T-Mobile Unveils New 'Data Stash' Program That Allows Unused Data to Roll Over Each Month

[MacRumors]

As part of its new Un-carrier 8.0 announcement, T-Mobile today unveiled its new "Data Stash" program that allows consumers to roll over their monthly unused data. At the end of the month, consumers will be able to store their unused data without limit for the next 12 months.

"Can you imagine your gas station siphoning unused gas from your car each month? The US wireless industry is even worse," said John Legere, president and CEO for T-Mobile. "Americans have been gamed by the carriers into buying huge data plans - all to avoid getting screwed with overage penalties. Only to find out they bought more than they need which is then confiscated by the carrier. For the consumer it's lose, lose."

"That data is rightfully yours," added Legere. "And, we're putting an end to this appalling industry practice today. With Data Stash, when you buy additional high-speed data, there's no need to lose what you don't use."

To kick start the program, T-Mobile will provide 10GB of free 4G LTE data to customers as a starting stash. This free 10GB data stash is not shared, but will be allotted to each line in a family or business plan. The new Data Stash program will be available starting in January 2015 and will be applied to every individual, family and business plan automatically.

Article Link: T-Mobile Unveils New 'Data Stash' Program That Allows Unused Data to Roll Over Each Month

 

[KPOM]

Decent concept. I still use my legacy AT&T "rollover" minutes plan. Hopefully the other carriers follow suit. We've come 180 degrees. It used to be carriers gave us unlimited data and charged us for minutes and text by usage. Now they give us unlimited minutes and text, and charge us for data by usage.

 

[sputnikv]

AT&T and Verizon won't offer this.

 

[KyleC]

Great! I love the pressure T-mobile puts on the industry!

I would switch if I didn't have a company phone.

 

[dbc34]

Wasn't it Aerial, who was bought by VoiceStream and merged with TMobile that did the carryover for minutes used back in the day. Or maybe they were the "true per second billing" which allowed you to use waaay more minutes each month.

 

[griz]

Get with it Verizon! I want this!

 

[nouveau-apple]

I applaud it.

T-Mobile is where it's at right now.

It's the best carrier right now.

 

[Dimwhit]

Love it. I wish the others would do it. I loved having rollover minutes with AT&T way back. Never worried about overage. Data should be the same.

Somehow, I get the feeling that this plan will change with time. They'll cap the max stash or have data expire after a year or something.

 

[pbasmadj]

Great! I love the pressure Tmobile puts on the industry!

Agreed. This CEO is on the exotic side but I like his style. Verizon and AT&T are just theiving and he is calling it out and coming in strong. If they can make their network as big as Verizon or AT&T and posing threats to them, it will be good for everyone.

 

[Smith288]

Nice! Rollover data!

 

[The Doctor11]

About time some one started doing this!!!!!!

 

[mnsportsgeek]

T-Mobile Unveils New 'Data Stash' Program That Allows Unused Data to Rollover...

This is legit. Verizon and AT&T will need to respond to this somehow.

 

[7thson]

I've been waiting for this to happen with data. No surprise its T-Mobile to implement it first. Again, I wish they had a stronger network in my area.

 

[Daveoc64]

It's nice to see T-Mobile USA pushing so many different ideas - really shaking things up in the rather uncompetitive US telecoms market, but I'm not sure that this makes sense.

If anything, it just weakens the arguments for having metered internet connections.

 

[rictus007]

I'll wait for att move.... But this is Great news

 

[swarmster]

The T-mobile site is confusing. I'm not sure this lets customers "roll over their monthly unused data". It sounds like it rolls over extra data, as in, when you're approaching your limit one month and pay an extra $10 for 1GB of data (or whatever), that 1GB data will remain in a bank. Your monthly data does not?

 

[tgenius]

My only real gripe with this is that you have to purchase the additional data for it to work; If you are on the default 1GB (which is currently 2.5 for the promo period) it won't rollover, however I do believe even those plans get the 10GB bucket per line

 

[Ivabign]

Unfortunately, T-Mobile has the spottiest service of all the major carriers. If they can build their 4G system out so they have more and better coverage, they will be able to put real pressure on the big 2. As it sits, half the places I use service, T-Mobile gets zero bars.

 

[Windlasher]

Yeah - This will last. Kind of like the 20K in rollover minutes I had with Cingular when ATT bought them that suddenly went away.

Whats T-Mobile going to do when someone has accrued a Terabyte of Unused data and then tries to actually use it?

 

[lemieuxfan67]

My only real gripe with this is that you have to purchase the additional data for it to work; If you are on the default 1GB (which is currently 2.5 for the promo period) it won't rollover, however I do believe even those plans get the 10GB bucket per line

Nope, you have to be on a 3GB LTE plan or higher to be eligible.

 

[CEmajr]

Wow this is pretty amazing. I never thought I'd see one of the carriers offer this. Wonder if I should even keep my unlimited data plan now.

 

[gmanist1000]

Even though they don't have great coverage in my neck of the woods, T-Mobile is shaking up the industry. I love it.

 

[Rogifan]

With Data Stash, when you buy additional high-speed data, there's no need to lose what you don't use."

So what does he mean by "buy additional data"? Does this mean the only roll over is unused data you purchased above and beyond your data plan?

 

[CEmajr]

Yeah - This will last. Kind of like the 20K in rollover minutes I had with Cingular when ATT bought them that suddenly went away.

Whats T-Mobile going to do when someone has accrued a Terabyte of Unused data and then tries to actually use it?

It resets every 12 months so at the most a 3GB plan could accrue 36GB and a 5GB plan could accrue 60GB theoretically with no data usage.

 

[WestonHarvey1]

Sounds like it won't be available on the 1GB plans.