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U.S. Carrier T-Mobile Offering Unlimited International Texting and 2G Data in 100 Countries
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This is the beginning of the end for ridiculous international roaming charges. A bright line moment in the evolution to a completely mobile telephony society. Good on TMO for throwing the first volley. Incidentally, they were also the first one to start to bring sanity to this area in the enterprise a few years ago. But since they're not one of the big players on the enterprise side people didn't notice it.
Hey AT&T: Tell us again why your takeover and consumption of T-Mobile would have been a good thing for consumers?
Now, if we would have only been able to convince the government to prevent the Comcast/NBC merger...
Hey AT&T: Tell us again why your takeover and consumption of T-Mobile would have been a good thing for consumers?
Now, if we would have only been able to convince the government to prevent the Comcast/NBC merger...
T-Mobile in the US is not really related to T-Mobile in Europe any longer. Yes they were started by the same company, but they've had separate management teams for awhile, and now they're totally a independent, publicly traded company with DT only having a minority share.
I just read about this in The NY Times. Just from this move alone, I'm tempted to ditch AT&T. I cruise a lot, and as soon as the ship departs from the port, I immediately turn off my phone for the duration of the cruise. It would have been nice if when I was in St. Maarten or the Bahamas, I could have texted or called home to let family know we're okay. Since I plan to do a lot of European travel over the next couple years, this really may entice me to switch. I really don't see AT&T, or Verizon for that matter, doing this. But it would be nice for them to prove me wrong.
Bravo, T-Mobile.
Bravo, T-Mobile.
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Preventing the t-mobile / at&t merger is probably one of the better things the government has dome lately.
We should use the success of that decision whenever people complain about "too much government regulation".
Well the merger wouldn't be necessary if it wasn't for the government's heavy regulation of spectrum
Absolutely. Bravo, T-Mobile. I have used T-Mobile and AT&T side-by-side for a few years now, and, in my experience, they are pretty much equivalent in coverage, and T-Mobile service and cost is much better for my needs. And now, what sounds like the perfect international roaming that I need and may be using over the next 6 months.
This is great!
One of the hardest things arriving internationally is having just enough data to get oriented (maps to hotels, etc.) without getting killed by AT&T or Verizon.
And just enough data to guide you to a place that sells SIM cards so you can get real 3/4G data.
One of the hardest things arriving internationally is having just enough data to get oriented (maps to hotels, etc.) without getting killed by AT&T or Verizon.
And just enough data to guide you to a place that sells SIM cards so you can get real 3/4G data.
buy the navigon app since it downloads maps locally. no need for a cellular signal
I am a constant victim of my own inability to heed PPPPP
(Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance)
On the other hand, it's much more convenient if you don't have to change anything, if you don't have to look for a phone store in a foreign country, having no idea how you might get ripped off if you do the wrong thing.
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That's where unlocked phone + local SIM totally loses: When you are in some foreign country maybe for eight hours and really don't have the time to waste to find a phone store.
Game changer....
While in Europe last year and Canada this year, I was wondering who would start the International Fee Wars. Glad to see T-Mobile is getting it going. AT&T & Verizon are too cocky to take it very seriously.....at least until they start losing customers in droves. Then, they'll think it's a great idea and sell it like it was their own. I have another year on my AT&T contract.....something better happen before then. The charges for smartphone plans is out of control. But, our psychological dependence on these devices are what keeps the prices high. And, yes, there is real value. I'm sure there is some real costs associated with the infrastructure required to provide the service. But, there is a hell of a lot of mark up on top of it too. They have to make a profit. And, I get that. But, I'm guessing it's about 25% to 30% higher than it has to be. Lower the service fees by that percentage and I'm quite sure they will still make a handsome profit. The service fees have to eventually come down. People are going to reach a point like where so many are with cable companies. They will find a breaking point and eventually throw in the towel and say screw it. I'll do something else....whatever that may be at the time.
While in Europe last year and Canada this year, I was wondering who would start the International Fee Wars. Glad to see T-Mobile is getting it going. AT&T & Verizon are too cocky to take it very seriously.....at least until they start losing customers in droves. Then, they'll think it's a great idea and sell it like it was their own. I have another year on my AT&T contract.....something better happen before then. The charges for smartphone plans is out of control. But, our psychological dependence on these devices are what keeps the prices high. And, yes, there is real value. I'm sure there is some real costs associated with the infrastructure required to provide the service. But, there is a hell of a lot of mark up on top of it too. They have to make a profit. And, I get that. But, I'm guessing it's about 25% to 30% higher than it has to be. Lower the service fees by that percentage and I'm quite sure they will still make a handsome profit. The service fees have to eventually come down. People are going to reach a point like where so many are with cable companies. They will find a breaking point and eventually throw in the towel and say screw it. I'll do something else....whatever that may be at the time.
I would image that the "2G" service is actually going to be going through the 3G or 4G networks and will just be throttled to slower speeds, unless you pay the higher rates.
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I bet it's too popular of a cruise destination and that they couldn't work out a roaming agreement.
Jump program is much better. Plus t-mobile lowers phone bill after your device is paid off. Many articles on it.
If someone on T-Mobile needs to have full speed roaming, they can also buy passes (like on AT&T) for much less money.
Well, it's not really that much less. You can buy 100 MB for $15, but it's only valid for one day. So if you want to cover an international trip, you will have to pay either $25 for 200 MB/2 weeks or $50 for 500MB. Not a big difference. I usually get AT&Ts $30 add-on, which is plenty for the things I really need.
I am curious how US corporations, which are probably the biggest users of international roaming data, will view this -- a switch to Tmobile could potentially save them millions, collectively.
I'm assuming also that one reason why some corporations stick with blackberry is the device's frugal use of data overseas -- this would eliminate this advantage.
And 2G speeds shouldn't be a problem for most types of business usage, which would center around email.
I'm assuming also that one reason why some corporations stick with blackberry is the device's frugal use of data overseas -- this would eliminate this advantage.
And 2G speeds shouldn't be a problem for most types of business usage, which would center around email.
Do it. I brought two unlocked iPhones over to T-mo a couple weeks ago. Getting better service, unlimited data & saving $30 a month is effing great. Not to mention using my brother's upgrade price to get an iPhone 5 the day before they quit selling them just to twist the knife a little.
So-long AT&T. It was real... Expensive.
EDIT: Almost forgot - that's saving $30 a month with two iPhones on T-mo from having one on AT&T. So yeah, F that.
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