T-Mobile Debuts $30 Tourist Plan Featuring 2GB of 4G LTE Data

[MacRumors]

T-Mobile has announced a new $30 prepaid Tourist Plan for international visitors to the U.S. that offers 1,000 minutes of domestic calling, unlimited domestic and international texting to over 140 countries and regions, and unlimited 2G data with the first 2GB at 4G LTE speeds.

Tourists visiting the U.S. can visit a T-Mobile store with an unlocked GSM smartphone, sign up and pay for the plan, and receive a free SIM card to access the carrier's network. The one-time, one-line plan lasts 3 weeks and cannot be renewed after automatically expiring at 11:59 p.m. on the 21st day of service.

International phone numbers cannot be ported to the U.S., so T-Mobile will assign customers a new U.S. number when they sign up for the Tourist Plan. International calling from the U.S. to other countries is not included in the plan and cannot be added as an additional feature, but customers can use Wi-Fi-based calling services.

The Tourist Plan includes 200MB of U.S. data roaming, but other T-Mobile perks such as Mobile Without Borders, Binge On, and Music Freedom are not included. The plan permits tethering, with Mobile Hotspot using data from the 2GB allotment of 4G LTE data, followed by slower speeds afterwards.

The new plan is available June 12. Postpaid and T-Mobile@Work customers are ineligible.

Article Link: T-Mobile Debuts $30 Tourist Plan Featuring 2GB of 4G LTE Data

 

[Plutonius]

They should fix their network first. Otherwise, many visitors will get a bad opinion of the mobile networks in the U.S.

 

[hlfway2anywhere]

They should fix their network first. Otherwise, many visitors will get a bad opinion of the mobile networks in the U.S.

Not a current T-Mobile customer with a recent smartphone, I'm guessing.

 

[jml1982]

Not a current T-Mobile customer with a recent smartphone, I'm guessing.

Yeah, I don't think he can be. I just switched from AT&T this year, and I have to say it's just as good as my AT&T service (and I'm not just talking about NYC.) Also with T-Mobile my LTE in NYC is actually faster than what I had with AT&T.

 

[Ben2998]

I haven't checked the exchange rate but I think Roam Mobility might be cheaper and offer more data. Usually, when I visit the US, I either use them or Rogers' Roam like home.

Funny thing is, Roam mostly uses T-Mobile's network in the US.

 

[Corrode]

Why hasn't everyone in the US switched to T-Mobile? They seem to offer value at every corner.

We are dying up here in Canada with our $100/month plans.

EDIT: (just realized that "dying" might be a bit dramatic. Anyhoo...)

 

[aforty]

Not a current T-Mobile customer with a recent smartphone, I'm guessing.

Yep, this. Been with T-Mobile for over 2 years and never looked back. I get faster speeds than on my Time Warner Cable most of the time, which is both impressive and sad at the same time.

 

[samcraig]

Switched from ATT and haven't looked back. No regrets. My wife and I are saving about $40 a month and have faster speeds.

 

[0815]

Yeah, I don't think he can be. I just switched from AT&T this year, and I have to say it's just as good as my AT&T service (and I'm not just talking about NYC.) Also with T-Mobile my LTE in NYC is actually faster than what I had with AT&T.

Same here - t-mobile rocks.

Never had an issue since I switched 2 month ago ... and I save a ton of money for our family plan compared to att ... And the kids happily stream all day long without eating up any data.

 

[RedOrchestra]

We are dying up here in Canada with our $100/month plans.

Don't forget that this is JUST for tourists - T-Mobile does a lot of throttling back to 2G internet which is basically dial-up speeds.

 

[Wondercow]

Why hasn't everyone in the US switched to T-Mobile? They seem to offer value at every corner.

We are dying up here in Canada with our $100/month plans.

EDIT: (just realized that "dying" might be a bit dramatic. Anyhoo...)

I pay $35 for my Wind Mobile service with unlimited everything. If you're in an area that has Wind coverage I suggest you look in to them.

 

[Plutonius]

Not a current T-Mobile customer with a recent smartphone, I'm guessing.

I was with T-Mobile at the start of the year but had to switch to AT&T since the T-Mobile network was so bad . I loved everything else about T-Mobile but the poor network was a deal breaker.
[doublepost=1464706367][/doublepost]

Why hasn't everyone in the US switched to T-Mobile? They seem to offer value at every corner.

I agree but only when you can use their network.
[doublepost=1464706656][/doublepost]

Yeah, I don't think he can be. I just switched from AT&T this year, and I have to say it's just as good as my AT&T service (and I'm not just talking about NYC.) Also with T-Mobile my LTE in NYC is actually faster than what I had with AT&T.

I was but switched to AT&T the beginning of this year. I would have T-Mobile if I ever lived in NY city but in my area and the places I usually travel, I get poor connectivity.

 

[Kajje]

They sell similar tourist sim cards at the airport in Bali. A 2GB sim card on the LTE network will set you back a full $3.

I hear you say that's a good deal but I'll tell you, it's a total rip off. Them exact same cards are available outside the airport for half that price.

 

[Mr. Dee]

This is excellent and just what I needed last year when I was visiting the states. I ended up paying $50 for a new SIM just for 5 days. This more reasonable and economical.

 

[Carlanga]

Why hasn't everyone in the US switched to T-Mobile? They seem to offer value at every corner.

We are dying up here in Canada with our $100/month plans.

EDIT: (just realized that "dying" might be a bit dramatic. Anyhoo...)

You get what you pay...
I have att and it's the only one I can trust to have decent coverage in most of the areas vs others that don't even work inside certain buildings like T-Mobile for me.

 

[Howyalikdemapls]

Yeah, I don't think he can be. I just switched from AT&T this year, and I have to say it's just as good as my AT&T service (and I'm not just talking about NYC.) Also with T-Mobile my LTE in NYC is actually faster than what I had with AT&T.

I'm in Southern California and recently switched to T-Mobile from AT&T. I've read the speeds are fast when you're connected to T-Mobile's LTE, which sounds great if I didn't only have signal about 50% of the time. That being said I am still using the iPhone 6+ which doesn't support band 12, but I'm sure lots of people are still using the 6/6+ too.

My brother lives in LA and says it's fine, but it sucks in the suburbs.

 

[iamcdn604]

I'm in Canada and use Roam Mobility whenever I travel to the U.S.

Roam uses the T-Mobile network but their plans are a lot more flexible and they give you 500MB of LTE per day (10.5GB over 21 days) instead of 2GB with this plan. Plus I get free calling back to Canada, and I can keep my Roam SIM card and reload it for each trip. Being a Canadian living close to the border I travel to the US quite often.

This plan might be a good option for some visitors but I'll stick with Roam.

 

[Thunderhawks]

They sell similar tourist sim cards at the airport in Bali. A 2GB sim card on the LTE network will set you back a full $3.

I hear you say that's a good deal but I'll tell you, it's a total rip off. Them exact same cards are available outside the airport for half that price.

I suggest we all use our frequent flyer miles to get to Bali.
Get the sim for $ 1.50 and fly back.

Or, better yet, buy 1,000nds and make a business out of it.

 

[0007776]

Why hasn't everyone in the US switched to T-Mobile? They seem to offer value at every corner.

We are dying up here in Canada with our $100/month plans.

EDIT: (just realized that "dying" might be a bit dramatic. Anyhoo...)

T-Mobile is missing a lot of coverage still. I know they have improved a lot and are about as good as ATT and Verizon in major cities, but go out into rural areas and that coverage drops off quickly. And for your $100 a month plans in Canada try looking at prepaid plans. I lived up there for 3 and a half years and it while plans were about as bad as the US it wasn't that hard to find something in the $40 or $50 range.

 

[bchreng]

Not a current T-Mobile customer with a recent smartphone, I'm guessing.

Was at an outlet mall in SoCal the other day with an iPhone 6s and TMo and reception was near-nonexistent. Not sure where you're getting your info from.

 

[DrApps]

Wise move, Easy money!

 

[hlfway2anywhere]

Was at an outlet mall in SoCal the other day with an iPhone 6s and TMo and reception was near-nonexistent. Not sure where you're getting your info from.

i'm getting my info from having the service. also, i don't believe i was addressing you.

 

[patrickhb113]

iPhone 6s with t-Mobile, no service in the shop at work, no service at my sons school and no service at App State in Boone, NC.(Thankful for wi-fi calling) Other than that I am satisfied with t-mobile. AT&T didn't work in my house!

 

[macduke]

I wish I could be a permanent tourist. Or could just get like a 4GB plan and 1GB plan for like $70-75/mo. Hopefully T-Mobile has some sort of deals later this year because I'd really like to switch and have it be worth the potential loss in coverage. We don't travel into rural areas as much as we used to though.

 

[Grahamps]

Yeah, I don't think he can be. I just switched from AT&T this year, and I have to say it's just as good as my AT&T service (and I'm not just talking about NYC.) Also with T-Mobile my LTE in NYC is actually faster than what I had with AT&T.

I recently made the move from AT&T to T-Mobile with my 5S, and it's a "struggle" getting used to the degraded/lost service. Since the experience is more inconvenient than impossible to live with, I am holding out for the 7+ (which, judging by the other forums, makes me a freak). For sure, I am betting on the improved phone/network compatibility to get my service experience back to normal, or better.