Hello Applelink:

For the last year I’ve had the pleasure of ‘sticking it to the man’.  Ted Rogers.  As many Canadian’s, I took the quick trip to Buffalo NY last June and bought an iPhone (yes at the full 6 big).  I quickly unlocked it and used my existing Rogers $20 per month rate to use everything but the smart voicemail. My internet access was via wifi, because Roger’s does not have, God forbid, an unlimited usage plan.

When the new iPhone comes out (late June 08), I’ll buy it at the local Canada Apple store (if available, probably not) or make the trip to Buffalo (your gas is still way cheaper!). 

Since, contrary to recent erroneous media reports, Rogers does not offer unlimited internet plans, it will be interesting to see how much ‘gouging’ Rogers user fees will be.  Regrettably, Canadian consumers have a long history of non-competitive, restraint of trade business practices (and Ted Rogers is one of the best).  Pure Enronomics (see Note)!

I’m sure the new iPhone will be unlocked.  I may even continue to use my current $20 per month Rogers account.  And continue ‘sticking it to the man’ as, I’m sure many other educated Canadian’s will. But more likely I’ll use Voip over wifi.

Terry

Note:  The Rogers press release didn’t bother to mention that the usual Canadian media suspects (Rogers, Bell and Shaw) partition Canada (restraint of trade!), severely ‘traffic shape’ and routinely ‘package drop’ any encrypted (bit-torrent) data traffic. All with the full cooperation of the CRTC (the equivalent of your FCC).