Canadian Data Fees Seen as Hurdle for iPhone

Wow, like it really sucks to be a Canadian cell phone customer, eh?

Guess they have plenty of money seeing how they save so much on their health care. ;)

It's the same (if not, worse) in the UK.

We have this great infrastructure, but noone can really use it because it's so bloody expensive!

I've been saying this for a long time.

I HATE Canadian cellphone companies!!! :mad::mad::mad:!!!!

...but Data rates in Canada are far more expensive (mainly due to lack of competition). Check out this graph to see how brutal the situation currently is. I do hope that Apple can negotiate something far more reasonable with Rogers (or Fido, since Rogers owns them), or it simply won't be economical for most people here.

Same problem here in switzerland! (I don't know about the rest of europe..).

1MB data is about: 1,20$
You can buy a "package" of 2GB for: 60$


Prices can be found here: (page currently down, so I post google-cache:))
http://209.85.135.104/search?q=cache:jwSBFfVqeXEJ:www.swisscom-mobile.ch/scm/gek_preise_datenuebertragung-de.aspx+swisscom+daten+preise+KB&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&client=safari

Have the same problem if it comes to data plans i'm afraid, we'll have to wait and see what comes outof the negotiations .

Canada doesn't have the population the US or Europe does, so this makes it very hard for more startups to compete with the big carriers, and drive the prices down. This is a problem with almost every tech industry in Canada (cable, cell, phone, etc..). It's all monopolized by 1 or 2 companies, and they can do and charge whatever they want. I understand the CRTC is trying to protect 'canadian culture' or 'canadian content', but it's not protecting the consumer with all of their restrictions. I might get shot for saying this (and I can't believe I'm suggesting it myself), but I think we should open up our borders to US telecomm companies, and piggy-back off their networks and service.

I'm not sure I can see Rogers slashing their data plan rates in half just for a phone. They are too greedy and corrupt to do that. Unless they are guaranteed to recoop the money through iphone sales and more plan signups.

Not sure about this...I'll be surprised if we get the iphone this year.
There is also the rumour that Bell is doing something to improve their CDMA network, so maybe it could be Bell?

2.8$ for 50MB. (Lithuania) (standard connection in the phone for internet, I think it's called EDGE)

WiFi, 4$ per month, 5Mbps, unlimited. But for now, that's already more than a year while it's free for everyone.

I'm not sure I can see Rogers slashing their data plan rates in half just for a phone. They are too greedy and corrupt to do that.

That's basically it. Rogers is greedy. Until my Blackberry died (a few days after the launch of the iPhone) I was paying $40 for a limited amount (about 1MB). There used to be a plan for $60 giving unlimited download, but they removed that option. Since it's business, they can get away with those prices.

I do not expect to see Rogers charge the same data rates as AT&T, but they had better. I for one can suppress the need for an iPhone if I'm going to be further screwed by Rogers. Luckily with portable numbers, I'm likely to leave Rogers if they attempt to screw customers on this.

Changing the topic slightly, most Rogers customer reps have been pretty open about the iPhone. One told me the other day that they had hoped to have it launched at the same time as the US. Clear she had previous received a hard blow to the head to think that. But Rogers techs have a couple test units which, as I've heard from a tech at work who tried to get his hands on one for testing, are said to work on the Rogers network and here in Toronto.

I am going to give Rogers the benefit of the doubt (though I have no idea why I should trust them), and assume that the real problem is Canada. Any evidence Steve Jobs has ever been here? How long did it take to get the iTunes store... and yet where are the tv shows and movies. There are even Canadian made shows on iTunes that we can't access.

Canada doesn't have the population the US or Europe does, so this makes it very hard for more startups to compete with the big carriers, and drive the prices down. This is a problem with almost every tech industry in Canada (cable, cell, phone, etc..). It's all monopolized by 1 or 2 companies, and they can do and charge whatever they want. I understand the CRTC is trying to protect 'canadian culture' or 'canadian content', but it's not protecting the consumer with all of their restrictions. I might get shot for saying this (and I can't believe I'm suggesting it myself), but I think we should open up our borders to US telecomm companies, and piggy-back off their networks and service.

I'm not sure I can see Rogers slashing their data plan rates in half just for a phone. They are too greedy and corrupt to do that. Unless they are guaranteed to recoop the money through iphone sales and more plan signups.

Not sure about this...I'll be surprised if we get the iphone this year.
There is also the rumour that Bell is doing something to improve their CDMA network, so maybe it could be Bell?

couldn't have said it more perfectly than this. we are so bent over the table at the mercy of these 1 or 2 companies. it's just ridiculous and scary. Ma Bell is a b*tch and Rogers customer service blows from my experiences and any of my friends too. ugh.

i'll still take our health care system - even with its issues - over lower data pricing plans anyday. nice to know if something is wrong with our health, we can get it worked on without having to take another mortgage out on the house.

Cheers,
Keebler