New “$7 Unlimited Browsing” Plan by Rogers

By Gary Ng on February 8th, 2008 55

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If you’ve been following this blog you probably read about my post regarding changes coming to data plans from Rogers. Anyways, our best friends at Rogers have indeed come out with some changes. The one that has caught the eye of many mobile users in Canada, is their new $7 Unlimited On-Device Mobile Browsing.

Wow! $7 For Unlimited Browsing–Cool…err…is it?

Just when you iPhone owners thought this would be amazing, THINK AGAIN! Rogers has made this seem like it’s for all cellphones out there, but there are some very restrictive limitations–in fine print. Here is what is in fine print (conveniently placed at the BOTTOM of the website of course):

    • Important: This plan includes unlimited on-device mobile browsing only. Plan is available on select phones only (PDAs such as Blackberry or Windows Mobile devices, PC cards and non-Rogers certified devices are not eligible). Data usage incurred on ineligible devices, incurred while tethering (using device as wireless modem for laptop) or incurred using non-Rogers (3rd party) applications downloaded to your device will be subject to pay-per-use charges of 5 cents/KB.

      Just what the heck does this mean? In a nutshell, this so called “$7 unlimited browsing plan” is limited to:

      • WAP sites that are on your phone’s browser (those boring news, sports, and entertainment pages)
      • Blackberry devices, Windows Mobile devices, and non-Rogers phones are NOT eligible.
        • That means if you have an “unlocked” GSM phone with Rogers, it will not work for you. Rogers will be tracking data usage through IMEI tracking (your phone’s digital signature). So if you try to plug someone’s SIM into your unlocked phone, you will be charged at the rate of $0.05/kb, in other words, $50/megabyte!!! In essence, Rogers is limiting what phones can use data plans on their network.

      wireless-plan.JPG

      I have to say, this is quite disappointing for Rogers customers, as Telus users are benefiting from $15 unlimited data plans, whereas we have to suffer. Some people also say this could be Rogers prepping the announcement of the iPhone in Canada by revamping their data plans. Could more changes be coming in the future?

      Want to be a guinea pig? Shawnie53 from HowardForums has posted a method to get the $7 unlimited plan on your iPhone. This has not been tested, but it would be interesting to see if it would work!

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      • screw rogers

        Anyone living within spitting distance of the border – get yourself a plan on the US side of the border with a good roaming rate, and you’re set – its cheaper than Rogers – fuck this monopoly ‘we got you by the balls’ shit. When the hell are we Canadians going to get ourselves some guns and take over this asylum!? Why the hell should anyone have to pay such exorbitant fees for some exec to get a million dollar annual salary? Charge a fair price – charge what it costs you to setup and maintain your services, add-in a fair profit – 10% to 20% is more than reasonable – and I’ll be glad to pay that.

        What a bunch of greedy leaches those bastards are.

      • screw rogers

        Anyone living within spitting distance of the border – get yourself a plan on the US side of the border with a good roaming rate, and you’re set – its cheaper than Rogers – fuck this monopoly ‘we got you by the balls’ shit. When the hell are we Canadians going to get ourselves some guns and take over this asylum!? Why the hell should anyone have to pay such exorbitant fees for some exec to get a million dollar annual salary? Charge a fair price – charge what it costs you to setup and maintain your services, add-in a fair profit – 10% to 20% is more than reasonable – and I’ll be glad to pay that.

        What a bunch of greedy leaches those bastards are.

      • ipop07

        I got this plan, and I made sure I asked the agent on the phone if it is unlimited browsing (Thats what they call it) to any site, and he said yes. And of course I went on youtube and watched videos, downloaded apps and probably by now i have about 100mb used (after 4 days from activating it). I do know they are going to charge me extras and thats where I start arguing with everyone I can and get something free (last time it was extra 50 min per month and caller id)

        oh and yes of course i used google maps…

        will report later what the bill looks like

      • greg

        i was living in the us for the past ten years and i have to say, canadian companies are way more predatory than the us ones. wanna know why? because there are checks and balances that actually work and because there is a more competitive market. i cant believe how money grubby rogers is! they charge for everything from voice mail to caller id, to “wireless usage”…i am currently in a debacle with them and have dragged in the canadian better business bureau because they are charging me again for the “one time activation fee”, charging me for wireless usage (but have yet to tell me what this is), charging me twice for one game download, and charging me for a service that was supposed to be included in my plan!!!!! in the us, caller id, voicemail, and “who called” are courtesy services included in your overall plan. i though the us cellular companies were bad, i didnt know how good i had it till i came back here!

      • greg

        i was living in the us for the past ten years and i have to say, canadian companies are way more predatory than the us ones. wanna know why? because there are checks and balances that actually work and because there is a more competitive market. i cant believe how money grubby rogers is! they charge for everything from voice mail to caller id, to “wireless usage”…i am currently in a debacle with them and have dragged in the canadian better business bureau because they are charging me again for the “one time activation fee”, charging me for wireless usage (but have yet to tell me what this is), charging me twice for one game download, and charging me for a service that was supposed to be included in my plan!!!!! in the us, caller id, voicemail, and “who called” are courtesy services included in your overall plan. i though the us cellular companies were bad, i didnt know how good i had it till i came back here!

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