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The iPhone's cross-border price clash

SIMON AVERY AND MATT HARTLEY

From Thursday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 11:48 PM EST 02/07/08

Rogers finds itself on the defensive as consumers cry foul over high pricing ...Read the full article

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  1. JD Wood from Toronto, Canada writes: Rogers is utterly the worst, most deceitful, expensive, and decrepit service in existence. Like all corporations, they will stop at nothing to make profits surge for their investors, at any price. And I hope there is nobody out there who thinks their revenue goes toward improving service; in fact, the opposite. They cut back on services and charge more. If Canadians truly want a fair and equitable phone/internet company, then it is time to start nationalising these crooks.
  2. Brian Van Ezel from Ottawa, Canada writes: This is why I am not with Rogers and don't have cable.
  3. Paul Lloyd Johnson from Canterbury, United Kingdom writes: Rogers? When people do this sort of thing to you in the UK we call them ROBBERS.
  4. Western Canadian from west of Winnipeg, Canada writes: I hope that Rogers will be disappointed with the subscription for this phone thanks to consumers awareness of this rip off deal and resulting boycott of the company products
  5. BC Cactus from Canada writes: Telus is no better!
    We need to get to the root of the problem...the CRTC !!
    We need them to do what they are suppose to do.
    Instead they pander to the big Telcos in Canada and ban all foriegn compeition from even entering Canada on there own.
    LET THEM IN
    Do it!!
    or
    Get out!!
    Your not needed and a waste of money.
  6. ali mansur from etobicoke, Canada writes: I believe the CRTC should allow foreign competition in any market where virtually all available spectrum is held by the oligarch Telcos.

    I'm willing to bet that overnight 3 or 4 competitors will magically find spectrum will become available for them.
  7. P Martin from St. John's, Canada writes: I blame the CRTC for these types of problems. That Rogers is the way it is sickens me. Yes, they had turned things around, or at least I thought might be the case. I can see that they have not changed in any significant way.
  8. Stuart Seeley from Toronto, Canada writes:
    Even if you pick the most generous plan... You're looking at easily $200 a month with modest use when you factor in the monthly system access fee, the $20 make evenings start when they're supposed to start and give you call display package, the 911 charge and the fact that you WILL go over your monthly allowed bandwidth. Existing customers will probably get the shaft if they want to 'upgrade' to the iPhone as well... 3 year contract? no big deal.. we need the service to use the phone... but come on, the monthly plans/feature add-ons (which should just be included) are too complicated, and expensive. The system access fee's should be abolished as well...
  9. jack sprat from Canada writes: AT&T announced their i-phone rates this weekend with unlimited data. This is a colossal rip off. But then, all cell service is in Canada. they simply do not want to cut off the data rates they have been getting but thats why Canada lags the world in cell phone use.

    The marketing people are going nuts at all the carriers and someone will cave in, they have to or the new competition will because they have no old standards to go by, they will be happy with the profits they get with unlimited data in the package. telus, Bell and Rogers simply have gotten used to the gouging and don't want it to stop.

    Keep pushing. And don't get an i-phone. Its the only way to make your point until new competition arrives.
  10. Midtown Bob from Toronto, Canada writes: We the consumer, we be a smart lot! If we don't like the value of our purchase then we won't buy!

    Its just an iphone... Stop being impressed by thier ads that show their product running impecibly perfect.
  11. ken g from Canadian in Mexico, Canada writes: I thought that there was once 'spread spectrum' which was unregulated by the CRTC. Spread spectrum allows anyone to operate a device where the device finds an open channel with the receiver.

    This would allow anyone to enter the market.
  12. D JL from Canada writes: Wait until Aug./Sept. until the Insight comes to Canada. Bell & Telus will be offering that also.

    I think Canada needs to open up the market. The CRTC needs to say that within x yrs, the Canadian market is open to all competitors. There just isn't enough competition between Bell, Telus, & Rogers..(the only national providers).

    I will agree that Rogers has spent the money to build the GSM system. But does that give them the right to gouge customers. I guess so..1 provider, big demand (possibly.. the die hards).

    Doesn't matter to me, don't even own a cellphone.....
  13. D JL from Canada writes: Forgot.....

    I Australia can offer a prepaid plan for the iphone, why can't Canada..Oh they have 2 provides. Of course I don't know` what it would actually cost you if you browsed your 300 MB.
  14. M Cahill from Toronto, Canada writes: Luke Sklar is a being perfectly dishonest in framing this as just a fad-protest on behalf of a Apple-loving fringe group. The iPhone is second to the Blackberry in embracing what is known as 'Web 2.0' (and some may argue that it exceeds the Blackberry in some of those areas). The wrath of the 20,000 petitioned consumers is squarely set at Rogers for legitimate reasons and should not be viewed or represented as some fashionably teenaged brand-conscious rage.
  15. George BrownIII from Christmas Island writes: Uncle Ted I have seen Iphones as low as one euro. Canadians you are being ripped off for cell phone services and it starts with the 'system acces fees. As for the big dogs at CRTC, that corrupt bunch is just wagging their tails and licking their paws till they get called to sit on the boards of our cell phone services suppliers. So dont expect any relief from them. Welcome to Canada's brave new cellular world.
  16. Allan Simonson from Canada writes: MTS wanted to move into the national market, but opted out of the auction a few weeks ago due to high prices.
  17. Hornsworth Portswiler from adanac, Canada writes: The i-phone is not for teens, it's for 20 - 40 somethings who want digital integrated lifestyles. Youth will be carrying something with a decent camera and SD card expansion, and not the shiny bling bling on a closed loop anti-internet anti-open world i-phone.

    The bigger issue is carriers should be allowing any compatible device to be used on their networks, like in the US, and offer decent unlimited internet plans. Once the network is in place, unlimited data is not a big extra burden for them, this is a cash grab. These devices are net dependent, as is the future. But not if you're on a Canadian cellular network.

    Rogers using GSM isn't visionary, it's coincidental. Rogers buying Fido is visionary, it lets them lock up and create artificial competition that only muddles the scene for consumers. Fido offered unlimited data access, until Rogers bought them. Tell you something?

  18. David Gibson from Hamilton, Canada writes: Flea-byting wars in the juvenile economy.
  19. Gnarly Kanuck from Canada writes: When will Canadians wake up and realize that 3year contracts... nickle and diming extra services and high voice and data rates are not acceptable.

    In this day and age, mobile communications is not a luxury in most countries but THE mode of communications that is the most affordable.

    Time we wake up to the reality and realize our communications infrastructure is lagging the rest of the world.
  20. Nestor K from Kincardine, Canada writes: Petitions are a grand gesture, but CEO's listen to bean-counters.

    If you don't like the plan, don't buy the phone.

    As long as consumers pay, Rogers will charge.

    Why is this such a hard concept for people to understand??
  21. B I from Toronto, Canada writes: Just say no.
  22. Andrew S from Canada writes: I stopped getting cable tv. It's paying for advertising when the shows are free to download by the producers online. Won't get an iPhone because I have a computer. I don't need to be watching movies and surfing the web every minute of the day.
  23. Disgusted withRogers from Toronto, Canada writes: Rogers also scoffs at criticism that it has a monopoly on the iPhone. The company has built its network on a technology that has made it the only carrier in Canada capable of running the phone. 'That's no accident,' Ms. Hamilton said. 'It was a visionary move.'

    I scoff at that! The only 'visonary' move to allow this monopoly was Rogers taking advantage of having ex-employees at the CRTC that allowed the FIDO purchased, that gave way for this MONOPOLY. Going with a GSM system when 150 other countries are also..isnt visionary..its making the obvious move in the right direction..and with the tens of millions of dollars they pay their execs you would think that they can point their fingers and say ' look the rest of the world is going to GSM, we should too ' This is not just about the iphone people!.

    Thanks Ms Hamilton for some more spin... just incredible how Rogers spins spins spins. If customer feedback is important, then offer the darn unlimited data plan like tens of thousands of your paying customers are requesting..does it make sense for a company to ignore the people that pay their bills? This will come back to haunt them. 100%. Tens of millions of dollars will be spent to try to get back the customers that they have alienated with such short sighted business practices. BTW Rogers stock is down.
  24. Grant Elliott from Canada writes: Rogers did not 'outflank' Telus and bell to get the iPhone. They (and Fido, which they own) just happen to be the only carriers with GSM (can we blame CRTC for limiting access to GSM, the poor foresight of other carriers, or CRTC for limiting the amount of carriers in the country?). I don't think Rogers had the iPhone in mind when they opted to set up GSM networks, and I'm sure Telus and Bell wish they had started setting them up years ago so they could have a chance to get access to phones like the iPhone or the Nokia N95 (where the heck is THAT one in Canada?).

    And M. Cahill, regarding 'The iPhone is second to the Blackberry in embracing what is known as 'Web 2.0' (and some may argue that it exceeds the Blackberry in some of those areas'
    What on earth are you talking about? web 2.0? Get a grip on the lingo man! That phrase gets thrown around far too much and people use it where it has no right to be used. It has nothing to do with gadgets directly, but rather a new paradigm that many websites now employ, including this one. It steps past the one-way serving up of web content and allows for interactivity between the users and the content. It allows the users to provide the content, such as these comments (or YouTube vidoes, Flickr pics, Google Maps geocaching, blog comments etc). A gadget like the iPhone only is involved by giving a user a method of input. I can do that with most modern cellphones that allow for online internet browsing as well.
  25. T. K. from Fredericton, Canada writes: Why does it seem like they're sympathysing with Rogers? They're prices are rediculous compared to AT&T. They've bought this upon themselves I don't tink they were expecting such a strong response.
    In the end though I'm not sure they're going to change the pricing.
  26. Bub Slub from Calgary, Canada writes: We have been sold a bunch of nonsense that we have competition in the telco markets. Go to other countries which are not supposedly as developed as North America (especially Canada) and they have cheap cell phone plans. Ukraine, China, middle east, etc. all have cheap rates on cell phones. We are ripped off like you wouldn't believe from the likes of Rogers (one of the worst) and Telus. The CRTC is a useless organization that just panders to the grasping corporate Canada. Stevie says they are opening up more competition with new frequencies. I don't believe it for a moment. Ted Rogers is laughing all the way to the bank and his pr hack spin meister is full of bull feces.
  27. Hornsworth Portswiler from adanac, Canada writes: web 2.0 is passé. I'm using i-web 3.x.
  28. Craig Cooper from Toronto, writes: The iPhone is crap anyway. Only a fool would buy one.
  29. Joe Montana from Calgary, Canada writes: The root problem is the telecoms oligarchy we have here in Canada. We really need to open up the market to foreign competition before we will ever see fairness. Simply not buying the iPhone or signing petitions might persuade Rogers to knock a couple of bucks off the cost of your phone, but rest assured, those couple of bucks will come out of your bill somewhere else. What people should really do, instead of petitioning Rogers, is to write or call your local MP and demand meaningful change to the way the CRTC operates. Until the market is liberalized, it will always be the same old oligarchy, and we Canadians will continue to get fleeced.
  30. Dan Carroll from Kanata, Canada writes: My bill from Rogers for cable Internet has risen from $50 to over $275 in the last 5 years. I had hoped to switch off my US wireless phone and convert to iPhone. With the pricing just announced, it seems clear that Rogers takes its customers for granted, and I will now begin, over the coming year, to liberate my home from Rogers' feudal approach to managing its monopoly. I won't get an iPhone, and I will find alternatives to Rogers cable and internet services. Enough is enough.
  31. Alexander Slimnich from Canada writes: 'We take customer feedback very seriously,' said Liz Hamilton, a Rogers spokeswoman. The company says it stands behind its pricing plans..

    Anyone spot the slight* contradiction here? I, for one, have not heard from *anyone who thinks Robbers pricing plans are in any way reasonable.

    I will not be buying an iPhone. Not unless I move to the US, or Robbers reneges and charges us reasonable rates for service. As it is, my basic $18/month plan (which is almost $30 after bogus fees and taxes..) will suit me just fine.
  32. doug burt from writes: just a arrogant company...did anyone see ted Rogers at the press conference for the Bills coming to Toronto ..more or less made a fool of himself.....in this case its supply and demand...people need to boycott this product plain and simple....it has nothing to do with the CRTC, monopolies etc..it has to do with consumers and them making a decision not to buy or supprt this product plain and simple....
  33. Neil Anderson from Vancouver, Canada writes: I had planned on becoming a new Rogers iPhone customer. I've changed my plans.
  34. Scott Wicks from Canada writes: This also makes Apple look bad. It adds fuel to the fire of the 'Apple hates Canada' sentiment that is common among computer users.

    Let's hope that Apple takes note of these developments and withholds the iPhone until Rogers smartens up.

    Let's hope that the CRTC finally does something (or any useful, at all, ever...) about our backwards, one-of-a-kind, Made in Canada screwed up cellular system.

    As if...
  35. Hornsworth Portswiler from adanac, Canada writes: OK, let me signoff by saying the open internet is one of the most incredible, unexpected yet wonderful things that has happened to humans. Wireless internet, which brings on ubiquitous access, takes it to a next level which we can barely imagine, but will be important in, among other things, health management and social interaction, as well as bringing new efficiencies. Carriers like Rogers are ridiculing us today and crippling our growth with these device-specific, overpriced plans clad in marketing terms and arbitrary nickel and dime fees.

    And where's the response from Bell and Telus?

    The proper design of the Internet is to use high speed wired connections, like cable, as backbones, distributed peer to peer technologies are the perfect use of these technologies, wireless connections are more personal, but most people shouldn't need both.

    If there is a technical limitation, or some other kind of real limitation, they should come clean and include their customers on what's happening, not try to spin everything in marketing. Until they do, I suggest calling Rogers/Fido July 11 and reducing your plan.
  36. Silent Buddha from Montreal, Canada writes: I just don't understand what the fuss is about! It's an iPhone - a phone from Apple! All this complaints about price gouging and the Rogers iPhone voice/data packages not being consumer friendly - what gives? I would think people would focus their complaints on rising fuel and food prices! Those are 2 issues that would have more of an impact on our lives that an iPhone. 1 - don't blame ROGERS becuz you can't afford the voice/data plans. ROGERS does not force anyone into buying a phone from their stores. IT IS YOU the consumer who willingly walks into a ROGERS store. People who whine about ROGERS iPhone plan pricing are those who are probably calculating down to the last penny how much disposable income do they have left if an investment is made into the Apple iPhone. 2 - as a consumer you all have a choice to buy or not to buy, so why are you all wasting your time and aiming your fustration at ROGERS when your energy could be well spent on the true head honcho : the CRTC 3 - as i mentionned before, I would think that rising fuel and food prices or need for lower taxes would be more of priority issues to putting forth your complaints. If you can't pay for gas then how are you going to go out and if food gets too expensive, how are you going to feed yourself. WIll you all die if you don't get an iPhone? For me...I am going to get an iPhone becuz I love the gadget and the potential it has...I may not like the pricing but hey...beggars can't be chosers! As for the 20000 hyprocrites, why dont you all sign a petition to have LV, GUCCI, HERMES make their products more affordable. HEY ! Wait a minute...why not petition the AUTO MAKERS to make cars cheaper and even more fuel efficient.....why not petition the government to lower the taxes..... my-2-cents
  37. B to the A to the R to the T from Canada writes: As an Apple devotee I was planning on getting the iphone. But with no unlimited data, pricey plans and long contacts I'll wait. Rogers took a cool device and turned it into anything but. But I agree the real issue is regulators who stifle competition.
  38. Meng W. from Toronto, Canada writes: People would dish out $2000 for a Mac just to surf the web, because its Apple. People have a religious thing going on with that company, you'd be surprised how many people are willing to get ripped off just so they could feel like virtual-buddies with Steve Jobs
  39. B to the A to the R to the T from Canada writes: Silent Buddha the issue is that due to artificial market forces (protectionism) Canadians are forced to pay inflated voice and data rates. In an increasingly connected world the cost of data is as important as cost of commodities. Access to information is power in the digital age. It's not just the iPhone. The iphone is the most blatant representation of the 'jacking' of the Canadian citizen by a Canadian near monopoly. I think a major election platform should be the introduction of foreign cell phone companies and outlawing collection of fees for things that do not exist, like system access fees. If these things reduce the average consumer bill by just $10/month. Canadian households would benefit to the tune of $240 or more per year. That is a nice chunk of change.
  40. Chris Armstrong from Canada writes: Please don't be a lemming. Boycott the iPhone! The only way Rogers will make their plans reasonable is if initial sales fall far short of expectations. Go to http://www.ruinediphone.com/ to add your name to the list of disgusted potential customers (over 29000 signatures as of writing this).

    Personally, I canceled my Rogers cell phone account altogether, and told them I was tired of paying their extortion rates. Whatever you do, do something. If you react with typical Canadian resignation, Rogers wins. I think Rogers is underestimating the anger Canadians are feeling right now. This isn't just another phone... it's shaping up (rightly or wrongly) as 'the next great thing'. It's going to overtake the iPod and Blackberry in terms of popularity over the next year. I predict a lot of Canadians are going to really 'lose it' if they're completely shut out by corporate greed.

    So please, everyone. BOYCOTT ROGERS' IPHONE LAUNCH. Anyone who locks themselves into 3 years of this abuse is a fool. Only in Canada will iPhone user be mocked for their gullibility instead of being seen as 'cool.' You have Rogers to thank for that. Rogers has truly RUINED the iPhone launch. I'm so mad at them I could spit.
  41. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Wow, JD Wood and I finally agree on something...

    I haven't dealt with Rogers for over a decade for the very reasons that he has cited.

    Cheers
  42. B to the A to the R to the T from Canada writes: Meng W. people spend 2 grand on Macs because their worth every penny. The iPhone probably is too, unfortunately Rogers data plans are not.
  43. Dave Hunt from Canada writes: READ THE BOOK by DR. George Carlo: 'Cell Phones--Invisable Hazards in the Wirelless Age'---You'll probaly want to throw you cell phone in the garbage once you get educated!!!
  44. indy jones from Canada writes: What a bunch of revoltving peasants.......!!!
  45. D B from Ottawa, Canada writes: Hey Rogers (and anyone Rogers pays to make them look good):

    The outrage over your business practices is more than '5000 people on a blog'. For years you have regarded your customers with contempt. Until that attitude changes, you will continue to experience churn and consumer resentment. You got a right to run a business and make a profit, but when you treat your customers like idiots the ones who aren't get upset. Stop lying to Canadians. Come clean about your conflict of interest. Instead of interfering with alternate business models, learn about them and compete with them. For too long, the Canadian approach to open market competition has been to buy them out or put them out of business before recovering your losses from the pocket books of Canadians.
  46. Jimmy K from Toronto, Canada writes: Don't be an iIdiot.
    Just don't buy anything from Rogers, including the stupid iPhone, then you don't need to worry about them gouging you.
  47. Polar Bear from Floating Iceberg, Canada writes: The world has moved to FREE incoming calls, lower roaming charges, unlimited text msgs and low rate data plans. For Heaven's sake, Japanese are watching TV on their cellphones.

    But Rogers and Co. are going to keep us in the stone age as long as they can get one more dollar out of us.
  48. Jimmy K from Toronto, Canada writes: Oh and Telus, Bell, are you listening?

    MAYBE you should get working on a GSM network rollout, and join the other 90% of the world. You backed the wrong horse. I know. It sucks, anyone who bought a HD-DVD player knows what it feels like. But it's time to bite the bullet, throw CDMA into the junkheap of history, and go GSM. Give us some competition, PLEASE.
  49. biggar thomas from Guelph, Canada writes: I am very, very upset. I was dying to get an iPhone, now I will buy one from a gray market vendor and stick my Rogers sim card from my Blackberry into it. Let's see how they like that.
  50. The Habs from Toronto, Canada writes: Do you guys remember when Teddy and Ralph Wilson were in town promoting the Bills games ? Someone asked (and I'll paraphase here) if they'll offer lower priced tickets...Teddy put up one finger...not the middle one...

    I have Rogers, but I effin' hate how there is no competition here. If we had the plans the US had, everyone would have a Crackberry.
  51. Enzo Matrix from Penticton, Canada writes: Rogers is nothing less then a CRIMINAL company who lost all credibility and no one in is right mind should do business with such a crooked compant. The only thing that should be done is JAIL the owner for trying to con canadian consumers.

    If you want to see total clueless idiots this summer look for Canadians owning a iPhone.

    Apple is not better for accosiating itself with the most obvious illegetimate company in Canada.

    The iPhone need to be a extrem FLOP in canada for thinga to change. Because of the criminal inaction of our pathetic goverment Canada is the most expensive place in the universe to use a CEL phone.
  52. Iain's Opinion from BC, Canada writes: In Canada you pay a premium just for being here. All our prices are higher for no apparent reason. Sure big business will give you the spiel but really it's just that we are a bunch of snivelling weinies and will eventually give in and pay the price, snivelling all the way.
    So, just flock away from rodgers.
    It's that simple. when the cash dries up they will be forced to give you an acceptable deal. Wether it is cable or phone or whatever.
    But you have to do it people. Quit Rodgers, Shaw, Telus what have you and tell them why.
  53. Tkk Z from Canada writes:
    Hay, don't like it don't buy it.

    If you like the iPhone but not the Rogers Screw-You Plan, you're addicted.

    And if you buy the iPhone from Rogers you're an iFool.

    You screw yourself, that's your problem.
  54. Iain's Opinion from BC, Canada writes: Why would a business be less than contemptuous when you whine snivell and cry, yet poney up the cash? I'd be contemptuous too.
  55. Nelson S from Ottawa, Canada writes: I call BS. Rogers is a monopoly. I live in Ottawa and, as such, I have no choice but to pay for Rogers' services--just the way they like it. Let's face it, Rogers maneuvered themselves to be in the right place at the right time. Are they to blame? Yes and no. As a business, most definitely no. In fact, kudos to them. I blame current legislation here. If legislators were to encourage, God forbid, actual competition, Rogers would be forced to fall in line. Until then, I'm not getting that iPhone just yet. That being said, Rogers could go the extra mile ( wishful thinking on my part of course) and willingly offer equivalent prices for services as their American and European counterparts. Let us not hold our breath though....
  56. J Y from Canada writes: People complaining about iPhones are making me laugh. Go ahead, make all the petition you want. Nothing will happen. Boycott the iPhone. Rogers will remove it from their lineup due to poor sales.

    I'm not impressed with the iphone, the virtual keyboard sucks... I like my Blackberry thank you very much.

    Also, has anyone realized how many people there are in Canada?? We only have 33 million people while in the states there are 302 million people. How many do you think want the iPhone?

    If you want to complain about being gouge, complain about gas!
  57. S P from Canada writes: I can see why many of you are upset at the iphone service plan pricing of Rogers compared to other GSM carriers like AT&T and Vodafone. But, why aren't any of you complaining about the voice service plan pricing? AT&T, Verizon, Sprint all offer 'all you can eat, LD included' plans for <$100/month. Rogers (and Bell and Telus) all have much higher pricing compared to this, and it's been this way for years! (e.g. Rogers offers 1600 min/month on Digital One Rate plan, includes LD - the biggest bucket you can get - for $330 - rip off!) Voice service is used by about ~4.5 - 5M Rogers subs and somewhat fewer subs for Bell and Telus. This is what you should really be angry about. Voice services are used by a far greater number of people and for more necessary and vital things than scoping your latest facebook post. The CRTC seems to conveniently ignore this issue. The on going spectrum auctions, in theory, are supposed to promote more competition, but in a cozy Canadian market of some ~34M people, I'm doubtful this will actually happen, and if it does, it will be years away. There is a way you can profit from this though, become an owner in these companies - buy their stock when it is depressed and sell it after it rises, in the meantime enjoy collecting the reasonable cash dividends they pay. Then, rinse, lather, repeat (i.e. buy the stock again when it inevitably falls, etc.). At least this way, you can make some money from Rogers with one hand and pay it back to them with the other. Hopefully, you'll be revenue and cost neutral or better. BTW, the above strategy works just a well with gas and oil companies (think Encana, Canadian Oil Sands Trust, etc.). Have you seen the price of a litre of gas lately?
  58. J S from Edmonton, Canada writes: I have an iPod touch, and it's BRILLIANT for surfing the internet. WiFi hotspots are sufficiently abundant that I can usually check my mail and websites and news. According to Rogers, the reason why they've made the plans the way they have is because users of the first generation iPhone only used 100MB of data on average.

    Well, why would i buy an iPhone, then? I'm only missing out on 100MB of transfer. I can use my iPod touch and my current mobile (Rogers!) phone for HALF the price of the iPhone plan. If I'm really hard up for WiFi, I can actually subscribe to the HotSpot stuff separately, and it's STILL cheaper.

    Don't buy an iPhone as long as these prices are in place. Mail Rogers and Apple and tell them you're buying an iPod touch. You get everything except the GPS.
  59. Casey Woods from Calgary, Canada writes: You forgot to mention that the AT&T plans also includes:
    - unlimited long distance (no long distance charges)
    - unlimited mobile to mobile calling
    - unused minutes rollover to next month
    - every calling feature under the sun
    - no data overage charges

    And the Rogers pricing you quoted doesn't include system access fees.

    If you do a real comparison, the real plan to use is the $100 plan which actually will cost about $125 once you add caller ID! And that is before you make any long distance calls or go over your MB data limit!

    http://www.itinfusion.ca/recommended/rogers-versus-att-an-apples-to-apples-iphone-3g-pricing-comparison/
  60. D JL from Canada writes: You forgot to add the connect fees, 911 fees, gst, pst, etc, etc, etc on the Rogers side. Especially the connect & 911 fees.
  61. john doe from Canada writes: you cant really blame rogers can you? the were given a monopoly on a product that has very few substitutes so who would not exploit it. What i hate about is that spread sheet at the bottom does not even consider that most cell to cell calling in the states is not long distance or that most plans offer unlimited in network calling and other benefits. But then again the product is way out of my league anyways the minimum commitment over 3 years works out to 2700$ just in plans and that before a system access fee that will show up and taxes or the phone. And i don't even understand why you cannot just cash purchase the phone i was at rogers paying my montly bill and asked if that would be possible because i don't really need the internet stuff but combining the phone and my ipod would save my some pocket space.
  62. D JL from Canada writes: Boycott the iphone and another phone that has high download fees in Canada.

    Sorry, forgot, most of these are written of by companies.

    Okay, restrict tax write offs also.
  63. Johnny McAllister from Calgary, Canada writes: I just gotta say... I really want one of those damn phones.

    But I just cannot do it under such a rate regime.

    I will remain 100% Rogers free until this company gets a little more pro-consumer and world class.
  64. Ed Op from Canada writes: I can understand the premium pricing. Cellphones are not a staple you know, it's not mandatory that everyone have them! The thing that bugs me though is the lack of an unlimited data plan. Sure, charge what the market will bear, but please, why in the world wouldn't you offer a package that grants as much data as a user needs without having to worry about 'running over' all the time? Makes no sense whatsoever.
  65. M. D. from Canada writes: 'We take customer feedback very seriously,' said Liz Hamilton, a Rogers spokeswoman.

    Ha. Ha ha. Muahahahahaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!! Good one, Liz!!
  66. Brit . from Canada writes: 'Rogers also scoffs at criticism that it has a monopoly on the iPhone. The company has built its network on a technology that has made it the only carrier in Canada capable of running the phone. 'That's no accident,' Ms. Hamilton said. 'It was a visionary move.''

    They built their network by eliminating the threat from Microcell in 2004, more like buying not building. The gov't did nothing to prevent this. It is stupid why Canada has both GSM and CDMA when most of world uses GSM only.
  67. Michael Feighney from Toronto, Canada writes: I wasn't looking forward to the iPhone here in Canada as much as I was hoping that they would bring in a pricing struture that more closely matched other countries. I don't see how they can point and say Canada is such a large country and we have such a small population so our costs are higher as we have to cover a larger area with less people to pay for it. If you look at the Cell coverage maps for all providers you see that only a few areas in the country are well serviced because there are enough subscribers there to make it worth their while to invest in the infrastructure. If there were enough people on Baffin Island, there'd be cell towers popping up all over the place. Hell people, Canada is really only a 200 mile band stretching coast to coast just north of the US boader. And most of that is covered by now. You don't need an iPhone, it's not going to magically change your life, it may lighten your load so you're not carrying a MP3 player, a GPS unit, Camera and a Cell phone. But that's about it. Just don't sign on to their spin, and force them to fix their pricing plans so that we, the Canadian Consumer gets a FAIR deal. I'd rather by a phone out right then have me pay for their 'subsidizing' my phone by charging me 3 to 4 times what it's worth. Hell you can probably get the newest Samsug i-900 that out performs the iPhone for less than $1K, or $2K to $3K less than what Rogers is gonna bill you for that iPhone on a 3 year plan. So you tell me, it the iPhone value for money or just something to sooth your vanity?
  68. Western Canadian from west of Winnipeg, Canada writes: Rogers has built its network on a technology that has made it the only carrier in Canada capable of running the phone. 'That's no accident,' Ms. Hamilton said. 'It was a visionary move.'
    The visionary move will now allow the company to rip off customers on the exclusive plans its offers.
  69. Barney Panofsky from Vancouver, Canada writes: Does everyone remember the fuss Rogers caused with their cable tv preditary policies a few years ago.
    Is anyone surprised?
    It seems that nobody really needs this i-phone anyway.
  70. Jimmy K from Toronto, Canada writes: You know what, I am sick of all the outrage and nonsense that comes out on these forums whenever someone talks about the telecoms.

    I hate them as much as anyone else, but unlike most of you, I would love to have our market 100% opened to to anyone. If you have capital and know how to run a mobile network, come on in. No more domestic content limits, no more foreign ownership restrictions. The reason the rest of the world pays less is because the rest of the world doesn't have domestically protected monopolies, blocking all newcomers from the market.

    Let me ask you this. If we didn't allow Wal-Mart into this country, because they are big bad and evil, and if we were all shopping at Woolco and whatever else went bankrupt after Wal-Mart came in, do you think we would be paying more or less now?

    If you people want lower cellphone rates, lower television rates, and lower phone rates, then stand up and say you want foreign restrictions dropped. Let in the Americans, the Japanese, the Germans, the English, the French, the Africans, the Mexicans, ANYONE who has money and know how should get a license to develop a network here. That's the solution, but that's not what Canadians want, if we did that you would be up in arms about selling out to Americans or some other drivel, so shut up, bend over, and pay the highest rates in the world for your precious iPhone, you want it this way. Ask and ye shall receive, who says our politicians don't listen? Oh and enjoy paying the highest banking fees in the world too, you want it like that also.

    Cheers.
  71. Johnny McAllister from Calgary, Canada writes: Spot on, Jimmy K. The abuse Canadians endure under the hands of its own nationally-sanctioned corporations is utterly baffling as we bring this on to ourselves.

    Open the borders to increased competition so the Canadian consumer's nightmare may end....
  72. Sev Scott from calgaristan, Canada writes: Mozambique and South Africa (Orange) have better cellphones than Canada, so does Hong Kong and Malaysia, and Thailand. I do not understand why this country is so @ssbackwards with cell phones. We are getting hosed big time, and this is yet another example. My GSM phone I bought in Thailand was used all around Asia and Africa buying a simple $2 sim card. Here, my phone cannot be used, and a sim card cost $30 with $50 in time, which I lost because I did not use my phone enough. Please, open skies for phones......
  73. Tyler Wilson from Toronto, Canada writes: After reading articles and posts, I'm still not sure I understand why everyone is so worked up about this.

    1) The rates are much, much better than their rates a month ago. As someone who planned on buying an Iphone then, I'm very happy about this.
    2) Everyone seems to be upset about the 'Unlimited Data'. I'm not sure how much data everyone plans on using, but unless you're downloading a lot of songs/youtube videos I cant see many people really gaining any benefit out of 'unlimited' verses what they offer.
    3) Finally, and most importantly, companies exist to make money. That's what they do. They arent charities. They make products and sell them at prices which will allow them the maximum PROFIT. Simple as that. If you were the CEO of Rogers, what would YOU do with the opportunity to make a lot of money for you, your employees and your shareholders. If the price is too high, dont buy one. Perhaps I should start a petition to complain about prices of a Porsche 911. I've been REALLY wanting one of those for awhile. Or maybe I should petition free market economics, or captialism, or the monetary system....

    For the record, I do plan on buying one. And switching phone companies to do it. I'm just thankful I didnt have to pay $599 for it!

    One last note: I'm happy I live in a country that is generally so content with life that THIS is what we have to argue about. Beats arguing about what to do about a genocide, or war. To complain is to be Canadian, and I for one am proud to do it :)
  74. bob gervitz from United States writes: Simple solution folks. Don't buy an iPhone. Problem solved. Sure it's cool and hip and all that stuff, but in the end it's just a phone. Big deal. You've all managed without one for your entire life until now (how did you manage it!!!!). Not having one won't kill you. So do without.
  75. Bart Farquart from Canada writes:
    With wireless rates predicted to decline in Canada due to the advent (finally) of service providers outside the triopoly, Rogers wants to enjoy one final bone job on Canadians by sucking them into signing three year contracts. The iPhone is the perfect bait for all the gullible fish.

    The smart fish know wireless service rates are headed down, Apple does not have a monopoly on PDAs. And that Rogers will change only when unactivated iPhones start piling up in their stores.

    My 2 cents would be to check out the BB Thunder later this year.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRwyLasIYH8
  76. Rex Bradley from Oakville, Canada writes: All spectrum, world-wide is government controlled: Virtually, right after Marconi. You, hoi polloi don't really expect them to 'let' you be in charge of anything, do you? The BBG and the CRTC have always been in the pockets of the elite. Nothing new here.
    Anyway, Teddy-boy Rogers has only motivation. Getting even because his father lost CFRB. Any person that would hire Paul Gottfreid can't be trusted: any takers on a DOME for 25 mill? You apple corps will only assist in the R&P.
  77. Dennis sinneD from Calgary, Canada writes:

    I wish it were as easy as tin cans and string...
  78. Dean G from Vancouver, Canada writes: I am a Rogers client for 20 years - I was going to switch from my Curve to the iPhone - now I am just going to switch to Telus

    Can you hear me now Ted?

    Adios
  79. zoom zoom from Vancouver, Canada writes: Based on the published rates for Canadian iphone subscribers, and the eye-opening comparision to US rates, I do not plan on purchasing the iphone.
  80. Glen Murtz from Vancouver, writes: Wow.
    That's a 'news' article?
    I doubt the Globe could have provided better spin for Rogers by allowing its public relations department to write the freaking copy itself.
    This is one of the most one-sided articles I've ever read in this paper.

    One small example... where's the reporter's correcting of this mouthpiece's '5,000 on a blog' comment?
    A ridiculous and pandering article to a big buyer of this newspapers ad space... shame on the Globe and Mail and especially shame on this reporter...
  81. John Warwick from West Vancouver, Canada writes: Rogers states that they will send customers a message when their usage hits 85% of their cap.

    And what will a customer do then? There is no way to turn off Edge on the iPhone, unless you turn the phone off or disable all the radios, including the GSM radio. If Uncle Larry forwards you that funny video clip, your Mobile.me push email account, will pass it along to your phone.

    The iPhone is designed as an always on internet in your pocket device, and is a very different animal than other cell phones.
  82. William Scott Lee III from Vancouver, Canada writes: This is what the Compete to Win report meant by Canada is not competitive. Frankly speaking it is really sad that countries like the Philippines have a cheaper and more innovative mobile phone services than Canada. Frankly we should drop our foreign ownership restrictions. Some African countries and nearlyall South East Asian countries are ahead of us because they all foreign ownership of their Telcos. If you are scared of American ownership in mobile operators, I don't think we have anything to worry about. I am pretty sure it will be the big European/Asian carriers like T-mobile, Orange, Vodaphone or Singtel that will invest in Canada.

    As for the marketing consultant I wonder how much Rogers paid for his services or if Ted Rogers had any incriminating photos of him. Rogers could not compete even with the likes of third world carriers like Philippines Smart Telecom in terms of services and price.
  83. football fan from Rogers city, Canada writes: CRTC executives needs to go. It seems like rogers is running CRTC now.

    CRTC's priorities:
    1. Rogers and fido must split into 2 GSM companies
    2. Telus and Bell must invest in GSM technology
    3. Allow more foreign GSM telcos into Canada
  84. the catholic church from Purgatory, Canada writes: 'We take customer feedback very seriously,' said Liz Hamilton, a Rogers spokeswoman.
    ---
    'Rogers also scoffs at criticism...Ms. Hamilton said'

    So, which is it, Ms. Hamilton? Are you scoffing at legitimate criticism or taking it seriously? How can you possibly believe Canadian consumers will buy into your self-contradictory marketing spin? Utterly laughable, but I digress...

    Rogers has misjudged this one big time. EVERY single person I know who was considering buying a 3G iPhone has changed their mind and will wait until the contracts and service plans drop in price. And considering I work in an industry filled with early adopters and tech-savvy consumers, I think it speaks volumes about how poor Rogers assessment of consumer attitudes really is. From a sampling of more than 100 individuals, not a single one will buy an iPhone until Rogers' pricing changes. I'd love to see a legitimate survey of the same done by an independent poll - perhaps contracted by Apple, to see just how badly Rogers has damaged the Canadian market for them.
  85. John Connor from Canada writes: What did anyone expect from a monopoly?
    Get over it already and wait until the real problem - the CRTC - is dealt with properly, say in 50 years.
  86. old Curmudgeon From Ottawa from Canada writes: Personally, I was not going to get an iPhone anyway, too expensive and I dont really need the features...

    However, the iPhone furor has acted as a catalyst for many people, myself included.

    I have had it with predatory pricing from the cell phone and cable companies. As soon as my current Tellus plan expires, I am going for a cheap, no contract cell phone. As for Cable, I am going to get rid of it too. I have had it with being gouged for HD channels that aren't, commercials every 5 minutes, and the scourge of reality shows....

    Are you listening, Rogers, Tellus and Bell?
  87. Bill Smith from The wilds of the GTA, Canada writes: Those who dismiss the whole thing as complaining from Apple freaks suffering sticker shock are missing the point. Canada has the pretty much the highest wireless rates in the first world and corrasponding with the most restrictive ownership and competition rules that ban foreign participation in the Canadian Cell phone market.

    Want change lobby your MP that the status quo is not working and their missplaced sense of economic nationalism in regards to the teleom industry is screwing consumers.
  88. johnny rochetkoch from scarborough, Canada writes: contact Jim Prentice Industry Canada. We need foreign barriers removed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    C.D. Howe Building
    235 Queen Street
    Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H5
    Telephone: 613-995-9001
    Fax: 613-992-0302
    Email: Minister.Industry@ic.gc.ca
  89. Albert Lateo from Stoney Creek, Canada writes: The solution is not to buy the iPhone. The results could be:-

    Rogers will be piled up with a huge inventory of Dead Stock iPhones
    Apple revenue forecasts will go down.
    Apple will put pressure on Rogers.
    Rogers revenue forecasts will go down forcing a pricing review.
    By that time the 3rd version of the iPhone would be out.
    Price Plans will be changed.
    We then get to buy the iPhone III.

    The power lies in us the consumer to alter the stage.

    Good luck....
  90. Paul who is from Vancouver, Canada writes: .
    @Glen Murtz Posted 03/07/08 at 2:33 AM EDT

    Right on.

    Yesterday it was the two reporters Matthew Trevisan and Matt Hartley with their Rogers commercial message titled 'Carriers cheerfully take heat on iPhone pricing', and today its Simon Avery and Matt Hartley again with an encore commercial titled 'The iPhone cross-border price clash'.

    How much money does the G&M happily accept from Rogers Wireless Communications Inc. every day in advertising?

    How much money does the G&M get every time someone submits a post in here complaining about the new Rogers gadget?

    What earth shattering Rogers story are we going to be treated to tomorrow?

    BTW, the G&M forgot to quote something else the spokeswoman for Rogers said.

    Liz Hamilton, a spokeswoman for Rogers: 'These are the best value for customers who wish to use the iPhone 3G as it was meant to be used, but as always our customers have choices.'

    How many of her customers are going to choose to line up at one minute after midnight on July 11 for Apple's new toy?
  91. Myles Leach from Delaware, Canada writes: 2 cable lines, high speed internet, and 2 cell-phones=a monthly car payment. That was the math. Sick of Rogers predatory pricing and abusive customer service, I took all of my Rogers gear and dumped it on the counter at the local Rogers video store. I cut the wires and freed myself. I hope Rogers chokes on its latest swindle.
  92. J Hanner from London, Canada writes: Canadians are always getting burned. Throw open the doors to competition from around the world. May the best company win.