Wirelessnorth.ca

You may have heard of this one already, but Rogers is limited time offering of a $30 data plan for 6GB of usage. That’s a lot of usage. That’s 18 times more data than a comparable $30 for 300MB with Rogers offers on the blackberry. And even at high speeds, you’re going to need to do a lot of streaming, or torrenting or something, to hit a 6GB cap on a mobile device. Remember this is the plan that came of all the outcry created all over the press, the internets, and here too, over Rogers steep rates for the iPhone 3G. The 30/6GB plan is the one limited time only concession to the haters and pent-up frustrated Rogers customers out there.

There’s more than a few catches. But here’s why the catches don’t really matter:

Catch 1: it’s only on a three year plan. But the good news, the cancellation penalty for data plans is only $100 anytime in the next 3 years.

Catch 2: the plan goes away August 31st. We’re going to go out on a limb here, and suggest that Rogers is not going to come out with an even better offer the day after. More like the opposite.

Catch 3: You can’t even get an iPhone 3G or Blackberry Bold or other next gen 3G device yet to make it worth while. Ya, but you could get one later and hold on to the 30/60GB plan when you do. Ideally, you could go through all sorts of devices in the next 3 years but hang on to the 30/6GB plan if it’s still the best out there.

Catch 4: More competition is coming in just a year and they may have great offers too. Or they may not. 30/6GB is pretty cheap for data and after paying off industry Canada, your new entrants may or may not be able to beat it. And then cancellation only costs $100 and you can still say bye bye Rogers.

Last catch: the charge is not $100 if you are also canceling a voice plan or other contract at the same time. In that case, according to the fine print, you could be on the hook for a standard $400 contract penalty PLUS the $100 data plan cancellation charge. Ouch. So if you might want to get out of it, this offer is best if NOT switching to Rogers for the first time and/or signing up for a whole new phone with it. Question your CSR carefully about that one.

The plan doesn’t work for data cards (too bad) but it is good for any smartphone including current/future blackberries if you have a personal blackberry as opposed to enterprise (gotta keep milking those enterprise clients). We’re unclear on thethering with this plan, that would be wonderful to get away with, but we’d say don’t necessarily get your hopes up.

Anyway if you are an existing Rogers Customer, or not otherwise signing up for a new 3 year voice contract, you might want to jump on this. This little plan could be like the next mythic legendary grandfathered $20 fido unlimited offer that a select few locked in to and hung on for years.

Recommended.

We should all protest Rogers more often…