With lots of anger over the announced plans for the Rogers, Fido iPhone 3G customers it comes as little surprise that this petition and website has turned up and with a tagline of “Screwing Canadian iPhone customers since ‘08″ it cannot be made any clearer.
So for all the Canadian readers out, who are upset you may want to head on over to voice your opinion. As of this posting (around 12 noon EST) there are 17,685 signatures, however I am sure that will grow quickly as it seems they have been featured on both CNN Money and also Reuters Canada.
In addition to signing the petition, there is also an open letter to Steve Jobs. Personally I am not sure what he could do at this point, considering the deal has been done, but I suppose it cannot hurt. Hit the link below to check it out and offer your support.
My question is, even knowing that these plans are not what we were hoping for but; How many of these 17,000 plus people will actually choose to not buy the iPhone?
Dear Steve,
My name is James and I would like to thank you for creating the wonderful iPhone device. We really think that you will change the world with it, just as you changed the world with the iPod. We were so happy to learn that on July 11th, we would finally be able to buy the iPhone and legally use it in Canada.
To our great disappointment, Rogers Communications Inc. has announced VERY unfair rates in comparison to AT&T in the United States and to other authorized wireless service providers around the world. As a result, a consumer movement was born yesterday (June 27th) in protest against these rates.
Nearly 6,000 people have signed an online petition to help make a difference and the list is growing rapidly. In the last 48 hours, the website has had 40,000 unique visitors from around the world supporting Canadian consumers. There are a vast number of Canadians that would take the opportunity to buy an iPhone at $199CAD but these new plans have put it out of reach for many.
I would like to invite you to take a look at all these disappointed people at www.ruinediphone.com.
I was going to buy an iPhone for me, my girlfriend and my family.
Now, sadly, I cannot afford the plan.
I hope you can do something Steve; we are loyal customers and trust that you will. We don’t want to lose faith in Apple.
Thank you,
James Hallen
Representing nearly 6,000 Canadian consumers.

July 2nd, 2008 at 10:58 am
Site has been updated…
http://inflexion.iisnet-networks.com/~iphone/index.php
July 8th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
As long as “they” are a monopoly, what do you expect! They can charge whatever they want and the customer be damned.