The people of Canada are ultimately responsible for this mess by not insisting our politicians allow real competition in the Canadian Telco industry. I think that’s about to change given the iPhone uproar. In the meantime, we have the RIGHT (the DUTY) to complain as loud as we can. In fact, the endless bad press Rogers have received over the past few days is already having a huge impact. Rogers is PR panic mode right now and announced yesterday that people will be allowed to “import their existing voice plans and select a separate data plan”!

I still won’t be buying an iPhone until another carrier is able to offer it here. In fact, after 10 years of being a loyal Rogers customer, I cancelled my cell and internet services as of yesterday. Rogers won’t see another dime from me and many other Canadians. I now use another carrier for cell and I’ll use an iPod touch instead.

Rogers will learn it is beholden to BOTH their shareholders AND their customers. Basic economics suggest that without customers, there are no sales and, therefore, no PROFIT!!!

But… and this is what I don’t understand, why CAN’T a corporation be greedy? They are beholden to their shareholders (NOT their customers) to make the most money possible. They are providing a desired service, not a required service like health care or food.

The market drives pricing, if they feel that they can make money and not drive their customers away with this pricing, more power to them right? Even if they could make a TON more money by lowering their prices, it is their prerogative NOT to do that.

Yeah it sucks for us consumers, but we are exactly that, if we don’t like it we don’t have to consume their product.

Cell phone comes are NOT a regulated monopoly like power companies or other utilities. If you don’t like their pricing, tell them to stick their 3yr contract and crappy data package where the sun don’t shine.

Rogers has rightfully earned their bad reputation in Canada. They have been screwing their customers for YEARS because they operate within a protectionist bubble thanks to the CRTC, so yes, people have the RIGHT to comment and BASH that scum-sucking Telco nicknamed “Robbers”. The truth of the matter is…

1) The network is already built. There is no reason to charge exorbitant data fees to it’s customers, other than pure GREED!

2) This is not just about the iPhone per say, it’s about data rates in general. The iPhone however is the first CONSUMER product that every day Canadians can compare rates between different countries. We in Canada are getting the SHAFT!

3) Rogers has been posting record profits in the order of $260 million PER QUARTER. Now, I’m not suggesting that companies can’t make money but surely a company like Rogers, who uses the the CRTC to protect itself from competition, should offer up better deals to the customers it’s been SHAFTING all these years!

4) Stop giving us the “Canada is vast and poorly populated” excuse. 90% of Canada’s population lives in a narrow corridor along the Canada/US border. Furthermore, over 85% of Canadians live in urban areas (compared with 75% for USA). That argument doesn’t hold water!

And to top it off… Rogers announced it’s pricing plans last Friday. Almost immediately, a protest began on the web via a petition at http://www.ruinediphone.com. As of 19h30 this evening, Rogers is DENYING ACCESS TO THIS SITE in an attempt to stifle free speech!!!

Rogers is a piece of work and will get what they deserve!

As a user, does it suck? Yes it does, so if you don’t like it, don’t buy a friggin 3G Iphone.

Why don’t you go with another carrier in Canada that has unlimited data… Oh WAIT! There isn’t one. You know why? Because competition works, and Canada doesn’t have much in the way of decent competition for cell phones.

Just remember the backend isn’t free, T3’s, ATM, and OC-3/12/48 Costs a C-R-A-P-L-O-A-D of money. So remember that when you go off ranting about download cap’s on Internet connections.