TORONTO - A Canadian online petition has been launched to protest the rate plans offered by Rogers Communications Inc. and its Fido subsidiary for Apple's iPhone when it goes on sale next week.
On Friday, Rogers and Fido released the pricing for iPhone calling plans, listing them as starting at $60 a month and requiring three-year contracts.
Nearly 22,000 had signed the online petition posted on the website RuinediPhone.com by 7 p.m. on Monday.
In an e-mail Monday, Rogers spokeswoman Liz Hamilton noted the calling plans announced last week were not the only price plans that would be available to customers.
"As always, our customers have many choices, they can use their existing voice and smartphone data plans if they wish, including for example, selecting from our new data pricing and then adding a voice plan that suits their own needs, or they can choose a voice and data plan to best suit their individual need," Hamilton wrote.
"With respect to existing customers, all customers' accounts are unique. If desired, customers can keep their existing voice service plan and pick a separate data plan to meet their needs."
The petition expresses "indignation" towards the two companies and accuses them of ruining the "iPhone Canadian dream" for potential subscribers.
In many of the posted messages, iPhone fans say they are disappointed with Rogers rates compared with those offered by carriers in the United States and other service providers around the world.
According to the website, a copy of the petition and all the posted messages will be sent to Rogers headquarters on July 11, the day the new iPhone goes on sale in Canada.
