Rogers intros unlimited data, makes iPhone possible

I just called and the person on the phone couldn't even find the plan. Then I was transferred and the person in data says this unlimited plan is for cell phone browsers only and it's limited to that. If you used regular data for an email client or a browser other than the Rogers one, you'll get charged 5cents/kb for using it.

... look, just because some clerk in Kamloops isn't up on this yet (it was JUST ANNOUNCED, HELLO?!!) doesn't mean the story isn't true. MacNN mostly works from press releases, and this story probably comes more-or-less straight from one.

Anyway, big news in Canada. We're almost not second-class citizens in the iPhone world! Yay!

Rogers' page on the new $20 Communicate Value Pack, http://www.rogers.com/web/content/wireless-plans/essentials?content10=20_comm#start , doesn't say anything about what devices you can use with this pack, other than "Unlimited On-Device Mobile". I just spoke with a Rogers rep who had no clue as to what devices could or could not be used with this plan. So I'd be very, very careful about signing up with Rogers expecting to get this plan with your device. Get it in writing, and preferably from a manager.

"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."

"3rd party applications are applications like Yahoo! Go or Google Maps. These are non-Rogers applications which can be downloaded to the device and incur data charges at a rate of 5¢/KB."

So if you actually try to use your device for something useful, you will be charged $50,000/GB. (i.e. 5c/kb). Gee thanks Rogers for your kind generosity and competitive rates... not!

Well I subscribed to it today after reading a whole bunch of information of the Rogers site and talking to 3 reps... Turns out it is unlimited WAP browsing. So my iPhone is definitely NOT WAP browsing. I checked email (10 emails downloaded), a search in Google map and check out a movie times site and managed to spend 1.50$ within 5 mins... ah unlimited browsing!

Please Apple, slap some sense into Rogers!!!!!!

Actually Rogers website regarding these packages is more clearly outlined than either Telus or Bell, both of which like to bury the fine details on their sites. Anyway all authorized Rogers dealers and customer service reps in the call centers are trained to not add either the $7.00 MSF unlimited mobile WAP browser plan or the $20.00 MSF Communicate Value Pack to a data device such as the iPhone, HTC Touch/TYTN, Motorola Q9H, Samsung Jack or even the Palm Treo. Otherwise the customer may face a very huge data bill similar to what happened with Bell's customer in Alberta where they incurred over a $82,000.00 data bill. A customer that tries to trick a newbie rep into adding this only has himself/herself to blame. For high volume users such as those using the iPhone it's better to add the Rogers Flex Rate data plan which fluctuates based on the data device users average usage so as to not incur a high data bill. This plan starts at 1 GB for $65.00 and goes up to 5 GB for $100.00 which is cheaper than either Telus or Bell.

The only time I ever saw "WAP" was in my account information once it was added. "Unlimited on-device WEB browsing" is what is written everywhere else... Seems that as the day went by they were adding little bits of information here and there. They WILL make a killing with people knot knowing that for the first month.