Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Need advice - Really nervous about making the jump

J

juicyred

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 23, 2009
11
0
Hi everyone,

First off, thanks for creating such an amazing community! I've spent a large amount of time reading through many different threads and the information has been wonderful.

I've been thinking these past few weeks about getting rid of my land line and going only with iPhone. I'm in Canada and would go with Rogers.

I work for the federal telecom regulator in Canada and after hearing so may horror stories about all the cellphone companies, I'm justifiably nervous about making the jump. Because of this, I only got my first cellphone about a year and a half ago and have been doing pay as you go since.

After stopping by the nearest Rogers store numerous times with all my questions, I've worked out that I should be able to get the following package:

$70-80/month + $199 for 16g 3Gs
- unlimited evening and weekend local calling after 6pm
- 200 weekday minutes
- unlimited talk/text to 5 (might be 10) numbers on any network
- 500mb data (which I can double for $5 more)
- visual voice mail
- call display

I would of course have to sign up for a three year contract.

Any words of wisdom? Do I wait to see if anyone other companies end up carrying iPhones? Should I chill? Should I dive right in? My fingers are itching to get into apps :)

Thanks in advance for any input folks would care to share!

J.
 
Understandable that you wish to think about it. After all, 3 years is a bug plunge you are about to take.

To answer your questions

Any words of wisdom?
Click to expand...

You won't be disappointed. However, when ever you have problems, come here, do a small search and if you can't find your topic, post about it and we will help to the best we can

Also, I recommend you get the extra double data for $5 they offer you if you can afford it. Believe me when I tell you, the iPhone will have you gobbling up data as quickly that you won't notice.

Do I wait to see if anyone other companies end up carrying iPhones?
Click to expand...

In Canada, I don't think any other carrier besides Rogers/Fido can have the iPhone due to the GSM v CDMA network architecture.

Should I chill? Should I dive right in?
Click to expand...

Take a deep breathe, go inside, buy and feel the beauty of it.
 
put one foot in and then put the other foot in and just dive in and don't look back cuz once you go black/white ( iphone 3gs :D) you wont go back !!!!

GOOD LUCK:)
 
What's a horror story is:

A. just getting your 1st cell phone 1.5 years ago.
B. only have 500mb data:eek: you will blow thru that in no time.


That being said, jump in the water is warm.
 
skubish said:
What's a horror story is:

A. just getting your 1st cell phone 1.5 years ago.
B. only have 500mb data:eek: you will blow thru that in no time.


That being said, jump in the water is warm.
Click to expand...

500MB can be enough. I only have 500MB of data and even though i feel like I'm constantly using my iPhone I've never gone over the limit. Of course it helps that I have WiFi at home and school but still, unless I started using a lot of streaming apps, which I don't, I can't see myself going over the limit.

You guys are just spoiled with the unlimited data and think that anything less is not enough. :p
 
anjinhamarota said:
500MB can be enough. I only have 500MB of data and even though i feel like I'm constantly using my iPhone I've never gone over the limit. Of course it helps that I have WiFi at home and school but still, unless I started using a lot of streaming apps, which I don't, I can't see myself going over the limit.

You guys are just spoiled with the unlimited data and think that anything less is not enough. :p
Click to expand...

I am blessed with Wi-Fi in school, work and Home. However, I go thru 1.6 GB of data a month, so 500MB would be no dice.

It makes sense if I say I help out mom with her business back home and since that involves emails with big attachments.... well, you get the idea.
 
anjinhamarota said:
500MB can be enough. I only have 500MB of data and even though i feel like I'm constantly using my iPhone I've never gone over the limit. Of course it helps that I have WiFi at home and school but still, unless I started using a lot of streaming apps, which I don't, I can't see myself going over the limit.

You guys are just spoiled with the unlimited data and think that anything less is not enough. :p
Click to expand...

I honestly wouldn't settle for anything less than a 5GB cap or unlimited. Honestly I would fear using YouTube over 3G or any bug websites, I mean I use the internet ALLOT. It would be nice if cell carriers just cut you off after you went over your limits. 500mbs is nothing, Rogers is rolling you guys bad....
 
nateo200 said:
I honestly wouldn't settle for anything less than a 5GB cap or unlimited. Honestly I would fear using YouTube over 3G or any bug websites, I mean I use the internet ALLOT. It would be nice if cell carriers just cut you off after you went over your limits. 500mbs is nothing, Rogers is rolling you guys bad....
Click to expand...

What would you do if that was your only choice? here the most you can get is 1GB, and 500MB is enough for me. I actually used to have 250MB and for a long time it was plenty.

I don't use YouTube that much on the go, I use it more when I'm at home. I don't like how youtube videos look over 3G anyway. I use my iPhone more for Twitter, email, IM and Safari. i don't even try to stay under the 500MB and I've never gone over. People have different needs.
 
500MB is plenty!
I've had a plan with Fido since last December and still haven't had a time where I've used more than 100MB in a month.

I'm so confused as to how some people manage to go over 500MB. Seriously, what do you data users do all day?! I find myself trying to use more data on purpose and still can't get even close to 500MB...
 
500Mb is ok for me. I don't use any streaming apps like last.fm though. Push is on, lots of email, rss, twitter, facebook, downloading/updating apps. So far I'm 24 days into my billing month and I've used a massive 192.9Mb, so yeah, I'm good for now :)
 
I add that I only wish that I'd gotten my iPhone sooner. I spent the last two or three years talking myself out of it do to the montly cost. I've got a company supplied blackberry (which I never use anymore - except for conf calls) so the cost is purely an add-on to my budget.

That said, in a weak moment a month or so ago, I ordered two 16g 3GS's - one for me and one for my wife. I can't believe I waited this long to get one. If I look at from a usage standpoint, there is almost nothing I use more often and get greater utility from than this stupid phone.

I really think it's one of those things where you don't know what your missing until you get it. In the case of the iPhone, I think I'll be finding new ways to apply it, and the billion apps out there, to my daily life.

Good Luck.
 
I would just wait and see what will happen in December/January
if you can wait then wait because of the winter 2010 Olympic Bell/Telus
is combining to change there network from CDMA to GSM since
most country uses GSM and to give even more support to the Olympians..Vancouver/Canada have to do something in everything they can...
but this is just my opinion and above is what I've read from the local newspaper(The Toronto Star)
and who knows if theyll actually manage to get the iPhone from apple because Rogers/Fido isn't
exclusive unlike AT&T in the states
 
yetanotherdave said:
500Mb is ok for me. I don't use any streaming apps like last.fm though. Push is on, lots of email, rss, twitter, facebook, downloading/updating apps. So far I'm 24 days into my billing month and I've used a massive 192.9Mb, so yeah, I'm good for now :)
Click to expand...
Agreed. Even though we have 'unlimited' data here in the UK, You won't be maxing it out too much - okay, maybe during your first few months with the iPhone, hehe, but unless you're rinsing YouTube over 3G a lot(not much point, with the lesser quality, compared to Wi-Fi tbh), you should happily stay below 500MB.
 
I've been more than happy with my iPhone and wouldn't mind having it as my only phone. Here in the UK, though, they recommend you have a landline as well because the networks get clogged with mobile calls when there's a sudden snowstorm etc. and everyone's ringing to say they'll be home early/late etc etc. You can then find you've no way of ringing anyone in an emergency. Might not be the same for you, though.
 
I'd just be careful to keep a tab on your minutes and data. You don't think you will use it much, but when your old high school friend calls to catch up and then you need to call some customer service line and spend 15 minutes on hold ... its those sorts of things that end up costing you. Its never the everyday use (if it is the DEFINTIELY upgrade as overage rates always suck!)
 
Thanks for your input everyone - really appreciated! I'm still waffling in a major way but I think most of it is around getting rid of my land line. Funny the things we attach so much meaning to!

Thanks again - and I'll still reading through the forums voraciously. You can never have too much information - I think ;)
 
that is way to expensive just for a damn phone and not even a good phone at that.

I have all of what u have but 50 more mins, ulimted txt to everyone free carrier to carrier calls, 100 LD minutes, and cheaper LD rates for when/if i go over my 100, plus unlimited data, yes unlimited no 5gig cap ( belive me i've gone way over)

all for get this yep $56 with a Blackberry so Rogers is a rip-off and $80 for that package that you have which is crap imo not worth it.
 
It's a week after your post, so you may have already made the plunge.

Not knowing how it works in Canada, but assuming you have a trial period with that cellphone company, I would NOT dump the landline until after you are certain you are going to keep the iPhone (i.e. do not dump the landline until after the iPhone trial period ends).

There are more than a few times I've not been happy with a new cell phone and went back to my old one, and at times the old one was on a different provider so I had two phones during the trial period of the new phone. I went thru it this very summer when I tried a Blackberry Pearl Flip before dumping it and my old provider (Verizon Wireless) and went to the iPhone (I had been holding out hope Verizon would get the iPhone)

Mike
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back