Networks
Three iPhone Carriers That Make AT&T Look Like a Deal
Posted by John Mahoney at 4:10 AM on July 16, 2008
When Steve announced the iPhone 3G on stage at WWDC, one of the more interesting tidbits was the mention of a locked-in maximum price of US$199/US$299 in every launch country. But if you listened closely, you would have heard the key qualifier: "almost every country." Some deviation from the U.S. price is unavoidable, which is why Steve hedged his statement, but users in three countries in particular--Canada, Belgium, and Spain--are getting taken out back and walloped, each in their own special way.
One point where a lot of the international carriers get you is in a lack of unlimited data. You can't be keeping a running total of kilobytes consumed this month when you pull your phone out of your pocket to look up a movie time or find a restaurant--that's just not the way this phone works, especially considering the range of data-consuming applications available. Many of the Euro carriers max out at 1GB before by-the-megabyte charges set in, which you'll suck down before you know it over 3G.
But on top of that, here are three that have found even more creative ways to reach into your pocket and/or piss you off.
Mobistar (Belgium): Ridiculous Unlocked Hardware Prices, With a Contract
Due to Belgian law, all phones must be sold unlocked. That means the iPhone is not eligible for a subsidy, and the 16GB will run you a massive €615 (that's US$982). You can buy it without activation of a contract, but if you want to actually use the phone in Belgium with Mobistar service, they've still got you for a two-year contract, the most generous of which has a 1GB data cap and 540 minutes for €60 (US$96)--kind of defeats the purpose of forcing sales of unlocked phones, no?
Rogers (Canada): Longest of the Long Contracts
Despite compromising somewhat by offering a discounted 6GB-per-month data plan on top of any of their regular voice plans, Rogers will still have you for three years. Insane. Plus you can only pair the 6GB promotion with any of their standard voice plans (not their iPhone packages), so you'll be paying extra for visual voicemail and SMS. And when you factor in the Canadian-to-US dollar exchange rate being $1=$1 right now, it gets even uglier.
Movistar/Telefonica (Spain): 3G Data Tease
Even though you can walk away with a free iPhone if you get on an expensive enough plan (Movistar hits you up either €15 or €25 per month for their iPhone plans on top of a minimum voice charge per month that ranges from €9 to €90, depending on usage), Movistar's "unlimited" data plans have an evil twist: after consumption of your first gigabyte under the Plus plan (or a paltry 200MB for the standard), your speeds are capped at 128kbps down/64 kbps up. Those are basically EDGE speeds, folks--according to our tests the 3G can manage 769kbps download speeds on AT&T's NYC network, which means for the rest of the month, you may as well save some battery by disabling 3G--you're not gonna use it. [A personal note from a Spaniard with a long experience dealing with Telefónica and Movistar: like always, the greediness and lack of vision of their execs--and by extension of most mobile phone companies in this country--defies any description. Their secret mission statement remains the same: "screw the consumer when you don't have to compete with others". Which is exactly why I left my contract with them a long time ago, and I'm sticking to my iPhone classic until I can get the 3G somewhere else. -- JD]
So our condolences to you, our Canadian, Belgian and Spanish readers. You're probably not alone though--there are still at least 49 more countries waiting for their iPhone launch, so the worst may yet be ahead of us. If you're getting screwed now or in the future, share below. You'll feel (a little) better.
[Rogers, Mobistar, Movistar/Telefonica]
AU: There are worse countries out there than us Aussies for iPhone plans, but it was remiss of the US to ignore the plight of the New Zealanders, who are getting screwed almost as bad (if not worse) than the Canadians. Don't worry, our across-the-Tasman neighbours - we here at Giz AU feel your pain.
Tags: apple | data | expensive | international | iphone | iphone 3g | networks | plans | ripoffs | wireless

Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
Dav[e]tech
Posted July 16, 2008 8:56 AM
I was interested in an iphone (in quite a big way!) until the fact that three are not doing the iphone. i hate the fact that if you do want to buy the phone outright, its like $720.
australia has horrible data plans and the only carrier that does have a decent one doesnt have the iphone.
telstra is a rip off at something like $1 per meg pay as you go, vodaphone is like $69 a month not including the payments for the phone (another $8 a month) with like 200mb of data with charge rates through the roof if you go over, and optus has a fairly bleh deal of $49 cap with 200mb of data or something.
its all crap. not a single deal is good value for money, and it feels like a cash grab from all 3 available aussie vendors.
bring on the iphone to three, imo.
ps: the fact i can buy a jailbroken iphone 3g from china or europe and it is still cheaper even including shipping than walking into a local optus store and buying one out right shows there is something wrong with the price australians are being charged for such a device.
Cameron
Posted July 16, 2008 9:21 AM
That's nothing, check out the prices from Telstra in Australia. Their standard plan come with 5mb (yes Megabytes, not Gigabytes) of data. Imagine how quickly that'll get used just using the GPS!
Kareem King
Posted 5:08 AM 16/7/08
Wait there's more! I was at Rogers changing up the my phone plan the other day (yesterday). During my time there I learned a few things...
Everybody wants the iPhone, even if they have no idea what it is. I can recall hearing a woman say "I want my 6MB internet iphone".
Breaking such a long contract requires you to pay up $400 (plus taxes).
Some people require an additional $200 for "insurance/credit deposit". It maybe understandable, but still.
Current plan holders pay a different price. I assume and hope that it's a lower price. But your plan has to
A. be upgraded, B. be eligible (more expensive).
Oh and to make sure you buy the phone w/contract. They set the price for a phone w/o contract at $3500. 3500-FREAKING-$$.
By the way, 16GB iPhones are sold out everywhere in Toronto. A simple 8GB is hard enough to find as well.
Kareem King
Gonzie
Posted 5:06 AM 16/7/08
everyone should think themselves lucky they are getting it at all, it's certainly not coming to my part of the world any time soon
Gonzie
vovPop
Posted 5:05 AM 16/7/08
If any unfortunate iPhone user paying the highest iPhone plan dares to watch an 800MB moviewithout unlimited data plan will pay the innocuous price tag of $3200 USD's for the extra data consumption.
Here's the link for the mexican data plan calculator - and petition website:
[www.neltelcel.com]
vovPop
davesousa
Posted 5:03 AM 16/7/08
@Half off all shafts!: i wholeheartedly agree
davesousa
closer2p
Posted 4:57 AM 16/7/08
Hi, in Italy Vodafone & TIM offer the worst plans of Europe for iPhone.
here is the petition.. (nearly 10.000 people against Vosafone & TIM)
[www.iphoneaffossato.com]
bye
(my english is poor, sorry)
closer2p
cheechitup88
Posted 4:55 AM 16/7/08
@benjello: He was on a corporate plan, where his company was paying a cumulative of something like 5,000$ per month in phone bills (25+ lines).
cheechitup88
benjello
Posted 4:54 AM 16/7/08
@cheechitup88: Yep, that sounds like Rogers... The only problem I can see is that maybe he didn't pass the credit check.
benjello
benjello
Posted 4:53 AM 16/7/08
@justinpe: The speed of the network has everything to do with playback quality on streaming content. A poor data transfer rate means poor playback... on streaming content.
benjello
cheechitup88
Posted 4:53 AM 16/7/08
I know somebody that purchased an iPhone at Rogers, and Rogers went Nutzo with the Price. They told him that he since he was not allowed to upgrade he had to pay them an inflated price for the phone, on top of the 3 year contract. There was no way to get out of it without losing his line. They tried to charge him 649.99 for the phone, on a 3 year contract. He told them to go fuck themselves, and walked out the door.
cheechitup88
benjello
Posted 4:51 AM 16/7/08
The Rogers data plans are LIMITED TIME ONLY!! The 6GB's for $30 ends August 31st.
Rogers sucks wangs.
benjello
snitch29
Posted 4:44 AM 16/7/08
@justinpe: Dude just watch a clip on 3G and watch the same clip on WiFi and you will see what am talking about
snitch29
snitch29
Posted 4:41 AM 16/7/08
@grundy: Yeah but if you use Wifi on the iPhone they look real clear and Nice, but as soon as you switch to 3G they look like SHHHHT
snitch29
justinpe
Posted 4:40 AM 16/7/08
@grundy:
Very true. The speed of the network has nothing to do with the video quality, just the speed at which the crappy video loads.
justinpe
justinpe
Posted 4:39 AM 16/7/08
@snitch29:
I was impressed with the speed of ATTs 3G network, but the coverage area is pretty crappy. $15 more per month is probably not worth it for me at this point considering I work from home and have free wifi available most places I go. The only times that I don't have access to wifi, I am out of the 3G network and have to use Edge anyway.
The only real advantages for me would be having GPS, non-recessed headphone jack, and a shiny white plastic back. After playing around with the white 3G iPhone, I decided that I like the new design better. I know its kind of a subjective thing, but it felt better in my hand and seems like it would hold up better to everyday wear and tear.
justinpe
grundy
Posted 4:33 AM 16/7/08
@snitch29: YouTube videos will look crappy no matter what phone you're viewing them on
grundy
Boatski
Posted 4:32 AM 16/7/08
@ianmac47:
A trip to Belgium would probably cost the same as an AT&T plan for two years lol.
Boatski
bobojuice
Posted 4:31 AM 16/7/08
@strider_mt2k: *correction* beer, they do great beer...
bobojuice
jorvay
Posted 4:30 AM 16/7/08
As much as I hate Rogers and their evil 3-year contracts, they are slightly less evil than they seem. As long as you renew every year, you can upgrade your hardware at new contract prices. So you're not stuck with the same phone for three years.
That being said, I'm a bitch to a Rogers contract and I hate it. Never mind the fact that the asshats renamed the SkyDome in Toronto to the Rogers Centre. What the hell is a Rogers Centre?
jorvay
jannikolaas
Posted 4:30 AM 16/7/08
Actually buying it unlocked in Belgium isn't defeating the purpose of 'unlocking'. You are never bound to Mobistar for use of the device. All you have to do is buy the phone, activate it with the provided SIM card, and then you can just swap it out for any other SIM card, be that from Mobistar, Proximus or Base. The other providers all have 3G data plans. Proximus even has instructions on it's site how to configure your Mobistar 3G iPhone for their network. Then again, any 3G data package is incredibly expense.
On the up side, Mobistar is now accepting 'unlocked/illegal' 1st gen iPhone's in its recycling program. Meaning you'll get €170 ($270) back for your 1st gen 8GB iPhone when you buy a new phone at one of their stores.
It's expensive, but on the other hand you can buy it unlocked and use it with a pre-paid card. Making it relatively 'cheap' compared to buying it with a steep plan for 24 months.
jannikolaas
altus
Posted 4:30 AM 16/7/08
I think that what is emerging is something quite interesting: Cost of living in the USA is much more reasonable. You can get a burger for $0.99. Try to get anything for under a Euro anywhere in Europe. The same is true with our phones, our plans and even European cars. It costs less to buy a BMW in the US than in Europe. So ATT is not so bad after all as opposed carriers around the world. Verizon is better for plans but they don't have the iPhone. That was ATT's coup and gamble and its paying off.
altus
hypnotik_jello
Posted 4:30 AM 16/7/08
@ianmac47: Uhm, the price?
If you're in the US, it would be cheaper to buy the phone ($199) sign up for a plan and cancel it ($36+$175+$70) = $480. and then unlock it using pwnage tool.
hypnotik_jello
snitch29
Posted 4:29 AM 16/7/08
AT&T 3G is not what people think it is, it's still slow as hell, you tube videos still look blurry as hell on the 3G iphone, i don't think is worth the $15 extra a month seriously, i love the iphone but after playing with my wife new 3G unit, i'll stick with my old one for a bit longer i think
snitch29
danger the pirate
Posted 4:28 AM 16/7/08
@strider_mt2k: and beer.
danger the pirate
chrstphr
Posted 4:28 AM 16/7/08
@Half off all shafts!: LOL.
I still hate Rogers, even if they did introduce that promo pricing after everyone complained. And Belgium, holy crap, almost a GRAND for the 16GB? Insane.
chrstphr
Samifumi
Posted 4:28 AM 16/7/08
If they don't charge this much for the iPhone (and cap data), the terrorists will win.
Samifumi
bjarkebech
Posted 4:28 AM 16/7/08
@ianmac47: Seconded. Someone enlighten us
bjarkebech
atuck
Posted 4:24 AM 16/7/08
@mendo: you sir are correct! You win the prize of having that knowledge while you live out your life among those bastards.
atuck
ianmac47
Posted 4:23 AM 16/7/08
What stops the rest of the world from going to Belgium and buying unlocked phones to use back in their home countries?
ianmac47
kosikutioner
Posted 4:21 AM 16/7/08
For the record I'm not a fan of rogers. But my plan will be this
$25 for voice (unlimited incoming, rogers to rogers, weekends, evenings, with 100 WD minutes)
$15 for VVM, Call Display, 2500 text, whocalled (sends texts from missed calls while phone is off)
$30 for 6GB
Its not REALLY more for VVM, because its included in a call display text package. At least for me, thats perfect.
I don't love the 3 years, and its not a GREAT plan by any means, but its not terrible anymore either.
kosikutioner
Half off all shafts!
Posted 4:20 AM 16/7/08
I can't prove it, but i believe Rogers is responsible for the SARS outbreak.
Half off all shafts!
Yeebles
Posted 4:20 AM 16/7/08
I wonder which countries have the best plans?
Yeebles
strider_mt2k
Posted 4:19 AM 16/7/08
@Hiphopopotamus: Be cool man.
they do great chocolate.
strider_mt2k
Hiphopopotamus
Posted 4:17 AM 16/7/08
Finally, those %*($ing Belgians will get whats coming to them. Am I right, folks?
Hiphopopotamus
Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!
Posted 4:10 AM 16/7/08
Any attack made by the Rebels against this axis would be a useless gesture, no matter what technical data they've obtained.
Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!
mendo
Posted 4:10 AM 16/7/08
You should take a look at the Italian fares. Expensive with 600MB/month and few to zero minutes & SMS.
And it still sold out: sometimes I think we live in a world packed with stupid people...
mendo
Puck
Posted 4:06 AM 16/7/08
Awesome job on the frowny-faced flag buttons.
Puck
bjarkebech
Posted 4:04 AM 16/7/08
In Denmark you only get 300 megs with your iPhone. Shit deal, considering it costs 1.200$ after subsidies. No caps though
bjarkebech
Kareem King
Posted 5:38 AM 16/7/08
@kosikutioner: I think the $3500 is a deterrent for anybody asking. It's a price so high nobody will buy, but I've heard this out the Rogers employee mouth several times.
BTW, anybody knows how to monitor usage statistics on Rogers? Their website makes it impossible.
Kareem King
IndustrialJones
Posted 5:30 AM 16/7/08
In Belgium, phone calls you (then screws you without lube)!
IndustrialJones
pdditty
Posted 5:29 AM 16/7/08
@grundy: YouTube Videos look crappy over 3G and when you're on wifi it looks so much better. Try it out yourself and you'll see. The same theory can be said about the "MLB - At Bat" program. It seems that its not a specific program but some way where the iPhone degrades video quality over 3G. I wish there was a way to change this.
pdditty
cleverlymadeup
Posted 5:25 AM 16/7/08
@cheechitup88: so your friend wasn't eligible for an upgrade and your friend was being an asshat for someone who was just telling him what was what
don't blame rogers for telling you what they have to do and your friend being an asshat cause he thinks it's unfair
cleverlymadeup
kosikutioner
Posted 5:21 AM 16/7/08
@wolfshades: Yea absolutely. I mean, I agree there are still better plans around the world, but that says more about the state of Canadian cell phone carriers than it does JUST about rogers.
I am not defending rogers, because I still don't care for them... but I also did just get $100 credit on my account because I called up to inquire about my more than average iphone cost (it was going to be 349/449 because I hup'ed last may.) So they are in my good books for a little while.
@Kareem King: Yea evenings/weekends start at 9. But this is the plan I was on previously and it serves me perfect. I have never had any extra voice charges and never been 'careful' with using my minutes, just used as I need. Only extra voice has been LD... but yea.
kosikutioner
strider_mt2k
Posted 5:18 AM 16/7/08
Beer too, of course! :D
strider_mt2k
.Trenchant.
Posted 5:18 AM 16/7/08
@jorvay:
Isn't it every TWO years you get an upgrade from Rogers? If it was annual, I wouldn't nearly hate them as much. The only reason I'm with them still is because I have a decent rate with decent features, no more contract to worry about, and because they're the only ones that I pull reception off of everywhere I'm always at.
.Trenchant.
bu11etman
Posted 5:17 AM 16/7/08
iPhone in Norway.
8GB 2$ with a 12 month 220$ pr month fee total of 12 months: 2640$
16GB 178$ with a 12 month 220$ pr month fee total of 12 months: 2816$
bu11etman
kosikutioner
Posted 5:16 AM 16/7/08
@Kareem King: About the insurance or deposit? that is the stores fault/choice. Not rogers. Even Rogers Plus are privately owned and run. One I went to said you needed to stay on for 7 months or face penalties from them, above and beyond rogers. I'm not saying that isn't rogers fault for allowing them to do that.. but still...
Also, gonna call you on $3500 for un contracted. They aren't selling them without yet. So... yea.
But yea, they are out of stock themselves, like calling rogers can't get you a 16 GB either. And no stores in the GTA have them, a district manager told me the other day.
kosikutioner
gedster314
Posted 5:14 AM 16/7/08
I agree those plans s*ck but 769kps in NYC. Come one AT&T step up to the plate! That's a bad day on my local cell sites. I get anywhere from 650kbps to 2.6Mbps with the average being around 1.2Mbps.
gedster314
Kareem King
Posted 5:13 AM 16/7/08
@kosikutioner: Doesn't evenings and weekends start at 9PM on that plan?
Kareem King
wolfshades
Posted 5:11 AM 16/7/08
@kosikutioner: I'm with you on this one. All I'm paying extra for each month here in Canada is $30 for the data - which I consider fair. The phone package stays the same - which is good for me. And as for the three years? Well presently there are no other companies supporting the iPhone 3G so that's a no-brainer. Yes I'm locked in but if I wasn't? I'd be paying through the roof for data.
Yes, Rogers' initial "plans" sucked lemons. But (and I keep saying this) I'm astounded that they actually listened to their customers' complaints and acted on it. I'm even more amazed that so many of us (me included) originally expressed open outrage at the start. It's good to see. Maybe us Canadians aren't as "nice" as the world used to think we were. My national self-esteem is restored. (Hell, any drive out on the highway will put that myth to shame anyway. Cut someone off and watch them give you the national middle finger salute....)
wolfshades
blackroseyagami
Posted 5:09 AM 16/7/08
we've had many people bitch about the plans here in Mexico, somehow I dont find them all that abusive but that is just me
45 dllrs gives you:
200 minutes
100 Mb
100 sms
59 dllrs
300 minutes
150 Mb
150 sms
79 dllrs
400 minutes
200 Mb
200 sms
and you can add unlimited data (that is limited after the 3gb) for 57 dllrs
so... yeah i think ours is a bitch also
oh right, PLUS iPhone
Ranges from 350 and 450 on the lowest plan and 70 and 200 on the highest one
so yeah, u think those countries got it bad?
blackroseyagami
Margatron
Posted 6:10 AM 16/7/08
A memeber of Parliament in Ottawa (Ontario, Canada) is trying to curb the consumer rape from phone companies in Canada with new laws limiting the "extra fees" and forcing them to make bill statements clearer. SUPPORT BILL C-555!!!
Margatron
laio
Posted 6:09 AM 16/7/08
We down here in Brazil will prob get screwed HARD by the 4 carries down here (just one is confirmed, "Claro" but it's not a exclusivity deal, and the others announced that they have plans to bring iPhone to here to.) Thx to brazillian laws, iPhones must also be unlockable after 2 months within a contract/purchase, even if you stay with the contract.( So you can use other sims from other carriers also)
laio
Astigmatism
Posted 5:55 AM 16/7/08
Apropos of nothing, current wait times to get an iPhone in NYC:
5th Ave store: 3.5 hours
Soho store: 4 hours
14th St store: 5-7 hours
Maybe it's worth it to buy in another country if you can avoid standing in line for a day of your life. Of course, maybe the lines are just as long overseas.
Astigmatism
dicknervous
Posted 5:50 AM 16/7/08
Simple solution: dont get an iphone.
dicknervous
kosikutioner
Posted 5:46 AM 16/7/08
@Kareem King: Well maybe, I dunno. But I've heard from people that they aren't eligible and its $649 too... Which makes a little more sense on my 349/449 quote
There's so much rumor going around.
kosikutioner
wolfshades
Posted 7:25 AM 16/7/08
@Kareem King: re: monitoring data usage....
You can monitor that directly on the iPhone.
wolfshades
wolfshades
Posted 7:20 AM 16/7/08
@benjello: Not true. Your ability to access the $30 deal ends in August. But you'll have that price for the life of your 3-year contract.
wolfshades
Waka in Japan
Posted 7:07 AM 16/7/08
nevermind... i read the belgium one and thought it was the spanish one...
Waka in Japan
Waka in Japan
Posted 7:07 AM 16/7/08
i haven't read all the comments, but it's "movistar" not "mobistar"
Waka in Japan
sisya
Posted 6:55 AM 16/7/08
@hypnotik_jello: buy fone, cancel and unlock with pwnage tool and then do what? Move to T-Mobile? Or perhaps use an iPhone without a data plan? No thanks.
sisya
krisve
Posted 6:39 AM 16/7/08
@bu11etman:
yepp en for the price of 220$ per month you get 1gb of data, 1000 minutes of talktime and 1000 sms. or you could pay 110$ and get unlimited data, put pay for every minute and sms you send.. The crazy thing is that in Norway this isn't really that expensive! I have used around 200$ per month on my cell phone the last 6 months anyway..
krisve
atheos
Posted 6:37 AM 16/7/08
Well, Sonera's prices for Nokialand are also a joke. Looks like they put the prices to favor Nokia phones or something... The packets are 100, 250 or 1000 min/SMS/MB with monthly fees from $50 to $150. And the phone (8G in the example) costs from $250 to $1. Nevertheless, you'll end up with the most expensive phone calls in Finland and crippled data with monthly maximum of 3GB (Sonera can limit data access after that) and $2 per 1MB for any data that goes over the plan. Guess how soon one hits that with the "Small" option which includes a whopping 100MB of data per month... And no, no visual voicemail here.
Luckily Sonera's much cheaper brand Tele Finland seems to work flawlessly on the iPhone even though the device should be locked to an operator. It seems that Sonera and TF are the same when it comes to network aspects, after all TF is just a brand of Sonera. Luckily they haven't separated the brands in any other way than pricing and visuals. One can simply get the iPhone with subscription sans any plans, pay the $3 per month for two years, get the phone for around $680 and use Tele Finland's cheap enough subscription without even unlocking the damn thing. Total price: about $760. I'm not sure if that's completely legal but so what? That "hack" is good enough for me.
atheos
Mike918
Posted 6:37 AM 16/7/08
@blackroseyagami: Yeah we got cheaper iphones if you go fot the expensive plan...but i was thinking of buying one with the unlimited data plan...but i didn't knew that it wasn't that unlimited, 3GB what a piece of shit telcel is.
Mike918
meefer
Posted 6:33 AM 16/7/08
@Hiphopopotamus: Go to Belgium, have the beer, change your mind. They should have free iphones that stuff is so good.
meefer
jorvay
Posted 6:31 AM 16/7/08
@.Trenchant.: I just checked my Rogers account online and it says that I'll be eligible for a hardware upgrade on a date exactly one year after I signed my contract. Maybe that's only available for new signers (I switched from another provider).
Still, there's no way in hell I will. from here on out, it's all about milking my phone until it dies, then replacing it with something unlocked. up-front cost is worth it...even if none of the Rogers data plans work with unlocked phones.
jorvay
benjello
Posted 7:53 AM 16/7/08
@cheechitup88: Wow, what bastards.
benjello
benjello
Posted 7:52 AM 16/7/08
iPhone in EV-DO CDMA!!!!
benjello
benjello
Posted 7:51 AM 16/7/08
@wolfshades: Their plans still suck... Voice, Data, CallerID and SMS should be unlimited for $30 to $45... Voice Plan's $30 for 250 daytime, evenings and weekends starting at 6pm. If Telus & Bell can do it, why can't Rogers?
Because, Rogers is full of poop.
benjello
Ryanraven
Posted 7:46 AM 16/7/08
I can tell you right now that Israel is going to get mega-boned. they always do when it comes to non-Israeli stuff!!
Ryanraven
benjello
Posted 7:46 AM 16/7/08
@wolfshades: And for those after that deadline? 400mb Data package... Rogers is ballz... they'll gouge wherever and whenever they can. There are holes in all of their plans to exploit.
@Ryan H: Exactly, when they decide to change it, they will and they'll have a small, little, almost invisible blurb buried in their website about it.
No thanks, I'll wait for some competition to crop up, and then for Rogers to fallout with Apple. Just a matter of waiting another year or so... I don't need an iPhone that badly.
benjello
Ryan H
Posted 7:32 AM 16/7/08
@wolfshades:
Unless they cancel the plan six months from now. After all, Rogers is the only compatible carrier in Canada. If they cancel the special plan you have the choice of signing a new 3 year plan with them or getting a new phone.
Ryan H
Ryan H
Posted 7:30 AM 16/7/08
With the 6GB plan for $30 I am almost tempted to go with Rogers.
The only thing that is stopping me is that I just don't trust the bastards. I have a vision of them canceling all the special data plans six months from now. Sure, it would give you reason to break the contract with no fee, but Rogers is the only compatible carrier in Canada, so you are stuck with them.
If they were making this a permanent plan I would be a little happier, but with it only available for a limited time I can't see them honoring it very long.
Ryan H
femstix
Posted 8:17 AM 16/7/08
@Ryan H: You are definitely not alone in that sentiment. I'm almost at the end of my contract(how it ever seemed like a good idea to me to sell my soul for 3 years for a mid-range SE phone is beyond me)and there's just no way I'd buy another subsidized phone.
What bothers me is that there's not even an option to pay $900 for the thing, walk out the door and be left alone. Not that I have $900 to throw around, but a lot of people do. If I were an Apple fan-girl I would be jumping at the opportunity if offered.
I'm not even sure if that's Apple or Rogers' fault.
femstix
Repton
Posted 8:17 AM 16/7/08
New Zealand: The biggest data allowance you can get is 1GB/month. Sign up for that (for two years) and the iPhone only costs NZ$200 (currently NZ$1 = US$0.75) .. but you pay NZ$250/month for your contract (that's US$190 if you're following at home).
The cheapest option is NZ$80/month which gets you 250MB/month but the iPhone costs around NZ$700..
Repton
AndersonBMX
Posted 9:17 AM 16/7/08
just wait to see the brazilian carrier...
AndersonBMX
palatinus
Posted 6:50 AM 16/7/08
I bought a white iPhone, I live in Belgium.
No food for me the next 3 months :-)
palatinus
warden1337
Posted 4:57 AM 16/7/08
I was told the phone was 249 with a 35 dollar voice plan and 199 with a 25 dollar voice plan.... wtf? I think the rogers guy was trying to rip me off! I am in Canada.
warden1337
nicmorno
Posted 4:50 AM 16/7/08
Rogers don't even care about their actual clients!
- When you're with Rogers, you can get an upgrade every year.
- Assuming the upgrades are equally distributed around the year, 66% of the actual clients got an upgrade between Sep. 1st 2007 and April 29th 2008 (date at which Rogers announced an agreement with Apple).
- The 6GB offer ends August 31st.
- We do a little math and Voila, 66% of the actual Rogers clients can't get the 6GB offer, which is the more interesting for someone who already has a good Voice Plan.
I've been with them for 8 years with a 75$+ monthly bill. I canceled my account yesterday when the representative told me that I would need to pay the full iPhone Price ($699), and still sign for three years to get the 6GB offer. Canceling that contract is costing me $400; I guess you can imagine my anger.
nicmorno
warden1337
Posted 4:41 AM 16/7/08
I live in London, Ontario, Canada. The sales guy at Masonville Mall Rogers plus told me the iphone was 249! if you wanted the 25 dollar voice plan. And it was only 199 if you bought a 35 dollar voice plan! wtf!
warden1337
cheechitup88
Posted 9:55 AM 16/7/08
@cleverlymadeup: The point isn't what happened. The point is 700$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that is all
cheechitup88
Ryan H
Posted 9:32 AM 16/7/08
@femstix:
Well, any option for an unlocked phone doesn't make much sense in Canada. Rogers/Fido is the only GSM carrier. It's the lack of a one or two year contract that bothers me.
Ryan H
Falsoman
Posted 10:11 AM 16/7/08
Telcel (México) has the 16GB iphone at 240 bucks and a 75USD monthly fee with 200MB of data... if you want unlimited is about another 50-60 bucks.
Same two year contract.
Falsoman
gcapet
Posted 9:35 AM 16/7/08
@blackroseyagami: I agree totally, Mexico should've been on this list too. And btw it also limits your speed when you reach 3GB on the unlimited plan. It sucks.
gcapet
tomcat24
Posted 9:30 AM 16/7/08
to everyone complaining about Rogers' gouging.....there is an alternative in Canada. Fido does in fact ofer the iPhone AND also has the $30 6gb plan. They also offer per second billing, 7pm evening on all E/W plans, no $35 activation fee and same coverage as rogers.
And in case you forgot or didn't know, Rogers owns them!
One last thing: Rogersx quietly introduced the same $30/6GB data plan for other devices. So if you want a Blackberry or WinMo device you can have the same data option.
tomcat24
youngcap
Posted 6:21 AM 16/7/08
I'm in NYC and your speed all depends on signal strength(obviously). I've easily gotten over 1.2mbps in Midtown, but on the Upper West Side I can hardly get 3G coverage in my apartment. Same goes when you head off to Long Island. ATT's rollout of 3G is far from complete in NYC, and probably everywhere else, that's for sure. 3G coverage in NYC doesn't even compare to ATT's Edge coverage, though I guess that's somewhat expected.
youngcap
Gacel
Posted 6:19 AM 16/7/08
@Astigmatism:
In Europe there are no lines, because the IPhone was sold out a few hours after launch. I am in Germany and I am lucky if I can get one this week (I am on a waiting list).
I have read that online orders ins Belgium have delivery dates around November because they dont get enough phones.
Its probably the same in most European countries.
Gacel
Mannyatic
Posted 5:45 AM 16/7/08
lol ! here in Costa Rica we pay bout $7 for an unlimited crapy 15kbps data plan, but heck its 7 bucks and unlimited !
Theres 1 only operator in the country and its one of the cheapest of the world.
Mannyatic
acoom
Posted 4:46 AM 16/7/08
I live in Belgium :( This sux and I am seriously considering boycotting it even though I really want one. Ridiculous considering how great the plans are in Germany less than an hour away. And even though the phone is 'unlocked' in Belgium, it will still only work on one of the three Belgian carriers. So it's not really unlocked at all...
acoom
disgruntleddesigner
Posted 4:08 AM 16/7/08
Canada's 'new $30/6gb' offering isn't bad at all. If it's true that AT&T's 'unlimited data' is capped at 5gb.
disgruntleddesigner
sisya
Posted 10:37 AM 16/7/08
For those of you who did not know -- Use your Amex cards to buy the iPhone or any electronics. They match the manufacturers' warranty. Apple's is 1 year and it includes the battery. So using Amex means you're battery insured for 2 years. Other cards also may offer rewards like this. But I know of only Amex.
sisya
poedgirl
Posted 11:45 AM 16/7/08
I think you also forgot the Australian plans, which are utterly pathetic.
poedgirl
Fatty
Posted 12:44 PM 16/7/08
Ted Rogers can suck a dick.
thanx... i needed to say that
Fatty
charger08
Posted 1:03 PM 16/7/08
wow didnt know att had a cap to there unlimited plans. im with tmobile i will wiat for there 3g and iphone competing device and buy that. i refuse to pay so much money for something thats not worth it. and when you get a unlimited data plan with tmobile there are no limits its really unlimited, and they all cost 19.99 for all the devices so i will deal with edge until then not only that the way tmobile is launching there 3g not only will it be more reliable but it is suppose to be pretty fast 1.5 mb is ok with me.
charger08
pardyhardy
Posted 4:14 PM 16/7/08
Canada's actually isn't all that bad. The three year contract is completely ridiculous, but the money isn't all that bad. I found a way to get all I could need for under $60.
Belgium, though... that sucks.
pardyhardy
11010010
Posted 6:34 PM 16/7/08
oh and phone-prices range from 249€/395$ for the cheapest plan and 16 GB phone to 1€/1,50$ for the more expensive plans
link: [www.t-mobile.de]
11010010
11010010
Posted 6:32 PM 16/7/08
GERMANY
t-mobile made better plans than the last generation of iphones, but still sucky:
S - 29 €/46$
- 500MB datacap
- 50 mins (more: 29 €cent/46 $cent)
- no free sms
M - 49 €/77$
- unlimited data, speedcap after 300 MB, goes down to 64/16kbit !!!!
- 100 mins free (more: 29 €cent/46 $cent)
- 40 free sms
L - 69 €/110$
- unlimited data, speedcap after 1GB, goes down to 64/16kbit !!!!
- 200 mins free (more: 29 €cent/46 $cent)
- 150 free sms
XL - 89 €/141$
- unlimited data, speedcap after 5GB, goes down to 64/16kbit !!!!
- 1000 mins free (more: 9 €cent/14 $cent)
- 300 free sms
especially the minute-prices for additional minutes are horrid, and the speed-cap to ISDN-speed is just stupid..
11010010
Kimli
Posted 9:02 AM 17/7/08
I'm in Vancouver BC, and I signed with Fido. I was told the same thing, regarding the $50 price hike on the iPhone - if you buy a plan that costs less than $30/m, the iPhone is an extra $50. Sounds ridiculous to me, but I did see it printed on their iPhone product sheet.
Did anyone else get charged a deposit through Fido or Rogers? I was charged $100 for a deposit and was told I'd get it back via credit on my bill in one year, and this was done so "people didn't just buy the phone then cancel their contract". Huh?
Kimli
aitorch
Posted 2:42 AM 18/7/08
In Spain the iPhone 3g is not sold yet. It only is sold to some cities, I am from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the 6th city of the country, and here there are not iphones 3g yet.
aitorch
blackroseyagami
Posted 6:13 AM 18/7/08
F it, I love the iPhone but I'm cancelling my Telcel contract and Going to Nextel, all of my contacts are using PTT so no use in paying Telcel, rumor has it inside Telcel that they will sell it in the "Amigo system" wich is prepaid for like 800 or 900 dlrs
blackroseyagami
y0urfriend
Posted 5:45 PM 16/7/08
Why complain about your amazing deals?
In our great nation of New Zealand, (which is apparantly the first in the world to recieve this monstrosity), we can only get the iphone with a 2 year deal that is 250$ per month. Thats $6199 for the basic 3g iphone. And why are you worried about 50mbps unlimited interweb?
We have been the victim of privatisation and so the interweb over here is 10mbps and 10gbs per month.
y0urfriend