.ca/portal/en/packages/value_packs.shtml

Sounds great right? Read the small print. Restricted to Rogers or Fido branded phones that are non-PDA, non-Blackberry, non-Windows Mobile, and non-PC cards. DOES NOT work for unlocked phones, windows mobile phones, PDAs, Blackberrys, etc. You must use the built-in browser of your Rogers or Fido branded phone. So no IM, no google maps app, no games...

Supposedly it's enforced by detecting the IMEI of your phone to see whether the phone you are using is a Rogers or Fido branded phone and whether it is a Windows Mobile, PC-Card, Blackberry, or PDA device.

Is this the groundwork for the iPhone? Or is it just to try to respond to Telus and Bell. At least with Telus you can get a real device like the HTC Touch, instead of being limited to the crappy phone browser.

Bobblehead · 02-05-2008, 11:45 AM

I was strongly considering switching to Fido/Rogers with an unlocked phone when my current Telus contract ends. I want to be able to upload any ringtone/wallpaper/game/application I want without being required to pay my provider for the privilege of doing what my hardware was designed to do.

But with crap like this, perhaps I'll look at Virgin's new plans and stay basic. Or even dump the cellphone - its OK if you can't reach me 100% of the time.

5 cents per KB!!!!

Download the CP banner

that is 9.43KB - 47 cents, please and thank you.

SarichFan · 02-05-2008, 11:58 AM

Fido is brutal.. I pre-paid $200 because I didn't want to be on a contract. I asked when I signed up whether or not i'd get a bill once that was used up, I was told No...

3 months late I get a bill.. and I have to pay it or it'll screw with my credit.

They really enjoy taking your balls, and putting them in a vice.

FlamesKickAss · 02-05-2008, 02:58 PM

I have an unlocked phone with rogers and I have the $20 plan and it works, well after i had to enter in the internet and wap settings to be able to send picture messages.

jamesteterenko · 02-05-2008, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

But with crap like this, perhaps I'll look at Virgin's new plans and stay basic.

That's what I do. I pay less than $10/month. Not that I use it a lot. Actually, I get money carried over every month because I never use it all up.

HotHotHeat · 02-06-2008, 12:01 PM

Funny (somewhat related) story,

I called Telus last night to put a family member on their $15/month unlimited Data plan they've been offering. It's actually a no strings attached, no nonsense plan that I signed up for a couple weeks ago...I'm beside myself happy to be on it. Only rule is your PDA/blackberry cannot be used to 'tether' ...aka use as a modem for a laptop. After getting on the line with a CSR and explaining my request, she tells me the plan has been REVOKED by corporate HQ. WHAT?!!?? They FINALLY offer a data plan up to par with the rest of the world, and then scrap it!? My god.

The CSR told me they had around 8 times the average amount of new subscriptions during the time the plan was on. I asked her to rationalize Telus' decision, and she couldn't. The monopoly Canadian Telecom companies have is, among other things, outrageous.

Telus did say they would continue to honor the contracts of people that signed up for the plan while it was offered.

A bit of speculation regarding the OP: http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...in_canada.html

ken0042 · 02-06-2008, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

The CSR told me they had around 8 times the average amount of new subscriptions during the time the plan was on. I asked her to rationalize Telus' decision, and she couldn't.

I think I can understand it if there was 8 times the normal subscriptions. All it would take is several medium sized companies with 100 blackberries each to switch from a $100+ plan to the $15 plan. All of a sudden Telus would see their profits going out the window.

Not saying I like it, but I do understand the business side of it.

photon · 02-06-2008, 12:19 PM

Or with the increase in subscriptions they saw their network would quickly not be able to handle the load?

browna · 02-06-2008, 12:30 PM

Before you go blindly off onr Telus, they have new plans as of Monday, but they are now $15 for unlimted email and IM (like before, but no browsing) or $30 with the same plus unlimited browsing (I think).

Not sure why there was that $15 window with unadvertised browsing (I got in last month) but it wouldn't matter corporate wise. The promo was only on BIS (personal) accounts, not BES (Blackberry's hooked into a coporate network).

As to why the $15 with unadvertised browsing (so basically all data) was dumped and replaced, its my guess is that it had to do with Telus's billing system not being able to differentiate data...email from data, up until Feb.

Telus wanted the unlimited email promo for the busy Christmas rush and to match Bell's $7 plan on one device, so they put it on 2 devices for Christmas...and then exteneded that unlimited data with unadvertised browsing, to all data devices for a month afterwards...and, they're billing system saw it all as data, so browsing automatically came with the unlimted email, due to their system limitation.

Now I assume they have their billing system updated, so it can tell between what is email data, and what is application (browser) data, and can thus charge $15 and $30 respectfully.

HotHotHeat · 02-06-2008, 12:35 PM

Interesting post Browna. It makes sense actually. I was not informed of their new plans being rolled out, $30 is still reasonable IMO.

Burninator · 02-06-2008, 12:48 PM

I was hoping to buy an iPhone in a couple weeks when I am down in the US and $30 is steep. That's getting pretty close to what you pay for home internet which uses way more bandwidth. I know it's different technology, but still.

kermitology · 02-06-2008, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burninator

I was hoping to buy an iPhone in a couple weeks when I am down in the US and $30 is steep. That's getting pretty close to what you pay for home internet which uses way more bandwidth. I know it's different technology, but still.

I'd still recommend it for use at home.. I use the wireless a tonne!

llama64 · 02-06-2008, 01:53 PM

I'm thinking I'll avoid getting a so called "smart phone" until the Canadian market stops being anti-consumer. The mobility company's are essentially robbing us blind for service that is considered subpar in many other places in the world.

Hopefully some competition will startup soon and provide a viable alternative.

Burninator · 02-06-2008, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kermitology

I'd still recommend it for use at home.. I use the wireless a tonne!

What exactly do you use it at home for? Too lazy to get off the couch? CP while on the can? Cause that sounds like a great idea.

metallicat · 02-07-2008, 07:31 AM

Is it possible to get, and use a grey market cell phone subscription from the US?

Fobby · 02-07-2008, 10:34 AM

It is possible to use a cell phone subscription from the US. I have a sprint phone with Canada Roaming and Unlimited data while I am in the state. but my WM6 phone is just a phone with PDA functionality in Canada unless you want to pay $0.002/byte.........

I do use the wireless feature at home also. Slingbox on my smart phone is teh only way to ensure that I won't miss any of the game.

kermitology · 02-07-2008, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burninator

What exactly do you use it at home for? Too lazy to get off the couch? CP while on the can? Cause that sounds like a great idea.

Yeah.. mostly. Google maps to where ever I have to go, get the directions and go, e-mail when I don't want to grab my laptop, CP, facebook, the nhl live scoreboard worked really good the other night, almost exactly in time with the game on TV and it views perfectly on the iPhone.

anyonebutedmonton · 02-07-2008, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burninator

I was hoping to buy an iPhone in a couple weeks when I am down in the US and $30 is steep. That's getting pretty close to what you pay for home internet which uses way more bandwidth. I know it's different technology, but still.

I have a US bought iPhone and I signed up for the rogers 20$ plan... works so far... I keep calling them to make sure that what i'm using is infact covered.

photon · 02-07-2008, 11:41 AM

Others are saying that this $20 plan will NOT cover iPhone, since it's not a WAP browser and not a Rogers phone. They're likely charging you 5 cents a KB even if their stupid CSRs say not, so make sure and get it in writing from them or something to cover your butt when the bill comes.

Or if it IS covered, then that's huge news and iPhone sales in Canada are about to increase 10 fold

anyonebutedmonton · 02-07-2008, 11:52 AM

I sure as hell am not going to tell them what kind of phone I am using... i phoned 4 times yesterday to make sure... and all 4 CSR's told me that the data Im using is covered... I may phone today to get it in writing though. Ill keep you guys posted on whether or not it works.