Will Rogers/Telus/Bell Offer a 6GB iPad Data Plan?

by Gary on February 3rd, 2010

With the announcement of the Apple iPad by Steve Jobs, many people were excited and equally “disappointed” with the purpose of the device. Further into the Apple Event, it was revealed that the 3G version of the iPad will be able to subscribe to Pay As You Go data.

What iPad Data Plans Will Be Offered in Canada from Rogers, Telus, and Bell?

We know that Rogers/Fido was the only GSM network in Canada. However, that all changed when Telus and Bell launched their HSPA+ 3G network. That means for Canadians, we will have some choice for PAYG data for the iPad–or will we?

The ‘Big 3′ Carriers have yet to mention anything publicly about whether or not they will support PAYG data plans for the iPad. We do know that Rogers capitulated to pressure and offered a 6GB/$30 data plan for the iPhone 3G in the past. Will we see the mighty 6GB data plan making a comeback for Canadian iPad users?

That is the important question at the moment. We know for sure that WiFi versions of the iPad will be in stores. As for the 3G versions in Canada, they would be useless if there are no cost effective data plans offered from Rogers, Telus, and Bell. Are Canadians going to continue being held ‘hostage’ by paying some of the most expensive data rates in the world?

What do you think? Will we see some sort of iPad PAYG data offering in Canada? Or will we get left in the dust?

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Posted under: Bell, Rogers, Telus, iPad News

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Jake

Rogers said it will be holding a 3G network in canada for the ipad.
Graham J

I'm looking forward to using my WiFi iPad online by tethering it to my jailbroken iPhone 3GS using MyWi.
D.C. Rhind

Since there's no AT&T monopoly here, how about allowing Bluetooth tethering between the iPhone and iPad. Why pay for 2 services if you won't be living on the internet with your iPad?
Graham J

The iPad and iPhone can tether to a laptop but not to each other as they can only act as peers, not servers. If you want to tether an iPad to an iPhone just jailbreak the iPhone and install MyWi.
dave

Steve Jobs stated that we can't do that.
Marisa

This is rediculous. In my opinion if Rogers is smart they will go in the opposite direction they went when the iphone finally made it's way here. I say they offer a combined bulk plan that allows their current iphone clients to share their data plan with both the iphone and the ipad when it finally makes its way into stores.

Can u imagine? Rogers not charging current iphone clients anything at all?

A) They will finally look less like the greedy bastards they've seemed like in the past.

B) They will likely gain new customers that will switch from their current phone provider to Rogers for the free data plan.

C) Most likely people will go over their data limits and that means more money for Rogers

D) By the time people start to realize they need more data the clients will be locked in for 3 years.

E) Its a perfect time to make a splash with a huge marketing buzz consdering Apple will and is already making the ipad a hot topic, Rogers can use that to their advantage and ride the coat tails.

And for once the current Rogers clients wont feel like they are being ripped off. Not yet anyway.
Gary

Interesting insight.

I have a feeling the Big 3 will come out with similar PAYG data plans,
and try to lock us into contracts to get a subsidized price.

Gary
Michael

How the heck are we supposed to know??? Why don't you research it and tell us?
Dr. Charles R. Norman

Good comments that is what has happened with Palm, Bell and the Palm Pre. Citizens of Manitoba and Saskatchewan are not Canadians so far as Mam Bell is concerened.
david allany

How about a new (iPhone/iPad) bundle for $85 a month that includes an 8GB monthly plan?
Manduh

I just hope wifi stays! I never used/paid for data when I had my iPhone, it's too easy finding hotspots, even in the small town I live in.
Kevin krohn

The iPad will have an empty SIM card slot. I don't have an iPhone, but won't it be as simple as taking the SIM card out of the iPhone and placing it in the iPad for when you want to use the iPad - then place it back in the iPhone went you want your phone? Of course one might miss phone calls when doing this, but it should be a way to use up the 6GB of data that you're already paying for...
Peter

the iPad uses mini sims. But you can always the a regular sized sim to a mini one.
Peter

Sorry missed a word. you can always cut the regular sim and turn it into a mini one.
wuju

Great if we could simply tether the iphone data plan to the iPad via bluetooth or something.
Graham J

You can do that, just jailbreak your iPhone and install MyWi.
ammo

No, tethering will not be possible. SJ admitted that.
iPad Canada

I believe you will be able to do that, since as macconvert pointed out, the iPad will have Bluetooth capability.

However I'm still waiting to hear from Rogers, Telus or any of the service providers here in Canada about what Data Plans they will be offering for the iPad in Canada.

-Abseaz
jpraadt

I agree that the virtual silence about any potential data plans/packages from our Canadian providers has been an annoyance, and we should probably expect to be hearing about our options pretty soon.

One thing I have considered for myself is that, although my iPhone is not currently jailbroken, there are apps for jailbroken iPhones that allow you to turn your phone into a mobile wifi hotspot. That way, regardless of whether the iPad allows tethering through bluetooth on your iPhone, you should be able to access your iPhone data plan while on the go, without having to spend the additional $130 for the WiFi iPad model, let alone any additional fees Rodgers, Bell or Telus would like to charge us. Just a thought!
macconvert

you should be able to tether the ipad to the Iphone3g as it has bluetooth capability
l84toff

What, there's someone who thinks the Telcos are going to leave another easy market alone?? I think not. Oh their going to offer a plan or 5. And it will be expensive at first (or not). It really doesn't matter all that much because it's going to cost extra regardless as they will not include this in our current iPhone plans. Although 1 plan for your iPhone and iPad would make sense (to the customer that is) but not as profitable I imagine.

Even if I do end up with an iPad, it won't be a 3G version. I already pay far too much to Rogers for what I get and they make how many millions in profits every quarter??
timaucoin

I honestly think that they should allow "piggy backing" onto our existing iPhone 3G data plan rather than need a new plan for the iPad!
david allany

How would they make money if they do this. Although I totally agree with you, I think that plans for the iPad will be seperate, if there will be plans that is.
Kevin Krohn

I listened to Steve Jobs iPad speech last night (it's online on the Apple site). He states that they hope to have international plans by June, but in the meantime, he states that the iPads are all being sold "unlocked" and use mini-SIM cards, then he said if the internationally, if your provider uses mini-SIM cards, then more than likely "it'll just work". I take this as saying that one should just be able to swap the SIM card and it'll just work! Of course the providers will want us to have separate plans, and Steve can't really tell people not to, but I think that many people will do just that.

Myself, I'm on a Bell (non-iPhone) plan that expires in December. I use my phone mostly for internet, not for talking. I plan to get a cheap windmobile $15 dollar phone plan, and then get a data plan for my iPad (I'm hoping it'll be around $45 but I really don't know), but the total will equal the $60 that I'm paying now.
Gary

Hi Tim! Great to see you on the blog! ;)

I agree. We already pay for a 6GB data plan, why not let us use it? Of course, that will probably never happen as Rogers etc will never allow this. I just hope they will allow PAYG data!
timaucoin

Thanks Gary. I've been absent from the iPhone blog for some time... have been busy with so much stuff! I hope to get back into reading that one as well as this new iPad blog. I intend to get an iPad, it's just a matter of when. Not sure I want to rush out and buy a first generation one!!?? LOL
Great to hear from you... talk again soon.
Tim

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