Bus error: Jake Billo's weblog

What a joke. I will continue to use Pay as You Go and give Rogers as little money as possible.

I was actually beginning to think that Rogers would come around. I have stock (but I'm also an employee) and I got a huge shareholder package in the mail flaunting their profit margins.

I would rather see lower profits combined with higher customer growth and lower retail pricing.

But now, Rogers has decided to let that go to Telus (Bell is cliché ready to fade into oblivion).

Now I see that Rogers just wants to rake in as much as they can.

Seriously, I'm the target market Rogers should be trying to attract. I regularly read their "URmagazine" marketing package; I'm in the lucrative 18-25 year old market that cannot function without a BlackBerry; and I'm willing to spend a large amount per month on wireless services that are actually useful, since I don't want a landline.

And yet I'm completely disgusted with their data packages, and would consider switching carriers over it. If T-Mobile shows up here in 2009 like rumored, I won't hesitate to jump ship.

The $15/unlimited email plan is what I'll be using in December once my data services aren't paid for. Coincidentally, my contract renewal date will be then. Execs, take note: it's way better to have a $60 ARPU than $0.

I work for Rogers, and get 50% off retail pricing, and I have two BlackBerrys, and I even get to expense my own (because I work for them), but we're still paying ~ $70 per month just for the other BlackBerry, and it's only got the email only plan!

We're (I'm) contemplating switching to Telus/Bell just for the newer 8130 and the unlimited data.

But then I would feel like a traitor!

Just out of curiosity, do you know if Rogers still has that "minimum $75 voice/data plan combination" requirement on BlackBerry and PDA packages to take advantage of 3-year pricing?

When I signed a contract from Telus for an 8130, they did it based on a $45 plan ($30 voice/$15 email). There's no way I'm signing a 3-year deal with another carrier unless I get a discounted device, but I can't always commit to $75 plus SAF plus tax per month.

I'm not totally sure. I know that there are certain price points for MSF that determine the "cost" of any particular hardware device. Sadly, dealers can set their own prices as well, so sometimes, it pays to shop around.

The discount on hardware is at signing. I believe you would be able to sign up for something at $100 MSF to get the most heavily discounted hardware, and then switch your plan later to $50 without suffering a claw-back/charge-forward on the hardware.

Unfortunately, I work for Media, which is basically an entirely different company from Wireless, even though we're all prefixed with Rogers.

Yeah, no kidding, there are enough distinct companies under the Rogers corporate umbrella. It's like when I worked for IBM - people don't exactly know what you do there. Is it build computers? Con executives out of millions? Design punchcard systems for the Nazis? Who knows, it could be all of the above! :)

Hope you don't mind my rants here though. I just like to hate on the wireless and Internet guys because their decisions lately have been really short-sighted from my perspective.

Actually, it was your rants on Rogers by which I stumbled unto your blog and started reading it.

I don't mind at all!

Oddly enough, without knowing my account number, I was given an internal "Rogers" price on an 8100 of $450. ????!!!!????

I provided my IT contact (who would order BB devices internally) my account number, and she's waiting to hear back from this other person.

I'm not holding my breath, but I'm waiting to see how much an internal device will cost. Someone down the hall from me recently got a GPS Curve for $100. (Internal pricing!)

$450 is ridiculous for sure. Then again it's not actually that easy to get a device at RIM unless your department is customer-facing (or your manager has extra funding); the 8700 is still standard issue in my division, and I know QA guys still get the black-and-white GPRS devices for software and radio testing.

Of course, there are opportunities for beta programs, but you've got to return the device when it launches, and can't use it in public until then. Kind of defeats the point.

I just read Ossie's post you linked to @ HoFo.

Geez. He was totally wrong about the data plans, how does he think he's "confirmed" about these value packs?

Usually this sort of thing gets confirmed by more than one source. Here's another thread that talks about the $15 value pack replacement plan for WM/BlackBerry devices.

O_ssie claims to work for the wireless division, which seems a bit skeptical if he's posting that kind of information. I'd think detailing internal information to that extent in a public forum to a bunch of fanboys would probably get you fired. IMO, it's more likely that he's a dealer with a few contacts in the right places.

I don't doubt they floated these discussions of revamped data rates internally, but they just didn't pass when it came to run it by the suits. I hear all the stuff from Boy Genius Report about BlackBerry news, and they're usually right... but timelines and priorities change, especially at large companies.

Yes, likely a wireless dealer with contacts. I have a friend who was the same, and I would find out through him about new stuff happening in Wireless long before hearing about it anywhere else.

Thanks for the link to the other HoFo thread.

I'm interested in that 1 GB for $100. Says something about adding an extra "line" (BlackBerry?) and sharing the 1 GB for $0 more? I could definitely handle that!

As well, getting a decent Value Pack without stupid WAP data is excellent. Because currently I have to buy everything separately due to having BB data.

And the 8120? I would like to see that sooner than later! GPS is somewhat pointless for me; I know where I am. Wifi is something far more important and desirable. Especially considering that most of my time is spent at work or home, and both are wireless.

Says something about adding an extra “line” (BlackBerry?) and sharing the 1 GB for $0 more?

+$25 MSF per line sharing. :(

As for the 8120... expect to see that when "Home Calling Zone" launches, if not shortly afterwards. UMA is the main reason the xx20 series of devices were created.

I've been using an unlocked 8320 as my data device, but would really like to have better phone signal in basements where WiFi is rampant but GSM penetration is not. Hell, I'd even pay the $15/$20 fee per month ($10/$15 in the States with T-Mobile... argh) for it.

Geez! "Home Calling Zone"...I have that! It was in my online profile, so I clicked and signed up. It's even on my most recent invoice, for $0.

However, I can't find any info on rogers.com to explain what it is!

Please, I am humbled by your vast knowledge of Rogers (and that's crazy because I work for them, and have access to their internal web site, and I still don't know what's going on there!), what exactly is "Home Calling Zone"??

Oh wait. I just googled it again, and finally there are some answers.

Looks quite promising.


Good thing I didn't upgrade to the 8110, as it would be worthless when the 8120 and UMA are launched.

Home Calling Zone is going to be Rogers' implementation of a technology called Unlicensed Mobile Access. Essentially, phones with Wi-Fi will place and receive calls over VOIP when connected to a wireless router. Calling will be unlimited and not take minutes out of your standard bucket. Planned pricing is $15 for unlimited local calling and $20 for unlimited local+long distance when in coverage.

The working implementation of it in the States is through T-Mobile, which calls it HotSpot @Home.

From what I've seen in demos, the handoff from GSM to and from WiFi actually works as advertised, which is pretty neat.

Not sure, but Fido might have already soft launched it?