I read an interesting post on http://slashdot.org about the problem of high prices for internet connectivity in the US. And I had to laugh, because those rates are very low compared to the rates in Canada. But then I thought, if US rates are consider too high compared to those in Europe and Japan, what does mean for *our* rates? They must be unconscionably high (which is just what many people have been arguing).
The Slashdot post I read is here: http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=254287&threshold=1&commentsort=0&mode=thread&cid=19965855
Showing posts with label wireless. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wireless. Show all posts
2007-07-24
2007-06-19
Canada's outrageous wireless data prices
Prices for wireless data (the charge for using your phone to browse the internet or download data from your office or home computer) in Canada are higher than most third-world countries. Check the graph in this article:
And if you can handle a little obscenity from angry cellular users, read this article on Digg.com
If you used your cellular phone to transfer 500 MB of data in a month (that's about TWO graphics-rich web pages per day), your charge in the US would be between $60 and $70. In Canada, it would be $1600 with Rogers or Fido !!!!
Don't waste your money buying one of those new data-capable smartphones if you live in Canada. Instead, buy a wireless LAN card for your laptop and look for free WiFi locations in your city. Or even sign up with Fatport at rates as low as $35/month or $70 for 3 months, at fatport.com
Another provider is Boingo, at boingo.com They charge $22 per month, or $8 per day, for unlimited usage at any of their hotspots. Those prices are for laptop access. If you have a cellphone or PDA, you get charged only $8/month!
Telus has hotspots available at $40 for one month or $25/month for a national unlimited subscription.
Here is a list of locations offering free WiFi across Canada: wififreespot.com
Here's a list of 1801 free and commercial WiFi locations across Canada: jiwire.com
And here's a different list: www.wi-fihotspotlist.com
And if you can handle a little obscenity from angry cellular users, read this article on Digg.com
If you used your cellular phone to transfer 500 MB of data in a month (that's about TWO graphics-rich web pages per day), your charge in the US would be between $60 and $70. In Canada, it would be $1600 with Rogers or Fido !!!!
Don't waste your money buying one of those new data-capable smartphones if you live in Canada. Instead, buy a wireless LAN card for your laptop and look for free WiFi locations in your city. Or even sign up with Fatport at rates as low as $35/month or $70 for 3 months, at fatport.com
Another provider is Boingo, at boingo.com They charge $22 per month, or $8 per day, for unlimited usage at any of their hotspots. Those prices are for laptop access. If you have a cellphone or PDA, you get charged only $8/month!
Telus has hotspots available at $40 for one month or $25/month for a national unlimited subscription.
Here is a list of locations offering free WiFi across Canada: wififreespot.com
Here's a list of 1801 free and commercial WiFi locations across Canada: jiwire.com
And here's a different list: www.wi-fihotspotlist.com
2007-06-18
Test post from Blackberry
Virgin Mobile charges less than the other Canadian cellular companies
but their rates are still high... They're only wildly usurious instead
of outrageously usurious. Still, "moblogging" is supposedly all the
rage, so, as long as I can use the "unlimited" data plan on my
company-supplied Blackberry at no extra cost to them or me, why not
get in on the fun?
but their rates are still high... They're only wildly usurious instead
of outrageously usurious. Still, "moblogging" is supposedly all the
rage, so, as long as I can use the "unlimited" data plan on my
company-supplied Blackberry at no extra cost to them or me, why not
get in on the fun?
Now, if only this thing had a camera in it....
--
Stewart Midwinter
stewart@midwinter.ca
stewart.midwinter@gmail.com
Skype, GoogleTalk, iChatAV, MSN, Yahoo: midtoad
AIM:midtoad1
2006-03-02
2005-10-21
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