I can recall the events so clearly. Rogers makes a major announcement that they are poised to roll out the much anticipated iPhone 3G. Then the nation lets fly with the rumours on what the dataplans would be. They ranged from $30 for unlimited data, all the way to $120 for a single GB. The nation held its breath. Then the announcement was made.
Rogers initial offering was paltry, sad, pathetic, you get the idea. But the offering was deliberate. The Rogers boardroom sat back and waited for the hue and cry, the gnashing of teeth, and the deluge of petitions. The lemmings all lined up, each with their own "me too" pot-shot at Rogers.
Then Rogers, donning their white hats, came to the rescue. They tell Canada that they have heard the voices, and that they have reconsidered. Now its a 6 GB dataplan for $35. The public utters a collective "WTF?". They wonder why its not unlimited. After all, no one could use 6 GB of data, so why not make it unlimited? What's the big deal? Why?
Here's why.
Beginning in October, Rogers has said that they will allow for iPhone tethering, which would allow you to legally attach your iPhone with a USB umbilical cord to your laptop and surf away. Rogers will be the first iPhone telecom company to allow this. AT&T does not allow this. Accounts discovered to be tethering would reportedly be cancelled, and the customer blacklisted. The unlimited dataplan, a good idea at the time, is now an albatross. How the hell do they allow tethering with an unlimited dataplan?
So, clearly, Rogers had a plan all along. That nonsensical 6 GB dataplan now makes sense. Rogers now perfectly rides the line between supplying customers with the convenience of generous amounts of data through tethering, while not allowing the iPhone to be your sole source of home Internet. Its a smart move.
Now, don't get me wrong. I think the rates are still sky high, and the reception needs work. On the whole, I give Rogers a marginal passing grade. I give them a "C". This is based on 2 months of being a Rogers' customer.
But every dog has his day, credit should be given where due. This was a good move by Rogers.
Now, about my shoddy reception .....
3 comments:
You love Ted, don't you? Did he remember you in his will?
I've read a few of the Ted Rogers retrospectives. Built an empire from the ground up. Seems like a good guy.
I disagree with his pricing model for my iPhone. When possible, I'll take my business elsewhere.
However, you gotta give credit where its due. The 6 GB limit did seem like a shrewd move. Props to Ted for that one. But razzzzberries for his rate pricing models.
Not to besmurch a dead man, but Ted struck me as a little on the greedy side. At least, that's how I feel when I look at his cell rate plans. He wasn't alone though, Bellus is no better. I've been writing my MP about cellular network competition in Canada. I wonder if he cares. Lee Richardson, can you hear me??
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