Fallout From Rogers iPhone 3G Plans

It's taken over a year for the iPhone to find it's way to Canada, but now Rogers pricing plans are upsetting customers. It's rumored the backlash has caused a rift between Rogers and Apple.

The iPhone 3G is scheduled to go on sale on July 11th and this will mark the official launch of the iPhone in Canada. Rogers had secured a deal with Apple to become the exclusive wireless carrier for the iPhone. Rogers' plans require a 3-year commitment, have no unlimited data option, offer a third less calling time and half as many text messages. Canadians have generated a petition with over 43,000 signatures and major newspapers such as the Vancouver Sun have published editorials urging customers to not purchase the iPhone 3G. AT&T has been the subject of minor criticism for their pricing plans, as the new iPhone 3G requires an additional $10 per month from a standard iPhone and does not include any text messages. However, the new AT&T plan can easily be explained due to the high subsidy being paid the wireless provider coupled with the new faster 3G service.

Rogers, like their AT&T counterpart, had hired additional staff to serve customers on iDay 2. Reportedly, thousands of Rogers staffers have lost their jobs and a Senior Rogers representative has confirmed that a large percentage of iPhone 3G units are being diverted to Europe. Conspiracy theories are abound, but there is absolutely no confirmation of a spat between the two companies. While it is certainly plausible, given the amount of negative press leading up to what should have a been a

via Fortune