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T-Mobile Offers Sprint Customers $200 Credit Per Line to Switch
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We face a completely different TMO over here - big, slow and not willing to change anything.
I'm glad you get better coverage with Sprint. You're one of the lucky few; although, T-Mo's coverage isn't the best to begin with in a lot of places. Personally, if I want to be able to reliably use my iPhone, my only options are AT&T or Verizon.
That's a really good point but they did a little bite. I took a whole bite and switch to T-Mobile it's a love and hate relationship in a different way. 95% of the time because of their coverage has improved at my work that's where the benefits for me. But when I travel that's where I start beating myself. I don't even think AT&T and Verizon are worried like we perceived how T-Mobile as a game changer. But onced their network is improved that's the time we can say T-Mobile is a game changer.
AT&T and Verizon are definitely worried. Since Legere took the helm of T-Mobile the entire industry has changed drastically, and it has mostly been following in T-Mobile's lead with things like phone installments and more-permenant contract buy-out programs. Even little things, like data-rollover and expanded international roaming.
But the biggest sign that the large carriers are worried is when verizon started airing ads that said "come BACK to Verizon". They recognized publicly that they were losing customers.
It's easy to overlook T-Mobile because they are a relatively small carrier, but it's important to remember that Deutsche Telekom is one of the global cellular behemoths. Legere has been able to do what he has done to erizon because DT, in Europe, IS Verizon, and they know what their own weaknesses are. This isn't David and Goliath, it is two Goliaths, and one is just pretending to be really small.
The end game here is two things. 1) T-Moble ends up gaining more and more market share. I'm not saying they'll dethrone Verizon (I'm not saying they wn't either), but their network is growing at an impressive clip, and THAT is what will make the difference to sustain their current growth. 2) DT will have an even better idea of how to combat upstart market disrupters overseas, because they have played both sides of the game.
And the beauty of it is that everyone wins. T-Mobile is doing this whole thing with a populist veneer, meaning that the ways that they are forcing the market to change are introducing consumer-positve measures even for customers of the competition.
I just switched from Sprint to T-Mobile two months ago after 16 years with Sprint.
My coverage is excellent everywhere and unlike Sprint I can now make phone calls at home without call failure or people dropping in and out.
I encourage everyone to do what makes sense for them. Sprint no longer makes any sense for us.
I left Sprint about six years ago, and ended up on T-Mobile after a month or so on Verizon.
At the time, T-Mobile coverage really was poor, but my search for a cellular carrier led me to get a job at T-Mo, and even the SERO plan doesn't compete with an employee phone rate (no longer work there, for the record.)
Over the past six years, T-Mo's network has done amazing things that a lot of people don't realize. They had Magenta way back when the Sidekick was a thing, and are comparing their current coverage to THAT, rather than looking at what Neville and team have accomplished.
Have to? No. They do not.
Will they? Yes. As of February 15, 2015 (earlier this year). And they do it automatically for the 5c and above.
Why do I split hairs on your statement? Because Sprint, with the other three carriers entered an agreement together to do this. It is not a legal agreement and it is not binding. The four carriers simply decided to agree to some common terms and unlock phones.
The reason they did that is because all of them were being threatened by the potential of Congress to pass laws that would force them to do this. They choose to do it under their terms in order to avoid that.
Now there is a currently on the books law requiring unlocking when you've paid off your device. But that does not really apply here because the loopholes in that law are big enough to drive a semi-truck through.
So. They can and they will. But they do not have to.
I hanged with Sprint from 2011 to two months ago because call quality was still fine. Didn't like it, but things were improving.
However, when they stop being able to do the ONE basic thing we use our phones for I can't stay. My wife was ready to throw a $900+ iPhone against the wall because she was pissed with all the call failures.
I know Sprint is good, even great in other places in my market. But it just wasn't working in the places I am.
As to T-Mobile's network. Well, this is only the second carrier I have ever been on so I don't know much about it.
I know that I can do everything I need to without worry. I do know that T-Mobile laid down dark fibre backhaul years before upgrading the network and it's a big part of the reason they are doing so well now. But as far as the history of it, I don't really know much.
I can tell you about the debacle of Sprint and LTE though.
Sprint's actually good...as long as you're on LTE. Unfortunately that's not as often as it should be, at least around here. The $200 bill credit is definitely tempting.
Why would they, they have much larger networks so most people will still value the coverage more. I couldn't switch to T-Mobile even if I wanted to because they have no or poor service in a lot of places I need it.
This is it. This is the final straw for me. I've got to switch now.
I know there are people who say Sprint works for them, but that's honestly surprising and very rare. With all the traveling I do, I've yet to be in a city where I could say that their coverage is "good". The best I've gotten is "decent", which of course means nothing to me. I know I beat this dead horse in every Sprint-related thread, but man... it makes me so mad that I've put up with them for this long.
Never saw WiMAX. LTE coverage and speeds were awful. Spark is nonexistent. And I've yet to see this new "LTE Plus". I'm tired of waiting for these 'improvements' that never fully come, if at all. T-Mobile, I'm sorry it's taken me this long.
I know there are people who say Sprint works for them, but that's honestly surprising and very rare. With all the traveling I do, I've yet to be in a city where I could say that their coverage is "good". The best I've gotten is "decent", which of course means nothing to me. I know I beat this dead horse in every Sprint-related thread, but man... it makes me so mad that I've put up with them for this long.
Never saw WiMAX. LTE coverage and speeds were awful. Spark is nonexistent. And I've yet to see this new "LTE Plus". I'm tired of waiting for these 'improvements' that never fully come, if at all. T-Mobile, I'm sorry it's taken me this long.
LOL.
LTE+ is Spark. Sprint just renamed it. Marketing ploy.
So you don't subscribe to Soon™ and Getting Better All the Time©?
Well, I canceled my own subscription two months ago. Soon was not soon enough to enable us to make and hold phone calls.
We only have 4G at home on T-Mobile right now, but at least calls are solid.
Go T-Mobile!
Really love my carrier (and employer haha).And yes, post above, this is on top of any other T-Mobile promotions going on. Paying off your termination fees and phones from other carriers happens when you get your last bill from your old carrier. The $200 credit is given when you port your numbers over from Sprint (I think it processes when you get your first T-Mobile bill).
Can't wait to see what we'll be doing for AT&T and Verizon customers!
That's bunk. I've been a Verizon customer for years. Their network is good, but in major metropolitan cities it's no better than TMO. And in my major metropolitan city they have plenty, and I mean plenty of dead zones. They charge like they're invincible. But they're not. If it weren't for coverage in the mountains I would have dropped their arrogant asses long ago. TMO keeps going like they are and they will catch up in a couple of years. Then Verizon will either have to lower their prices or I am dropping them like a hot potato.
I'm fine with your hair splitting, but when I give my word to do something I consider it something that I "have to" do. And likewise when a company gives their word by signing onto an agreement, I also consider it something that they "have to" do. But you are right that they did come to an industry wide agreement rather than subject themselves to potential government regulation.
And my original point that someone with a newer iPhone on Sprint can get it unlocked by paying the ETF (reimbursed by T-mobile) and then use it with full support for T-mobile frequencies is valid.
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Don't get me wrong. I was not disputing your point of getting the phone unlocked. Yes that is indeed valid.
I was just clarifying "have to". That's all.
And while I see things the same way as you do, I was on Sprint for 16 years and see all carriers (hell, most businesses) as less than honorable in that regard. Profit and the fine print gave way to honoring your word a long time ago.
That's YOUR experience, so don't say my post is bunk. I have had T-mo, Sprint and Verizon and without a doubt Verizon has worked in plenty more areas that T-mo gave up on. And of course that's MY experience but don't say somebody's post is bunk just because you have a different experience...
so, could I sign up to sprint and then go to T-Mobile immediately after? I don't mind paying for a day or two on sprint only to port over to T-Mobile (who I already have an account with) and then just cancel that line later that month. I'd estimate a $50 investment for a $200 credit.
Also, just to clarify, the way T-Mobile pays etf is by a combination of bill credits and prepaid gift cards. The gift card takes nearly two months to process and arrive. The bill credits are immediate.
The take home point is that you have to fork over the etf out of pocket because your prepaid cards won't arrive anywhere near in time.
If you recently bought an iPhone on sprint you are better off just buying the phone out or laying the etf and taking that phone over to T-Mobile. $200 credit will easily pay for two months of even the most expensive plan they offer for a single line. The only way I see having T-Mobile "pay off" your etf is if you know you're wanting a new phone anyway.
The take home point is that you have to fork over the etf out of pocket because your prepaid cards won't arrive anywhere near in time.
If you recently bought an iPhone on sprint you are better off just buying the phone out or laying the etf and taking that phone over to T-Mobile. $200 credit will easily pay for two months of even the most expensive plan they offer for a single line. The only way I see having T-Mobile "pay off" your etf is if you know you're wanting a new phone anyway.
For what it's worth T-Mobile SIM cards seem to be sold out at a fair number of places. Kinda sucks for someone who wants to try PAYG before porting over.