Update May 31/10: After contacting Telus PR, they have answered some questions. There is no way to cap data at 500MB, as users must self monitor. Also, the data plan is capped at 5GB. Plus, Telus iPad app coming soon.
Today, Telus officially revealed their Apple iPad data plan.
The iPad 3G + WiFi data plan from Telus contrasts sharply against the existing Rogers and Bell data plans, which are offering two non-contracted packages compared to the single offering from Telus.
The iPad data plan from Telus is as follows:
- 500MB: $20.00/month (no way to cap @ 500MB; users must monitor usage at TelusMobility.com)
- 5GB: $50.00/month
- Overage Fee: $0.05/MB up to a maximum of $30 for a total of $50 per month
- Overage fee is capped at $30 for a total of $50 per month ($20 plan + $30 overage fee). The data is also capped at 5GB.
- First month of free unlimited data is included (as reported by users)
- Telus charges a $35 activation fee (as reported by users)
- Telus iPad app in the works to help monitor data usage.
TELUS announced that it is offering a dedicated data plan for iPad with Wi-Fi + 3G in Canada, beginning today.
iPad Wi-Fi + 3G TELUS Plan:
$20 for 500MB per month – additional data is charged at 5¢ per MB up to a maximum of $30 for a total of $50 per month. Please visit www.TELUS.com for more details.
The Telus data plan, as compared to Rogers and Bell, is an odd one. At $20 for 500MB, the Telus plan provides much more value than the entry level $15/250MB from Rogers or Bell. However, Telus has an overage fee.
What this means is each megabyte above 500MB is charged at $0.05/MB to a maximum of 5GB. That can get really expensive, really fast as compared to Rogers/Bell. However the Telus overage fee is capped at $30 per month.
In other words, while initial 500MB Telus data plan costs $20, customers may end up paying more than $20 and up to $50 (with the extra data used) instead of $20 per month since customers will pay for each additional megabyte over 500MB (if you go over your given data amount).
In effect, this means that for 5GB, Telus charges $50. As Telus has confirmed that the data cap is 5GB, we can say that Telus will charge $50 (capped dollar amount) for 5GB (capped data amount). Rogers/Bell offer $35 for 5GB. Customers who exceed 5GB will have to purchase another data plan or top-up again to continue using data.
So on a value proposition, it seems the value is with Rogers/Bell. What do you think?
Thanks for the email, Jordan!
[Telus]
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