"iPhone users show modest data usage"

[cooper83]

From the Globe and Mail:

iPhone users show modest data usage

After generating a storm of protest against Rogers Wireless Inc. for the company's pricing of data plans, early adopters of the Apple iPhone appear in fact to be very modest users of the device.

In the first four weeks after the iPhone launched in Canada July 11, Rogers says 95 per cent of customers used less than 10 per cent of their plans' data allotment.

[cooper83]

Rogers has decided to extend the current pricing plan for another month and will make it available to owners of all devices.

A new pricing model will kick in beginning Oct. 1, balancing consumer concerns and actual usage patterns, Ms. Hamilton said.

A monthly fee of $30 will buy 1 GB of data instead of 6GB. A cheaper package of $25 will give 500 megabytes, filling the needs of most customers based on early consumption trends, she said.

Other plans include $50 for 2GB, $60 for 3GB and $80 for 8GB.

Even though I jumped on the 6gb/$30, I was hoping to see a cheaper data plan somewhere down the line. $30 for 1gb? $25 for 500mb??? Come on, Rogers...no wonder users are only using < 10% of their data...they all bought the 6gb plan when they could have gotten by with 1gb or less (I know I could have). I would have loved to see $10-15 for 1gb.

[notsure]

It think it's funny that they extended the "deal" for another month.

I actually tried to get an iPhone last night. I visited 4 stores and while all the stores were open only 2 had wireless counters that were open (the website doesn't make mention of this and their staff don't seem to know about the differences in hours between stores). Of those, the lines were long and not moving. After wasting 2 hours I gave up.

I guess this gives me another month to decide if I really want to be tied to Rogers for 3 more years and if it's worth the hassle to get one. Some friends of mine kept a log of their experience - between waiting in line and waiting on the phone it's taken them a little over 20 hours to get 2 working iPhones.

[polaris]

Exactly. Now they will say no one uses data, but most are over the 400 MB they wanted people take. $15 for 2GB is a good option they should offer.

[TKG26]

What i dont understand is this:

The public wants unlimited. Rogers didnot want to give you that... So after they feel the hate on launch date they quickly react and give 6gigs for 30$. Wich is still 15$ to 23$ more expencive then telus or bell..... For UNLIMITED. But at the end of the day its as good as unlimited without being unlimited.

So now a month later. Maybe a handfull of people actually got them... and for the most part are still learning how to use them and perhaps having pains getting them up and running in the first palce ... but only 10% of the 6 gigs is getting used. So whats the problem? We wanted unlimited we got 6gigs. So looks like Iphone users have a huge safety net for there data usage... Most having 90% more then they need but still there if they need it. I suspect the data usage will go up as people get more used to there phones...Besides wich why would Rogers not keep the good image the managed to reclaim buy giving this 6gig plan for 30$ How does it hurt rogers if they know that people dont need or use all of the plan? OR is that the issue with such a huge safty net there is less chance of chargin extra?

95% of people use 10% of 6gigs: Wich is about 600megs

30$ for 1gig.... Wich would mean currently 95% of users would now be running at 60-70% of there capacity

25$ for for 500megs... Wich would mean that 95% of users would now be runing at 100-120% of there data capacity...

Me simply thinks rogers is doing this as a cash grab. How much extra does a 25$ user get charged when they surpass 500megs?

This is just a joke----> Other plans include $50 for 2GB, $60 for 3GB and $80 for 8GB.

My 15$ unlimited touch and diamond touch never looked so good!

[hugh]

Okay so let's see

Q: Do we have independent validation of these figures?
A: No

Q: If the numbers are accurate, are they meaningful?
A: I doubt it because as many have noted, the longer you have an iPhone the more you use it. The trend is similar to High speed customers switching from Dial-up, the longer they are with HSI the more they download / month

Q: If 95% use less than 10% of their allotment why are they changing the max on the $30 plan to 1 GB from 6G.
A: Let's face it, if people were really using less than 600mb per month then why wouldn't Roers just keep giving folks 6GB for $30 and keep everyone happy?

Q: How much per gb of usage on the new plan
A: Let's see $25 for 500 MB (that's $50 per GB), $50 for 2GB (that's $25 per GB), $60 for 3GB (that's $10 per GB) and $80 for 8GB (that's $10 per GB)

[cdn_tbird]

Okay, so according to Rogers iPhone users are using <10% of their plan's allotment. Well I have just one real simple question then. Since the iPhone has Wi-Fi capability, exactly how much data did these users actually pull down over Wi-Fi? That probably has a lot to do with it than users still getting used to their new phone. Personally I find that I play with every possible feature on my new toys and over time I start using less and less of the features. I wouldn't be surprised if they did a follow-up survey in a year and found that the average has actually decreased. Even at it's fastest HSDPA doesn't even come close to what you can get on a cable or DSL interent connection.

[profets]

Okay, so according to Rogers iPhone users are using <10% of their plan's allotment. Well I have just one real simple question then. Since the iPhone has Wi-Fi capability, exactly how much data did these users actually pull down over Wi-Fi? That probably has a lot to do with it than users still getting used to their new phone. Personally I find that I play with every possible feature on my new toys and over time I start using less and less of the features. I wouldn't be surprised if they did a follow-up survey in a year and found that the average has actually decreased.

its true about people using wifi alot. but in general i think you'd have to spend A LOT of time playing on the phone to go through 6 gigs. for me, i basically never turn on wifi. keep it off to save battery as hsdpa is getting me the same thing.

Even at it's fastest HSDPA doesn't even come close to what you can get on a cable or DSL interent connection.

doesnt even come close? i dunno, i seem to get consistently similar speed over HSPA that i do with DSL (around 4-5mbps). of course outside the golden horseshoe you wont get hspa that is similar to a 10mbps/16mbps cable internet, but at those speeds theres only so much any kind of phone can do to process and load a page. network speed isnt everything when a phone has to open a webpage

[TKG26]

I think my issue and perhaps most others is the fact that everyone else(bell telus) is readily giving away UNLIMITED for 7$,15$ and 30$ depending on the time of year or promo. They too must realize that typical users don't use more then a gig a month... But realize that the public wants to know that they can use there iphone,touch phone or any data phone to its full potential without counting how many megs a day they are using...


It's like the all you can eat buffet. The attraction is "all you can eat". The reality is you don't typically eat much more then a regular restaruant... And you most certainly would not eat that much every day... Knowing you can get out of control when you want to is nice to know for 9.99$ LOL Also the restaruant owners know this and that is why they don't go out of bussiness. They know our eyes are bigger then our mouths!

[profets]

thats definitely true. you get a feeling of security with unlimited and not worrying about going over. i guess an issue with rogers though is that i could take my sim card out and throw it into pc card/laptop and surf away, download, whatever.. gotta create a limit somehow.
actually i'd rather have a 6gig limit and be able to use that data on my laptop or multiple phones (when switching sim card around) than being 30 UL on 1 device.

either way, at least we've seen improvements compared to a year ago

[james99]

I read in today's paper that only 1 customer exceeded the 6gb limit.

That seems a little strange.

[WolfDV]

that cant be right.. i personally know two people that have exceed the 6gb promo

my bro .. iphone with tethering app (did around 7.2gb) .. however rogers rep was nice enough to credit back overages as it was the first offence

my friend .. 6gb plan on old bb, uses sim in aircard. used just over 6gb, like 6.4gb (rogers also credited back overages eventually after he called 3 times to complain)