Details of Rogers iPhone Pricing Leaked

  • Posted by Tim
  • Filed in Tech
  • June 19, 2008

Rogers iPhoneUpdate: There is now some debate about the authenticity of this memo.

Torontonians will be able to line up for the latest version of the iPhone on July 11th. We know Rogers will be the carrier but until today few details were known about how much money it would cost us to own one. Thanks to a leaked internal memo, Digital Home has all the details. Keep reading for a copy of the internal memo in its entirety.

The internal memo:

***Confidential Rogers Information. For Internal Distribution Only.***

Rogers and Apple today announced that the iPhone 3G will be available in Canada on July 11. iPhone 3G combines three products into one small, lightweight device: a revolutionary mobile phone, a widescreen iPod, and it puts the Internet in your pocket with the best e-mail, web browsing, search and maps applications ever on a mobile phone.

The new version of the iPhone harnesses the power of Rogers's broad and powerful 3G mobile broadband network, which offers 3G mobile phones download speeds of up to 1.4 Mbps.

Key Device Features:

Operates on Wi-Fi, EDGE, and 3G networks
New enterprise e-mail capability with support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync
New iPhone software development kit (SDK) to support new innovative applications

New Activation Process and Return Policy:
The iPhone 3G will be activated at point of sale when the device is purchased, in store. The Fido grace period will change from 15 days to 30 days and will require the device to be returned to place of purchase before service is cancelled. The 30-day Rogers grace period will remain unchanged with the exception of no limits being imposed for voice or data usage.

Pricing and Plans
Device Pricing:
$199 8GB and $299 16GB for new activations and qualified upgrades with existing 2 or 3-year agreements.

Data Plans and Pricing:
The iPhone 3G will be activated on existing Rogers and Fido voice rate plans, but new data plans have been created for the 3G device.

All iPhone 3G customers are required to have one of the new data plans and qualifying voice plan.
Customers intending to use the iPhone 3G for access to corporate e-mail, business applications, or access to corporate intranet are required to activate with Enterprise Data Plan for iPhone.
SUP service discounts for both voice and data plans will apply to iPhone 3G.
RAC service discounts for voice and data will apply to iPhone 3G, when on a qualifying data plan.
Ambassadors will not get a discount on device purchase for iPhone 3G.
Data Pricing will be as follows:

Consumer Data Plan (must be added to qualified voice plan):
$30 - Unlimited Data (E-mail/Web), includes Visual Voicemail when subscribed to any voicemail service.

Enterprise Data Plan (must be added to qualified voice plan):
$45 - Unlimited Data with personal and corporate e-mail, web, includes Visual Voicemail when subscribed to any voicemail service.

Upgrade Eligibility and Qualified Upgrade Pricing
Upgrade eligibility will be determined based on standard upgrade eligibility rules. Customers must be upgrade eligible to receive the qualified upgrade pricing. However, not all customers will be qualified upgrades. Rogers has not determined the price of the 3G device for non-qualified upgrades.

All customers will be required to sign a 3-year agreement. There will not be a "no commitment" price or a 2-year agreement for the iPhone 3G.

Activation Process
The new 3G device will be activated in store in Rogers, Fido and Apple stores. Customers must accept Rogers and Apple terms of service, sign a 3-year agreement, and select the data plan for the iPhone 3G before leaving the store. A short tether process to unbrick the 3G device will be performed in all Rogers and Fido stores (tether cords will be provided). Apple stores will also perform this tether process, however in the event that a customer's device is not tethered in the Apple store, their device will be inoperable until they get home and tether through iTunes. Prepaid will not be allowed on the iPhone 3G device.

RAC tools, including TOE and Salescentral have been modified to allow agents to enter customer's information, select rate plans and data plans, device price (if applicable) and output a document that will allow store reps to quickly access the customer's information and save time for data entry in the activation process.

Compensation
Because the 3G device will only be activated in store, compensation for the 3G device will be BAU. RAC reps will receive compensation for upgrades and new activations with a 3-year agreement.

Purchase Limit
The device purchase limit will be three (3) per customer for iPhone 3G in Rogers and Fido stores.

Direct Fulfillment
The DFU tool will be available at launch at RAC for iPhone 3Gs. Customers will be required to pay for the device when the order is placed and the phone will be shipped to the store in the customer's name for pickup.

Return Policy
The return policy for Fido iPhone 3G is changing from 15 days to 30 days for both Apple and Fido stores. The 30-day Rogers grace period will remain unchanged with the exception of no limits being imposed for voice or data usage.

To cancel service within the first 30 days, the customer must return their equipment to the place of purchase (no exceptions).
If the customer cancels service after 30 days, they will be charged the ECF and DECF. The customer is not required to return the device to cancel after 30 days.

Merchandising/Marketing

3G demos will be pulled from stock when they arrive following launch process for display devices.
Video loop content will be pushed to stores when it is available.
The following merchandising elements will be in stores for launch:

Rate brochure and display rate card
22 x 28 poster
Window banner

Training

Device training, including features and functionality, will be available via Library and Fidoversity by 6/30.
Training for all representatives will begin no later than 7/1.
Launch preparedness training, including last minute details, will be conducted the week of launch (if needed) by team leaders.
Communications/Library
All iPhone-related communications, inclusive of training announcements, will be posted to Library. Search on keyword "iPhone 3G" to locate.

Launch Plans
Support logistics for launch day will be available:

Letters will be sent to all landlords under VP/GM signature for advance notice of store hours, crowds expected, possible parking issues, etc.
Security will be provided for locations requesting armed police or unarmed, uniformed guards.
Manager checklists will be provided to support managers to set expectations and help them be prepared to complete all required actions.
Documents will be posted on TGP to let managers know when to expect delivery of launch support materials.
Job descriptions for key launch day functions will be provided for: Back Office Manager, Crowd Manager, Greeter, Product Demonstrator, and Security Support.

***Confidential Rogers Information. For Internal Distribution Only.***

Photo by ryanomft on Flickr

Reader Reviews and Comments

Submit a Review or Comment

Anyone knows how many megs is included in Unlimited Data Plan?

Posted by: Alex G at June 19, 2008 1:39 PM

Well some much for my iPhone dreams. $30 dollars for a data plan and your stuck with a 3 year contract. Rogers and Apple can keep the damn phone!

Posted by: Lyndon at June 19, 2008 1:45 PM

Will the "unlimited" voice and data plan finally be unlimited?

Posted by: Damon Kemp at June 19, 2008 1:47 PM
Posted by: MJ at June 19, 2008 1:49 PM

It's not leaked info. It's just the AT&T "confidential" memo with the AT&T name replaced with Rogers'.

Posted by: Marc Lostracco at June 19, 2008 1:50 PM

Meg Ryan: Fake! fake-fake-fake-fake-fake-fake-fake!

Posted by: Hamish Grant at June 19, 2008 1:51 PM

Marc: I'm not going to assume it's real OR fake, but as it has been pointed out elsewhere that same statement has been officially used by other carriers. It might be something that Apple wrote. e.g. http://forums.appleinsider.com/showpost.php?p=1267188&postcount=4

Lyndon: What price were you expecting?? If the $30/unltd thing is true, I'd be absolutely stunned it's so affordable (for Canada). But, I'm playing wait & see.

Posted by: Wes at June 19, 2008 1:55 PM

$30/month for unlimited data on a 3G wireless network. Sold.

Posted by: D Sabatino at June 19, 2008 1:56 PM

@ Wes - I can live with the $30 data plan, but not being locked into a 3 yr contract for something that might be obsolete in a couple of years.

Posted by: Lyndon at June 19, 2008 2:00 PM

At least two people who have previously been verified as working for Rogers/Fido on howardforums.com have confirmed this is a real document that's been circulating. It could, of course, still be a well-coordinated fake, but I'm leaning toward it being legit.

Sure, it's just a clone of the AT&T document, but that just indicates that Apple does in fact have some leverage when it comes to dictating rates/plans/marketing that goes along with the phone.

Nothing's final until we see it on rogers.com, of course. But I'm optimistic. REAL unlimited mobile data (not confined to some 'mobile web') would be a big step forward for Canada.

Posted by: Matt Elliott at June 19, 2008 2:01 PM

Someone on the Digital Home forum called Rogers and got this info:

"Just spoke with CSR at local Rogers store and she confirmed the $30/unlimited data plan...mind you, no fine details yet.

Additionally, July 11th will only be for new Rogers customers getting an iPhone.

If I want to get an iPhone, with Sept 10th being the end of my 3 year contract, she claimed I'd have to pay a premium over the new customer price to upgrade. That would be about 2 to 3 weeks after July 11th.

Also, surprisingly, she stated that you WILL be able to get the iPhone as a no-contract option with the 8Gig at $700.

Interesting, no?

MT"

Posted by: Brian at June 19, 2008 2:01 PM

If they finally make an unlimited voice+data plan (really unlimited) I'm totally in. Heck, I'd pay $150 a month for it.

Not much chance of that happening though -- doesn't look like Rogers really understands the concept of "unlimited."

Posted by: Sameer Vasta at June 19, 2008 2:05 PM

Certainly better than the current status quo with Fido:

http://tinyurl.com/6ea2rp

Posted by: AC at June 19, 2008 2:26 PM

AC, surely you don't expect rogers to compete with fido, right?

Posted by: Alex G at June 19, 2008 2:45 PM

How can they offer $30 per month when the US price is almost double that?

Even worse, the so-called "price drop" actually costs consumers more south of the border. According to the tech blog over at Salon.com (http://machinist.salon.com) they detail how the new price of the phone is offset by an increase in the calling plan.

"Because AT&T will require iPhone customers to sign a two-year service contract, the $10-per-month price hike adds $240 to the full cost of a new iPhone. That is, AT&T's data-plan price hike exceeds Steve Jobs' $200 iPhone sticker-price cut.

Here's how the costs break down: For the old iPhone, AT&T's cheapest unlimited-data plan went for $59.99 a month. Over 24 months, that was $1,439.76. Add in the $399 price of the phone and you were looking at $1,838.76 for two years of iPhone fun.

AT&T's new unlimited-data plan goes for $69.99 ($30 for data and $39.99 for its cheapest voice plan). For two years, that's $1,679.76, and then you've got the $199 phone -- a grand total of $1,878.76 for the iPhone over two years. So much for more affordable."

Posted by: ian at June 19, 2008 2:46 PM

Nice catch Ian

Posted by: Ryan L. at June 19, 2008 3:06 PM

"I can live with the $30 data plan, but not being locked into a 3 yr contract for something that might be obsolete in a couple of years."

Lol, I still use a nokia 6190..
i wouldn't worry about your phone being 3 years old :P

Posted by: James at June 19, 2008 4:01 PM

As long as it survives the 3 years. I've had my phone for 7 months, and through no real fault of my own, it has some nice spider web-like cracks on the front face (which will likely let moisture in the first time it's overly humid).

How likely is it that a touch screen device is going to last 3 years with constant, daily use?

Posted by: Ryan L. at June 19, 2008 4:47 PM

This sucks. I'd rather buy an iPhone in the Apple Store.
I hope Rogers doesn't do this or my plans of buying an iPhone will go to waste.

Posted by: Gerard at June 19, 2008 4:51 PM

700 on no contract? Ridiculous. You can buy unlocked versions of the old one for significantly less, and I'm sure the new will be the same.

Posted by: michelle at June 19, 2008 5:38 PM

I'm pretty sure this is fake... why?

"Note: 2G iPhone customers will be able to download the iPhone 2.0 software from iTunes which enables new features such as access to corporate e-mail via Microsoft ActiveSync."

We don't have the 2G phone in Canada so why would Rogers make sure to address that? It's the AT&T memo.

That's my take.

Posted by: taher82 at June 19, 2008 7:18 PM

Just for clarity... signing up for a 3 year contract means you are locking in with Rogers (not the iPhone) for 3 years. If a better device comes along you can switch to it and you are free to adjust your plan as I have done a couple times over the last 3 years.

Posted by: Andre at June 19, 2008 9:23 PM

If you're patient it might be worth waiting, in Europe non-exclusive carrier deals with Apple are already appearing. Italy will be the first, with at least two separate companies signed up to sell iphones. But I suspect Roger's will have at least a year of exclusivity, as the rest of the world starts to unbundle.

Posted by: miles at June 19, 2008 10:48 PM

re: miles
The thing is, what other carrier in Canada can carry the iphone? It's a GSM phone and Rogers and Fido are the only GSM companies.

Posted by: Rick at June 19, 2008 11:13 PM

Rick: That will be changing over the next year or so.

Posted by: GSM at June 20, 2008 8:46 AM

That's $30/month (for the data) plus $ a month for voice.
So maybe $60 a month for 3 years. Lucky Rogers.

Posted by: hey at June 20, 2008 10:15 AM

Do I smell MONOPOLY?!?!?!?!

Posted by: Andrew at June 21, 2008 2:35 AM

Can someone please tell me what the justification is for locking customers into a plan for three years?

I really can't think of any benefits to the consumer -- it limits your freedom in every way possible.

Is this only a money grab? Personally I'm curious about the legality of these multiple-year contracts. Can anyone think of any other service that you are actively prevented from quitting if you no longer want the service?

As you can tell, I really hate the idea of multiple-year contracts, which is why I've never had one for my voice plan. I like knowing that with a month-to-month plan you can just leave is you're displeased with the service.

Posted by: Bob at June 21, 2008 9:56 PM

I have a friend at RIM who has confirmed an internal memo stating that unlimited data WILL be available and it will cost 45 a month.

Posted by: R at June 24, 2008 2:40 PM

i don't get it so u get the iphone for free n u only hav to pay like 30 dollars per month for 3 years or u hav to pay some kind ov amount n also 30 dollars per month

Posted by: maham at July 14, 2008 7:48 PM

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