Least expensive: $60 – 150 mins, 400MB transfer, 75 sms

Most expensive: $115 – 800 mins, 2GB transfer, 300 sms

The two steps in between ($75, $100) give you 750 and 1gb of transfer respectively with some minute and sms upgrades, too.

3 year contract required.

Screwed by our oligopolists again.

Least expensive: $60 – 150 mins, 400MB transfer, 75 sms

Most expensive: $115 – 800 mins, 2GB transfer, 300 sms

The two steps in between ($75, $100) give you 750 and 1gb of transfer respectively with some minute and sms upgrades, too.

3 year contract required.

Screwed by our oligopolists again.

“Highway robbery” maybe, but, again, I'm now paying half as much for more than 10 times the data. And it's “real” data, not one of those “email and surfing” plans, and I can use my own phone, not a carrier's hobbled version. For this carrier, it's a definite step forward and reasonably acceptable for my needs (moderate email, uploading a couple of dozen photos monthly, downloading a handful of podcasts weekly, light surfing, watching the odd short video, occasional Google map use). For others it might not be (heavy surfers, “downloaders”, heavy business users, anyone who consumes a lot of streaming media, and so on).

(The problem with the other carriers, for me, is that I'm used to being able to pop in a sim card when I'm outside of the country. And I like the wider range of GSM devices there are to choose from.)

Regarding the iPhone, I suspect there'll be a specific plan for that device, perhaps a better one. Rogers and Fido have special plans for their branded Windows Mobile and Blackberry devices (unlimited email, etc) and I'd imagine they'd do the same for the iPhone.

As for the plans you mention, “not great” is being more than a bit generous. I'd call $30 for 300 megabytes “highway robbery” (the plans from, say, a month ago are more of a “high treason” level of pricing).

If that data is correct, not only is Rogers not getting a new iPhone contract from me, but I'll also be switching my existing voice service to someone else.

* $30 – 300 megabytes
* $60 – 1 gigabytes
* $80 – 3 gigabytes
* $100 – 6 gigabytes

All devices are eligible, including unlocked “grey market” non-Rogers and non-Fido phones, and no contract is required. Moreover, these are true data plans, not “web-and-email” plans.

Considering that until yesterday afternoon I was paying $60 for 25 megabytes, I'm not complaining too much.

I want an iPhone badly but if Rogers prices are too far out I wont buy one until the prices become at least somewhat reasonable. In fact we all should avoid buying one if it is not reasonable, if their sales are low they will lower data rates to increase sales but if sales stay high and there is no GSM competition the prices will remain high….that is unless the spectrum auction introduces a new player.

What really, really upsets me is the CRTC. They are to blame for Canadians being subjected to one and only one GSM provider. That is a joke.

The FCC in the States seems to take quite a different stance than the CRTC. The FCC seems to focus on “choice for the consumer” whereas the CRTC seems to focus on “protecting the rights of the company/companies that they have deemed legitimate to operate in a space they regulate”. That is a big, big difference.

We seem to think the Americans are all about big business, but what I am seeing more and more of is that they focus on consumers rights … the rights of the people.

In Canada we take this protectionist attitude. I believe our Government agencies think they are doing us Canadians a favour by protecting us from those big, bad American companies; but, all they are doing is limiting our choices.

What we need in Canada are consumer advocacy groups with clout.

Rogers will create a special plan with a specially expensive price tag. Data prices will stay the same for other phones.

How much fun is it to browse online or even check your email while always thinking about your cap?