Thursday, July 3, 2008 -- 12:47 p.m. -- on my couch

For all of the times that I've railed on Verizon's Voyager and everything BlackBerry, I knew one thing for sure ... the iPhone offered something those devices could not.

And I've railed on the Samsung Instinct, the so-called iPhone killer that's this week's Voyager.

In most places, the Instinct will barely make a dent in the iPhone's world.

Most places aren't Canada, where Rogers crazy plans are going to have a significant impact on the popularity of the iPhone 3G.

I believe, based largely on this article from today's Globe and Mail that the Samsung Instinct will be the iPhone killer in Canada, and here's why.

"A subscriber can buy the Instinct for as low as $149.95 and then pay less than $40 a month for a modest voice plan accompanied by an unlimited data plan on Bell's high-speed data network."

Plain and simple, that's why.

Bell Mobility is a Canadian company that gets it ... it obviously understands that consumers don't want to hear anything other than a good and fair deal ... not about networks and how it understands how the world works, etc., etc., etc., it understands what needs to be done for it to succeed.

And it's done it ... it's come up with a fair plan that rivals any data plan that is available in the U.S. or the U.K. -- and for Canada, that's a monumental achievement. Because, according to Rogers, data plans are priced differently in Canada than in the U.S. for a variety of reasons ... this proves that is nothing but 100 percent baloney.

No doubt Rogers will come out with some reply about its network, its customer service ... it will find a million reasons to put down Bell's forward thinking. That's fine.

I want every Canadian consumer to be able to enjoy the wonders and beauty of an iPhone. But I want Canadian consumers to be treated fairly.

In this round, Bell wins hands down. Actually, consumers win. They win big.

Let me know your thoughts, please. While I've been focusing on Canada the past few days, it's really not about any one country as much as it's about fairness in the industry, no matter where you are.

Thanks for calling.

Thursday, July 3, 2008 -- 12:05 p.m. -- on my couch

Wow, Rogers ... Full of yourself, are you?

I just got through reading this ... this ... thing in today's Globe and Mail. In a nutshell, Rogers knows exactly what it's doing with it's ridiculously high prices and craptastic customer service. I can say that because I couldn't even get the Rogers spokesperson to return my e-mail.

I'm going to point out some of the laughable points here and break them down ... in the end, this isn't a post specifically about Canada because what you read here will certainly have some similarities no matter where you are. It's typical big carrier/corporation trying to tell us that they put the consumer first, when we know that's really very far from the truth.

Myth No. 1: It's different for a reason
The article says the following: Pricing plans are different in the United States than in Canada for a variety of reasons, and the launch here of Apple's biggest invention since the iPod puts the whole price comparison under the microscope.

This is the 18th time or so that I've read that pricing plans are different in the U.S. than in Canada for a variety of reasons ... and not once in those 18 times have I ever seen even 1 reason. What's the variety? Tell me the variety of reasons so I can shoot each one of them down.

There are no reasons. There are no reasons why, as the article correctly states, that for $75 a month, Rogers provides 300 weekday voice minutes, 750 megabytes of data and 100 text messages. In the United States, a customer gets 450 weekday voice minutes, unlimited data and 200 text messages for the same price.

Myth No. 2: This is an Apple thing
"Whenever anything Apple-related happens, it brings out passion in everybody," said marketing consultant Luke Sklar of Sklar Wilton & Associates.

Luke, you are right about that ... Apple fans are a passionate bunch, but let me say this to you ... the backlash you see here ... the 25,000 names at ruinediphone.com ... that's not Apple passion. That's passion from smart Canadian consumers that don't want to be taken for a ride on the 401 and made out to be idiots.

Myth No. 3: 5,000 people on a blog is no big deal
Oh no he didn't did he? He didn't just ... well, indirectly, Sklar said the following to the Globe and Mail: "If this starts to truly negatively affect significant opinion — and you have to be careful about 5,000 on a blog versus what's really meaningful — we will be on top of this thing to ensure that we manage that tension between responsible pricing and not [upsetting] customers."

You are right about one thing, Luke ... you have to be careful about 5,000 on a blog. Because 5,000 on a blog becomes 500,000 on a blog and then you better be on top of things to make changes. That attitude right there is a big company thinking that it's invincable. It's tough to fight city hall, but it can be done.

Myth No. 4: This is an Apple thing
Yep. That was Number 2. Sklar said in the article about Rogers great technology and network: "It's not going to give away the farm to satisfy some Apple diehards."

I agree, Luke. Don't do it for that. Don't do it for the Apple diehards. Do it for all of the other people that paid $500 for a phone that costs $9.99 in the States and are 2 years into a mind-boggling, paralyzing 3-year contract. Do it for them, the people who can't, don't or just won't speak out.

Myth No. 5: Rogers takes customer feedback very seriously
"We take customer feedback very seriously," said Liz Hamilton, a Rogers spokeswoman. That's what she told the Globe and Mail, not me.

If Liz took customer feedback very seriously, she would have answered my questions since they came from you, Rogers customers.

The Globe and Mail put together a nice piece here ... but it could have been better since it had zero comments from the customers affected.

Until I see a full list -- or even a partial list -- of the variety of reasons why pricing is different in the U.S. than Canada, I cry bullcrap. Canadians do things differently than we do here in the states -- they like to throw around an extra u, they don't use dollar bills and they eat poutine (pictured at top, french fries topped with warm cheese curds and smothered in gravy). But in the end, they are consumers who deserve to be treated fairly by everyone from the mom and pop laundromat in Brampton to the big cell phone company in Toronto.

That's my take. I'd love to hear yours -- whether your Canadian or not.

Thanks for calling.

Monday, June 30, 2008 -- 9:38 p.m. -- at my desk

Now we have the Canadian media covering this whole Rogers thing. It was starting to make the rounds with the CBC yesterday, but I hadn't seen much outside that.

Now, there's a story from the Canadian Press that actually has a comment from the Rogers spokesperson who didn't take the time to e-mail me back.

So I will share with you what Liz Hamilton said to the Canadian Press here ... basically, she said that what was announced last week isn't the only choice for Canadian consumers, although that certainly was never made clear before today.

"As always, our customers have many choices, they can use their existing voice and smartphone data plans if they wish, including for example, selecting from our new data pricing and then adding a voice plan that suits their own needs, or they can choose a voice and data plan to best suit their individual need," Hamilton told the CP.

"With respect to existing customers, all customers' accounts are unique. If desired, customers can keep their existing voice service plan and pick a separate data plan to meet their needs."

It probably would have been nice if Rogers made this clear before the outcry started, but if consumers have other choices, that's great. Still, I don't see a choice that's comparable to anything in other large nations such as the U.S. and the U.K., although AT&T still has not released its rates as of yet.

So we'll see if this additional clarification does anything to calm the storm that has been raging for several days now.

Here's a link to some of the stories in the Canadian media: From the CBC and from the Canadian Press

Canadian callers ... how does this work for you? Can you use a current plan and have what you need for the iPhone? Please let me know in the comments.

Thanks for calling.

Monday, June 30, 2008 -- 7:50 p.m. -- at my desk

**UPDATE 7/1 5:28 p.m. -- The site wasn't blocked by anyone, it appears. According to the ruinediphone.com blog, "The fact that I’ve changed the DNS of the domain name is probably the true reason. The DNS need to propagate in all the servers around the world. It could take as long as 48 hours for this task to be done." So there we go. Things are back up and running, so people of Canada, sign away!**

I'm getting word from Canadians from Newfoundland to British Columbia that the ruinediphone.com site that has been protesting Rogers high iPhone 3G prices has been taken offline.

I can confirm that trying to access it here in the States results in a 403 Forbidden error.

Now while it could very well be that it was taken offline because of traffic, one has to wonder if that's all there is to it.

I'm not much for conspiracy theories, but you just never know.

I've sent a note to the person behind the site and when I hear something back I'll happily let you know.

Meanwhile, the person from Rogers that I contacted earlier, the same person the CBC contacted and heard nothing back from, has ignored my e-mail.

Very impressive customer service. I'm really hoping the ruinediphone site is down because of traffic. I'm very anti people telling me what I can say and can't say. Must be the journalist in me or something.

Let me know what you think in the comments ... and let me know how things are looking in Canada ... we got anyone protesting on the 401 or anything like that?

Thanks for calling.

Monday, June 30, 2008 -- 10:17 a.m. -- on my couch

**UPDATE 10:39: I just hit send on an e-mail to Rogers media centre asking for some updates/clarifications on where things stand. I don't have a relationship with Rogers the way I do with AT&T, O2 and others, so hopefully I'll hear something back and have another update to report soon.**

Well, Canadians have had a weekend to come to grips with how unfair their exclusive wireless carrier for the iPhone 3G is being -- and it hasn't helped.

The petition at ruinediphone.com is up to more than 17,000 signatures.

The wonderful Joy of Tech drew something on it, which means it's really important ... I seriously do judge newsworthiness sometimes based on other people's habits and work.

I've got e-mails all weekend from Canadians who have made a choice not to buy the iPhone 3G after waiting and watching everyone else enjoy it for a year ... including one from someone who canceled Rogers and went to Virgin Mobile.

I'm pretty shocked and appalled, to be honest. I mean, I understand big business. I work at a big company that, like every other business in this tough economy, is watching the bottom line. But this is different. Whether or not Rogers is watching the bottom line is immaterial because Rogers' data rate structure has always been tops as far as expensive compared to everywhere else in the world.

Why is it that way? Most likely because it can be ... no competition will do that no matter where you are.

But it's the same kind of pep talk I gave when NBC pulled its shows from iTunes ... at some point, somewhere, somehow, there has to be thought given to the consumer. Canadians can't afford the prices Rogers is quoting. No one can.

And here in the States, there used to be this conversion between the American and Canadian dollar ... for so much of my life, a buck in the U.S. would get you as much as $1.50 when you crossed the border, so everything there was cheaper. Now, it's pretty much even, so a $115 a month plan that includes nothing is basically $115 over here too.

And I gotta tell ya ... $115 for a plan that doesn't include unlimited data? I mean, it's excessive. And it's hurtful to the patient public who really did wait a long, long time for Rogers to work out a deal with Apple. It's really a slap in the face to the consumer and it's something Rogers can't possibly be proud of.

Yes, business is business, and after all this dies down, Rogers will still be Rogers with barely a dent. And that's sad.

It will be interesting to see what happens here ... Steve Jobs was pressured after the infamous $200 price drop, and while Apple would have still been Apple after all that died down, Steve did the right thing and gave the consumer something back. While it wasn't a perfect solution, the point is that it was a solution and that's important.

Thanks for calling.

Sunday, June 29, 2008 -- 11:21 a.m. -- on my couch

The outrage over Rogers pricing structure is still top of mind in the iPhone world, especially in Canada.

There's a site called ruinediphone.com where people are coming together to sign a virtual petition in protest of Rogers' rates.

As of Sunday morning, they have nearly 11,000 signatures and they are shooting for 25,000. On July 11, the date the iPhone 3G goes on sale in Canada and several other countries, the creators of the site say they will deliver the signatures to Rogers.

I don't know that these petitions make a true difference, but I do know one thing ... a show of force 11,000 people strong is stronger than no show of force at all. It has to set off some alarm bells if that many people are speaking out, so we'll see what if anything Rogers does with this information. Obviously, it already knows there's a giant public outcry.

I will be keeping Canadians and everyone else up to date on what ruinediphone is doing and what if anything Rogers has to say beyond what it has already said, which is that they are defending their plans.

But public relations is a big deal in the corporate world and while Rogers is apparently used to folks having negative things to say about its pricing, it definitely doesn't want something like this to take away from the launch of the iPhone 3G.

But truth be told, it's much too late for that.

Keep discussing in the comments and we'll see what happens.

Thanks for calling.

Saturday, June 28, 2008 -- 11:26 a.m. -- on my couch

WOW! The outcry from Canadian customers over Rogers' iPhone 3G plans is off the charts -- it's making the national news and, quite honestly, it's getting similar to what happened here last year when Steve Jobs took $200 off the price of the iPhone.

I must say, Canada, you are right and you need to continue to complain ... call Rogers. Remember ... every single call they get is logged. You might not think that you can make a difference, but when everyone unites and works toward a common goal, you can.

It's the same premise as write your congressman/legislator ... or fill out a survey ... make your voice heard.

By doing so, you attract attention -- like this article that Reuters wrote.

Just in case you missed it, here's my write-up from yesterday shortly after the announcement. There was no way in the world not to look at Rogers' offering and not be offended. Sure, competition and structure is different in every country and you can't always compare apples to oranges, but you can compare certain things ... and a plan like this isn't comparable to anything else in existence -- and, there's a 3-year contract!

Rogers said that their plans are fair and take into account that not everyone needs unlimited data -- well, you know what? That's true ... so give consumers a choice. Give the ones that do need unlimited data what they want and make the plans that don't FAIR. These plans are an absolute laughing stock.

Not since my last cable bill have I seen anything so laughable.

Please, continue to comment. When I'm not around to add my 2 cents (errrr, for Canada, let's call it my 2 dollar coin -- or toonie, as you call it), I'll post the comment so the conversation continues unabated.

Thanks for calling.

Friday, June 27, 2008 -- 11:19 a.m. -- on my couch

Rogers has done it again, my Canadian friends ... it has unleashed its brand of crazy rates among the Apple masses.

As fully expected, that secret internal e-mail wasn't real. Hope no one out there believed otherwise, because if you did, you are in for a rude awakening today.

I'm attaching the prices in Rogers' chart (click on the image to enlarge) ... it's amazing they didn't charge you, customers of Canada, for putting the information into chart form.

In a nutshell, buying an iPhone 3G in Canada legally requires a 3-year-contract (longest in the world and 5 known planets). All plans include visual voicemail, free evenings and weekends and unlimited access to WiFi at Rogers/Fido hotspots.

How much? Too much.

$60 a month for 150 minutes of talk time. That includes only 400 MB of data.

If you want the premium gas, well, that's $115 a month for 800 minutes of voice and 2GB of data.

No unlimited data this far north, my friends.

All incoming text messages are free ... apparently, they always are in Canada. But the most expensive plan only includes 300 outgoing. For more, keep reading.

And are you ready for this? You have to pay a minimum of $15 a month, it seems, for caller ID. There are two "value" packs that mention caller ID and it's not mentioned anywhere else, so unless we've got a poorly written press release, we actually have the first iPhone carrier that I know of that doesn't include caller ID.

AT&T ... this would be unforgivable.

Rogers, however, did take the time to detail what the data ceilings will get you ... no doubt you'll be charged for this.

400 MB: up to 200,000 text emails or 3,100 web pages or 1,360 photo attachments

750 MB: up to 380,000 text emails or 5,900 web pages or 2,560 photo attachments

1 GB: up to 524,000 text emails or 8,000 web pages or 3,500 photo attachments

2 GB: up to 1,048,000 text emails or 16,000 web pages or 7,000 photo attachments

OK, back to these "value" packs:

$15 monthly "value" pack: Includes Caller ID, Who Called, Caller Ring Trax, 2,500 Sent Text Messages and 2,500 Call Forwarding Minutes.

$20 monthly "value" pack: Includes Caller ID, Who Called, Caller Ring Trax, 10,000 Sent Text Messages and 6:00 p.m. Early Evening Calling and 2,500 Call Forwarding Minutes.

And you know, I don't know what Who Called or Caller Ring Trax is. At least point, I honestly believe it doesn't matter.

I'll be tracking any updates to this story, but ... well, it's not often that I am left speechless ... today, I'm speechless. This is ... well, this is pathetic.

I definitely want to hear from you all in the comments, whether you are from Canada or not, but Canadian callers ... please do put this in perspective for us, ok?

I promise I won't charge you.

Thanks for calling.

Friday, March 14, 2008 -- 4:10 p.m. -- on my couch

Looks like Rogers had better get off its rear end and start offering the iPhone, especially if they're familiar with this report from the CBC.

That's the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (which has great podcasts in iTunes, by the way), which is reporting that Quebecor might bid on wireless spectrum ... thus creating a fifth national cellphone carrier in Canada.

According to the CBC report, "the Montreal-based company submitted a deposit of $317 million in the form of letters of credit to Industry Canada on Monday ahead of the deadline to apply for the spectrum auction, which is scheduled to begin on May 27."

Previously, Quebecor had pledged money to build a cellphone network in Quebec. But if this report holds true, Rogers wouldn't be the only GSM game in town.

Another report from yesterday ... that's lacking sources right now ... says that T-Mobile is considering a Canadian subsidiary. We know that T-Mobile is a GSM company and handles iPhones in 2 countries in Europe. Whether or not T-Mobile Canada could get in on the iPhone remains to be seen.

I recommend taking a look at the CBC report ... it's a little business-oriented, but if you are interested in learning a little about the Canadian wireless landscape, it's a good read.

You'll find it here.

Actually, I've got some more great reading for you.

The CBC also has another great piece on why the Canadian cell phone industry is the way it is today. I highly recommend this for anyone interested in Canada's wireless woes.

You'll find that here.

And last, but not least, it has an entire section on cellphones. This is something I'd love to do here in the States if I had the time and manpower. It's unlike anything I've seen anywhere else.

That's right here.

Thanks for calling.

Friday, February 29, 2008 -- 1:48 a.m. -- on my couch

WANT DAILY IPTIB TEXT ALERTS? TEXT IPHONE TO 25808 

I had the day to really let the iPhone Ireland announcement soak in and it really got me thinking about Canada. The two countries might be an ocean apart, but they might be a lot closer than you think.

Consider a few things.

First, Apple's COO Tim Cook said on Wednesday that Apple is not married to a single carrier model. They said that the way to prevent excessive hacking is to get more phones into more countries.

I don't know, but I think Mr. Cook's comments were specific to Ireland ... while Apple has chosen O2 as the carrier, they did not apparently demand unlimited data as they did everywhere else. They apparently settled for a cap of 1GB of EDGE data. Now I have no idea if anyone would actually use 1GB in a month, but the point is, Apple can't go around and say that you can surf unlimited in Ireland because it's just not true.

Let's head west to Canada. The Toronto Star reported on Feb. 23 that Rob Bruce, president of Rogers' wireless division -- the likely network for iPhone Canada -- told analysts during a conference call "We're not fans of unlimited plans. We want to make sure ... that we create plans that are helpful and don't become barriers to adoption."

Canada's known for its high data rates and recent movement by Rogers to lower some of those prices had folks buzzing -- myself included -- that there might be an iPhone announcement coming. That was before Ireland. That was before we knew that Steve Jobs would accept a new country under his wing even without unlimited data.

So now things get interesting. No unlimited data in Ireland ... so could the iPhone premiere in Canada without unlimited data? Will Rogers get its way, so to speak, and end up selling an iPhone without the one thing that makes it so wonderful elsewhere?

Perhaps the lack of visual voicemail and limited data are just temporary in Ireland and all of this ends us being incorrect, but you have to admit it's interesting to hear what Mr. Cook said, what Mr. Jobs did in Ireland and what could happen in Canada -- because you know that one way or another, there's no way Steve and Co. are going to pass up Canada as an iPhone country.

It's all speculation until it happens. It always is, but it makes for great conversation.

First, I'd like to know what you think of this point of view. Second, I'd like to know if any Canadians out there have considered or would consider purchasing an iPhone through Apple/Rogers if there's a cap on data. Because truth be told, in every scenario that's played out in my fingers as I've typed, I didn't picture a scenario with limited data until today.

Thanks for calling.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008 -- 11:41 a.m. -- on my couch

So what if the iPhone hasn't come to Canada yet? That doesn't means Canadians aren't pining for it.

And I always do things just a little bit differently here at iPhone, Therefore I Blog.

So starting now, I'm working a bit more closely with iPhone World at iphoneworld.ca to bring you more news about Canada's quest for the iPhone plus a unique Canadian perspective on things.

Why?

Because when I started this blog, I envisioned a truly international community where folks can come to for all their iPhone needs. And so far, that vision is becoming reality. Working with iPhone World is just another step toward making that community stronger and more useful to you, the caller.

By bookmarking iphoneworld.ca you'll strengthen your iPhone knowledge. When I see news of interest, I'll link to them. They've said they'll do the same for us -- and actually they already have.

And one thing I really like about iPhone World is that it's updated. Regularly. Often. As you know, that's kind of my thing :-D

So callers, no matter what country your in, I look forward to hearing from you about all things iPhone.

And welcome, Canadian callers ... if you are new here, please feel free to leave a comment -- anywhere you want -- and let me know a little about where you are from, etc. Always nice to hear from everyone.

And this is a good time to remind you that I respond to EVERY SINGLE COMMENT -- seriously, as impossible as that sounds, I do. So if you have a question, you have plenty of opportunities to get a hold of me, whether it's via the comments, IM or e-mail. All that information is in rail to your immediate right.

So thanks for calling, iPhone World -- it will be nice collaborating with you.

And to everyone else, thanks for calling, too.