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T-Mobile Bumps 'Simple Starter' Plan Allotment to 2 GB
T-Mobile continues to tinker with data allotments and pricing in the face of a freshly ambitious Sprint, quadrupling the data allotment on the company's "Simple Starter" plan. According to a T-Mobile announcement, the company's Simple Starter plan will now provide unlimited talk and text and cost $45 ($5 more) but will deliver 2 GB of data as opposed to the previous 500 MB. On Simple Starter, once you've reached the 2 GB your service is suspended and you'll need to buy a one day, 500 MB day pass for $5, or a 7-day, 1 GB pass for $10. This new higher-allotment version of the plan will be available September 3.
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Flyonthewall
@206.248.154.x

Flyonthewall

Anon

5 dollars for 1.5 gigs?

Seems a lot steep to me, especially if you end up getting knocked off and have to buy those day passes, and they are only 500MB for that $5, not 1.5GB.

I think it's the old frog in slowly boiling water going on here. They are trying to program the creeping increase of data prices just like gas companies are trying to train people to pay more for that commodity.

dnoyeB
Ferrous Phallus
join:2000-10-09
Southfield, MI

dnoyeB

Member

Re: 5 dollars for 1.5 gigs?

Agree sortof

For a previous tmobile change I had 2 phones, one with data (500MB) and one without. The data was extra ~$10. They dumped that plan.

The new plan included 1GB data for every phone but cost ~$15 more. Cheaper if you had two phones previously with data. +$5 if one of your phones was without data.

I think it was even better savings if you had more phones with data. For the data hungry the plans got better. For the data timid you get forced into data with I guess the hope you get addicted (like me). But not on my 2nd phone...

RadioDoc

join:2000-05-11
La Grange, IL

RadioDoc to Flyonthewall

to Flyonthewall
said by Flyonthewall :

you end up getting knocked off and have to buy those day passes

Exactly. What is the difference between that and traditional overages? The cost is absurd.

IPPlanMan
Holy Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC

IPPlanMan

Member

Re: 5 dollars for 1.5 gigs?

Overages happen often without people's knowledge.
This doesn't.
IPPlanMan

IPPlanMan

Member

Keep turning those screws T-Mobile...

Good stuff.

Packeteers
Premium Member
join:2005-06-18
Forest Hills, NY

Packeteers

Premium Member

Re: Keep turning those screws T-Mobile...

yup, this is what true competition makes possible - innovation and
increased value to consumers. too bad our FCC does not get that.
78036364 (banned)
join:2014-05-06
USA

78036364 (banned)

Member

Re: Keep turning those screws T-Mobile...

said by Packeteers:

yup, this is what true competition makes possible - innovation and
increased value to consumers. too bad our FCC does not get that.

let me know when T-Mobile 97% of the US not less than 70% THEN it's compeition

IPPlanMan
Holy Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC

2 recommendations

IPPlanMan

Member

Re: Keep turning those screws T-Mobile...

Will 96% suffice?

From: »www.t-mobile.com/coverage.html

T-Mobile covers 96% of Americans.

That's right, at T-Mobile we cover 96% of Americans coast to coast. Whether you're making calls, texting, or mapping directions, we've got you covered where you live, work, and play.

We're the fastest growing nationwide LTE network and we're not stopping there.

At T-Mobile, we're committed to making our network the best it can be for our customers. That's why we're upgrading our 2G/EDGE network to the latest-generation 4G LTE.

It's worth repeating: we're upgrading half of all our 2G/EDGE network to LTE by the end of this year and will be substantially complete in 2015. And we're just getting started.

JimThePCGuy
Formerly known as schja01.
MVM
join:2000-04-27
Morton Grove, IL

JimThePCGuy

MVM

Re: Keep turning those screws T-Mobile...

What percentage of Americans live in metropolitan areas? 96% ?
If you travel outside of metropolitan areas T-Mobile coverage is zilch. I'd LOVE to switch but can't because of their poor footprint.
And it's not that you roam outside of cities it's that you get "no coverage" where you can't even make a lifeline call.

delusion ftl
@204.124.13.x

delusion ftl

Anon

Re: Keep turning those screws T-Mobile...

This is false. All phones will dial out 911 on any carriers signal regardless of roaming agreements, or even an active line of service.
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT

BiggA to IPPlanMan

Premium Member

to IPPlanMan
They have a LOT of EDGE-only coverage, and a LOT of SOS-only areas (AT&T covered).

IPPlanMan
Holy Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC

IPPlanMan

Member

Re: Keep turning those screws T-Mobile...

As they've said, they're going to have half of their edge network converted to LTE by the end of this year, with the other half by 2015.

If T-Mobile has shown us anything, they do things ahead of schedule: VoLTE for example.
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT

BiggA

Premium Member

Re: Keep turning those screws T-Mobile...

I'll believe it when I see it. And they still have a lot of areas with no service to work on too.

IPPlanMan
Holy Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC

IPPlanMan

Member

Re: Keep turning those screws T-Mobile...

I'd say T-Mobile's track record is pretty good... Compare it to Sprint's Network Vision project which is hopelessly languishing in a number of top markets like DC and San Francisco, neither in which has Sprint officially launched LTE ... No contest there.
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT
·Frontier FiberOp..
Asus RT-AC68

BiggA

Premium Member

Re: Keep turning those screws T-Mobile...

Sprint's network is a total mess. But it still has more coverage than T-Mobile's by a decent margin, although it's still nothing compared to AT&T or Verizon. At least T-Mobile has GSM and disruptive pricing, particularly with international roaming to attract customers. Sprint has nothing.

IPPlanMan
Holy Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC

IPPlanMan

Member

Re: Keep turning those screws T-Mobile...

T-Mobile is moving incredibly quickly...
Nationwide VoLTE in mere months after Seattle test.
HD Voice
EDGE conversion to LTE. Half by end of 2014. Rest by 2015.
Deployment of 700Mhz spectrum

This is what Network Vision was supposed to be...
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT

BiggA

Premium Member

Re: Keep turning those screws T-Mobile...

Their network is still tiny compared to the big boys.
SunnyD
join:2009-03-20
Madison, AL

SunnyD

Member

So much for "Simple Choice" plans eh?

Wasn't T-Mo just a little while ago touting simplicity in its plan selections? I guess that's out the window now.

IPPlanMan
Holy Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC

1 edit

2 recommendations

IPPlanMan

Member

Re: So much for "Simple Choice" plans eh?

What's complicated about this?
There are two tiers. Neither of which has overages.
One shuts you off at a limit. No overages.
The other reduces your data speed at a certain usage threshold. No overages.
The cost of the phone is decoupled from the cost of the service plan. You pay installments on your phone. No contracts. One price.

You want to see complicated?

»newsroom.sprint.com/news ··· mers.htm

Look at the chart and get back to me...

SteelerRaw
@199.168.151.x

SteelerRaw

Anon

Re: So much for "Simple Choice" plans eh?

said by IPPlanMan See Profile
You want to see complicated?

»newsroom.sprint.com/news ··· mers.htm

Look at the chart and get back to me...
[/bquote :

Seems pretty straightforward to me... /shrug


IPPlanMan
Holy Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC

IPPlanMan

Member

Re: So much for "Simple Choice" plans eh?

Oh ok... What's the better deal? Two year contract or payment plan?

What's the best value data package to go with it?

Lots of calculating to do between tiers and subsidies, but kudos to you if you can run the numbers.

Again, for a brand new CEO, I would have expected better... Not to mention that they killed unlimited data for this. Real winner there.

I know plenty of people who this would be confusing for.

SteelerRaw
@199.168.151.x

SteelerRaw

Anon

Re: So much for "Simple Choice" plans eh?

said by IPPlanMan:

Oh ok... What's the better deal? Two year contract or payment plan?

Best can be a subjective term. What's best for me may not be best for you. At least they do give the choice of whether you wish to have a subsidy or not. Aren't choices a good thing?

What's the best value data package to go with it?

Again, what's best for one person may not be best for someone else. How many lines are you going to have on the account (you can get up to 10). Personally, I'd probably go with the 20GB data package since they're waiving the access fees at that tier through 2015 and giving an extra 2GB of data per line.

Lots of calculating to do between tiers and subsidies, but kudos to you if you can run the numbers.

Anyone who has mastered basic arithmetic should be able to do the same.

Not to mention that they killed unlimited data for this. Real winner there.

Except for the fact that you can still get unlimited data: »www.sprint.com/landings/ ··· itedtalk

I know plenty of people who this would be confusing for.

/shrug

NYC33
@158.222.137.x

NYC33 to IPPlanMan

Anon

to IPPlanMan
You should switch to tmobile and stop with you sprint whining . I used to have sprint in nyc back in 2912,the service sucked then I switched to Verizon.

IPPlanMan
Holy Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC

IPPlanMan

Member

Re: So much for "Simple Choice" plans eh?

Don't blame me. I didn't come up with this crappy chart.
Nanaki (banned)
aka novaflare. pull punches? Na
join:2002-01-24
Akron, OH

1 recommendation

Nanaki (banned) to NYC33

Member

to NYC33
Hey your from the future did not know that .......

IPPlanMan
Holy Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC

IPPlanMan

Member

Re: So much for "Simple Choice" plans eh?

Hah! Good spot!
IPPlanMan

IPPlanMan to NYC33

Member

to NYC33
So did Sprint finally finish Network Vision by then?

ctaranto
join:2011-12-14
MA

ctaranto to SunnyD

Member

to SunnyD

Re: So much for "Simple Choice" plans eh?

This is still very simple.

I love the fact that each line (on multi-line accounts) gets their own data allotment. Sharing a pool of data among family members, especially teens, just doesn't work well.

dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium Member
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ

dvd536

Premium Member

Re: So much for "Simple Choice" plans eh?

if you look at the fine print on the t-mo 4 lines share 10gb/mo. after 2015 that drops to 1gb/mo line. T's $160 plan doesn't.

v6movement
@206.51.28.x

v6movement to ctaranto

Anon

to ctaranto

Re: So much for "Simple Choice" plans eh?

said by ctaranto:

This is still very simple.

I love the fact that each line (on multi-line accounts) gets their own data allotment. Sharing a pool of data among family members, especially teens, just doesn't work well.

Having dedicated allotments doesn't make any sense as it results in family members having data they are not using. The issue isn't the concept of sharing the data allotment, but how the plans are setup. It wasn't rocket science to figure out that shared plans only saved money for families / businesses that used small amounts of data and anyone else it would be more expensive because the carriers were not going to do what makes sense for their customers.
78036364 (banned)
join:2014-05-06
USA

78036364 (banned) to SunnyD

Member

to SunnyD

Re: So much for "Simple Choice" plans eh?

What 500 different plans isn't simple?

IPPlanMan
Holy Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC

IPPlanMan

Member

Re: So much for "Simple Choice" plans eh?

Oh you...
78036364 (banned)
join:2014-05-06
USA

78036364 (banned)

Member

CS reps must love

The change plans every week thing T-Mobile has going on. they must have to spend on ton of money on CS and billing since they have 500 different plans. Sure people like choice and while 31 flavors sounds nice a ice cream store called 310 flavors does not.

IPPlanMan
Holy Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC

IPPlanMan

Member

Re: CS reps must love

There you go again...

ctaranto
join:2011-12-14
MA

ctaranto to 78036364

Member

to 78036364
I think I agree with Mr Guy. The CS reps must at least like working at T-Mo, as they are the best in the industry. Every one I have experienced is competent and polite. Unlike any CS rep I've talked to at VZ.

The Beer
I Love It When A Plan Comes Together
Premium Member
join:2001-07-24
Lincoln, NE

The Beer

Premium Member

T-Moble pricing makes no difference without coverage

They can keep up the price pressure however it only helps me when it drives down everyone else since we have no coverage... like "NO SERVICE" coverage here.

••••

winsyrstrife
River City Bounce
Premium Member
join:2002-04-30
Brooklyn, NY

winsyrstrife

Premium Member

Love T-Mobile or Hate T-Mobile

Things have changed, for the better, because of T-Mobile.

I'll be signing up once this new plan is available. The $30 100 minute/month plan had been working out for the past year, but friends can't stop chatting, so...
78036364 (banned)
join:2014-05-06
USA

78036364 (banned)

Member

Re: Love T-Mobile or Hate T-Mobile

Not when they and Sprint will have no money to build out or maintain their infrastructure or be able to acquire more spectrum. At some point these companies have to make a profit. And yes I know for some reason in country whose economy is based on capitalism and is supposedly anti-socialism the word profit is a dirty word. Not sure I quite understand most people logic.

robbyglack
@50.243.146.x

robbyglack

Anon

10 lines on family now

t-mobile also announce simple choice customers can have up to 10 lines on the family plan for $10/each after 2 lines. they are also matching phone data plans on tablets for $10/month. so if you get 5GB data on your phone you can add a tablet plan for $10 with it own 5GB data. if you have unlimited on the phone you get 10GB for the tablet.
jm101
join:2011-07-17
Oakland, CA

jm101

Member

$30 Plan

Very good but still sticking to the $30 "Walmart plan". Hopefully T-Mobile doesn't take that away anytime soon.

•••