Didn’t think it would happen, but it did. Rogers has now announced that they will offer a $30/month data add-on option to their plans that provides 6gb of data. It’s not unlimited, but I actually think it might as well be as that’s a pretty big chunk of data per month. I heard from a source that AT&T’s “unlimited” plan is actually soft-capped at 5gb (whatever that means ;)) so it could even be looked at as better than the US offering.
In order for them to spin it, though, they’ve announced it as a “limited time offer” that expires August 31st. Honestly I think the (much) more expensive plans will fade into the darkness and this one or one like it will be the real plans for the future. Rogers couldn’t just change their plans, though. That’d make them look…well…WRONG. Funny that.
I was on the phone with Rogers CSR last night for close to an hour discussing options on upgrades etc. and of course this did not come up – but then he probably had no idea it was coming. What he did tell me, though, is that based on my family plan and the fact that Marilyn had bought a Motorola phone about 6 months ago I am actually not in the Hardware Tier that would allow me to pay the advertised rate for the iPhone. Apparently the $199/$299 rates are for new customers – you know, the ones that flip from Telco to Telco. Another brilliant display of customer retention. To make it even more ridiculous – I’m shortening the conversation considerably – if I pay my current bill now instead the of automatic payment in 2 weeks I would somehow magically then be in the proper hardware tier for the advertised price. I kid you not. It never ceases to amaze me how companies try so hard to get new customers yet make their loyal subscribers bend over and take one to get anything. But that’s another battle to come.
Ironically, a story was leaked yesterday that both Bell and Telus will be charging for incoming SMS messages soon. $50 says it was a Rogers zealot that leaked it – great attempt at deflection, guys. But it’s not entirely ridiculous, imho. That charge is only put through if you do not have a Text Messaging plan of any kind on your line. Most people that expect SMS messages have a plan of some kind, so they won’t really notice any difference. Others, tho, can still receive SMS messages – unless the Telcos offer the option to block them. Clearly, if it’s a spam SMS there’s no way people should have to pay for it, so good luck Bellus on enforcing a charge in that situation. Rogers, of course, has publicly stated that they’ll never charge for incoming SMS. You know, because they’re so sweet to their base.
So yes, I’ll be getting a new iPhone with this data plan – hopefully one for Marilyn as well but if not then she’s OK with data + existing iPhone. Now to try to navigate the no-doubt big line-ups on Friday morning. Wish me luck.
