Difference between WirelessInternet and Surf,download and Play?

[R.]

I'm thinking of switching from the Wireless Internet option to the
Surf, download and play option... I noticed you can get 2mb for $5...
now, the question is: what is the difference between them? I'm
actually using an unlocked Treo to access my POP email, very little web
use and more importantly using an instant messaging client (not the one
through Fido).

Are any ports blocked? Any restrictions? Can any website be accessed?
(their description says "...browse over 10,000 sites")

I'm thinking I might just activate it for a day and see if I can do all
the things I need it to do. Does anyone know the settings I need: APN,
username/passwd?

[JF Mezei]

Post by R.
I'm thinking of switching from the Wireless Internet option to the
Surf, download and play option... I noticed you can get 2mb for $5...
now, the question is: what is the difference between them?

Well, consider that in the true GPRS section, they charge $12.00 for 1
megabyte. More than double the $5.00 for 2mb. So there must be a catch...


In the Surf page, there is mention that if you want to use your laptop, you
need to need to pay for the "internet options". (aka: the real GPRS).

I strongly suspect that the Surf&Play is , like for many USA network snd
Rogers, restricted to their "portal". I'll have to call tomorrow to
inquire. I currently pay $5.00 for 500kb (cheaper than the $12.00 for 1mb).
But if the $5.00 for 2mb provides real connectivity, this would be a really
great dead.

Restricted access means that you access the rest of the world from your
FIDO. And that also means that you cannot access external POP/SMTP servers.

What is the catch ? Fido/Rogers becomes like Loblaws: Loblaws only puts a
product on its shelves if the manufacturer pays Loblaws for the shelfspace.

In the same sense, Rogers only puts a web site on its portal if that web
site pays to be on that portal.



In my case, since the $5.00 for 500kb is no longer offered, I cannot afford
to try another package just for the sake of it since I wouldn't be able to
return to my original one.


And those pages now have warnings that when roaming, your monthly internet
usage banks won't apply and you'll pay per kb used while roaming. (with
costs rising, of course).

Also, consider that when they restrict usage to their portal, it also
prevents you from downloading ringtones from "free" sites and you have to
buy your ringtones from Fido-approved sites (aka those that pay Fido for
the right to be listed on the portal and probably share the revenus from
teenagers who buy ringtones).

[JF Mezei]

Called Fido today.

My $5.00 for 500kb is no longer available. (but I am grand fathered).

The Play&Surf is limited to WAP within Fido's portal.

GPRS packages (the cheapest is now $12 for 1 meg) is not limited and you
can access any IP on the internet, check your email via POP and send emails
via SMTP.

So the $5.00 for 2mb Surf&Play is just a package that allows you to access
Fido's portal and Fido approved ringtones etc. AKA: Useless.

[R.]

Hehe... I'm in the same situation - I have the $5 for 500Kb grand
fathered plan and I really don't want to give it up now. I actually
tried to have both plans on my account but that was a no go from Fido.
However, you can try out the wap and it will count towards your half
meg per month.

The surf, download and play is not totally useless, you can actually
browse the web with it as long as you can set a proxy in your browser.
However, all the other ports are closed so if you need to use a IM
program (like I do) then you're SOL.

It was really funny when the CSR offered to upgrade me to the 1Mb for
$12... I guess they don't grasp the concept of unit price going down as
you go up in volume.

I may be (slightly) wrong here but I believe Canada has the highest
data rates in the world, and yes, I've been to quite a few countries.
I was paying $1/Mb on a pay-as-you-go-plan in Europe. Petition anyone?
;)

Post by JF Mezei
Called Fido today.
My $5.00 for 500kb is no longer available. (but I am grand fathered).
The Play&Surf is limited to WAP within Fido's portal.
GPRS packages (the cheapest is now $12 for 1 meg) is not limited and you
can access any IP on the internet, check your email via POP and send emails
via SMTP.
So the $5.00 for 2mb Surf&Play is just a package that allows you to access
Fido's portal and Fido approved ringtones etc. AKA: Useless.

[JF Mezei]

Post by R.
It was really funny when the CSR offered to upgrade me to the 1Mb for
$12... I guess they don't grasp the concept of unit price going down as
you go up in volume.

Their argument would be:

With the $5.00 plan, doing 1 megabytes would cost you:

$5.00 for the first 500kb, and then 500 * 0.03 for the remaining 500 kb =
$20 total. So to them the $12 deal is good.

Also remember that since Rogers became Fido's master, any competitive
prices Fido had have been removed/raised.

When the federal government allowed Rogers to buy Fido, it also implicitely
decided to widthdraw its policy of competition in the wireless field. As a
result, there is no longer any need to limit the bandwidth given to the big
bad monopolies just in case a new entrant would show up.

Perhaps if the networks had more bandwidth, data services wouldn't be at
such a premium (since data can take up a lot of the bandwidth).

Post by R.
I was paying $1/Mb on a pay-as-you-go-plan in Europe. Petition anyone?

Why a petition ? Rogers only needs to compete against Bell/Telus. And Bell
only needs to compete against Telus and Rogers. So If Bell has high data
rates, Rogers need not lower their rates, And vice-versa.

Fido had a vision originally of creating a huge marketplace by offering
affordable rates. The big bad guys don't have vision. They have quarterly
financial reports to present to the press/banks and there is no room in
there to have vision of creating bigger market for data by lowering the rates.