Rogers chases ‘early adopters’ with new plan
p2pnet news view Freedom | P2P:- Rogers is already under heavy online fire because of its bid to lock Canadians looking to buy an Apple Jesus phone into a three-year contract.
Nor does the plan include unlimited use.
Instead, it’ll cap data each month.
Rogers is now apparently trying to defuse the PR disaster with a $30-a-month data deal subscribers can add to their voice plans.
“Rogers Communications has caved into consumer pressure and is offering a limited rollback of rates for the new Apple iPhone 3G being launched Friday,” says the Vancouver Sun, also noting:
“The new Rogers rate, available only for subscribers who activate their phones before Aug. 31, is $30 a month for a six-gigabyte data plan that can be added to new or existing voice plans with Rogers – but only if they sign up for a three-year contract.
“Rogers is also limiting sales to two phones per customer.”
It’s, “game playing, but we’re not children,” the story has Rob Sheinbein, co-founder of online marketing company OilChange, which snapped up ruinediphone.com, a petition site which by, 3:53 am Pacific today, was claiming, “Over 59,847 people say NO to Rogers”.
Another petition protest site, Rogers Canada iPhone Data Plan, had chalked up 10,904 signatures.
Sheinbein says his company switched from the Rogers wireless service to America’s Verizon in the US to cut its bills by up to two-thirds off the $2,000 to $2,500 a month it had been paying Rogers, states the Vancouver Sun.
‘Very generous data limit’
Says Russell Gordon (right), the Toronto teacher who launched Get the facts on the Rogers iPhone >>>
Commentary: $30 is a reasonable price point, and 6 GB is a very generous data limit. Average users are not likely to exceed this cap; over-limit fees still apply for those who do.
The value of voice plans and contract length remain poor by international standards, but consumers may find a voice plan at a price point they find acceptable.
He also notes >>>
… John Boynton, the senior vice-president and chief marketing officer of Rogers Wireless, had this to say regarding Rogers strategy:
“… existing price plans for the iPhone will go back into effect Sept. 1. ‘What we’re trying to do is satisfy a very small group of people, the early adopters,’ he said. ‘When those customers are done, we’re back to our basic user.’”
Stay tuned.
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Apple Jesus phone – Only 2,000 iPhones for Canada?, July 9, 2008
Vancouver Sun – Rogers reduces iPhone rates, July 10, 2008
online marketing – Oilchange buys Rogers ‘petition site’ ruinediphone, July 4, 2008
Toronto teacher – New site has facts on Rogers iPhone debacle, July 7, 2008
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