Option 1:

Buy the iPhone and use one of their specialized iPhone plans. If I were to do this I would not be getting the $60 plan. I just don’t see that as being enough data. I would either go with the $75 or the $100 plan. Of course then it would be costing me about $115 and $140 respectively. $115 is a lot to pay for 300 mins and 750mb. It works out to $115 when you add the 75 + 20 (value pack) + 6.95 SAF + .50 911 fee + tax. That just isn’t really worth it. The $100 plan is a tiny bit better in terms of overall value because you get 600 mins but at a total cost of $140, it doesn’t really suit my needs. I do not need 600 mins at per second billing with Fido. With Fido the early evening starts at 5pm with the $20 value pack.

Option 2:

This option seems a little bit better to me. Although it still isn’t really a good deal. I would keep my current plan, get the iPhone, and add the $50 flex data rate. Here is what it would work out to. Current plan is $17.50 (200 mins, early evening at 5pm)+ $50 min flex data rate + $15 value pack + 6.95 SAF + .50 911 fee + tax. That works out to almost exactly $100 a month. The $50 level of the flex data plan would give me up to 500mb. If I were to go over that it would be $65 for up to 1gb of data. I like this better than the first option. There are a few problems with this scenario though which would need clarifying. Can I use my $17.50 plan with the iPhone? What about the visual voicemail then? Could I use the $15 smartphone/windows mobile value pack with the iPhone on my current plan? Am I eligible for an upgrade? I’m going to be paying at least twice as much per month so I think I’m entitled to an upgrade.

On the Rogers website it states that you can downgrade your plan to something less from the iPhone plans or less than a $30 plan. This made things unclear on whether or not you could start at a plan which is below $30. Many people, including myself have good voice plans that are less than $30. The downgrade fee for changing your plan to something less than $30 a month is $50. I don’t like paying arbitrary fees but if that’s what it takes to keep my plan, I guess it’s worth it.

A reader on the ehMac.ca forums posted an email that they had received from Liz Hamilton, spokesperson for Rogers. Here is part of that email:

- They will need to check their upgrade eligibility but any customer with a monthly service fee that is over $30 for example, can upgrade to an iPhone 3G at $199 (for the 8GB model). Other pricing may be available depending on the customer’s individual information.

There is still no confirmation of this on the Rogers site.

I just received another email from Rogers though in response to my statement that high data usage doesn’t equal high voice usage, here is part of that response:

Please be aware that the plans unveiled were designed specifically for
the iPhone. At this time, all pricing and plans that will be available
for the iPhone have yet to be finalized.

We do appreciate your feedback because this is very important for Rogers
to hear comments, opinions and suggestions from our Valued Customers.
This feedback is used to create ideas for new products, services,
policies and procedures in the future.

Well nothing is spelled out in english yet but I do expect them to finalize the details soon. Especially with their quick response to RuinediPhone.

Option 3:

I could do nothing and keep my current iPhone and my current price plan. I don’t really want to do this because I’m kind of tired of not using any data on my iPhone. I only use wifi at home and at work once in a while when I can pick up free wifi networks. That hardly suits my needs. I guess I could keep my current plan and add the $30 - 300mb plan. But this would make my total monthly cost around $80 and to me paying an extra $20 a month is worth it for more data and 3G speeds. 300 mb would be sufficient on edge, not nearly enough on 3G. Plus, I tend to be someone who has to buy the latest gadget.

Still, we don’t have decent enough data options in Canada. I guess they think we are all monkeys.

I just watched the iPhone 3G guided tour, and it has got me excited though.

Don’t forget to enter the iPhone 3G invisibleSHIELD Contest.

What are your options and what are you planning to do?

Source: written by Canadian iPhone User blog http://www.iphoneuser.ca/