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Having said that, I hope it scares the crap out of Comcast (and any other ISP dumb enough to try this).

I hope it scares the crap out of every ISP that promotes high speed internet connections for large file transfers, while manipulating traffic behind the scenes.

For example, Rogers in Canada which states "Enjoy the next generation of Internet service great for sharing large files and much more", while throttling the P2P services (or any encrypted connection) that are required for the very same as reported here.

and that would be me. :)

As a Canadian, I didn't have much choice. It was unlock it, or wait until Apple and Rogers get their act together.(Rogers is basically the only GSM carrier in canada. Fido is the other one, but it's owned by rogers now)

There's no light at the end of the tunnel for Canadians either. There are 2 hurdles currently slowing down the release of the iphone in Canada:

1) the iPhone name is already trademarked by a voip company called Comwave. I know this because I'm an iphone customer in more ways than one! :)

2) the data rates in Canada are insanely stupid. I don't even subscribe to data and just rely on wifi around the big cities to fulfill my data needs. The best deal I can get from Rogers is $10 for 10MB. After that, it's $0.03/KB. Yes, you can do the math. The 2nd 10MB will cost you another $300**. Now you know why I don't subscribe to data.

Going the unlock route might even make sense when indeed it does show up north of the border. You know they'll force you to subscribe to data, and you know they'll want a lock in for 2-3 years. So even if it was available in Canada now, I might still have unlocked an iphone anyhow.

Just my $0.02 CND. (And yes, it's actually worth more than your $USD now :P)

** - Can someone double check for me, I'm still in disbelief at the $300 for the 2nd 10MB :)

My cell phone carrier has a service that can identify virtually any song from a 15 second sample transmitted through the cell phone.

It's not like any specific part is needed here -- All the RIAA needs to do is request a small portion of the file (say, 15 seconds worth -- Trivial to determine if you pull the headers first, not much harder if you pull the middle of an MP3)

Doesn't every cell phone company in North America offer a service like you describe?
Maybe a Google search for music identifier?

Rogers/Fido, Bell and Telus up in Canada make AT&T look competent and benign.

Rogers data plans : http://www.shoprogers.com/store/wireless/services/ voice/navigate-mobile-internet.asp?

Bell data plan examples: http://www.bell.ca/shopping/en_CA_AB/PrsShpWls_Rtp IRPList.page?wlcs_catalog_category_id=TreoPocketPC RatePlans

Telus data plan examples: http://www.telusmobility.com/ab/plans/pcs/talkemai l_all.shtml

Couple those rates with service that is slightly less friendly than AT&T's.

"Rogers does not use or disclose personal information for purposes other than those for which it was collected, except with the consent of the individual or as required by law. Rogers retains personal information only as long as necessary for the fulfillment of those purposes."

http://www.shoprogers.com/privacy1.asp

Live TV is not dead. It just requires a live event to make you want to watch: sports, concerts, debates, fights, etc.

Communications is an eyes & ears business... Some media moguls understand this -- buying up or getting exclusive deals with sports teams & venues ensures revenue stream from eyeballs no matter how it happens.

Appointment TV is also not dead, it's just a bit different. For 12 million people, the season finale of Heroes is appointment-worthy. In an on-demand world, viewings just might be spread out across 2-3 days instead of a single hour.

Fido http://www.fido.ca/portal/en/packages/monthly.shtm l
Unlimited incoming: $25
Any time: $20
Fido to Fido: $25

Telus http://www.telusmobility.com/bc/plans/pcs/index.sh tml
Talk a lot 20: $20
Urban Talk 30: $30
Or there's their prepaid plans which can be cheaper if you don't call much: http://www.telusmobility.com/bc/plans/payandtalk/i ndex.shtml

Rogers/Cantel http://www.shoprogers.com/store/wireless/services/ plans_and_options.asp
MegaTime from $20

I'm not sure how much you expect cellphone service to cost; but $20-30/month (note each plan has a system access fee of about $8) is pretty reasonable, and many offer free or cheap phones.

Depends. For Ontario, I drive north to Sudbury and Manitoulin Island a fair amount and I get EDGE access along most of 400/69/17 with a few GPRS spots and a few dead spots. The further one is from the corridor or an urban center, the worse the coverage, unfortunately. Southwestern Ontario seems covered

Be assured, $0.02 per kB is absurdly cheap compared to Canada. Here's one of the the easier to link provider's pricing page (their rates are nearly equal to the nearly impossible to link Rogers, who are the #2 largest provider in Canada, and Bell, the #1 largest cellular internet provider in Canada is more expensive).

$40 in Canada buys 7 megabytes of cellular internet through Fido. You can verify it yourself, but Rogers (if the link works) gives you 7 MB also, and Bell (LOL if that link works) gives you either 1 MB of data service for $45 on your Blackberry (dead serious), 4 MB of data on your Palm for $40, or 8 MB on a PC Card (they will not service anything else).

(Oh, and yes, I am considering purchasing a US cellphone and using it in roaming mode in Canada to save money. Stupid, but true. I looked up the pricing plans, and while I've not found anything as good as what you mention, $0.002 per kB is absurdly cheap here.)

Cellular internet *was* $50 a month flat rate from almost all the providers several years ago. However, the impetus for that rate was from Fido, who were purchased by Rogers to quash service rates like that. Aren't monopolies great?

Rogers and Bell both operate HotSpot services in Canada.. Look for HotSpot stickers on the doors of your local Starbucks or Second Cup - as well as other places. They'll even charge it to your Bell or Rogers mobile phone bill...I think all the big Canadian mobile phone providers are in on the action.. even Telus.

http://www.shoprogers.com/business/wireless/plans_ services/hotspot.asp

http://www.bell.ca/shop/en_CA_BC/Sme.Sol.Wireless. Solutions.Hotspots.page

http://www.telusmobility.com/on/business_solutions /hotspot.shtml

3G data usage is charged at the rate of R2/mb, which is around 0.32 USD per megabyte. That's for out-of-bundle rates, so if you signed up for a data bundle, the per megabyte rate would be even lower. Data speeds are unbelievably fast - last week I had to retrieve an email attachment in the client basement parking (prior to a meeting with the client). Attachment was 2Mb in size, it took less than a minute to download it.

God, I should move to Africa. Here in Canada with Rogers it costs 7 dollars for a plan with just 1 MB of data on EDGE.

Pretty sad that a "3rd world country" has data cheaper than here.

Seriously, until the carriers have some more reasonable data plans available, all this speed is useless. There is currently no way to get an "unlimited" data plan without a Blackberry with Rogers, and check out this BS added to their "unlimited" blackberry plan:

***Rogers Wireless reserves the right to limit usage and charge $7 per additional MB for excessive usage over 25 MB of data per month.

So, "unlimited" == 25 MB now? WTF?

The only carrier I know of in North America with an true "unlimited" data plan is T-Mobile. I don't know how these companies expect a wireless revolution to take place when they are gouging the prices like this.

I would gladly pay $35 / month for unlimited wirless data + only 100 anytime minutes. Unlimited talk time is useless to me - I want mobile data access dammit!

Rogers Hi-Speed Extreme, 6mbit down, 800k up = CAD$46.95/month.

http://www.shoprogers.com/store/cable/InternetCont ent/compare.asp

It's fantastic. I don't understand how the US can be lagging so far behind though.. Shouldn't they be cheaper and faster then us?

Ummm.. You're talking about Rogers Cable. Rogers Wireless operates in all provinces, from coast to coast

Ummm.. You're talking about Rogers Cable. Rogers Wireless operates in all provinces, from coast to coast

I'm running on the GPRS package from rogers with a Lite Data plan.

Rogers Data Plans

Rogers System PDF

This allows me to get around 56k connection, of course this is the optimum connection speed.

Since I only use this for checking my email, surfing the web, and sshing into my home system, this works pretty good. Just a warning though, it can get a bit expensive if your going to do alot of downloading.

The ROKR will be available in Canada exclusively from Rogers Wireless, according to this Motorola Canada site. Too bad there isn't more detailed information though. Rogers Wireless' site has no information on the phone or its pending availability unfortunately.

Canada land area: 9,093,507

Cost of cable broadband: $40CDN
Cost of DSL broadband: $29CDN

Moral of the story: There's more to it than just geography.

Rogers.com Hi-Speed Internet Ultra-Lite

most if not all DSL providers here in ontario offer either 3.0mbps or 4.0mbps down and 400-800kbps up. for a range of $35ish-$70ish canadian if you own a modem. rogers offers there HS and HS extreme 3000/384 and 5000/800 respectively, for $45 the later requires a one time $80 fee to buy a docsis 2.0 modem but i the case of my significant others area are really sucking at upgrading their equipment to support their new docsis 2.0 stuff and the speed is really bad. plus 10-20% packet loss. yes rogers sucks.

most if not all DSL providers here in ontario offer either 3.0mbps or 4.0mbps down and 400-800kbps up. for a range of $35ish-$70ish canadian if you own a modem. rogers offers there HS and HS extreme 3000/384 and 5000/800 respectively, for $45 the later requires a one time $80 fee to buy a docsis 2.0 modem but i the case of my significant others area are really sucking at upgrading their equipment to support their new docsis 2.0 stuff and the speed is really bad. plus 10-20% packet loss. yes rogers sucks.

yeah... really well hidden. Seimens C56 from Rogers. Just about the most simplistic model on the marketplace, but it should be you fine if you don't want anything whizz-bang.

It took a 2 minute search and I'm not even Canadian (although I did study there a few years ago).

T

Basically since they didn't want to buy modems for the customers (which, up until this point, customers were required to rent a cable modem) they offered the dangling carrot. For $100 (CAD), minus a $20 rebate, one could acquire a DOCSIS 2.0 modem from a Rogers Video store, and own said modem.

When you do this, you get put on a new tier of 5Mbit down/800 Kbit up that actually delivers those speeds. (I know because I'm on this tier right now.) And the price is still $44.95 per month. Rogers has been nothing but good for the past year -- yes, they screwed it up pretty badly when @Home bit the dust, but I think they've redeemed themselves lately. See for yourself if you haven't heard about the plan.

Rogers also seems to be pretty good as a wireless provider. I've got a few acquaintances with their new GSM phones. Not sure how their customer service is for wireless, but the Cable Internet people seem to be alright (flushing tables, confirming network outages, not treating me like crap) when I have the need to call.

(Now that I preview, the post seems a bit of a shill to me, but I am not associated with Rogers in any way. I just think the parent may need to justify their reasons.)

I get to watch Enterprise, West Wing, CSI, CSI: Miami, Navy NCIS, JAG, Alias, Sopranos, Deadwood, NYPD Blue, Smallville, Law & Order, Judging Amy, Fraiser, Kingdom Hospital, Without a Trace, Joan of Arcadia, Third Watch, Crossing Jordan, Cold Case, ER and a few other unknown shows all in HDTV. I hardly watch the other channels anymore because they look so bad.

HDTV is the future, no doubt about it...

1. Shaw (The cable company)
2. Rogers (Another cable company)
3. MTS (The phone company)
4. Skycable (Wireless RF)
5. Bell Expressview (Satellite)
6. Star Choice (Satellite)
7. Probably a bunch more I'm forgetting

Tivo isn't available in Canada... but if it is or isn't dying, I couldn't overly care, since the technology in general is excellent and more competition should give us better prices and more choices. I bet you'll be able to buy a PVR with a 400+ GB hard disk and DVD player/burner in 2-3 years for like 200 bucks. They will become immensely popular.

> no monthly download cap

Not quite true - see their AUP.

Tivo is not available here, but it seems more and more of the Digital Cable/Satellite providers are offering combo decoder-PVR boxes.

Good thing about this is they already know what channels you get, deal with all your listings. No calls, no updating, no programming.

I'm in Montreal, with Videotron, and they offer such a box for $650, plus $140 programming credit, that means a cheaper cable bill for eight months. So it costs $509, but there is no competition really, as this is the only Cable service in my area, other than the 5820 offered by Bell Canada, but it's a satellite box, and not allowed in my apartment building. The boxes for Videotron are manufactured by Scientific Atlanta, which has more info on them here.

I do believe other cable co's in Canada offer these, Quick searching turns up one at Rogersas well

no.. you are wrong...

Go back and read where I said "North America" - high-end SonyEricsson and Nokia models are available in Canada anyway.

The fact that Sprint and Verison are split off into CDMA only networks really drives the last nail into the coffin for reasonably cost efficient cellular service and equipment in the US.

What is this obsession with GSM/GPRS that people have? I'll put a CDMA1X network up against GSM/GPRS any time. Faster data rates, supported by mobile phone environments (Symbian, etc.), good phones. Look at the CDMA1X deployments in Asia for an example.

North America has a different set of problems then those that fact European carriers, but I would hardly say that North American consumers are living in some sort of cell-phone dark age as compared to Europe. That is idiocy.

Wish that was the case... but im with Rogers... which basically has the cable monopoly in Eastern Canada. They charge 8.95 a month for digital cable ( which is basically the setop box rental ) or 14.95 $ / month for HD capable digital cable.

Then again, anyone who has dealt with Rogers for either CableTV or Internet... or even cellular... knows their a right set of bastards!

However, the manufacturers of digitial boxes do not sell to consumers, and cable companies have so far only been renting boxes to customers.

Not sure about US, but in Canada, cable companies do sell, and non-cable companies

Perhaps that's why my Rogers Highspeed Internet account kept disconnecting...
Or perhaps the network was overloaded with users, and the company just really sucks.

Sweet. :-)

Link here

Now, this is only the case in the more heavily populated areas in Canada. As you get further out, first DSL disappears, then Cable. This is due to the fact that DSL is apparently difficult to send over long distances.

However, where it really gets interesting, is when you hear about how Bell used to be the telephone monopoly in Canada, and Rogers used to be the (Cable) Television monopoly. Now, Bell sells Satellite Television, and there have been rumors about Rogers selling Telephone service in the future!

All the rules have changed!

How does this compare to the Motorola V101? Has anyone used this phone yet? Supposedly a GSM phone, can do email, sms and all that... and it's only $99.00 CDN with subscription

As an aside, it's funny how a replacement battery is 99 bucks too, in light of the battery discusion posted earlier.

No, you don't have a hard time getting your Rogers High Speed Internet Access, it just costs an extra $10 a month if you are not a cable subscriber.

The standard cost for a Rogers subscriber is:

Monthly Service Fee: $39.95 Cdn.

Monthly Modem Rental: $5.00 Cdn.

Which is $44.95 Cdn. a Month, plus applicable taxes.

But GSM/GPRS is just getting off the ground with the US carriers w/VoiceStream [voicestream.com] and AT&T [attws.com].

.. And Rogers in Canada.

These discussions about american cable and internet access prices always shock me. In comparison to my country (Canada) the US has a much higher population density. And therefore, for technologies like DSL and cable which require more hardware per distance from the central office, it should be LESS expensive to deploy these in the US in comparison to Canada since on average, the american companies should get more subscribers (and revenue) per amount of hardware:

For example (In Canada, monthly costs:)
Cable TV (deluxe package): CDN$44.34
DSL (worst case): CDN$24.95
Phone Service (Sprint): CDN$19.95

Total: CDN$89.24 or US$55.93 for DSL, long distance and cable TV.

Now to me, US$200+ for all that stuff is a rip-off in the extreme. I honestly don't know how Americans have put up with prices being pumped up this high and not revolting. These prices are certainly more than inflated and you are well justtified in complaining.

Note (1): I pay abour CDN$30/month for internet access, but that's because I don't live in an area with broadband coverage, and my package includes dual-dialup multilink and a shell account.

Note (2): The deluxe packages for Canadian satellite TV are more in the CDN$40/month range.

In Canada, the effectiveness of cable depends on the company providing it. The Rogers@Home service is a mess, from all user accounts - slower than dialup at peak times. Other providers are doing reasonably well. Personally, I use the competing ADSL service, which I have found to be reliable.

My concern with cable is privacy. Essentially the network is structured as a LAN which you share, unsecured, with all your neighbors. Nobody has been talking about encryption or privacy for these systems, and it wouldn't be too hard in principle to spy on the packets flying through the system. The story goes that when the system was first introduced, if you were using Windows you could see all your neighbors' shared directories on your Network Neighborhood.