T-Mobile Looks to Shake Up Cellular Industry Again With 'Un-carrier 8.0' Announcement Tuesday

[AppleRobert]

I think we all would pay a fair price for good quality. However, these carriers have taken so much advantage of us customers that it's hard to find anyone who actually trusts these guys.

Verizon and AT&T could give us plans such as 400 minutes 4GB 4G/LTE for $40/month. No fees, no gimmicks, bottom line price, and just good service. A 400/4/$40 plan and I would jump on that right now. Instead you end up paying twice that for less.

Right now I'm with VM at $30/month. I don't talk much, so want to switch to the Wal-Mart Tmobile plan for iPhone 6 $30/month for 100 min and 4GB high speed data. I'm just waiting to get the phone.

I do not need unlimited talk (100 minutes would do fine). I NEED data and the current plans are ridiculous.

 

[M5RahuL]

Maybe something to do with T-Mobile + Vodafone

 

[MasterRyu2011]

hopefully the big announcement is cellular connection so sharp it can pierce through buildings' walls. That would be the best Christmas as a Tmobile customer --- actually being able to using your service indoors.

 

[itr81]

I think we all would pay a fair price for good quality. However, these carriers have taken so much advantage of us customers that it's hard to find anyone who actually trusts these guys.

Verizon and AT&T could give us plans such as 400 minutes 4GB 4G/LTE for $40/month. No fees, no gimmicks, bottom line price, and just good service. A 400/4/$40 plan and I would jump on that right now. Instead you end up paying twice that for less.

Right now I'm with VM at $30/month. I don't talk much, so want to switch to the Wal-Mart Tmobile plan for iPhone 6 $30/month for 100 min and 4GB high speed data. I'm just waiting to get the phone.

I'm paying 130 w tax on att. Unlimited talk and text, international text, wifi hotspots and 15gb shared on two iPhones. We barely ever use 15gb but att gave us a free upgrade from 10gb to 15gb.

 

[Terrin]

In theory I could agree with you, but it's hardly about rain forests and ski runs. I'm of the understanding that T-Maybe gets good coverage in Florida where it's flat, but it's not worth a free phone, data, bonuses, or any other tricks Legere has up his sleeves in Tennessee.

We're talking about cellphones here, and for people who go to more than one place during the week, it is about who has the best network. Otherwise you holding an iPod touch.

Maybe not in your area, but T-Mobile has excellent coverage in a lot of areas. I live in Ann Arbor Michigan it has great coverage, and I was in Baltimore not too long ago and it had good coverage. I drive all over the metro Detroit area with no issues. I am usually on LTE. Moreover, people forget when the iPhone first came out AT&T's data network really stank. It was the increase of customers that allowed AT&T to invest more in its network. The more customers T-Mobile acquires the
more investment it will make its network. For areas where T-Mobile has a strong network, it really is a strong option for a lot of people.

Further Wi-Fi calling really helps out in some areas.

 

[unobtainium]

I keep hoping AT&T will try to compete with T-Mobile's roaming plans. I'm in Canada for the holidays and just blew through my 120Mb roaming data ($30) in three days without seemingly doing anything? Now I'm data-less until New Year's.

 

[Terrin]

I really like what Legere is doing because it's putting pressure on the industry; but there's no way in hell I'd switch to T-Mobile until they fundamentally transform their network in its entirety.

Just the other day, I was looking at their network map and there are many, many places in this country where they offer either no service or only 2G service. 2G...are you kidding me?! It's nearly 2015!

Also, I found several areas where they offer LTE close to an urban core, but if you get more than 20 or 30 miles beyond that and the coverage drops to either 3G or worse...2G.

Also, I disagree with your last sentence that I quoted. I want my phone to work *everywhere*. I understand that it can't/won't work everywhere; but I want it to be able to. Being with Verizon, my iPhone 6 works a lot more places than it would if I stuck a T-Mobile SIM in it right now. If I don't want to be reachable, I'll turn my phone off. I am plenty capable of controlling my reachability. I don't need/want my carrier to do that for me.

If you leave T-Mobile's network area it roams on AT&T or Verizon so what's the big deal? There are data caps but still unlimited texting and phone calls. I travel around the country a lot and I'm never had issues or I can make a phone call.

 

[solodogg]

I really wish T-Mo would improve their network enough to be usable 5 miles outside of the city limits, I would switch in a heart beat. My neighborhood has Verizon on Bands 4/13 and AT&T on Bands 4/17, Sprint on 25/26, and T-Mobile on GPRS. A mile south of me is T-Mobile LTE. The vast majority of Indiana is the same way.

 

[mike czech]

It would be really nice if T-Mo would come up with an iPhone app that wasn't completely unusable. Their app is the worst POS I have ever encountered. Does anyone else have any positive experiences with it??

 

[Terrin]

I'm paying 130 w tax on att. Unlimited talk and text, international text, wifi hotspots and 15gb shared on two iPhones. We barely ever use 15gb but att gave us a free upgrade from 10gb to 15gb.

The same thing starts out at $70 on t-Mobile (two phones-excluding tax)

 

[brendu]

T-Mobile still has a ways to go before they are "good enough." They need more low-frequency spectrum. I'm getting EDGE in downtown Chicago right now on my iPad, while both AT&T and Verizon get LTE.

By the end of 2015 that should be done. Tmobile is in the process of converting their 2g spectrum to 4g

 

[Christian 5G]

Excellent! Can't wait!

 

[Woochifer]

Will be interesting to see what happens this time. I wasn't expecting an announcement around the holidays, but Legere's not exactly known for following everybody else's clock.

T-Mobile's one of the primarily reasons why I made the step up to a smartphone in the first place. Before TMo expanded their prepaid options and eliminated contracts, it didn't matter to me how great the smartphone functionality was -- I refused to get locked into a contract or pay a ridiculous sum to get a paltry data allotment and a bunch of voice minutes I'll never use.

Their $30 prepaid plan matched up with my exact needs, and I've been very happy with the service. The ongoing "Uncarrier" announcements have kept adding value to my plan -- free music streaming, free tethering, etc.

Even as other carriers have stepped up and started offering contract-free and prepaid plans that I can live with (whereas less than 2 years ago, NOBODY else offered anything acceptable), T-Mobile has kept me on board.

As for their service. Yeah, the data network is not as expansive as AT&T and Verizon. But, 98% of the time for me, the network is fine and for the areas that they do serve, the network reliability and speed has greatly improved in the past year. I just tested 60+ Mbps from inside my office building, and only a year ago, this location didn't have LTE service.

For me, it's just not a worthwhile tradeoff to pay more than double my current monthly rate and get saddled down with potential overage charges so I can have network coverage for that 2% of the time I travel into a T-Mobile non-coverage area.

 

[adeedew]

I LOVE what they're doing with shaking things up I just wished they did the same with their actual coverage! I was with a coworker in the most popular part of LA recently and his iphone 6 was on EDGE while mine has LTE (Verizon) which seems to be the case all the time. That's sad

 

[Plutonius]

If you leave T-Mobile's network area it roams on AT&T or Verizon so what's the big deal?

T-Mobile actively manages their roaming on a tower by tower basis and only keeps the higher need areas (their decision) turned on (they constantly adjust where they accept roaming). I'm SOL after Labor Day until around Memorial Day when they decide to accept roaming at my local AT&T tower. I would have no issues with the T-Mobile network if they guaranteed that they would keep roaming enabled and not pull the rug out from under my feet.

Roaming is not a replacement for network coverage.

 

[TechZeke]

I hear constant complaints from people with T-Mobile about the lack of coverage. The complaints come from friends and family on a consistent, alarming basis. Although their unlimited plan price is enticing, at the end of the day, the principle of "you get what you pay for" still applies. For me, the AT&T premium of getting high speed LTE where ever I am is worth it.

I like the principles of T-mobile and what they are trying to do, but I never hear someone complaining aboht the coverage of ATT and Verizon.

 

[2457282]

Pricing isn't everything. To me coverage is more important, especially if your cell phone is the only phone you have. T-Mobile's coverage just doesn't stack up against AT&T.

I sort of agree. I travel between 3 cities the majority of the time -- DC, NY, and Chicago. So coverage is the most important in those three cities. I could care less who has coverage in the CA or WA. It not personal, just dont go there enough for that to make a difference in my selection of a carrier. I also travel to Philly and to Miami, but infrequetly, but I can add that as a secondary influencer.

In DC, I would say that TM is good enough - ish. In Chicago, not good enough, and NYC, good enough. Have not looked at the secondary markets because my primary markets already to get a passing grade. I, like you, continue to use AT&T. When the coverage for TM is consistent accross the 3-5 markets where I will actually spend time, then and onl then, will I consider them a viable option.

Still I applaud there efforts to day and wish them well.

 

[adeedew]

I hear constant complaints from people with T-Mobile about the lack of coverage. The complaints come from friends and family on a consistent, alarming basis. Although their unlimited plan price is enticing, at the end of the day, the principle of "you get what you pay for" still applies. For me, the AT&T premium of getting high speed LTE where ever I am is worth it.

I like the principles of T-mobile and what they are trying to do, but I never hear someone complaining aboht the coverage of ATT and Verizon.

Agreed! I pay through the nose keeping a grandfathered unlimited verizon plan however I've never have had service issues and always loghtning fast just about anywhere I travel. The hotspoting blows away any hotel speed etc. I think the day TMO consistently are at that level will be the day they raise their prices.

 

[Derek87]

I want my phone to work *everywhere*. I understand that it can't/won't work everywhere; but I want it to be able to. Being with Verizon, my iPhone 6 works a lot more places than it would if I stuck a T-Mobile SIM in it right now. If I don't want to be reachable, I'll turn my phone off. I am plenty capable of controlling my reachability. I don't need/want my carrier to do that for me.

what has been discussed here reminds me of a truth that is obvious, but i needed to live out this past few months: one needs to choose the network that best fits their usage patterns (location, location, location) and needs.

in september, i moved to Verizon thinking i would get better service than AT&T, which i used for 8 years prior. after suffering with Verizon for two months, i found that sadly, for my needs (which includes Caltrain where there were several stretches where Verizon has and confirmed they have no data coverage in spite of what their maps say), Verizon was not as great as i thought it would be.

in the end, i ate the ETF and am back at AT&T even after having lost my grandfathered plan.

i did a lot of spying and talking to fellow passengers on the train of different phones during my failed experiment with Verizon: Tmobile and Sprint also has holes in their coverage in many places i frequent including Caltrain.

i do believe Verizon, based on conversation and my wife's experiences moving around a lot, is probably the best overall for voice coverage. but for data, at least where i live, work, and travel, AT&T has them beat by a long shot. (LTE basically wherever i go, and responsive LTE as opposed to the sluggish LTE i was getting from Verizon in more locations than i was expecting)

i am happy Tmobile is putting on the pressure, and i hope competition continues to help out the customers of all the carriers.

 

[nutmac]

T-Mobile still has a ways to go before they are "good enough." They need more low-frequency spectrum. I'm getting EDGE in downtown Chicago right now on my iPad, while both AT&T and Verizon get LTE.

While I agree with low frequency, T-Mobile will be migrating all EDGE towers to LTE by mid 2015, sooner in some locations.

 

[unplugme71]

John Legere is ****ing awesome. Seriously- the guy gets it. As cellular coverage inevitably improves, and infrastructure investment is paid off, the industry is going to hit a wall where people don't really care about much higher speeds. He is prepared for that by coming in with plans that shake the industry. And just like Apple made the iPhone a success by breaking the old industry tactics of handset makers at the time with things like wifi data use and no-carrier-branding, T-Mobile will be positioned to take a market lead.

It is not about who has the best network- it is about that point where the network is good enough, and the price can come down. Verizon can wave their arms and say "We have coverage in the middle of the rain forest in Hawaii, or the top of a ski run in Park City all they want, but the fact is most people will take price and a lack of contractual obligations over coverage in areas they wish cell phones wouldn't work anyway.

And regardless, the network is catching up. I don't think anyone is going to care about "5G" or "6G" or "27G", they just care that their phone works where it reasonably should and their bill is cheap.

When you rely on your phone for calls, especially business or emergency related, you'd wish you had spent more for the quality of service. While I truly thank T-Mobile for their service and ability to drive down competition pricing, I will never switch from AT&T unless AT&T goes to **** or another carrier can offer the same QoS for less.

And yes, LTE might be a lot of speed now, but there will always be technology demanding more. Maybe our phones will do OTA updates on LTE instead of WiFi. Maybe these updates will happen while we are streaming a 4K movie on our phone being pushed to a friends Apple TV. All this data, especially multiple data streams, require faster speeds and bandwidth.

Pricing isn't everything. To me coverage is more important, especially if your cell phone is the only phone you have. T-Mobile's coverage just doesn't stack up against AT&T.

Exactly.

I think we all would pay a fair price for good quality. However, these carriers have taken so much advantage of us customers that it's hard to find anyone who actually trusts these guys.

Verizon and AT&T could give us plans such as 400 minutes 4GB 4G/LTE for $40/month. No fees, no gimmicks, bottom line price, and just good service. A 400/4/$40 plan and I would jump on that right now. Instead you end up paying twice that for less.

Right now I'm with VM at $30/month. I don't talk much, so want to switch to the Wal-Mart Tmobile plan for iPhone 6 $30/month for 100 min and 4GB high speed data. I'm just waiting to get the phone.

Carriers realized that theres more demand for data than minutes. Minutes are cheap these days. The infrastructure is already built out. And now the shift to LTE voice and data is the new thing. So carriers are relying on data as their income. However, the 4G/LTE infrastructure is already expanded vastly around the country. I was driving 35 miles outside of Kansas City, and I was still getting LTE. So competition is driving carriers to give more data or lower prices. Well since lowering prices causes a reduction in income, they just give you more data and hope that its not used. But now with 2GB data plans becoming common, and 3-5GB becoming standard, can these carriers drive you to 10GB and 20GB plans? Maybe on a family share, but the amount of single users using 10GB of data is less than 1%. WiFi is becoming more common in places so the tendency to use WiFi over 4G/LTE is more common.

Personally, I think carriers will need to merge with cable/fiber providers or hope their business land lines are profitable enough to sustain in business.

Cell phones will just be purchased outright and with the mass of WiFi, we'll always be "connected" somehow.


And yes, we need this CEO to shake up the cable industry. $240 for all the channels is ludicrous.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

In a race to the bottom you tend to sacrifice quality for quanity. I rather pay bit more for quality network and not worry if I'll have coverage or not if I stray too far from the interstate.

I rarely travel anymore. And when I do it isn't for business. I don't chit chat nor IM. I got that out of my system by '98. At 45 I haven't wasted a dime on smart phones.

I've got Apple shares as a former employee back to '97 with the NeXT merger. Engineering requires less chit chat and more decision and solutions oriented use of technologies.

Thanks for everyone blowing a lot of money gabbing like old maids. My portfolio has been greatly improved.

Until smartphones [including the iPhone] have plans that don't surpass the cost of actually purchasing the phone unlocked, in a single year I have no desire to sign on for one.

Keep buying them.

 

[nostaws]

tomorrow's announcement

tmobile is buying apple.

----------

hopefully the big announcement is cellular connection so sharp it can pierce through buildings' walls. That would be the best Christmas as a Tmobile customer --- actually being able to using your service indoors.

I am not trying to give T-mobile a pass, but with wifi calling, I can be sealed into NORAD, 100ft deep, and still make phone calls.

I love wifi calling on my 5s. The two places I spend the most time, home and work, I have wifi calling.

 

[MasterRyu2011]

tomorrow's announcement

tmobile is buying apple.

----------






I am not trying to give T-mobile a pass, but with wifi calling, I can be sealed into NORAD, 100ft deep, and still make phone calls.

I love wifi calling on my 5s. The two places I spend the most time, home and work, I have wifi calling.

I'm really referring to the 4G data. Out in the open, my connection is great, but as soon as I go into most buildings where I am, I almost always lose any type of data connection. What is especially dreadful for me is at work. (no guest wifi in my building) I get no cell reception (voice and data) whatsoever at the cube. However, as soon as I get to a window or walk out of the lobby, bam instant 4G LTE in all its glory. haha.

 

[Deelron]

It really depends on where you are. As a general rule, in Los Angeles area, my wife (has T-Mobile) will have full 4G LTE when I (AT&T) have nothing and this happens A LOT. The same is true for most of Arizona, as we discovered while driving through there.

Southern Utah outside of the big cities has Verizon with the best coverage apparently.

I've had similar results in the South Sound area of Washington, particularly in the more rural areas, where my wife's iPhone 5s (AT&T) drops signal before my Air 2 on T-Mobile, and T-Mobile would consistently be on a higher quality of network before AT&T would. Of course YMMV.