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Attention Business Editors:
Rogers Issues Statement on the Apple iPhone
TORONTO, April 29 /CNW/ - Ted Rogers, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Rogers Communications Inc. today issued the following statement:
We're thrilled to announce that we have a deal with Apple to bring the
iPhone to Canada later this year. We can't tell you any more about it right
now, but stay tuned.
About Rogers Communications Inc.
Rogers Communications is a diversified Canadian communications and media
company. We are engaged in wireless voice and data communications services
through Wireless, Canada's largest wireless provider and the operator of the
country's only Global System for Mobile Communications ("GSM") based network.
Through Cable and Telecom we are one of Canada's largest providers of cable
television, cable telephony and high-speed Internet access, and are also a
full-service, facilities-based telecommunications alternative to the
traditional telephone companies. Through Media, we are engaged in radio and
television broadcasting, televised shopping, magazines and trade publications,
and sports entertainment. We are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange
(TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B), and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI). For
further information about the Rogers group of companies, please visit
www.rogers.com.
Labels: wireless
A message to Rogers
Those who know me well know that I have series problems with the telecommunications companies in this country. Well, now they have gone too far.
Rogers, we have a problem.
Firstly, you have ignored me, a faithful customer when I needed help. "Its not my problem," you said when my phone kept breaking. You stalled, bouncing back my emails and calls, and in the end wouldn't offer me any assistance, even though your logo is on the product. How can you say that you serve your customers when you'll only help them if all the stars align?
Next, you shortchanged my father when, and conveniently kept us on the lower-tier television plan when you had made the higher-tier plan standard for all customers. When you say that you're improving the experience for your customers, does this mean only those who hear rumours and file complaints get the improved experience?
And, you are guilty of manipulating the speed of the internet and you know it. We pay for a certain speed, but you interpret that to mean "whenever it suits us." You slow down the speed when we I hope the federal government doesn't take kindly to you infringing on the rights of all Canadians to access CBC content.
Now, you plan to cap our internet and charge overage fees, turning back the clock on the concept of unlimited internet. It has been 10 years since time-limited internet became unheard of. Didn't history teach you anything? Canadians don't want limited internet access! What's next? Are you going to come by my home and snatch my Grandmother's Chatelaine unless she pays you a second time to keep reading?
You have gone too far, and my family and I are not afraid to cancel every Rogers service we subscribe to. If voting with our wallets is what it takes, then prepare to see ballots cast.
Labels: wireless
This jaw remains firmly shut
I was greeted this morning with a news stories with titles like:
"
Rogers Comes out with REASONABLE Data Plans!"
and
"
Rogers breaks out new data plans, Canadian jaws drop"
These stories praise Rogers' new data rates for PC cards, but the new tariffs represent nothing more than an increase from an failing grade to a redeemable failing grade. Now, $65 per month will earn you 1 GB of data, where in the past, 25 MB was all you would receive for a comparable price.
While this is a step in the right direction, one must consider that on AT&T in the United States, $60 per month will get you 450 daytime minutes, 5000 nighttime minutes, 200 text messages and UNLIMITED data on the coveted Apple iPhone. One must note that the above Rogers offer does not include voice calls.
Some argue that due to economies of scale, it is unreasonable to expect Rogers to match the AT&T offer. However, Canadian wireless data prices are consistently ranked as being more expensive than in Rwanda, which was ranked number 12 on a list of failed states in 2005.
We have to demand better.
Labels: wireless
