Rogers Hires PR Agency to Manage iPhone 3G Nightmare?

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As you’ve been sleeping under a bridge like a troll for the past week or so, I have a small news update for you. Rogers recently released their iPhone 3G voice/data plans, and to tread lightly they have not fared well with Canadians. There has been an internet revolt, worldwide media attention, plus a petition with over 22,000 signatures located at RuinediPhone.com (the website was down at random moments last night–some people predicted a Rogers shut down. I think it is just purely bandwidth issues.). Oh, and some pretty cool iPhone 3G comics from The Joy of Tech to boot. It’s been a busy week!

Did Rogers Outsource a PR Company to Help Rebuild those Bridges?

Last night I received a very strange email that took me off guard. It came from a representative from the firm MS&L, a PR firm with headquarters in New York, but with an office located in Toronto as well. This is what the email said…read it for yourself and tell me what you think of it:

Hello,

My name is [omitted] and I’m writing on behalf of Rogers to give you some additional information about the Rogers rate plans available for the iPhone.

The iPhone 3G bundles released June 27 are not the only price plans available to customers, they are the high value plans that allow Rogers customers to use the device to its fullest and offer considerable savings over separate voice and data plans that exist in market today.

That said, Rogers customers have more choices available to them and can use their existing voice and smartphone data plans if they wish. For example, they can select from the new data pricing (ranging from $30 for 300MB to $100 for 6GB or $50 Flex Rate plan) and add a voice plan, or they can choose a combined voice and data plan to best suit their individual needs.

Customers are not required to take the value packs, and can order most other features a la carte, such as $7 for Caller ID.

Existing customers can keep their existing voice service plan and pick a separate data plan (not in the iPhone 3G bundle) to meet their needs. They will need to check their upgrade eligibility, but any customer with a monthly service fee that is over $30 can upgrade to an iPhone 3G at $199 (for the 8GB model). Other options outside the iPhone bundle may be available depending on the customer’s individual information.

If you have any questions, please let me know and I will do my best to help you.

Sincerely,

[omitted]

Hmm…first of all, I find it strange that a representative for this company is emailing me on behalf of Rogers. Why not just make this info public on the Rogers website? Last time I checked, Rogers has their own PR agency. I ended up calling the rep’s number and left a number to be called back. It would be very interesting if Rogers has outsourced this agency to calm down the online blowback from their outrageous iPhone 3G voice/data plans.

The weirdness doesn’t stop there. It seems that a few website admins have also received this very email, such as our friends from The iPhone Blog. Very interesting huh? What’s your take on this strange email?

Rogers Responds to RuinediPhone.com Online Petition

Rogers has reponded to the massive online petition but they don’t say much. Miss Hamilton states below that there is misunderstanding regarding their iPhone 3G plans, and get this–there are other plan options soon to come. We’re going to have to wait and see. Maybe this confirms the email I received above? Read on for more…

Liz Hamilton, a spokeswoman for Rogers said the company had no comment on the petition but said it was apparent there is “confusion in the marketplace” about Rogers pricing plans for the phone.

She said iPhone 3G bundles are high value and offer customers savings over voice and data plans that exist today though they are not the only plans being offered.

“These are the best value for customers who wish to use the iPhone 3G as it was meant to be used, but as always our customers have choices,” Hamilton said in an e-mail.

Source: Canada.com

Possibility to Buy iPhone 3G from Rogers Without Contract

I’ve received word from my sources that some Rogers dealers got their iPhone 3G shipments today. So keep an eye out at your local Rogers Wireless store for “sneak peaks” if they are still unloading boxes etc. Also, there is a price for an iPhone 3G without contract–it’s going to be $730CAD for an 8GB iPhone 3G! I hope that price is a joke, because that is just pure highway robbery!

Winner of the Case-Mate Clear Armor Contest!

A big thanks to all the people who commented on my review of the Case-Mate Clear Armor contest! I put the names in a hat and picked one…the lucky winner is none other than…

JAN RANDALL! Congrats Jan! You will be expecting an email from me shortly. Thanks to our friends from Case-Mate, the makers of some of the nicest leather iPhone cases available!

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