Roger Fido cash grab as of Aug. 4 -- Toronto Star article

[voxsinger]

Good article in the Toronto Star about the Roger Fido money grab as of August 4th.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1153087815040&call_pageid=968350072197&col=969048863851

[cdnNick]

The cell phone market in Canada is a joke. My cell phone rates continue to climb and I get less services on my phone. When I first signed up with Telus (Clearnet) way back in '98 I had caller ID, per second billing, 5 voicemails included with my $20/month plan. Now I have to pay for caller ID, no per second billing any more, and only 3 voicemails. Guess what my base plan is more expensive then before.

You have to wonder if the Canadian carriers actually try to compete against each other. One of the few times I envy the American market.

[simms]

I signed up with Rogers back in 2002, I recall. Back then I was paying

23/month
200 daytime
WE/WN 6pm
CID, Enhanced VM
Per-second billing
and the standards, Call Waiting, 3way, some long distance discounts

Now, in 2006, my plan is much better:
17/month (-$6/month)
250 daytime (50 more minutes)
WE/WN 8pm (I could pay $5 more for 6pm, but don't need it)
125 SMS Messages (bonus!)
100 minutes free Canadian long distance (bonus!)
CID, Enhanced VM
Per-second billing
and the standards, Call Waiting, 3way

So it really depends on the nature of your plan and if you're satisfied as a customer to really pay more.

[TrevorK]

Now, in 2006, my plan is much better:
17/month (-$6/month)
250 daytime (50 more minutes)
WE/WN 8pm (I could pay $5 more for 6pm, but don't need it)
125 SMS Messages (bonus!)
100 minutes free Canadian long distance (bonus!)
CID, Enhanced VM
Per-second billing
and the standards, Call Waiting, 3way

So it really depends on the nature of your plan and if you're satisfied as a customer to really pay more.

It's silly to consider a plan that's not available to the general public, such as the one above, when argueing that cell phone plans in general have gone down.

[Fragle]

I signed up with Rogers back in 2002, I recall. Back then I was paying

23/month
200 daytime
WE/WN 6pm
CID, Enhanced VM
Per-second billing
and the standards, Call Waiting, 3way, some long distance discounts

Now, in 2006, my plan is much better:
17/month (-$6/month)
250 daytime (50 more minutes)
WE/WN 8pm (I could pay $5 more for 6pm, but don't need it)
125 SMS Messages (bonus!)
100 minutes free Canadian long distance (bonus!)
CID, Enhanced VM
Per-second billing
and the standards, Call Waiting, 3way

So it really depends on the nature of your plan and if you're satisfied as a customer to really pay more.

Yeah hook me up with this plan!!!

[MrKat]

its not that bad, I pay $37 a month for mine, including tax and all the extra fees. Though I had to bargain for this plan, doubt I will ever get it again if I went to another provider.

I dont talk much on it to warrant being on a monthly plan, let alone a 2yr contract but the per min billing on prepaid was killing me.

[monomono]

The first thing that needs to happen is number portability. Until you can take your existing cell number to another provider (as you can in most developed countries) the market will never be competitive.

[cdnNick]

The first thing that needs to happen is number portability. Until you can take your existing cell number to another provider (as you can in most developed countries) the market will never be competitive.

I thought that was suppose to come into effect sometime soon?

Thats probably the biggest reason why I don't leave Telus, I've had that number for so long.

[TrevorK]

I thought that was suppose to come into effect sometime soon?

Thats probably the biggest reason why I don't leave Telus, I've had that number for so long.

March 14, 2007

http://www.michaelgeist.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1044

[aingaran]

That's why I bought a T-Mobile sim card off ebay for $10 + $100 airtime credit that'll last me a year..Only $0.10/minute Nationwide and $0.50 to Canada.

[TripleTTTT]

I have a corporate plan $20 a month for 150 day time minutes plus unlimited weekends and weeknights. I have to pay for call display and don't have voicemail (too expensive). Plus that goddamn system access fee.

[gilboman]

I have a corporate plan $20 a month for 150 day time minutes plus unlimited weekends and weeknights. I have to pay for call display and don't have voicemail (too expensive). Plus that goddamn system access fee.

that is a very very crappy corporate plan.

i'm on the 25 a month for 250daytime, unltd weeknites, weekends, caller id and the other usual call waiting, call forward etc...

[ynchu]

The cell phone market in Canada is a joke. My cell phone rates continue to climb and I get less services on my phone. When I first signed up with Telus (Clearnet) way back in '98 I had caller ID, per second billing, 5 voicemails included with my $20/month plan. Now I have to pay for caller ID, no per second billing any more, and only 3 voicemails. Guess what my base plan is more expensive then before.

You have to wonder if the Canadian carriers actually try to compete against each other. One of the few times I envy the American market.

CityFido rules.

Competition? You are joking right? TELUS has every right to steal your money because of their TDMA or whatever network. At the same time, Rogers/Fido is one huge GSM provider. So in the end, there are two providers, each claim to have better technology, but both monoplizing in their specific market.

[tkyoshi]

CityFido rules.

Competition? You are joking right? TELUS has every right to steal your money because of their TDMA or whatever network. At the same time, Rogers/Fido is one huge GSM provider. So in the end, there are two providers, each claim to have better technology, but both monoplizing in their specific market.

TDMA was Rogers, it's an old outdated technology.

CDMA EV-DO/1X is Telus. Bell also uses the same technology.