Fido Customers: You Can Get the iPhone too!

Good news for Fido users!

Are you a Fido customer and want to get an iPhone?  Locked into a contract?

Good news!!

Although they haven't posted it anywhere, existing Fido costumers can can buy an iPhone without paying a cancellation fee on their current contract.  If you call customer service and ask them, they will (as of July 24th) waive the cancellation fee on your contract and charge you a $35 admin fee to start a new contract for the iPhone.  So you pay the same price as everyone else.

Not bad.  I think it's worth pointing out that at least one mobile company isn't screwing it's customers.

Well done Fido!

Great Article from the Globe

Here's a good overview of the iPhone fiasco from the Globe.

The Globe and Mail

Something big is here!

Well today's the day, and if you're one of the few lucky people not locked into a mobile phone contract you could go out and  buy yourself the iPhone... 

Unless you're boycotting Rogers because of their unfair pricing structures; or if you can't afford the iPhone; or if by the time you get to the store Rogers has already run out of it's limited stock (and claims victory because it has "sold out of iPhones on the first day"); or finally because like so many existing costumers, you are already locked into a contract and can't take advantage of the limited-time price-break on data plans.

What do you then?  Pay a cancellation fee on your existing plan so you can extend your contract with Rogers?  That doesn't make any sense.

That's the situation I've found myself in.  And to add to the frustration, every service rep I talk to, either on the phone or in person at the store, gives me a completely different story.

I've been told I shouldn't pay any cancellation fee, $180 to cancel and start a new contract, and $200 to start a new contract.

I've been told my renewal window starts in October then it was December. I was told to expect a call from a service rep over a week ago to fix the situation but no one has ever called.

And I still don't understand why I have to pay to cancel a contract when I'm actually looking to extend it.  If I add the $30/6GB data plan to my existing contract and sign on to continue both for 3 years why am I being charged up to $200 (or whatever Rogers decide the price is that day) to cancel a contract?  I'm not cancelling, I'm extending my contract.  And it's even worse when the $30 plan is only being offered for 6 weeks until the end of August.  If I wait till to renew at the end of my contract, I'll be forced to get a horribly overpriced data plan.

It doesn't seem like Rogers cares about it's existing costumers.  The focus at HQ must be to sign-up new clients and re-sign ones on expiring contracts.  I'm surprised they have no interest in keeping clients they already have.

I'm starting to think maybe I should just run out my contract and switch to Bell or Telus and sign on to their more reasonably priced data plans and get the Canadian-made Blackberry.

UPDATE:

 I've just heard there is a $35 activation fee for the iPhone.  First I've heard of that.  Great, an other fee.

Don't Just Sit There, Do Something!

If you're not happy with the iddy-biddy data plans that are available for the iPhone in Canada you can do something about it.

Find out how you can take action on getthefactsonrogersiphone.com.

http://www.getthefactsonrogersiphone.com/action.html

At the very least sign here:

iPhone - just wait

Many people hope Rogers get burned with this whole iPhone debacle.

I hope Rogers does get burned.  But the only way for that to happen is for iPhone lovers to stay out of Rogers stores this Friday. If Canada is the only place where sales of the iPhone are poor Rogers will have egg all over it's face.

It's a waiting game. Because no one actually needs an iPhone this Friday, I encourage everyone to wait at least a week or two before buying and let Rogers make the next move.

Wonderful

How wonderful that the iPhone is making people think about their cell phone bills.

What I just emailed to Apple

Dear Apple,

I am writing to ensure that you are aware of the situation surrounding the release of the iPhone in Canada.

The sole supplier of the iPhone in Canada is first, asking every Canadian interested in the iPhone to sign a 3 year contract - way too long for a mobile agreement. What happens when a better iPhone is released? No one in Canada will able to buy it.

Second, not only are the data prices way too high, there isn't even an option for us to sign up for an unlimited data plan like there is in the US. What's an iPhone if you can't use the internet on it? Just another phone which isn't worth buying.

I wish we could get a plan here that came close to what AT&T offers in the US or something comparable to what the rest of the world is being offered. Unfortunately Canada isn't really seeing the release of the iPhone this month, we are just seeing the release of another phone with a bunch of unaffordable options.

If there's anything you can do to make the iPhone work the way it's meant to in Canada, there's a country-load of people that would love to use it.

In the keynote adress Steve Jobs promised the iPhone would be affordable. Well in Canada, it's mission failed for Apple.

O.L.

getthefactsonrogersiphone.com thinks I'm right - I think they're right

getthefactsonrogersiphone.com has listed me as one their five main supporters.  

And so they should.  I think they're absolutely right in bringing to attention the way we are being held ransom by the telcom industry in this country.

I'm obviously talking about the iPhone's data rates for Canada.  Rogers-Fido's data rates for the iPhone are outrageous.  The iPhone is built to use the internet.  That's what it does.  Between iTunes downloads, Apps downloads, web Apps (those that only run online), GPS maps, and of course web browsing and email, the iPhone is a voracious data eating machine.  

----------------------------------------

OPEN LETTER TO ROGERS:

Hey Ted!  

It's not a phone with some web stuff in it.  It's a web-based computer that fits in your pocket, with some phone stuff in it. 

Yours,

O.L.

----------------------------------------

That's the one thing I believe Rogers is missing the boat on here.  They seem to think that the iPhone is just a phone.  They are "just" people (see Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium).  What they fail to understand is that it's the next generation in phone technology.  And in order to use it to it's fullest capacity it needs the internet, lots of internet.  To put it terms Rogers might understand, it's like buying a high-def TV and not subscribing to high-def TV - Kalitchnakoff looks squished.

I applaud getthefactsonrogersiphone.com.  In particular check out their Facts page and find out what your $60 / 400MB plan actually buys you.  Rogers tells you 3,000 web pages?  Wait till your first bill comes in...

I'm not interested in picking on Rogers or Fido here, but if Bell can offer unlimited data for $10 on Samsung's Instinct phone, maybe Rogers need to rethink what they're doing.  

Please don't get me wrong.  I like Rogers.  I actually love Fido and there's no way I'm giving up that service but I really, really, would love to love the iPhone more.  The only way to love it though, is to use it - internet and all.  But if that's not going to happen because of high data rates then maybe the song was right.  If you love the iPhone, set it free.  Don't buy it this Friday and wait for to Rogers to wake up and drop the prices.

Unlimited data for $30!!! - or get a touch.

Rogers-Fido iPhone data rate is rediculous

Don't buy the iPhone in Canada!

Data is what the iPhone is all about. Without a decently priced plan it's just another phone. Don't destroy the "Invention Of the Year" for Canadians. The iPhone is what it is because of what it does above and beyond mobile calls. If you can't use the extras freely there's no real point in getting an iPhone in the first place.

Find out what Rogers-Fido are really offering for the price:

http://www.getthefactsonrogersiphone.com/facts.html#costcomparisonlowend

Sign the petition here:

http://www.ruinediphone.com/

Watch the GlobalTV report: