Fido mobile data is a ripoff if you aren't grandfathered with an unlimited dataplan

[NOTE: Since I don't believe in whingeing :-), this will be my last post complaining about high mobile internet rates in Canada. My last post about this was: Wireless data in Canada is ridiculously expensive | Boris is right.]

I am very lucky to have my grandfathered unlimited mobile data plan from Fido of $50. Last month I used 252 MB of traffic (I am guessing about 75% was transmitting N70 cameraphone 2 megapixel photos via Shozu to flickr and 25% transmitting N70 cameraphone videos MPEG 4 of between 1-3MB each via Shozu to roland.blip.tv)

Here's how much it would have cost if I wasn't grandfathered :

  1. 500 KB plan: $5 + 251 * 30 = $7535
  2. 5 MB plan: $25 + (252 - 5) * 10 = $2495
  3. 25 MB plan: $50 + (252 - 25) * 30 = $6860
  4. 50 MB plan: $75 + (252 - 75) * 30 = $5385
  5. 100 MB plan: $100 + (252 - 100) * 30 = $4660

I guess the $50 that I pay is a lot cheaper than $2495 or even $7535 that others have to pay, eh :-) ?!?!

Not to mention the fact that you have to pay "4 ¢ per KB while roaming internationally" (which I guess includes the US). I don't have to pay this roaming fee in the US with my grandfathered plan.

Very interesting and very depressing for Canadians who actually want to create and share their mobile phone's photos and videos using the mobile internet i.e. without going through the "mobile phone to PC via Bluetooth or USB" chain of pain. Can somebody do the math for Rogers, Telus and Bell? Love to know if they are any cheaper! But somehow I doubt it!

From Options you can add.:

QUOTE

Mobile Internet options
Within Canada and the U.S.

Combine any of these options
with your monthly package. Monthly charge
500 KB $5
5 MB $25
25 MB $50
50 MB $75
100 MB $100
hiptop option - Unlimited data
hiptop device required $20

Note

Data transmission charges of 4¢ per KB apply for downloads. Options also available without a monthly airtime package (except 500 KB option and hiptop option), in which case, a system access fee of $6.95 per month applies.

$5 per month for 500 KB
Combine this option with your monthly package
500 KB of data transmission
Mobile Internet enabled handset or PC Card required
4 ¢ per KB while roaming internationally
Each additional MB costs $30

Taxes, international mobile Internet roaming charges, system access fee ($6.95), and other applicable charges not included.

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$25 per month for 5 MB
Each additional MB costs only $10
Mobile Internet enabled handset or PC Card required
You can subscribe to the $25 package alone or you may, except in the case of a hiptop or world PC Card, add it to a monthly airtime package.
4 ¢ per KB while roaming internationally

Taxes, international mobile Internet roaming charges, system access fee ($6.95), and other applicable charges not included.

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$50 per month for 25 MB
Mobile Internet enabled handset or PC Card required
You can subscribe to the $50 package alone or you may, except in the case of a PC Card, add it to a monthly airtime package.
4 ¢ per KB while roaming internationally
Each additional KB costs 3 ¢

Taxes, international mobile Internet roaming charges, system access fee ($6.95), and other applicable charges not included.

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$75 per month for 50 MB
Mobile Internet enabled handset or PC Card required
You can subscribe to the $75 package alone or you may, except in the case of a PC Card, add it to a monthly airtime package.
4 ¢ per KB while roaming internationally
Each additional KB costs 3 ¢

Taxes, international mobile Internet roaming charges, system access fee ($6.95), and other applicable charges not included.

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$100 per month for 100 MB
Mobile Internet enabled handset or PC Card required
You can subscribe to the $100 package alone or you may, except in the case of a PC Card, add it to a monthly airtime package.
4 ¢ per KB while roaming internationally
Each additional KB costs 3 ¢

Taxes, international mobile Internet roaming charges, system access fee ($6.95), and other applicable charges not included.

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hiptop option - $20 per month
Unlimited data
To surf, chat, manage your e-mail, stay organized, take pictures and download.
hiptop device required

Available with the hiptop device only; must be combined with a monthly airtime package. The Unlimited data hiptop option does not include text messages and is subject to certain restrictions. Taxes, international GPRS roaming charges, system access fee ($6.95), and other applicable charges not included.

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UNQUOTE

Comments

Agreed

I had "unlimited internet browsing option" which apparently doesn't include any data.  So if you somehow accidently access .html pages rather than WAP .wml sites, you will pay through the nose.  Also forget images, you're restricted to text-only.  Even then, apparently there's no guarantee you won't accidentally visit a site that's not recognized as a WAP site and you'll get charge 5c/kB.  They were nice enough to reverse my $15 accumulation of charges as "first time error."  In the end, I ditched the web option from my phone.  Can't trust it, don't want it.

I'm just wondering when mobile web access is going to become reasonable.  I guess that's a lot to ask when text messages are still grossly over-charged.

FIDO IS A MAJOR SCAMMMMMMM!!!

FIDO IS A MAJOR SCAMMMMMMM!!! Rip off fido is a major rip off, they were fraudulently billing my phone bill and illegally charging me for calls i never maid. They refused to believe me and accused me of lying! Fido is a scam! i had my complaint fwd to their fraud department and they never got back to and slapped me with another bill!!! I found out today that because the rep who submitted my report didn't include a certain note they rejected the complaint and never notified me in anyway. THE WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER, a truly garbage company! My business parnter also had a $1500 bill that had confusing charges on it. In my case I hadn't used my phone since i was on vacation for 2 moths and they charged me over $600.00 for calls made from cites i have never been too! HUGE warning on FIDO people, they are in the business of stealing money and blaming you. Fido is a ripoff, they take peoples money! I would stand clear of fido they maybe cheaper but with their Cheapness comes a price of quality, hounesty and integrity. their CEO Silvain Roy is a retard for improperly managing this business. I put in my second complaint lets see what happens, i will be cutting off my service with asap. Get this, because I put in a fraudulent claim they cannot cut off my service!!! lol what BS!! I better get my money back!

let's hope this comment is outdated soon

because we'll have decent data plans, here's hoping!

wayy outdated

im paying 80 dollars a month and getting everything from colour display to unlimited text and free after 5 and. also 6 gb of data a month i live in canada

The fees are ridiculous

I worked it out that to use the internet with my nokia 6682 it would cost me 86,000 times more than to use my cable internet with the exact same provider.

can't disagree unfortunately

n/t

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