Online petition proves growing Canadian distaste for Rogers’ iPhone 3G calling plans
By Will Park on Sunday, June 29th, 2008 at 4:13 PM PST In Announcements, Apple, Rogers, iPhone, iPhone OS
By now it should be clear that iPhone 3G hopefuls in Canada are getting the short end of the data-plan-stick. Rogers (NYSE: RCI) (and their wholly-owned Fido network) announced not too long ago that they’ll be offering our friends to the North a chance to get their hands on an Apple (NSDQ: AAPL)’s next-generation iPhone, the iPhone 3G, come July 11. The catch - you’ll get reamed on Rogers’ and Fido’s data-plan pricing.
Rather than adopt the unlimited data plan pricing structure that many other iPhone carriers are offering with their iPhone 3G data plans, Rogers will be rolling out iPhone 3G calling plans with varying data usage limits. The cheapest plan nets Rogers customers a measly 400MB of bundled 3G data usage, while the highest-tier iPhone 3G calling plan has Rogers customers working with a 2GB data soft-cap.
Rogers defended their iPhone 3G pricing position by saying that the calling plans were tailored to fit different needs, striving to ensure that customers didn’t end up paying more for services they didn’t need or want. The carrier argued that an unlimited data offering would increase iPhone 3G calling plan prices needlessly, ultimately shorting the customer.
So, what options are left to disgruntled Canadians looking to get their hands on an iPhone 3G next month? Start a petition, of course. Rather then sit back and take what Rogers gives them, a group of enraged iPhone 3G hopefuls have formed RuinediPhone.com in hopes of gathering enough petition signatures to sway Rogers’ hand in iPhone 3G rate plan pricing.
So far, the website is boasting over 12,500 signatures and looks to be growing steadily. If you’re looking to pick up a next-generation iPhone 3G come July 11, but can’t stand the taste of Rogers’ greed, sign the petition and pass it on to your friends. The petition will be sent to Rogers on July 11, in hopes that the prospect of losing tens of thousands (if not more) iPhone 3G customers (which could ultimately lead to reduced iPhone 3G revenue) can help persuade Rogers to offer a more sizable data plan for the iPhone 3G.
Find the petition here. You don’t have to be a Canadian to show your disapproval of Rogers’ business practices. Give our Canadian friends some help and sign the petition, regardless of your address.
Rogers can go to HELL. I live in Canada and have been a loyal Rogers customer for 10 years+. The rates announced by Rogers on Friday are a major slap in the face to Canadian consumers. We already pay the HIGHEST cell/data rates in the world and these iPhone plans are simply NOT ACCEPTABLE.
Since the market decides the price, I’ve decided not only to boycott the iPhone, but to cancel my current cell and internet services with “Robbers” on July 11th. These Greedy, corporate scum-sucking dirtbags deserve to go BANKRUPT for screwing us every friggin’ chance they get! I’ll switch my cell phone to Telus and buy an iPod touch instead.
ROGERS: STOP TELLING US WHAT WE NEED AND START PROVIDING US WITH WHAT WE WANT… UNLIMITED DATA PLANS AT REASONABLE RATES! STOP RAPING YOUR CUSTOMERS!!!
PS: Thanks to everyone from USA who can take 30 seconds to sign the petition and help us out
I agree with Stephanie! Rogers can go to HELL.
I just looked at AT&T’s plans and will happily cross the border to get my iPhone, along with a rate plan. This way I can change my current TELUS plan to a pre-paid and then call forward to my new US iPhone.
Rogers, You had a chance to do it right. You had a chance to steal customers from your competitors. Rogers, you chose to steal from your customers instead. Your pricing plans will go down in business history as excessive and out-of-touch, similar to the ‘new Tim Horton’s’ that fires employees for handing out a single TimBit. You have completely phucked the intro of this product. You had the chance to get it right and I am completely enjoying reading what your customers have to say about your company.
There is an arrogance that effects a company at one point or another in its life, where the company starts to believe that it’s shit doesn’t stink. Microsoft has been that way since they were sued by the US government and still doesn’t get it (Vista, Zune and dropping the Yahoo ball proves my point). I don’t particularly care if Rogers get sued by a government but I will make sure to inform all that I know that your shit does certainly stink to high holy heaven.
Rogers, it was nice knowing you (not really).
LOL - Oh Dear God this stuff is funny!
Finally everyone knows that Rogers does not give a damn about the customers.
This is your time folks. Start cutting all your services. If you want to be heard, now is the best time to boycott Rogers.
OMFG! These have to be the worse rate plans ever devised! Seriously Rogers has to be the worst carrier this world has ever seen and it sucks because they are like the only GSM carrier apart from Fido in Canada. I feel for you Canada! I’m sorry you have to put up with such a retarded carrier!
I agree with Chad, boycott and disconnect from those money drainers!
We all knew that Canadian GSM carriers would only go down after Rogers bought Fido, formerly Microcell.
This is a disgrace, but it’s just one more disgrace in a long line of them since Rogers was inexplicably allowed allowed to buy Fido and form a monopoly on GSM service in Canada. Down with Rogers. Seriously.
Rogers is the worst company ever. I’ve switched my cable and internet, the cellphone should follow soon and at that point my home will be Rogers-free!
Never buy Rogers!
I WANT A SIDEKICKK
IS THERE ANY WAY TO GET A SIDEKICK WITH A TELUS OR ROGERS PLAN!
MY OLD CELL PHONE IS LITERALLY CRACKED IN HALF AND I NEED A NEW ONE ASAP!!
Rogers can eat a dick, they ARE the pinnacle of a piece of shit company.
Raise prices, lower bandwidth, packet shape bit torrent and P2P. have lame comemrcials, they are just an evil company, theyre customer service leaves a lot to be desired seeing as how its run by chimps… its surpring they are still in business with such practices. i guess ted rogers was a master at parker brothers MONOPOLY. i hope Virgin lays some wire over here and offers high speed and tv service… so sir Richard Branson this is a PLEA to YOU.
I was using Rogers for years (13 actually) and have given them alot of money over the years. It is a shame that a company that had such humble beginnings is now the ‘money huungry’ fat cats. My internet was the final straw for me. When I got a message from Rogers that broke through all my network security and also the 60 gig cap..enough was enough.
I am a Network Admin, Web Designer and other things that require use of the internet. I had extreme one time BUT I was not getting the speed I was promised. 4 techs came by and checked things out and discovered it was the lines in the walls. Rogers would not change the lines in the walls because they could not own them. I lowered my plan. Now they are hitting me with the offer to go back to Extreme for the 95 gig cap…I said upgrade my lines in my walls then.
Rogers you greedy bastards, you have lost my internet business and Techsavvy(.)com has it now because they know how to treat thier customers. When my cell phone contract is over you are losing me there too because your service sucks and I have to fight with my phone in my 11th floor apartment to use it (sad). As soon as I find a good provider for tv…you are losing that too.
Congratz Rogers, our 13 year relationship is ending because of your greed. You are losing my $250 a month I pay to you so I hope that adds up enough for you to WAKE THE HELL UP!