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Rogers Bans Some Existing Customers From Buying iPhones As we've pointed out many times before, Rogers boasts an exceptional brand of contempt for its non-business wireless customers, but the launch of Apple's desperately anticipated iPhone has exposed a whole set of new lows for the Toronto-based company. Due to a breathtakingly boneheaded policy created by the company's National Planning Department, existing customers currently under a Rogers contract and who have upgraded their handset within the year are prohibited from purchasing an iPhone. At all. Well, that's only partly true. They can buy an iPhone if they cancel their current contract, pay the early cancellation penalty fee ($20 per month left on the contract) and handset subsidy, and then sign up to a new contract, which includes an additional $35 activation fee. Customers aren't even allowed to keep their previous phone number, as number porting is only available when transferring carriers—so, to retain a number with an iPhone, a customer would have to sign up for a brand new account with Rogers subsidiary Fido. Reportedly, Rogers sales reps have also been specifically instructed not to waive any fees whatsoever in relation to iPhone purchases. Essentially, a customer under contract who replaced a stolen or broken handset less than a year ago is now locked out of switching to an iPhone until the current contract runs out. This is especially problematic now because the only semi-reasonable data package is an offer that expires at the end of August. rogers_laughing.jpgThe limited-time offer was implemented in response to a massive level of criticism of Rogers' exorbitant data rates. It was hoped that the Canadian debut of the device would force Rogers to offer rates and data packages more in-line with other countries, but when the plans were revealed in June, it was business as usual for the communications behemoth, which enjoys a GSM monopoly in Canada (the iPhone only works on GSM networks). On July 9, Rogers caved somewhat to the mountain of bad press and offered a $30 add-on for existing plans with a more generous monthly data cap of 6 GB. That offer expires August 31, and although Rogers spins it as a gift to "early adopters," what that move did was get some better PR points for the company while drawing a whole bunch of fence-sitters into iPhone contracts who otherwise might not have purchased one. As with anything Rogers, the policy to lock-out potential iPhone customers until they finish a current contract seems suspicious: those consumers are still likely to buy an iPhone later, which effectively extends the lock-in period and employs the higher, extremely lucrative rate plan. Rogers has also not stated if they will allow new iPhone customers to upgrade as new generations of the iPhone are released over the contract term, or what options will be available as iPhones are lost, broken, or stolen (they claim that they can replace it with a phone; just not another iPhone). The company has clearly indicated that they might start blocking any non-Rogers, unlocked, or modded iPhones on their network, however. Wireless carriers have always subsidized handsets in order to appear cheaper for the customer; the longer the contract, the cheaper the phone. That still doesn't explain why Rogers won't allow handset upgraders to pay out the remaining contract period and/or handset subsidy in order to get an iPhone, especially since the purchase of an iPhone brings thousands of guaranteed dollars to the company over the 36-month lock-in. In related news, Rogers' wireless sales, which make up 54% of the company's revenue, jumped 12% over the last quarter, netting $1.36 billion and 41,000 new subscribers.

SOURCE

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Originally posted by VERTiG0 Oh come on Jeff, you can't be that blind. That is grainy, muddy shit. I took these on Saturday with my Nokia N82. Oh, they also post to my Flickr account wirelessly with the click of a button. The phone will geotag each picture taken with GPS data, if a satellite connection is available to pinpoint the location. These pics are heavily scaled down, but they're still pretty good from the native resolution stuff.

new ride?

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Originally posted by Stilez SOURCE

I upgraded my phone in under the last year. Too bad my bill is routinely high enough that they gave it to me anyway, lol.

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Originally posted by exstasie Just an FYI, Apparently the new Firmware 2.1 for the iPhone 3G is suppose to have cut & paste and an upgrade GPS system which might eventually allow for turn-by-turn navigation. But yeah, the only thing I do like is that the screen is very nice and pretty compared to my Pearl. I'm just waiting to see what the Bold can offer me!

The Bold is fantastic; however, if you want pretty the Javlin (touch screen Blackberry) will be released in November. Also, RIM will be releasing a flip-phone style sure-type device soon.

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Originally posted by RickyM you're just a shit version of Moral Hazard. At least he knows what he's talking about.

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Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN lol, i love it when moral feels the need to lay the smack down

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Originally posted by Moral Hazard The Bold is fantastic; however, if you want pretty the Javlin (touch screen Blackberry) will be released in November. Also, RIM will be releasing a flip-phone style sure-type device soon.

I read somewhere that pretty much all of the testers prefer the Javelin to the Bold! Not that I can afford either out right, but i'm not a big fan of touch screens, but we'll see!

i heard the touch screen bb was pushed back to Q1 2009 ... but i suppose its all speculation anyhow...

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Originally posted by iant56 i heard the touch screen bb was pushed back to Q1 2009 ... but i suppose its all speculation anyhow...

Planned release date is still November.

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Originally posted by RickyM you're just a shit version of Moral Hazard. At least he knows what he's talking about.

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Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN lol, i love it when moral feels the need to lay the smack down

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Originally posted by exstasie I read somewhere that pretty much all of the testers prefer the Javelin to the Bold! Not that I can afford either out right, but i'm not a big fan of touch screens, but we'll see!

I was able to play with a Beta Bold several months back and loved it. I should have opportunity to play with a Javelin in the coming weeks so I'll let you know.

The touch screen on the Javelin is made of a flexible material so that when you type on it the feeling is more a kin to a keybord then just a flat piece of plastic. I understand this was done to address the complaints of iphone users regarding it's virtual keyboard.

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Originally posted by RickyM you're just a shit version of Moral Hazard. At least he knows what he's talking about.

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Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN lol, i love it when moral feels the need to lay the smack down

I think the iPhone is at a disadvantage as everything on the touch screen is heat-sensitive, not pressure-sensitive. So that means if you're a guy and don't have small hands, this could be an issue when you're trying to dial, text, select something, etc. It would be a greater advantage in my opinon if it was pressure-sensitive, as then you would have the option of using your fingers to use the device, OR something else such as a stylus (like you would use with a PDA).

Also, the option of an analog keypad might be an asset as well - maybe a slide out thing from the back, perhaps. Yes, i am aware that the point of this design is meant to be streamlined, but they could probably include such a thing while still having a slick overall design. That way, people can choose whether they'd prefer to use touch screen or analog.

The thing about the non-user replaceable battery is why I don't have an iPod either. So you charge the iPod or iPhone so much until it won't charge anymore.. and do what? There's no really great options available in this situation when it comes time.. But I guess you can also try and gauge that depending on how much you think you'll be using the thing. Maybe by the time it dies, you'll be ready for another phone, anyway.

The low-quality res on the iPhone camera and inability to take video is the suck, too, especially if you're a gadget person like I am. (Says I, the 'phoneless wonder' ... lol. I'm "in between phones" - all financially-based, mind you ... damn you, Telus! lol. I sold my soul for a 36-month contract... x2 ) And even if not, the ability to take decent pics and video is something a lot of people would look forward to having on a phone, I'm sure.


But as all new products are released, there will always be revisions to be made - hopefully, though, the next model is a little better thought through. Especially since there are phones you can get with many of the features the iPhone has, even if not all, for less. I feel like a lot of the price here is based on branding, and not just the technology.

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Last edited by ||t_h_l|| on Aug-02-2008 at 00:22

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Originally posted by ||t_h_l|| I think the iPhone is at a disadvantage as everything on the touch screen is heat-sensitive, not pressure-sensitive. So that means if you're a guy and don't have small hands, this could be an issue when you're trying to dial, text, select something, etc. It would be a greater advantage in my opinon if it was pressure-sensitive, as then you would have the option of using your fingers to use the device, OR something else such as a stylus (like you would use with a PDA). Also, the option of an analog keypad might be an asset as well - maybe a slide out thing from the back, perhaps. Yes, i am aware that the point of this design is meant to be streamlined, but they could probably include such a thing while still having a slick overall design. That way, people can choose whether they'd prefer to use touch screen or analog. The thing about the non-user replaceable battery is why I don't have an iPod either. So you charge the iPod or iPhone so much until it won't charge anymore.. and do what? There's no really great options available in this situation when it comes time.. But I guess you can also try and gauge that depending on how much you think you'll be using the thing. Maybe by the time it dies, you'll be ready for another phone, anyway. The low-quality res on the iPhone camera and inability to take video is the suck, too, especially if you're a gadget person like I am. (Says I, the 'phoneless wonder' ... lol. I'm "in between phones" - all financially-based, mind you ... damn you, Telus! lol. I sold my soul for a 36-month contract... x2 ) And even if not, the ability to take decent pics and video is something a lot of people would look forward to having on a phone, I'm sure. But as all new products are released, there will always be revisions to be made - hopefully, though, the next model is a little better thought through. Especially since there are phones you can get with many of the features the iPhone has, even if not all, for less. I feel like a lot of the price here is based on branding, and not just the technology.

It uses electricity not heat...

Fat finger syndrome is half remedied by having an amazing predictive system...

Yah camera is a bummer...but I have a high def camcorder with a built in 6.2 mp camera as well as a 5.4 mp digi...So I geeve about the resolution in my phone...

And the battery is not soldered in this time so it'll be a lil easier to get it swapped...

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Originally posted by chinamon chinamon is INCH MOAN. LOL so fitting.

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Originally posted by VDub It uses electricity not heat... Fat finger syndrome is half remedied by having an amazing predictive system... Yah camera is a bummer...but I have a high def camcorder with a built in 6.2 mp camera as well as a 5.4 mp digi...So I geeve about the resolution in my phone... And the battery is not soldered in this time so it'll be a lil easier to get it swapped...

Oh really? I was actually talking to someone at Rogers who did iPhone 'training', and they told me the touch pad is heat-sensitive, so that's where I got the info from.


As for the battery swap.. is it even possible to take off the casing without wrecking it?

P.S. Here's a great website for cell phones/PDAs.. and it's Canadian. The selection available is awesome if you're in the market for a really nice cell.. or even if you just want to look at or compare what's out and available currently in the higher-end range of phones and handhelds.

OmegaCell Communications

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Last edited by ||t_h_l|| on Aug-02-2008 at 02:21