In a somewhat shocking maneuver, it seems like Rogers, who is the mobile carrier in Canada slated to offer the iPhone when it arrives (my money’s on next year) will, in fact, not be able to ream Canadians as they’re often wont to do, with their astronomical data transfer rates.
I had commented on this discrepancy in a prior post, but its worth mentioning in brief: In the United States, Apple’s iPhone (via AT&T) data package *starts* with unlimited data. Such a thing doesn’t really exist in Canada, but if it did, would, I’m sure, require you to hand over your first born child, in addition to the mortgage of your house. In the meantime, we get the privilege of getting 20 megabytes per month for the same price, which really is a pissant sum of data. If you start out at a lower data package (for the Blackberry, for example), you’ll pay through the nose as you’ll almost certainly go over 1 megabyte simply by checking email and the odd blog page {I speak through experience}.
It turns out that Apple is going to enforce some reasonable standard as it applies to data transfer packages, as it has done in the US, and in the soon-to-be-forthcoming UK and Germany. And to this I say “bravo”, and “hooray”.
The oligopoly that exists in Canada as it refers to most things, but not limited to mobile carriers, means that the free market determines squat, and everyone gets the benefit of paying higher “we-swear-we’re-not-colluding” prices.
The snarky translation to this is that no one is ever going to make Rogers (or Fido, or Bell, or what have you) charge *less* because there is no real business reason to do so — until now.
So while I’ve been critical of Apple in the past, I am all for a company that improves the lot of consumers everywhere — at least all individuals who have a mobile phone that is. Because make no mistake: if Rogers is forced to offer a more generous data package, it will necessarily have to start lowering / improving all of its mobile packages across the board, and all of the other mobile carriers will undoubtedly follow suit.
I mean, that would make sense, anyway — but, I’m sure the cynic in all of us (who are familiar with such shennanigans) aren’t quite holding their breath just yet.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:20 pm | Permalink
This would be huge if true, for exactly the reasons you stated. Canada would almost instantly go from the last in the world to … well probably still last but not as far behind. It would be a huge boon to RIM, and literally everybody would benefit. Even the carriers would probably benefit with overall increase in subscriptions and such.
The ridiculous thing is that rogers is already offering Internet over cellphone networks with their location-free Internet box. And it’s a pretty darn good deal too. Why not open that network up to cell phones? It makes no sense other than greed and collusion.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:40 pm | Permalink
The only people who have unlimited data in Canada at the moment are the people who were grandfathered on Fido for $50/mo. Lucky sob’s.
November 6th, 2007 at 3:42 pm | Permalink
Omar — I hear ya, buddy … I hear ya. Rising tide and all of that. Unfortunately (and obviously) the lack of competition is what re-inforces a lot of complacency, and frank and bald-faced gouging, as I see it.
November 6th, 2007 at 3:44 pm | Permalink
Engtech — thanks for that bit of history.
I agree … they are lucky SOBs indeed. ;)
November 6th, 2007 at 4:19 pm | Permalink
It would be a major, major accomplishment if Apple can convince Rogers to offer reasonable data packages for the iPhone. After all, data is a high growth and high margin business for Rogers and, for that matter, all the wireless carriers. Why would they want to give up the golden goose just to support sales of a single devices…even if it is the iPhone? My sense is Rogers will offers some it deems to be consumer-friendly but do not expect a reasonably-priced all-you-can-eat plan.
November 6th, 2007 at 5:26 pm | Permalink
Mark — thanks for stopping by.
I totally understand why Rogers et al are doing what they’re doing; corporations exist to maximize profit (for themselves, shareholders etc) first and foremost.
I merely bemoan the environment which they all live in, which precludes competition from creating an optimal situation for the consumer.
My hope is that the hype for the iPhone (”Invention of the Year”) drives Rogers to do something hasty, even though, as you say, its a single device.
November 7th, 2007 at 12:00 pm | Permalink
Heck, I think most people underestimate the deal iPhones get through AT&T here in the states. I’ve been with Cingular a number of years, and their data plans have always been more expensive than the competition. Even today, compare AT&T’s data and messaging plans non-iPhones and you’ll see that they’re pretty high.
November 7th, 2007 at 3:22 pm | Permalink
Preston,
Thanks for the perspective.
Maybe if you paid in Canadian dollars it would take the bite out of that Cingular bill every month.
…. JOKING! Joking! couldn’t help sneak in an exchange-rate jab. :)
Cheers!
November 20th, 2007 at 11:14 pm | Permalink
[...] Bell Canada November 20th, 2007 at 11:14 pm I have ranted on a few occasions about how Canadians get reamed with respect to wireless data plans, and their cost thereof (really high), particularly with *personal* inequity I feel about not [...]
November 21st, 2007 at 5:05 pm | Permalink
[...] Read the rest of this great post here [...]
January 14th, 2008 at 11:18 am | Permalink
[...] As a Canadian — and therefore a hostage to some of the most uncompetitive mobile-phone service in the northern hemisphere — this happy result for iPhone makes me wonder what the future holds when (or if) we ever get these magical devices in the great white north. Since even the “unlimited” data plans that some carriers have aren’t truly unlimited, I can’t help but think that a better browser means more browsing, which means higher bills. Unless Uncle Steve puts some pressure on. [...]