Rogers: "add iPad to existing data plan for $20 option, was an error."

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Seems like Rogers might have reneged on the $20/month plan to "add iPad to existing data plan" option that we reported on earlier and has, once again, drawn the ire of current and potential customers. Apple's iPad, which is available for pre-order today, was announced to offer a 3G+Wi-Fi models that can ship with Rogers MicroSIM cards and would have the option of non-contract data subscription options above. The third option, for $20.00, would enable the iPad to be used with a customer's existing data plan. This option is now said to have been an error which has now been rectified on Apple's website.

Below is a Rogers statement from their Redboard website:

Here are the pricing options we’re making available to future iPad customers:

• 250 MB for $15 + WiFi (Includes free unlimited access to all Rogers WiFi Hot Spots)

• 5 GB for $35 + WiFi (Includes free unlimited access to all Rogers WiFi Hot Spots)

Customer experience shows that our 250mb/5GB plans will be more than enough for virtually all our customers. 99.8 per cent of our iPhone customers use less than 5GB ofdata. As the tablet is a new category, it’s too early to say if customers will use more or less data than they do for iPhone. But even for our rocket stick/embedded laptop customers, 95.6 per cent use less than 5GB per month.

Visit www.rogers.com/iPad for full details on these plans.  As always, we’ll keep you posted right here.

Note the iPad will not be available on the Fido brand at launch.

Twitter is lighting up like crazy as Rogers users and some potential customers are disgusted by the sudden switcheroo. Here are what some are saying on Twitter.

from Bradarsenault-"Given that Roger's has changed their mind on the $20 option (to share your phones data plan), I will *never* put an iPad on Rogers."

from autom8- "Rogers under fire for iPad plans http://bit.ly/cH980c via/ @CanadaIT | @RepuMetrix wow, i'm er..shocked...oh and appalled. #not #orchard"

from Renwest-"@ALL_CAPS And it's reasons like that I've really slowed the "Buying the latest gear" hobby. iPad will not be on my wish list. #Rogers"

from heyscottsmith-"Come on BELL or Telus -- beat Rogers even by $1 for iPad data and you have many new customers...! Match AT&T and you have ALL Cdn users."

Rogers' Redboard has updated postings by customers.

netrokid says:

May 10, 2010 at 2:45 pm

Could you please kindly tell us what happened with the Shared Data Plan? I believe your loyal customers deserve an explanation as to how the shared data plan information made it all the way to the Apple site and even influenced some of your customers decisions to purchase the iPad. It’s a real shame as although paying $20, as advertised on the Apple site, to share an iPhone plan is relatively expensive (seems it would be more reasonable to charge the same as an extra TV outlet for your Cable service, rather than almost paying twice for the same service).

In any case, we must assume you were headed in the “Shared Data Plan” direction for the information to have appeared on the Apple site. It was a step in the right direction for your consumers, and it’s rather unprofessional on your part (or Apple’s if the mistake came from them) to post such a revolutionary package for your customers to get excited about, and then to simply say “It was a mistake”…

Hoping to hear back, and that you reverse the reversal of your decision…

cc says:

May 10, 2010 at 3:10 pm

It’s terrible marketing at best and misleading advertising at worst to post a plan offering (albeit through Apple), and then pull it back!

As an existing Rogers corporate and personal customer, I was quite happy making my purchase earlier today on the premise of a $20 add on plan.

Now I will certainly wait until I see the offerings from other carriers and options.

Who’s running Customer Service there???

Do we all need to start sending emails to Rob Bruce directly?

Richard G. says:

May 10, 2010 at 3:16 pm

I just canceled my iPad/3G preorder. While the $20 add-on plan is a rip in itself, I was willing to pay it to avoid any workaround hassles. Rogers has, as usual, mangled this whole thing up.

What is wrong with Rogers simply doing the right thing for their customers – maybe first by listening to their needs?

I would hope that Bell and Telus show some leadership here and provide the offering but I expect they will do the same as Rogers as one big anti-competitive group of companies.

I share my cable internet with many devices in my house. If I use more or less than my 95GB monthly allotment, I still pay the same bill. Why can’t the same apply for wireless devices?

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This isn't the first time Rogers has run into trouble with an Apple product launch, it had issues with the iPhone 3G launch and its pricing scheme. It will be interesting to see if this will affect public perception of the 3G+WiFi iPad.

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