$241.10… that’s the number I read in bold on a recent Rogers Wireless bill, this for having the privilege of using my smart phone. No doubt you’ve been there before - You spend a few days in another country, make a couple of calls, moblog a few pictures from your phone and voila… prepare yourself for a shock when the bill arrives. I should know better, however, something inside me keeps saying, ”maybe it won’t  happen again this month”… forget about that! So I have to ask, with all the great devices on the market and all the fantastic applications available to users, how is one supposed to use these mobile services and applications without getting hit so hard in the wallet?

I love my smartphone as much as the next guy but when am I going to get my “all you can eat GPRS plan”, even more so, when are the carriers going to start marketing such plans effectively? Perhaps you’re not sure what I’m ranting about, or perhaps this scenario doesn’t happen in your part of the World, so, I’ll put it into context. I live in Canada and opt for a GPRS plan from Rogers wireless (AT&T). Wisely preparing for travel, I always pre-purchase additional data packets (a whopping 2MB for $12) so I can moblog, check email, chat, browse the web, or use other data services accessible from my Nokia 6682 (I’d use the Nokia 6680 but getting service from Rogers on this device is simply not an option in my locale… too bad… given that I shell out $200 a month quite often for their service you’d think they could support a “World phone”.

The kicker… even though I wisely pre-purchase data packets, here in North America the roaming charges are staggering and essentially serve as a tremendous barrier to entry for most people looking at using a GPRS smart phone. Something many “newbie” North-American-based smart phone users may not know, roaming charges apply not only to voice calls, they are also applied to text message and data usage. So, while on a recent business trip to Orlando, Florida, I decide to mo-blog some photos (low-resolution thank goodness!)  to my flicker account – See Images from Orlando captured via my Nokia 6682 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/gisuser/sets/1435280/ . Using 2,330 KB of data services/uploads I am now the proud recipient of $116.55 in data roaming charges. Add on another $11 for text messaging roaming charges and $44 of voice roaming charges and you can sense the frustration when browsing my 8 page phone bill.

For me I look at the unrealistic charges as the cost of doing business. In my line of work I’m expected to have a mobile device at the ready, be prepared to upload photos and correspond via email… I can live with it I suppose. Can I accept the fact? Sorry but no can do. Joe public will never be willing to accept this scenario, not in North America anyway.  Are there solutions? Perhaps… first and foremost, carriers like Rogers need to provide better information for travelers. Online marketing material for plans and options needs to be vastly improved, customer service needs to be improved BIG TIME, and geographic disparities in plan offerings need to be eliminated. Roaming charges and agreements need to be secured amongst North American carriers… whatever happened to North American Free trade?

These problems are by no means restricted to Canada or North America for that matter. Regardless of where you reside you need to be aware of the charges and hidden-fees that may creep onto your cell plan bill, particularly while roaming from your carrier’s territory. How to save $$ in the mean time? Use text messaging and minimize data throughput. Get yourself a Wi-Fi enabled device and take advantage of free Internet access (not always an option). Other solutions… lug a “portable” notebook around and access your Internet and email using that device (not always a viable option). Final option, consider a Blackberry for use while traveling.

Do you have a similar story? Do you have a solution or can you suggest a plan, device, or other suitable alternative? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

Note: A typical Rogers wireless monthly GPRS plan that includes 2 MB data access, text messaging (simple plan) and 150 talk time costs between $60-$75… roaming and over-limit/usage charges not included.

A UK Perspective

In a related scenario providing the UK perspective along with some fine user feedback  – Steve Litchfield at AAS recently published a piece titled Making no sense without flat rate GPRS – from Steve… There's a veritable flood of Internet-borne 'services' that you access on your smartphone coming out of America (and specifically the CES show) but what they're announcing makes no sense whatsoever in most of the rest of the world.

So here I am, watching all the amazing new devices (like the N-Series line up) come to market. Imaging, messaging, Internet, Video, television, yadayada. I can't wait to get my hands on a new device (like the Nseries, Eseries, a 9300i, or a Sony Ericsson 990 - all of which are Wi-Fi enabled.. sweet!)  These devices all have a pretty hefty price tag, however, throw in Wi-Fi access and it could be that maybe I can't afford not to have one! Device convergence may be all for not though, as the best solution might be to use my cell phone for all my VOICE apps (there's an interesting concept) and a second device like the recently launched Nokia 770 Internet tablet whenever free Wi-Fi hotspots are in proximity... sounds good to me! (The 770 retails for about $350). Those looking to use one device will no doubt embrace the latest Wi-Fi enabled devices previously mentioned... those who have room for 2 devices and need a larger form factor will consider the 770. Is the 770 ahead of its time? Will it go the way of the N-Gage? Are users ready for a Linux device? These questions will be answered as we head into 2006.

Do You have advice or comments??

The large screen makes browsing the Internet using the 770 a very comfortable experience - at $350 US (approx) this could be THE device for 2006!

For related information, see this post titled "Browsing: The Mobile Data Killer App" at Russell Beattie's weblog and details of this recent Nokia study on smartphone usage (Source: Simon Judge). See also this report on Mobile Data service usage by Telphia (PDF)