Rogers offers Canada $30/month 6GB data plan

So are they still charging $15 for caller ID? That part just makes me want to throw up in my mouth.

Mmmm, I for one can't wait to eat bird.

This is just a baby step in the right direction... Don't get me wrong I think this is a good move for Roger's and for it's customers. Roger's should be applauded for being responsive, and doubly so for being response in such a short time frame (big companies don't/can't usually move so quickly). However, IMHO the true goal should be "more flexibility for the consumer." I hope Oilchange.com continues the revolution (Oilchange.com bought ruinediphone.com)

Therefore the "win" here for the consumer is that a data plan is being offered uncoupled from the voice plan. Not that you could have a data plan without a voice plan (that'd be even better, similar to all of us that would like DSL without a voice plan and get screwed in the process), but you don't need a top tier ($$) voice plan to get a robust data plan, or vice versa.

The ideal would be that all services would be offered a la cart at differing price points.. and all without a contract. Pick independently from 4-5 voice plans, 4-5 messaging plans, 4-5 data plans, and be free to take your hardware elsewhere at any time. Do recall that while not "sanctioned" there are apps out there for VOIP and Tethering. Rogers is wise to not assume users wouldn't make use of those and run up there data use accordingly. Therefore, if the top tier of those were to be unlimited, that's great, but those SHOULD be expensive. I'm much more concerned at the value of the bottom tier of service than at the top.

Specifically in regards to Rogers text messaging I obviously think paying separately for text message plans is fantastic and should NOT change. Personally I don't use that many text messages a month (a dozen or so at most) and it's always cheaper for me to pay per message than $5 for 200 or whatever the AT&T package happens to be. Further there are now apps that bypass text messaging altogether. I would hate to lose the opportunity to "save" a few dollars by being forced into a package I wouldn't make use of.

So, again this is just a baby step for consumers, an important one, but small one.

For all those that can't imagine non-unlimited plans... consider this. Once upon a time we had land line based phones and there was no such thing as contracts nor unlimited plans. It was simple you paid for what you used. Further mobile phones now all have the processing power and communication facility to accurately track your expenses in real time. Few providers make use of such functionality easily accessible because if they did YOU the consumer might reduce your usage if you were, but you could and would know at any instant exactly how much of your allotted minutes, messages, data cap you've utilized.