iPhone

Rogers alters iPhone 3G pricing amid consumer gripes

Lynnette Luna — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 02:09:07 -0400

Rogers Communications in Canada, the only operator selling the iPhone 3G in that country, has succumbed to Canadian consumer backlash over the data fees it is planned to charge. Rogers now says the customers who purchase an iPhone, which goes on sale tomorrow, by Aug. 31 and sign a three-year contract with the operator will receive 6 GB of data for $29.44 (30 Canadian dollars) per month. Rogers originally charged $75 per month, the same as AT&T in the U.S., but the price offered Canadians a third less calling time, half as many text messages, and put a cap on 3G data usage--with steep fees for users who go over their monthly limit.

Rogers claimed that it initially didn't have a lot of information about how customers wanted to use the new 3G iPhone. As that information became available, the operator said it became clear that customers were eager to use the device's data capabilities to the fullest potential, so it responded with a new price.

For more:
- check out the WSJ (sub. req.)

Related stories:
Chronicling the humiliation and anger induced by the iPhone 3G. iPhone 3G editorial
iPhone: rumors and consumer rebellion. iPhone story

Informa: Mobile data services fuel base station turnaround

Lynnette Luna — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:35:32 -0400

The growing success of mobile data services is fueling a turnaround in the lagging base station market, according to Informa Telecoms & Media. The firm predicts that jumps in data traffic related to YouTube and other mobile video streaming applications will increase 5,514 percent by 2012. It said the rise of browser-friendly devices such as the iPhone 3G can lead to a 30-fold increase in traffic per subscriber. Article

Canadian iPhone 3G plans require three-year contract, limited data

Lynnette Luna — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:38:11 -0400

Canadian wireless customers found it they will have to sign a three-year service contract and sign up for a wireless plan that doesn't include unlimited data if they want to get the new iPhone 3G from Rogers.

The operator announced it is offering plans that range from $60 to $115 per month but didn't say how much the handset would cost when it goes on sale July 11.

The cheapest monthly plan costs $60 and includes 150 minutes of voice calling, with unlimited evenings and weekends, 400 MB of data, 75 sent text messages, and unlimited incoming texts and visual voicemail messages. The most expensive plan runs $115, and subscribers get 800 minutes of daytime calling, 2 GB of data, and 300 sent text messages.

Rogers calculated that the plan with 400 MB of data represents up to 200,000 text e-mails or 3,100 Web pages. The 2-GB plan is the equivalent of 1,048,000 text e-mails or 16,000 Web pages. With statistics showing that iPhone users are the biggest users of the mobile Internet, Canadian customers will likely hit their data limit rather quickly. At least each of the service plans comes with unlimited access to all Rogers and Fido WiFi hotspots.

For more:
- check out InformationWeek

Related stories:
iPhone 3G revises AT&T data pricing. AT&T story
AT&T will subsidize 3G iPhone. iPhone story

AT&T looks to roll out HSPA in time for 3G iPhone

Thu, 22 May 2008 06:59:56 -0400

AT&T says it is nearly finished with its HSUPA network deployment with six more markets to go. The operator expects to have its HSUPA deployment finished by next month. AT&T says that the technology will give subscribers uplink speeds between 500 Kbps and 800 Kbps. Download speeds are in the 1.4 Mbps range.

The timing of AT&T's HSUPA network completion is key because June is when the 3G iPhone is expected to make its debut. In fact, GizModo is reporting 3G iPhone will launch June 9 or shortly thereafter. Originally it was thought the 3G version would be introduced in June but not available until year-end. HSUPA will give iPhone users access to much faster network speeds than the current iPhone, which uses AT&T's EDGE data network. AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega recently indicated that AT&T will have a time-to-market advantage over WiMAX with its HSUPA technology because HSUPA Release 7 will give the company 7 Mbps to 20 Mbps data speeds within the next two years.

For more:
- see this press release

Related stories:
AT&T: HSPA will provide 20 Mbps data speeds. See this story on AT&T's HSPA plans
AT&T CTO HSDPA progressing, HSUPA in test phase. See this story on AT&T's HSPA deployment

ALSO NOTED: AT&T launches free WiFi for LaptopConnect users ; Atheros WiFi technology powers Netflix Player; and much more...

Thu, 22 May 2008 06:59:51 -0400

> German iPhone customers use mobile Internet services 30 times more than other cell phone subscribers, while one third of all T-Mobile iPhone customers have chosen the most expensive plan. Article

> AT&T launched free WiFi for it LaptopConnect customers. Release

> U.K. WiMAX player snaps up WiFi aggregator. Article

> Sequans Communications announced availability of its newest chip, the SQN1170, which integrates baseband, RF, and memory in a single chip. Release

> Netflix Player by Roku is using Atheros WiFi technology. Release

And Finally... Sharp extends methanol fuel cell power. Release

What's up with free WiFi for iPhone users at AT&T hotspots?

Mon, 12 May 2008 06:59:56 -0400

AT&T hotspots are no longer enabling free WiFi access to iPhone users as reported in early May. According to an article in Computerworld, just hours after posting information that told iPhone users they would receive free access to AT&T's public WiFi hotspots, the company pulled all references to the service from its Web site. The AT&T site previously noted "access to AT&T WiFi hot spots" was included in all iPhone subscriber plans.

For more about AT&T's on-again, off-again WiFi for iPhone users:
- check out this article from Computerworld

ALSO NOTED: 3G iPhone watch: AT&T discourages vacations; Google vs. Verizon, round 2; and much more...

Thu, 08 May 2008 06:59:51 -0400

> 3G iPhone watch: AT&T discourages vacations Article

> On the Hot Seat with T-Mobile USA's Neville Ray on its 3G rollout Article

> The market for wireless USB could reach $1 billion by 2013 with chip prices down to $2, said IMS Research. Article

And Finally... Google versus Verizon, round 2. Article

AT&T grants iPhone users free hotspot use ... finally

Mon, 05 May 2008 06:59:56 -0400

Though not confirmed by AT&T, it appears that AT&T hotspots are now enabling free WiFi access to iPhone users. Several WiFi hotspots that folks tried offered iPhone users a custom portal to access free WiFi. A special formatted page asks the user for the iPhone mobile-phone number in order to access WiFi for free.

It's about time. Since last July, subscribers to AT&T's highest-speed DSL services have received free access to its WiFi hotspots throughout the country. In January, it began offering free WiFi to all DSL subscribers. But iPhone users have been left out of the fray.

For more about iPhone users being able to access free WiFi at AT&T hotspots:
- check out this report from MacRumors.com

Will AT&T subsidize the 3G iPhone?

Thu, 01 May 2008 06:59:54 -0400

Fortune is reporting that AT&T is planning to this time subsidize the 3G version of the Apple iPhone, knocking off the price by $200. By offering the phone at a cheaper price, AT&T reportedly plans to put the squeeze on rivals Verizon and Sprint by putting the popular device within reach of more subscribers who have spending limits.

Apple is expected to announce two versions of the 3G iPhone, according to the report: an 8GB iPhone for $399 and a 16GB iPhone for $499. Since iPhone users have proven to be heavy data users, it follows that recouping the subsidy wouldn't take too long for AT&T.

For more on the 3G iPhone report:
- read this article from Fortune

ALSO NOTED: Rogers Wireless plans to roll out iPhone this year; PCWorld reveals its top choices for 802.11n routers; and much m

Thu, 01 May 2008 06:59:51 -0400

> Rogers Wireless is planning to roll out the iPhone this year. Article

> Sierra Wireless posted a profit of $9.1 million, up from $5.3 million a year ago. Revenue jumped 66 percent from a year ago to $141.9 million. Article

> Motorola is working with Thailand's Advanced Info Service (AIS), the largest mobile operator in Thailand to conduct trials of mobile WiMAX solutions. Article

> Towerstream lights up the General Motors building in Manhattan. Article

And Finally... PCWorld's lab tests reveal the top choices for 802.11n routers. Article