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T-Mobile does it again, offering unlimited LTE to switch...
- Thread starter Truefan31
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Why should I have to off-load my cellular service to my WiFi connection when T-Mobile should be providing me with working service?
And what use does WiFi calling have when you're on a major highway with spots of no service?
Do you want me to tether my T-Mo phone to a VZW/AT&T LTE MiFi to have working service?
That's what the test drive is for. T-Mobile's been filling in their metro area coverage and aggressively upgrading to LTE.
They will pay the ETF, but you have to trade in your current phone.
In most of their metro areas, the reception and performance are quite good. Just in the past year that I've been with T-Mobile, the LTE expansion in the Bay Area occurred very rapidly. Looking over the RootMetrics maps and data charts in my area, T-Mobile's performance and coverage are comparable to AT&T and Verizon.
The main issue with T-Mobile has always been their non-metro area coverage, and that remains the case. If you travel into outlying areas, you'll hit big dead spots.
But, for me that's a worthwhile tradeoff so I don't have to deal with the BS that AT&T and Verizon dish out to their customers. I'm not going to pay their higher rates and agree to their conditions just to have broader network coverage that I would use infrequently. All the nonsense and restrictions with the major carriers kept me from buying a smartphone until a year ago when I bought an unlocked iPhone and went with T-Mobile.
See, and I'm happy paying their higher fees and putting up with their stuff, so I can have coverage mostly anywhere I go; even in the middle of nowhere. It's a worth whole trade off for me.
Trading in a phone is not a problem. I can buy a cheap smartphone on CL for like $20 and claim that I was using that lol.
The bigger question is whether they will pay te etf and still allow me to take advantage of the "free" data deal for a year.
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I think you took that a bit too literally. I didn't read this as you having to do anything. Rather it's another option in spotty areas where wifi is also available.
I'm not sure if att will allow wifi calling, but it certainly would be helpful in a few stores I frequent where reception is a problem but wifi is plentiful.
Obviously it will be of no help to anyone on the highway, so I am not sure why you even brought that up...
I don't see why not. T-Mobile already pays the ETF with the $50 Simple Choice plan, and the referral program just removes the monthly high speed data cap for a year (for both the switcher and the referring T-Mobile customer).
Nah, I'm just going off what the T-Mobile crew like to throw around. They use WiFi calling as an excuse to give TMobile a free pass for their spotty network.
I'm a regular over on HoFo and there's even a handful of people who do exactly what I described. WiFi Calling on the highways using an AT&T/VZW hotspot with their T-Mobile phone because there's spotty TMo coverage on most major highways. What's the point of even having TMo service at that point? How do you even save money at that point?
I like the whole idea of wifi calling.
If you're in a low signal area or like me in my homes basement why not use my wifi thats plenty fast to make and receive calls?
Phone calls with no probs or signal issues and doesn't use up my plans minutes since I'm not on unlimited minute family plan.
So why is tmobile wifi calling so bad? You dont have to use it if you dont want to but its a great option to have.
If you're in a low signal area or like me in my homes basement why not use my wifi thats plenty fast to make and receive calls?
Phone calls with no probs or signal issues and doesn't use up my plans minutes since I'm not on unlimited minute family plan.
So why is tmobile wifi calling so bad? You dont have to use it if you dont want to but its a great option to have.
Unless they densify their cell grid, that won't improve their service at all. You'll still be seeing holes. HSPA and LTE airlinks are weaker than EDGE/GPRSAnd then once all 2G becomes HSPA+ and LTE, you'll still complain.
I just don't get why other carriers don't offer that besides T Mobile?
The calling minute plans are going away anyway and all turning into unlimited talk. Why not do it over IP if you got a reliable wifi? Cell Signal inside buildings is bad and using this in basements or dead zone areas would really come handy.
The calling minute plans are going away anyway and all turning into unlimited talk. Why not do it over IP if you got a reliable wifi? Cell Signal inside buildings is bad and using this in basements or dead zone areas would really come handy.
Just like when the s5 came out tmobile was the only variant that allowed dual band downloading (using wifi+cellular). All the other carriers took it off.
That seems utterly pointless. By the time you pay for the MiFi you could have just paid for ATT/VZW/some workable cellular carrier in your area.
You should never go with a carrier if you have to rely on wi-fi calling.
Weird how some carriers cripple or disable features like that on phones.
Why not allow that dual band feature?
It still uses minutes.
At least I know on the T-mobile $30 5gb/100min prepaid plan it does.
But I'm sure you're intelligent enough to realize that the users on HoFo are far from an accurate representation of the general population of cellular customers. The average customer isn't paying for service on multiple carriers. Pointing out that a handful of phone junkies on a tech website who pay for service with several carriers isn't a strong case for argument.
I haven't seen anyone bragging here bragging about using WiFi calling to make up for T-Mobile's shortcomings on the road or in rural areas. It's just something useful to have in buildings where cellular signals can have trouble penetrating. No matter how much you downplay it, it's a nice feature to have rather than not. I'd certainly prefer to use Wi-Fi calling over the $100 cell boosters that AT&T/VZW sell and I'm sure their customers would prefer that as well. If their coverage was so strong in all buildings then they wouldn't even offer them.