There has been a lot of backlash on the internet since the iPhone 3G plans for Rogers and Fido have come out. I have said that I’m not happy with them. I have also said that I will still get the iPhone and pay the ridiculous price that I will have to. All because I want an iPhone that works properly in Canada. That being said, I am still petitioning these plans in hope that they come out with something better before the launch. The biggest problem with these plans is not that there is no unlimited data, it is that Rogers thinks high data usage equals high voice usage. If the $60 plan came with 1gb of data, it would be much more acceptable. Since the data included is a joke, the plan is not acceptable.
The website leading the cause against these plans is RuinediPhone.com. The name of the site has changed from F U Rogers to RuinediPhone. This is probably because F U Rogers would not get the same media exposure that RuinediPhone would based on the name. This is a good thing. If the newspapers start posting stories about this we may see some action from Rogers. Currently there is over 8000 signatures and it is growing fast.
The other story on RuinediPhone is the open letter to Steve Jobs, here it is:
Dear Steve,
My name is James and I would like to thank you for creating the wonderful iPhone device. We really think that you will change the world with it, just as you changed the world with the iPod. We were so happy to learn that on July 11th, we would finally be able to buy the iPhone and legally use it in Canada.
To our great disappointment, Rogers Communications Inc. has announced VERY unfair rates in comparison to AT&T in the United States and to other authorized wireless service providers around the world. As a result, a consumer movement was born yesterday (June 27th) in protest against these rates.
Nearly 6,000 people have signed an online petition to help make a difference and the list is growing rapidly. In the last 48 hours, the website has had 40,000 unique visitors from around the world supporting Canadian consumers. There are a vast number of Canadians that would take the opportunity to buy an iPhone at $199CAD but these new plans have put it out of reach for many.
I would like to invite you to take a look at all these disappointed people at www.ruinediphone.com.
I was going to buy an iPhone for me, my girlfriend and my family.
Now, sadly, I cannot afford the plan.
I hope you can do something Steve; we are loyal customers and trust that you will. We don’t want to lose faith in Apple.
Thank you,
James Hallen
Representing nearly 6,000 Canadian consumers.
Update - June 30:
RuinediPhone.com is currently down because the webhost shut it down for exceeding bandwidth. The creator is in the process of setting it up on a new server. Check back soon to see if its up again.
Update - July 1:
Their site is back up now, sign now if you haven’t already.
Update 2 - July 1:
The site seems to be down again, you can access it here at it’s temporary location
http://inflexion.iisnet-networks.com/~iphone/index.php
Who has signed so far?
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June 28th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
I HAVE SIGNED !!! But I doubt Rogers will do anything about it as they are the only GSM provider in Canada alowing them to do as they please :(
June 28th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
It’s getting a lot of action so far, but Rogers is not obligated to do anything. Maybe if there is poor sales for a few months, then they may change things.
June 28th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
I have signed and emailed Rogers and Apple about it.
June 28th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
I have sighed as well. i hope this site catches the medias attention like city pulse.
June 29th, 2008 at 12:26 am
I have a feeling at least one news outlet will cover it
June 29th, 2008 at 12:32 am
i signed and told everyone on facebook to sign. then everyone on msn… and all my IRL friends… etc etc…
went from waiting outside at midnight for hours in the cold to not even wanting one…. haha
I may get one a month or two afterwards with fido’s cheapest plan but thats only if its “OMGGOTTAHAVE”
June 29th, 2008 at 12:33 am
oh and btw it has over 9000!!!!!!! signatures
and the link in your post is www,iphoneruined.com theres a , instead of a .
though id let you know :S
June 29th, 2008 at 12:44 am
Don’t expect Citytv to cover this story, or 680News or their affilliates…they’re all owned by Rogers. So far, none of them have reported the backlash from Rogers customers.
June 29th, 2008 at 12:50 am
yep fixed, thanks
it’s going up pretty fast
June 29th, 2008 at 12:52 am
that’s a really great move by us. i have signed for it and i told everyone i know they would wanna have one to sign it.
the most possible way is the media supports. if the signatures or our sounds can be on the air by the medias around the whole country,, they may be forced to make some differences..hopefully,,,
my bottom line is if they’re not gonna offer a better plan for iphone, i will get an unlocked iphone sticked with my existed plan !!!!
” make some differences, robgers !!!”
June 29th, 2008 at 12:53 am
Just passed 9000
June 29th, 2008 at 12:53 am
it looks like you can sign it more than once….
June 29th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Yikes!! They should change that. A petition cannot be taken seriously if you can sign it more than once. That will skew the numbers in “our favour” and not seem partial. The more signatures the better, but if there are many from the same people, then it might not be taken seriously. Although any and all pressure is good.
June 29th, 2008 at 10:32 am
It doesn’t get much bigger than CNN
http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/06/29/9000-canadians-petition-steve-jobs-for-iphone-rate-relief/
June 29th, 2008 at 11:00 am
I’ll just hope to see it on tv monday or something.
June 29th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
The problem here in Canada is there’s no competition. No one really wants CDMA so GSM is the choice for Canada and Rogers bought out the competition. Its time like these when anti-trust laws are needed but can’t be used because technically Telus is a fair competitor. That just might change when Canada sells another GSM network licence.
But another thing. The population of Canada is smaller than California and we’re already bigger in land mass than the USA. Its because of the density problem and small population that makes Canada one of the most expensive places for communications and transportation. Ironically, we have the best in technology when it comes to coast-to-coast transmissions via satellite. So if there’s a formula, I guess Rogers/Fido is still ripping us off even with this new iPhone data plan that’s a better deal than they’re other plans. But not as dramatic as you think it is. There’s good reason for it. Thanks for listening.
June 29th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
@Geoff: You stated, “The population of Canada is smaller than California and we’re already bigger in land mass than the USA. Its because of the density problem and small population that makes Canada one of the most expensive places for communications..” Not true and a very bad excuse: In fact, the population of Canada is more concentrated than that of the US!
June 29th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
I signed!!!
i hope they lower the prices or make the pay as u goo option available like the UK.
June 29th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
signed. and agree what you said. we are not looking for unlimited data. we just want something reasonable. 1G for the $60 should sound ALOT better to most people. and remember iPhone has a desktop class browser. ask all people at Rogers or Fido if they are ok with only 400m / month for their laptop or desktoop
June 30th, 2008 at 7:35 am
here’s a snippet of my accidental ‘edge’ usage of data from rogers… this was only over the course of 4 days… i would say 15,000 kb a day is a pretty unreserved use of data, just your typical email, web browsing, a few youtube video clips here and there…
Wed MAR 12 OD 14,004.00kb $266.52
Thu MAR 13 OD 4,997.00kb $149.91
Fri MAR 14 OD 46.00kb $ 1.38
Fri MAR 21 OD 8,674.00kb $260.22
June 30th, 2008 at 10:42 am
http://www.reportonbusiness.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080630.wiphone30/BNStory/Business/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20080630.wiphone30
and 19000 sigs
June 30th, 2008 at 10:48 am
mmky,
Those are devasatating charges. Did you get them credited back? But yeah it’s pretty easy to go through data and I would not want to have to worry about it.
June 30th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Dude, you’re a sucker. You already have a working Gen1 model and are complaining about the expensive 3G plans.
You wrote: ” I have also said that I will still get the iPhone and pay the ridiculous price that I will have to.”
You are Rogers’ perfect customer, willing to pay the price Rogers’ tells you to just so you can have it.
In my opinion, online petitions and letters to Steve Jobs are great tools for voicing protests but if you really want to send Rogers a message, don’t buy the iPhone. By signing up to their rates and obscene contract length, you are simply saying that you are willing to pay what Rogers thinks is a “good enough” plan. You will be just one more statistic reinforcing their pricing strategy.
I do not own a Gen1 iPhone and would love to purchase a 3G on launch. Although I can afford their 75.00 plan, I will not submit for three years. My response to Rogers is to simply not buy one. I hope that others who agree with me will take the same action. This will send a strong message to Rogers and ultimately Apple that poor sales is not due to lousy product but to lousy execution. Unit sales is what brings in money for Apple, not revenue-sharing. Only then you will have Steve Job’s attention.
You have a pretty good website and its use as a platform for your displeasure has potential, but I believe you are doing readers a disservice when you complain about the plans yet are more than willing to comply.
The sad thing is that Rogers will sell tons of them because people like you will still buy one.
No matter how cool the iPhone is (and I think it is); it’s just a phone.
June 30th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
What’s up? When I try to sign, I can’t access the web site.
June 30th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
I get the following message:
Forbidden
You don’t have permission to access / on this server.
Additionally, a 403 Forbidden error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.
——————————————————————————–
Apache/1.3.41 Server at http://www.ruinediphone.com Port 80
June 30th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
the web site ruinediphone.com is not working, i’m getting the Forbidden 403 error. Anyone else getting this?
June 30th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
You know what’s incredibly brilliant (excuse the heavy sarcasm)?
I can’t visit RuinedIphone.com because I currently use Rogers as my ISP and they seem to have BLOCKED it.
Way to go Rogers, way to go.
June 30th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Guys is the website down?? I tried goingt here to sign the petition and I can’t access the site.
June 30th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I wish the media would also include the BS $6.95 system access fee in their reporting. This fee is such a croc.
And, paying extra for call display. Give me a break, who is going to buy one of the most high tech phones in the world and not get call display. It’s 2008, not 1998. I’m assuming you can just pay for call display and not have to pay for the $15 bundle to get it.
Call display by itself is $7 on rogers web site, so that puts the basic iPhone plan at 60+7+6.95 = $73.95 + taxes. Brutal!!!
June 30th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Tried to find and sign the petition. I received a Forbidden window everytime. Who is Big Brother now?
June 30th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
The RuinediPhone site appears to be down. That’s a pity, but I hope it crashed under the weight of signatures and not for more sinister reasons!
Well, if I can’t sign, I’ll add my two cents’ here. As a Canadian consumer who’s contributed a goodly share of my $$s to the Rogers oligarchy, I’m disappointed yet NOT surprised by their pricing decisions. Why should they give us any kind of a better deal when people like me are willing to be put on a waiting list for this iPhone? Effectively asking for the privilege of being able to buy it?!
As a long-time Mac user, I’ve been so looking forward to experiencing the iPhone’s elegant design and interface. When I first heard it was coming to Canada, I marked the freakin’ date on my iCal. But buying it now, at those prices? I’m torn. I honestly don’t know whether “boycotting” it will make a difference. But if I go ahead and join the queue on July 11, I know I’m gonna feel like ten kinds of schmuck. Either way, I am not a happy Rogers customer (if there is such a thing).
June 30th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
RuinediPhone.com is down. I wonder why.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Rogers took the site down>………… Take the petition to faceboook and get all your friends to join and pass it along
June 30th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
.Iphone…..couldn’t wait I was dreaming about the iphone 3G for months. But since I’ve seen the new rates from Rogers. I say NO WAY Rogers is stealing enough of my money. So I will wait for the Htc Diamond.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
i can not view ruinediphone.com. I tried many times. i use rogers internet. ???
June 30th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Maybe Rogers struck them down or they exceeded bandwidth
June 30th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Why is ruinediphone.com down?
Is it Rogers not allowing access to the site?
Now we know what are the dangers of having communication concentrated in the hands of one moron who still thinks is living in the 1970’s!
Customers should consider boycotting Rogers altogether!
June 30th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
My ISP is shaw and I get on it. Looks like they exceeded their bandwidth. That’s why they were asking for donations or whatever. I wouldn’t put it past Rogers to block the site though.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
@ Eric
it’s the same as complaining about high gas prices but driving anyway. Or driving an SUV and complaining about gas prices. You can always lobby for lower prices. For me I want the phone, I’ll pay the price. There is nothing wrong with trying to pay less though. Plus if I were to add a data plan to my current plan, the price would almost be the same. What would I be gaining then?
June 30th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
@ GlamoursGrammar
I have it marked in my iCal too. I’m not sure boycotting will make a difference but at least the media has picked up the story and Rogers made a response.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Official Statement from ruinediphone.com
As you may know, ruinediphone.com is down.
I spoke to the creator earlier today, who sent me the following statement:
My host pulled the plug it seems…. Trying to figure out what’s happening :S
Thanks!
James
He is trying to get a new host with a dedicated server.
thanks azilnik at ehmac.ca forums
June 30th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
One more reason to boycott Rogers!!! That and Ted Rogers is trying to destroy the CFL by bringing the Buffalo Bills to Toronto. Ted Rogers has no shame!!!!!!!!!
June 30th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Damn it. I couldnt access to sign the petition. This is the second time that rogers screw’d me. 1. 3-year stupid contract 2. Too high rates for Iphone.
(not counting the damn phone they wont replace and neither will motorola)
To Rogers Communications inc. : U suck!!
June 30th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Rogers Communications sucks big time
July 1st, 2008 at 3:33 am
it’s back up now
July 1st, 2008 at 7:10 am
still cannot access to sign the petition. got the following msg:
Forbidden
You don’t have permission to access / on this server.
Additionally, a 403 Forbidden error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.
Apache/1.3.41 Server at http://www.ruinediphone.com Port 80
July 1st, 2008 at 8:58 am
Rogers is the only existing carrier that has a network compatible with the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) technology the iPhone uses and as per usual they have taken the screw the customer as long as you can approach. With all the issues around free trade can I not get an account with one of the US companies?
This is just another prime example of Canadians who are lulled into a false sense of security being told we have the best standard of living, the best health care, have a free and democratic governmentm a free market economy yadda yadda yadda while we live in a steadily declining country with the likes of Rogers being protected by our parliment. Where’s the good old days when someone like Castro would take charge!
July 1st, 2008 at 10:30 am
you can sign the PETITION here:
http://inflexion.iisnet-networks.com/~iphone/index.php
July 4th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
The other aspect to this story is that Rogers is screwing its existing customers in preparation for the iPhone launch:
I’m a 10 year Rogers customer and in March of this year, I subscribed to Rogers $7 per month called ‘Unlimited WAP Browsing’. The agent explained that it may not work with my iPhone, and I told her that I’d give it a try and if it didn’t work, I’d cancel.
It turned out that it was pretty easy to get it working, and voila, I was browsing the ‘net on my iPhone for $7 per month. This worked well for several months until July 4, ‘08, when I received a bill for $177.77 for ‘On-device browsing’.
I called to find out the reason for the sudden fee increase and was told that it is because I’m using a non-Rogers device on the network and that if I used my Sony Ericson phone procured via Rogers, I wouldn’t be charged the fees. I was also told that this is probably being done to beef up the network in preparation for the official launch of the iPhone on the Rogers network. This strikes me as immoral, if not illegal–what device I use should have no impact on what Rogers charges for transferring bits, notwithstanding the fact that any dramatic changes in fees/plans should be discussed with customers before billing them $177.77 out of nowhere.
I for one will begin looking elsewhere…