The Travesty of Canadian Mobile Data Rates
April 9, 2007 - 12:28pm — bmann
Update: I redid the graph to look at 1GB usage and look at just the 4 Canadian carriers. Fido and Rogers come in at a whopping $4100 per month, and Telus, who I've long dismissed, is actually really competitive.
Much like Net Neutrality, this story needs to get spread. This pricing structure is stifling mobile innovation in Canada. I would argue that it is causing carriers to lose money in the short as well as long term.
There are groups like Mobile Muse and others like that are doing innovative stuff. Locked away in research labs or funding short trials, because no one else can afford the data rates.
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Wireless data updates
Interesting take on the graph - it's interesting to see how Telus' base rate is more in line (if not in number) with what's available from the States.
As a side note, Telus has cut their rates for 1GB down to $100 per month, while Rogers has an unannounced 500MB/$210 plan.
Still absolutely atrocious, but a neat update would be to compare 2GB or 5GB of data usage for the carriers now (I believe 5GB is what Verizon's 'unlimited' cap in the States is.)
iPhone potential gamechanger for data costs in Canada
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20071105.wiphonee1105...
Missing the point
"Shutting off the Wifi" - ha!
"an extra rate for WiFi access" -- um, is the reporter on crack? AT&T does no such thing, and Rogers can't either. And, of course, the reporter also misses the fact that *any* GSM device can be used on the Rogers network today....including devices with WiFi.
I really wish the Globe and other Canadian newspapers could get technology reporters that actually knew what they were talking about....
Thanks for the link, Phil.
Rogers sucks but...
As a Rogers customer, limiting wifi use would be something I wouldnt put past them. Thank god, apple wouldnt allow it.
I think what he is referring to in the article is charging for access to public wifi hotspots, that they run, not charging for wifi in your home or office. AT&T as well as Rogers do have a limited number of pay per use hotspots in various locations. The European carriers are using this included wifi service to make up for the fact that EDGE is not available everywhere, so if you are giving unlimited EDGE data, makes sense to give away wifi which has a lower cost to the provider.
Not sure how that would work in Canada though as most if not all Roger's hotspots are shared by Rogers, Telus, and Bell. You can log in with either a monthly account, or on a pay as you go basis.
I think the article was also referring to the fact that Rogers doesnt really have a whole lot of wifi devices available. Unfortunately unlocked phones are very exspensive and not many people buy them. Most get the the Future Shop deal of the week, not knowing there is a better way of doing it.
I have the EDGE functionality turned off on my iPhone, and can't wait for it to be released in Canada, as I too have thought for a long time that it would reduce data rates in Canada. Likely not as sweet as available elsewhere, but under $100 for 350 minutes and unlimited data would be just fine for me.
On paper, Telus looks good
Except their phones are locked non-GSM phones, so you can't actually access whatever you like. For that reason, I find the prices for Bell and Telus somewhat irrelevant: the rest of the world uses GSM and unlocked phones, where you can access and install whatever you like.
2GB or 5GB would still come out looking....ridiculous, for Canada.