Canadian iPhone Pricing Plan Is Robbery

Looks like Canada will be getting the iPhone on July 11th, 2008. Rogers Wireless and Apple will release the iPhone 3G into the Canadian market, but at higher prices than pretty much any where you can think of. The 8GB model can be had for just $199, but it will require a three-year service agreement with Rogers Wireless. If you want the 16G, it’ll cost you only $100 more. The big problem lies in their pricing plan, the smallest plan will start at a pricey $60 a month and this doesn’t include caller ID, licensing, access fees and taxes. The four iPhone 3G plans are as follows: $60/month: 150 daytime minutes, unlimited evenings and weekends, 400MB data, 75 text messages, visual voicemail $75/month: 300 daytime minutes, unlimited evenings and weekends, 750MB data, 100 text messages, visual voicemail $100/month: 600 daytime minutes, unlimited evenings and weekends, 1GB data, 200 text messages, visual voicemail $115/month: 800 daytime minutes, unlimited evenings and weekends, 2GB data, 300 text messages, visual voicemail Additionals are as follows: $15 a month will get you Caller ID, WhoCalled, Caller Ring Trax, 2500 text messages, and 2500 call forwarding minutes. For an extra $20 a month, you get much the same, except there are 10000 text messages and 6:00pm early evenings. Add the $60 monthly plan with the $15 value pack, system access fee, 911 fee, and taxes, and you get about $100 a month. Going over your minute plan will cost you $0.35 a minute, more than some prepaid services. If you go over your data plan, it'll cost you $0.50 per megabyte. This has all generated a big outcry and spawned several sites, including Ruinediphone.com. It remains to be seen what effect this outcry will have, but you can be certain of one thing, anyone one, who has any sense will not even consider getting one if they like texting or viewing online media and songs. Stick with getting an older iPhone, or even buy one offline... Even better save your money and stick with a phone which supports Java, Flash and other industry standard services and applications. Thanks to an article over at futurelooks.com for much of the information in this post.