Extra data price beats Koodo, Virgin
TORONTO – Rogers Communications today announced its Fido brand is eliminating data overage fees with the launch of Data Overage Protection, a new feature which will be included in new Fido data, talk and text plans starting today.
Customers will receive an SMS notification when they reach 90% of their limit and another at 100% when their data is paused. If customers want more data, they can immediately buy 1GB for $15 right from their smartphone. The maximum any carrier can charge in terms of overage fees, inside Canada is $50/month, a limit which is set out in the CRTC’s Wireless Code.
“We know that data overage fees are a major concern for some customers, and that many hold back from using the full data included in their plans,” said Nancy Audette, vice-president, Fido, in the Rogers release. “With Data Overage Protection, our customers can get the most out of their wireless plans and enjoy their services worry-free with no surprise charges.”
Such text warnings are something which have been available from the flagship Canadian wireless brands for a while – and the option has been the key feature of this summer’s Koodo ad campaign for “shock free data”.
The primary difference with that and this Fido plan is not necessarily the notifications, but the price. Fido’s offer is 1GB for $15 while Telus’ Koodo offers 100MB for $10. Bell’s Virgin brand also sends warnings to customers as they approach their data limits and sells extra data at 100MB for $10.
We asked both Telus and Bell if they would be matching the Fido pricing and will update the story when we get an answer.
The new Fido plans build on features the brand has introduced including 5 Extra Hours of Data, giving customers access to one free hour of data, five times a month, and Fido XTRA, offering Fido postpaid mobile and internet customers new perks every Thursday.
While Rogers led the way in re-pricing its main brand plans, the company has also eliminated zone restrictions on its chatr brand with nationwide plans and also feature no overage fees.
“These initiatives are part of the company’s multi-year program to invest and improve the customer experience across all of its brands,” reads the Rogers release.
