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What’s the consensus on sticking a Bell MicroSIM on the $35-for-5GB plan into an unlocked iPhone 4? Somehow I don’t think this would work on Rogers, because the Rogers iPad service required on-device activation (and probably demands an iPad). If the Bell service is device-agnostic, maybe any device that accepts a MicroSIM will allow usage on that plan? Anyone tried this, somehow?
I like this plan for a couple of reasons:
-No contract with anyone, just $35 pay-as-you-go.
-All the data I need (5GB) at a fair price, plus refill whenever needed.
-No dropped calls! I’ll stick to Skype.

Will this work? I may order the $5 MicroSIM from Bell to be ready on the 30th, but do I dare spend $700-$800 on an unlocked phone if this doesn’t work…?

Comments, please.

May 10, 2010 at 7:56 pm

When the new iPhones are released, can I buy the iPad 5GB-for-$35 plan as my data option on an iPhone? How about data only, no voice?

Brad says:

May 11, 2010 at 9:06 am

“But even for our rocket stick/embedded laptop customers, 95.6 per cent use less than 5GB per month.”

Seeing as you mention the Rocket Stick and Laptop customers, can those customers now expect to be able to put their devices on the 5GB-for-$35 plan? Or will this $35 plan exist only for iPad customers?

The sooner Rogers becomes agnostic about devices and treats data like the commodity it is, the better for all of us. Bits are bits, and the wireless network is infrastructure, no different than hydro lines or water pipes. Charge for quantity consumed, and simplify your plan structures.

I posted the comments above on the Rogers Redboard discussion site. I anxiously await their approval.

Rogers is taking a lot of heat for revealing the details of a $20 charge to share data from an existing plan, then backtracking and removing the option. I think customer anger over the removal of the shared plan is obscuring the true story here: that Rogers is actually offering a fair and usable data plan for a 3G networked device (iPad). The 5GB-for-$35 is light-years ahead of any other plan on the market in Canada, in fact it’s about one third of the current asking price for a 5GB data plan.

I get the strong impression that Apple leveraged the popularity of the iPad, and forced Rogers to offer a decent data plan in order to be recognized as the data provider for the May 28^th launch. The link from the Apple pre-order page must be driving huge numbers of people to the Rogers site to view the plan details. AT&T is thought to have bought itself a longer exclusivity period as provider of the iPhone and iPad in the US by offering an unlimited data plan for $30. Taking a page from that book, I think Rogers negotiated with Apple the right to be the only Canadian wireless provider mentioned on the Apple site by agreeing to a fair and reasonable data package. Interestingly, though, the plan is pay-as-you-go, so there is nothing stopping an iPad user from switching to Bell or Telus when those companies unveil their offerings. I guess Rogers is counting on a certain amount of “stickiness” in their subscribers.

My biggest concern is that Rogers and the other providers will restrict these plans to iPad devices only. I don’t fully understand how SIM cards (or mini-SIMs) work. Would it be possible to take the mini-SIM from an iPad and plug it into a new iPhone? Would you get 5GB of data, and no voice minutes? That kind of monthly data, at that price, contract-free, would be a huge win for consumers…

…and a huge loss for the wireless provider. I think the margin on mobile data is pretty thin. The telcos make their big bucks off the voice minutes, long distance, and texting fees they charge. Overage fees for data use are also a big bonus to the wireless providers. Rogers has stated that their iPad plan is structured to avoid overage fees entirely: if a subscriber reaches the 5GB cap before the end of the 30-day billing period, a new billing period starts immediately, and the user is charged another $35 for the next 30 days.

This to me is the clearest indication that Rogers is starting to “get it”. I don’t know if 5GB-for-$35 is the right amount of data-per-dollar, but I think it’s a reasonable start. More importantly, it represents a big step forward in that the wireless provider is thinking of itself as a utility providing a commodity. We can hope that the 3G competition that already exists in Canada will exert pressure to bring down the data-per-dollar cost. It will be very interesting to see what Bell and Telus offer for the iPad. Indeed, it will be interesting to see if this “data enlightenment” shown by Rogers is reflected in the iPhone plans that should launch in June with the new iPhone.

via ‘Carcassonne’ — Coming to an iPhone Near You!.

Well, if I wasn’t sure until now who my iPhone provider would be, I am now

I’ve heard people like Adam “LonelySandwich” Lisagor and Merlin Mann talk about how they rely more and more on the their iPhones, and how it integrates itself into your life and actually changes the way you think. I know that for the 6 month I owned an iPod Touch, it was a joy to have everything with me, all the time. Plus, the apps. What hasn’t already been said about the avalanche of great apps available in the iTunes Store?

Seeing as how I’ve waited this long, I am going to resist the 3GS model and hold out for whatever comes out in the summer. iPhone 4G or iPhone HD, maybe? I don’t care what it’s called, but I do look forward to owning the latest Apple must-have for at least a short while. There’s a nice photoshop job of what the new iPhone might look like:

The brushed aluminum looks beautiful, and would match the current iMac and MacBook Pro models. One problem is that all that aluminum might block reception to the iPhone’s internal radios. Whatever it looks like, I know any products from Apple will be well designed and beautiful to look at. If anyone is asking for my opinion, I’d also love a forward-facing camera for video chat and a 5 MP camera on the back, plus improved battery life.

I figure I have about 3 more months to wait, and that the new iPhone will be available in mid-June, 2010. Apple will allow the wave of iPad enthusiasm roll over us and subside completely before they officially say anything about the new iPhone. I’m ready and waiting…

Responding to price cuts from Verizon, AT&T today rolled out new unlimited plans for all devices on its network, including the iPhone. Under the new plans taking effect on Monday, iPhone customers can sign up for unlimited voice and data for $99.99 per month, although texting packages remain separate for an additional fee. The unlimited voice and data plan represents a $30 discount from the previous unlimited plan for the iPhone.

All smartphone customers, including iPhone customers, may now buy unlimited voice and data for $99.99. For smartphone customers with Family Talk plans (prices assume 2 smartphones), unlimited voice and data is now available for $179.99. Texting plans remain unchanged at $20 for unlimited plans for individuals, $30 for Family Talk Plans.

Existing customers will be permitted to change to the new plans as of Monday via AT&T’s website, with no monetary penalty or extension to contract terms. It is unclear at this time whether there will be any adjustment to AT&T’s non-unlimited plans to reposition its pricing tiers in relation to the new, lower unlimited price.

We just replaced our old Sierra Wireless data modem with a sexy new one on their brand new 3G+ network. Speeds have increased by 25 times! I hope they let me keep the plan I’m on…

Adam asked me to assemble a nice collection of music for Christmas 2009 . I am so pleased with it, I am sharing it around as much as I can. Here’s the link:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1090606/Something%20for%20Christmas.zip