This blog is now defunct, and exists only for posterity

I, unfortunately, am unable to keep up with updates not working for the man anymore.

None of the information on this blog should be taken as factual from here on out, as it will not be up to date.

Thank you for reading.

Student Overlay Confusion

I'm telling you the truth, I swear

I have received several emails, as well as comments in my original post about the Student Overlay, stating that they were unable to obtain it. I am not sure why it would seem that many CSR's don't know about this, as well as dealers, and the only explanation that I can provide are that there are a lot of promos out there and this isn't the most prevalent (I don't know why it's not more prevalent - it's a great deal). My advice would be to bring your student ID to a dealer and have them call it in. Even if they don't know about it, tell them to call their dealer line, and specifically ask them to "add my school's MSD code". Memorize that sentence, and make sure to say it word for word.

Trust me.

TRG

Value Packs now include 10,000 text messages

Go Nuts
For all you obsessivc-compulsive texters out there, this one's for you - the Smartphone Value Pack, the iPhone Value Pack and the $20 vision value pack have all been updated to include 10,000 sent text messages. Finally, those facists will no longer force us us to cap our usage at 83.34 texts per day - now we get 333.34 per day. Note that I do not expect that this will be added automatically to existing accounts. You're going to have to ask for it.

TRG

Data Roundup

It's been a big week (and it's only Thursday)

Rogers has launched a couple of earth-shattering value packs, and data is different than it was last month. Just thought I'd sum everything up into one neat and tidy little posting.

BlackBerry Messaging Voice and Data Bundle

• $45
  
• 200 mins plus 50 bonus mins (bonus mins available on 3 year renewal)
• Unlimited Evenings and Weekends (9PM by default)
  
• Unlimited BIS Email
• Unlimited Instant Messaging
  
• 10,000 Text/Picture/Video Messages (Rogers, when will you just completely embrace the word unlimited?)
• MY5 Canada Wide OR Unlimited Incoming OR Unlimited Network Calling OR 5PM Evenings
• Only available on a 3 year contract
  

Smartphone Voice and Data Bundle (any device)

• $45
  
• 200 mins plus 50 bonus mins (bonus mins available on 3 year renewal)
• Unlimited Evenings and Weekends (9PM by default)
  
• 500MB Data
  
• MY5 Canada Wide OR Unlimited Incoming OR Unlimited Network Calling OR 5PM Evenings
• Only available on a 3 year contract

$30 Smartphone Data Value Pack (Add to any voice plan)

• $30
• 10,000 Text Messages
• 10,000 Picture/Video Messages (Except iPhone obviously)
• Caller ID
• Visual Voicemail (iPhone only) or Enhanced Voicemail (everything else)
• WhoCalled
• 500MB DATA!! (includes BIS service if you're on a BB)
• COUNTS AS DATA TO TRIGGER HARDWARE DEVICE DISCOUNTS!
• Only available on a 3 year contract
  

$20 BlackBerry Messaging Value Pack (Add to any voice plan)

• $20 (your bill will show $30 with a $10 bill credit)
  
• 10,000 Text Messages
• 10,000 Picture/Video Messages (Except iPhone obviously)
• Unlimited BIS Email
• Unlimited Instant Messaging
  
• Caller ID
• Enhanced Voicemail
• WhoCalled
• COUNTS AS DATA TO TRIGGER HARDWARE DEVICE DISCOUNTS!
• Only available on a 3 year contract

Just to clear up the apparent confusion surrounding whether there is a $10 credit on the $30 value packs, the BB Messaging Value Pack automatically comes with a $10 credit, but apparently it wasn't being added automatically on the launch date and reps had to manually add it. The 500MB Value Pack is not supposed to come with a $10 credit, and if you managed to get it, odds are the rep you dealt with is going to get in some trouble.

Rogers seems to be entering a new era of affordable data. It's kind of weird. Everything here is, as always, subject to change.

TRG

PS. I heard a rumor that $15 value packs might be getting a makeover next Tuesday. Check back then to see if my source is a liar or not.

iPhone Friendly Gloves

Over at howardforums.com (excellent forum site for cell phone information), McManus7 has posted a guide to something that I had never thought about before - iPhone friendly gloves. Just thought any iPhone users with cold fingers in the winter months might like to see it.

TRG

Hey guys... just thought I would throw this out there..... If anyone is looking for iPhone Friendly gloves there are a couple products...

1. North Face Etip -> this glove can be picked up at your local coastmountain sports.... I believe price is 49.99.. they can be found online however everywhere seems to be sold out..... Basically they have a material on the index finger and thumb that can be used with touchscreens, ipod wheels, laptop touchpads etc...
http://tinyurl.com/65quhj

2. Marmot iGlove -> Haven't found a retailer that carries these however there are some on eBay...and some online retailers... same idea as the North Face Etips... I picked up a pair for like $30 shipped off ebay...
http://tinyurl.com/6a45zs

3. D O T S Gloves -> These are wool knit gloves that have little dots on them that allow you to access the screens etc... they can be purchased online
http://www.dotsgloves.com/

4. Freehands -> These are gloves that have little covers for your thumb and index finger that can be pulled off...
http://shop.freehands.com/

5. TavoGloves -> these are similar to the etips and iglove... same idea...
http://www.tavoproducts.com/

New Data-Inclusive Value Packs Are Awesome

It's easier (cheaper) than ever to get the internet on your phone

This has been the big news all day. I'd have told you earlier but I've been a little busy. Rogers launched a $30 value pack to go along with the $20 BlackBerry messaging pack from the other day. They look a little something like this:

$30

10,000 Text Messages

10,000 Picture/Video Messages (Except iPhone obviously)

Caller ID

Visual Voicemail (iPhone only) or Enhanced Voicemail (everything else)

WhoCalled

500MB DATA!! (includes BIS service if you're on a BB)

This is a major move, designed to get you online from your phone. Obtaining this constitutes a three year term, but it is literally the best deal on services and data that Rogers has ever had. This is all pretty new, so if you ask a rep about it he might not even know about it, but insist.

TRG

A quick note about "iPhone Plans"

The iPhone is scaring people

One of the most overwhelmingly common questions that I have been receiving looks something like this:

"Can I get plan x on this iPhone? Can I get plans other than the iPhone plan? Can I still get the iPhone for $199?"

There's something important that you need to know about the iPhone. Ready?

You can have any plan you want!

The iPhone is actually, curiously, the only "smartphone" that requires no data plan. You don't need a data plan, you'll just probably want one. In terms of pricing for the phone, the phone is, as you know, $199 for the 8GB and $299 for the 16GB. You get this price as long as the voice portion of your plan is $35 or higher. If your voice plan is $30 or lower, the phone is $50 more expensive.

So what about those iPhone plans.. are they any good?

The dedicated iPhone voice and data bundles are very much improved over the original voice and data bundles that were the heart of so much controversy when the phone was first launched. The plans look like this:

$60	$75
250 Daytime Mins	400 Daytime Mins
Unlimited E/W 9PM	Unlimited E/W 9PM
MY5 Local	MY5 Canada Wide
1GB Data	2GB Data
Visual Voicemail Included	Visual Voicemail Included
75 TXT Included	100 TXT Included

These plans are not so bad. They are definitely the easiest way to pick your iPhone plan - they're pretty much all inclusive. In fact, if sending a lot of text messages isn't the most important thing to you, you can just add call display to either of those for $7 and you're good to go. There isn't a way to get all of the things that come with these plan for cheaper - the $75 one particularly.

But you can get whatever plan you want. You can even not get a data plan if you really want, although you'll miss it.

TRG