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T-Mobile Unveils New Data Pricing, Tethering Plan
New 200 MB plan $10 under contract, $15 no contract
Confirming leaks from last week, T-Mobile this morning announced a number of new data pricing changes and the official arrival of their official tethering plan. According to T-Mobile, the company is now offering two new plans: the The Web 200MB plan sports 200 MB of usage for $10 a month with two-year contract or $15 a month with no contract. The The Web Unlimited plan remains $30 for "unlimited" (technically by "unlimited" they mean you get 5GB of usage after which you get throttled back to 64 kbps for the remainder of your billing cycle) service. As rumored, T-Mobile's now making tethering an official $15 per month addition -- though it can only be used with the company's $30 unlimited plan.
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geonap
lolatidiots
join:2005-12-14
Los Angeles, CA

geonap

Member

wonder what will happen

if i plug in my blackberry that worked the other day and try today?

anon1313
@mchsi.com

anon1313

Anon

Re: wonder what will happen

I'm tethered right now via my N900 and the $10 monthly plan.
revmichaeld
How May I Help You?
join:2000-07-02
Brooklyn, MD

revmichaeld

Member

Would I still be able to tether using my android OS phone?

I have the Motorola Click XT with pdanet installed on my phone and laptop. I currently subscribe to an unlimited data plan with 500 voice Min. I want to know will I still be able to tether my phone without subscribing to another fee?

tiger72
SexaT duorP
Premium Member
join:2001-03-28
Saint Louis, MO

tiger72

Premium Member

Re: Would I still be able to tether using my android OS phone?

said by revmichaeld:

I have the Motorola Click XT with pdanet installed on my phone and laptop. I currently subscribe to an unlimited data plan with 500 voice Min. I want to know will I still be able to tether my phone without subscribing to another fee?
Yes.
This only applies to phones with native tethering. If you're rooted, or if you're using 3rd party apps (ie pdanet) this doesn't apply to you.

Thaler
Premium Member
join:2004-02-02
Los Angeles, CA

Thaler

Premium Member

Re: Would I still be able to tether using my android OS phone?

This is why I don't get the tethering feature as an additional price point.

If you root your phone, your cell company doesn't see anything extra - just a device drawing data.
If you use native tethering features, your cell company still handles the same amount of traffic...but now they get an additional fee from you.

I gotta wonder how long we'll keep up this two-tier system of folks paying additional monthly fees for rooted features.

tiger72
SexaT duorP
Premium Member
join:2001-03-28
Saint Louis, MO

tiger72

Premium Member

Re: Would I still be able to tether using my android OS phone?

said by Thaler:

This is why I don't get the tethering feature as an additional price point.

If you root your phone, your cell company doesn't see anything extra - just a device drawing data.
If you use native tethering features, your cell company still handles the same amount of traffic...but now they get an additional fee from you.

I gotta wonder how long we'll keep up this two-tier system of folks paying additional monthly fees for rooted features.
probably for a while. These fees are really just a way to increase data ARPU and get some simple revenue with little expenditure.
openbox9
Premium Member
join:2004-01-26
71144

openbox9 to Thaler

Premium Member

to Thaler
said by Thaler:

I gotta wonder how long we'll keep up this two-tier system of folks paying additional monthly fees for rooted features.
Until the telcos deploy LTE/4G networks and migrate all users off of the old infrastructure and can effectively justify price increases across the board instead of targeting a few users who willingly pay to tether.

lineofsight
join:2003-01-03
East Saint Louis, IL

lineofsight to Thaler

Member

to Thaler
What is "rooted" vs "native" tethering? I know what tethering is, just don't get the rooted/native thing.

ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium Member
join:2005-03-14
Woodstock, CT

ptrowski

Premium Member

Re: Would I still be able to tether using my android OS phone?

Native would be the phone companies official tethering. Rooted would be when you jailbreak the phone and use a carrier update or application to tether.

lineofsight
join:2003-01-03
East Saint Louis, IL

lineofsight

Member

Re: Would I still be able to tether using my android OS phone?

Thanks for the reply.
On a Windows Mobile 6.x phone, the "internet sharing" app is there, it's just buried in the windows directory on the phone. You have to copy it to the programs directory to get it to show up as an installed feature. Is this native or rooted?

Thaler
Premium Member
join:2004-02-02
Los Angeles, CA

Thaler

Premium Member

Re: Would I still be able to tether using my android OS phone?

said by lineofsight:

On a Windows Mobile 6.x phone, the "internet sharing" app is there, it's just buried in the windows directory on the phone. You have to copy it to the programs directory to get it to show up as an installed feature. Is this native or rooted?
Sounds to me like a stock feature. If you didn't have to futz with any additional software (other than what shipped with your phone), then I'd call that native.

This is what I mean in native vs. rooted: my Samsung 4G Epic shipped with the Sprint Mobile Hotspot application. The native application does squat unless I cough up an additional $30 a month on my line. Some USB/rooting magic later, I've installed a service called "Mobile AP" onto it which provides the same functionality (minus the monthly fee limitation).

lineofsight
join:2003-01-03
East Saint Louis, IL

1 edit

lineofsight

Member

Re: Would I still be able to tether using my android OS phone?

Ok, then I suppose this application called "Internet Sharing" is native to the operating system. But is does work without any additional configuration or payments. ATT terms of service states you can't tether with a smartphone plan without paying extra, but it works. I suppose the only thing ATT could use to tell is the internet explorer on a laptop, tehtered to the smartphone would have a different "user agent" ID than the phones browser ID.

Thaler
Premium Member
join:2004-02-02
Los Angeles, CA

Thaler

Premium Member

Re: Would I still be able to tether using my android OS phone?

Honestly, the cell phone companies could care less. They're not going to deep packet inspect to make sure 100% of their non-tethering clients are legit. However, if you make your cell phone your sole ISP & download all the internet's torrents 10 times over...they're probably going to take notice that you've melted a cell tower or two. I save my phone for occasional mobile tethering, stay under 5 GB/month, and Sprint's never said a peep.

lineofsight
join:2003-01-03
East Saint Louis, IL

lineofsight

Member

Re: Would I still be able to tether using my android OS phone?

Roger that.
I only tether when on a trip and I am at the airport and they don't have a free one.
I think I come in under a gig every month.

Nope
@comcastbusiness.net

Nope to tiger72

Anon

to tiger72
Wrong.

tiger72
SexaT duorP
Premium Member
join:2001-03-28
Saint Louis, MO

tiger72

Premium Member

Re: Would I still be able to tether using my android OS phone?

said by Nope :

Wrong.
orly?

Come on over to XDA and plead your case. Because from what I can tell, the folks getting "caught" tethering are using standard Android 2.2. Not rooted custom roms or 3rd party tools.

Thaler
Premium Member
join:2004-02-02
Los Angeles, CA

Thaler

Premium Member

Re: Would I still be able to tether using my android OS phone?

Here's a better question - who's getting caught, other than the massive data downloaders? If you're bringing down a cell tower by yourself with your tethering, no s*** a cell provider's going to notice.

tacoma
Bleeding Dodger Blue
Premium Member
join:2001-05-18
Murrieta, CA

tacoma

Premium Member

WIFI Calling Please

I'd love some wifi calling ASAP.

TIA
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: WIFI Calling Please

buy a phone that supports it.

Alcohol
Premium Member
join:2003-05-26
Climax, MI

Alcohol to tacoma

Premium Member

to tacoma
said by tacoma:

I'd love some wifi calling ASAP.

TIA
My rooted phone running android 2.2 can make wifi calls without any problems (google voice).

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

The Beer

Premium Member

Data price based on contract?

Strange I would not think data would cost more to provide depending on your contract status... like saying gas is a dollar more a gallon if you drive a chevy

Gbcue
Premium Member
join:2001-09-30
Santa Rosa, CA

Gbcue

Premium Member

Re: Data price based on contract?

They need to make up the cost of subsidizing your phone.
EGamboaCR
join:2002-02-18
Cookeville, TN

EGamboaCR

Member

Re: Data price based on contract?

Cost of subsidizing I understand. But this isn't done to subsidize. Do you really think they are loosing money on the older system (for charging)? No, they aren't in that business, they're in the business of making more money.

This is yet another move meant to increment their profits while still appearing to legitimately save people money.
The telecom industry will NEVER do anything FOR you it will always do what it can to screw you for money. That should be evident to anyone who has read through any news articles relating to these telecom companies within the last few years.

Key to all of this is to remember, their shareholders = want money and they will do what the shareholders want, not what WE the customers want, we're just a means to their ends.
chgo_man99
join:2010-01-01
Sunnyvale, CA

chgo_man99

Member

Re: Data price based on contract?

Meh. They simply introduced the smaller plan to compete with ATT and Verizon. When you buy smartphone and have to get a mandatory data plan what do you think?

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

The Beer to Gbcue

Premium Member

to Gbcue
But if you are out of contract there is no subsidy on the phone or the subsidy has been met.

Gbcue
Premium Member
join:2001-09-30
Santa Rosa, CA

Gbcue

Premium Member

Re: Data price based on contract?

said by The Beer:

But if you are out of contract there is no subsidy on the phone or the subsidy has been met.
And that's why plans are cheaper.
budone
join:2002-09-07
Coopersville, MI

budone to The Beer

Member

to The Beer
said by The Beer:

Strange I would not think data would cost more to provide depending on your contract status... like saying gas is a dollar more a gallon if you drive a chevy
Lord, don't give the oil industry any ideas!

michieru
Premium Member
join:2009-07-25
Denver, CO

michieru to The Beer

Premium Member

to The Beer
Gas is cheaper when you pay in cash by up to 4 cents a gallon in certain locations because they don't need to pay the merchant fees for you using a credit card.

Same as people who buy yearly vs monthly.

r81984
Fair and Balanced
Premium Member
join:2001-11-14
Katy, TX

r81984

Premium Member

200 MB, what a joke!

These prices are insane.
I can't believe people pay this. If we stop paying then the prices will come down and be more reasonable.
All plans should be unlimited. This 200MB crap is to trick people into paying large overages.

$30 a month for just a cell and then $15 extra month just to hook a latop up. For $45 you still get a very low 5GB cap.

Wireless should never be more expensive than any wired internet service. It costs are very low compared to installing wires around town.
chgo_man99
join:2010-01-01
Sunnyvale, CA

chgo_man99

Member

Re: 200 MB, what a joke!

yeah, but wireless spectrum is more limited than with cable or fiber. Do you remember when 1G came out? Did you live in that times? Why do you think then wireless phone calls cost few dollars a minute?
sonicmerlin
join:2009-05-24
Cleveland, OH

sonicmerlin

Member

Re: 200 MB, what a joke!

Do you realize how much the costs have come down for wireless ISPs since then? Your argument is just inane.

SpaethCo
Digital Plumber
MVM
join:2001-04-21
Minneapolis, MN

SpaethCo

MVM

Re: 200 MB, what a joke!

said by sonicmerlin:

Do you realize how much the costs have come down for wireless ISPs since then?
What costs have come down and what factors have contributed to that?
blacksurfer
join:2002-07-14
Sherman Oaks, CA

blacksurfer

Member

I love it!

I mostly use Wifi anyway, but getting data for only $10 a month is perfect!!! Will this work on an iPhone?

Alakar
Facts do not cease to exist when ignored
join:2001-03-23
Milwaukee, WI

Alakar

Member

Re: I love it!

said by blacksurfer:

Will this work on an iPhone?
It will work for EDGE service, but not for 3G with the iPhone. iPhone doesn't support the frequencies T-Mobile uses for 3G.

Dones
join:2008-02-14
Toronto, ON

Dones to blacksurfer

Member

to blacksurfer
iPhone on T-mobile works only on edge, not 3g. This is good for people like me coming from canada to the states for a week and needing a little internet on the go. I don't care if its just edge.
chgo_man99
join:2010-01-01
Sunnyvale, CA

chgo_man99

Member

T-Mobile is becoming big

Deutsche Telekom is now more seriously trying to compete with big telecoms in America.

airtouch25
join:2007-05-22
united state

airtouch25

Member

Nobody likes paying for anything in the US...

I'm one of them... lol

But seriously if DT is going to pour billions of dollars into expanding HSPA + and supporting the infrastructure investors want to see a ROI... and a big one at that...

T-Mobile is growing their network (I know about time) and with that customers are going to foot the bill.

Verizon has been doing this to us for years. What's new?

You better believe that as a T-Mobile fan and supporter I will expect to see network improvements in terms of speed, capacity and coverage if I'm going to be paying more.

Either that or I'll just root my phone, buy the new Nexus 2 or be done with it!!!
tcope
Premium Member
join:2003-05-07
Sandy, UT

tcope

Premium Member

FAIL

I see FAIL written on this main as the $10 plan is not attractive with the 2 year contract. I can see many more people jumping on it if it did not require this a 50% increase _just_ to stay out of contract? As if it cost TM any more.
sonicmerlin
join:2009-05-24
Cleveland, OH

sonicmerlin

Member

Subsidized vs. Unsubsidized price

Wait what? Why is the $10/month on contract LESS THAN the $15/month off contract. Shouldn't it be the other way around? How is that not anti-competitive, forcing users into contracts by overcharging them for unsubsidized plans?

Sigh...
dotditdot
join:2009-09-23
Santa Fe, NM

dotditdot

Member

Re: Subsidized vs. Unsubsidized price

The $10/month on contract is a special going on if you sign up through the end of the year, then it reverts back to $15/month. They're basically trying to incentivize people to sign up on contract for data.

Shack
join:2002-01-17
Bloomington, IN

Shack

Member

New model needed.

T-Mobile or Sprint should really do something disruptive in Data pricing, like 500mb for $10/ month. They would probably see large gains in subscriber growth, just mirroring Verizon and AT&T is not going to change the playing field and their market share. It really smacks of some form of collusion.

Alcohol
Premium Member
join:2003-05-26
Climax, MI

Alcohol

Premium Member

Re: New model needed.

Verizon and att dont have a $10 data plan. It's $15.

But ATT is surely going to lose a lot of customers because they removed the unlimited plan while the other 3 carriers kept it. If they lose the iphone exclusive contract they're doomed.

JakCrow
join:2001-12-06
Palo Alto, CA

JakCrow

Member

$15/mo for tethering? I don't think so.

Good thing I installed the -free- wifi AP app on my Vibrant. Works great.
ArizonaSteve
join:2004-01-31
Apache Junction, AZ

ArizonaSteve

Member

Is T-Mo really this flaky?

Everything at T-Mo seems to change daily or weekly. They had a no contract 5G data plan for $40/mo and last week it changed to unlimited but today it's not even there anymore! There's still a 5Gb plan for $50/mo but if I add it to my cart then it won't let me add the SIM so I can use it. The only option is to add a new phone.
If you already have a plan does it change all the time too or does it stay locked in and can you upgrade to the new plans that come out every week if you want to?