Carrier T-Mobile to start paying AT&T, Verizon & Sprint early termination fee on Jan 15 2014

[yeah]

Yup. Being the last carrier to deploy both 3G (still not completed) and LTE is considered "innovation" now for the T-Mobile fans.

Gotcha. Image

LTE Release 10 on all towers and 20 + 20 LTE IS considered innovation.

I was primary talking about the Un-Carrier phases:

Phase 1: No contracts, iPhone, LTE launches.
Phase 2: Upgrade restrictions are dead, 116 LTE markets and no-credit plans.
Phase 3: Free data and texting internationally + Nation-wide LTE, Part 2: 200 MB free tablet data.

You may not notice it AutoUnion, but lonely old T-Mobile is running circles around AT&T and Verizon and also taking critical hits against them. Wait until you see what T-Mobile has in store for 2014 and 2015..

 

[2298754]

LTE Release 10 on all towers

Not when the competition is also running very similar hardware with the same RRUs and Ericcson AIR/ALU/Samsung flat antennas, etc

AT&T/VZW/Sprint all have Rel. 10 compatible hardware. The only carrier who makes a big deal about it is T-Mobile. Even then, they have Release 10 compatible hardware up. They have not deployed Rel. 10 as of yet. No one has. However, it is a quick upgrade. All you need is a software update, upgraded backhaul, enough spectrum, and compatible devices.

And just as a FYI, no current devices can take advantage of the benefits Rel. 10 offers, such as Carrier Aggregation, 4x4 MIMO, and such. Even the current crop of Cat. 4 (Samsung Galaxy Note 3, for example) LTE devices have zero benefit from Rel. 10 hardware.

and 20 + 20 LTE IS considered innovation.

Having it up in Dallas on a handful of towers doesn't mean it's been launched yet.

VZW has done a much better (and quicker job) at launching B4 2x20 LTE. Almost all of NYC is covered. There have been reports of B4 in OKC, Boston, NYC, LA, Chicago, etc. They've only been deploying since the Fall.

T-Mobile? few towers in Dallas. Hardly brag-worthy, don't you say?


You can keep spewing their marketing BS over and over again, but the truth is the truth. They aren't doing anything better than the competition. In fact, it can be argued that their LTE deployments aren't as thorough as VZW/AT&T when a market is officially launched. And of course, as usual, the T-Mobile apologists are ignoring the fact that T-Mobile is STILL deploying HSPA/3G after all these years.

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You may not notice it AutoUnion, but lonely old T-Mobile is running circles around AT&T and Verizon and also taking critical hits against them.

It would be great if you have facts to back up "running circles around" AT&T and VZW. The facts remain the same. AT&T/VZW have more LTE up than T-Mobile has HSPA/3G, even though T-Mobile has been deploying 3G for over 5 years.

A couple of marketing gimmicks, like Uncarrier 1/2/3/4, aren't enough to get the almost 200 million AT&T/VZW users from switching. T-Mobile needs to prove they have a quality network to backup their "Nationwide 4G" claims. So far, they've fallen short. It's simple fact that T-Mobile has more 2G than anyone else.

 

[yeah]

Not when the competition also running the almost exact setups with the same RRUs and Ericcson AIR/ALU/Samsung flat antennas, etc

AT&T/VZW/Sprint all have Rel. 10 compatible hardware. The only carrier who makes a big deal about it is T-Mobile.

And just as a FYI, no current devices can take advantage of the benefits Rel. 10 offers, such as Carrier Aggregation, 4x4 MIMO, and such. Even the current crop of Cat. 4 (Samsung Galaxy Note 3, for example) LTE devices have zero benefit from Rel. 10 hardware.


Having it up in Dallas on a handful of towers doesn't mean it's been launched yet.

VZW has done a much better (and quicker job) at launching B4 2x20 LTE. Almost all of NYC is covered. There have been reports of B4 in OKC, Boston, NYC, LA, Chicago, etc. They've only been deploying since the Fall.

T-Mobile? few towers in Dallas. Hardly brag-worthy, don't you say?



You can keep spewing their marketing BS over and over again, but the truth is the truth. They aren't doing anything better than the competition. In fact, it can be argued that their LTE deployments aren't as thorough as VZW/AT&T when a market is officially launched. And of course, as usual, the T-Mobile apologists are ignoring the fact that T-Mobile is STILL deploying HSPA/3G after all these years.

They deployed LTE at a faster pace than the other major carriers. Yes, T-Mobile has some work to do on 3G/HSPA+, but they are going to upgrade EDGE to that and LTE once they gain enough spectrum.

But look on the cool side: T-Mobile knows how to be very efficient with their current spectrum setup, and even launching 20 + 20 LTE, when people never thought they could.

They only reason Verizon rushed their 2 x 20 LTE is because they were having MAJOR capacity issues with their 2 x 10 700 MHz LTE, which is not the best band to use inside major metropolitan areas.

Now I'm no die-hard T-Mobile fanboy, but you do have to appreciate and notice that T-Mobile is changing the wireless industry and your beloved two carriers are feeling the pain, including Sprint.

Oh and T-Mobile doesn't spew "Marketing BS", they spew stuff that is making Verizon and AT&T customers leave them in droves and head to T-Mobile.

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It would be great if you have facts to back up "running circles around" AT&T and VZW. The facts remain the same. AT&T/VZW have more LTE up than T-Mobile has HSPA/3G, even though T-Mobile has been deploying 3G for over 5 years.

A couple of marketing gimmicks, like Uncarrier 1/2/3/4, aren't enough to get the almost 200 million AT&T/VZW users from switching. T-Mobile needs to prove they have a quality network to backup their "Nationwide 4G" claims. So far, they've fallen short. It's simple fact that T-Mobile has more 2G than anyone else.

So you think the Un-Carrier is a marketing gimmick? Well then explain the LOSS of customers from AT&T and the only slight gain from Verizon, when T-Mobile had the 2nd biggest gain last quarter.

 

[0007776]

Wait until you see what T-Mobile has in store for 2014 and 2015..

Hopefully it involves expanding their coverage, I've tried using them before and the coverage sucks. They have pretty good prices, but that doesn't help if I can't get service in most places.

 

[2298754]

They deployed LTE at a faster pace than the other major carriers. Yes, T-Mobile has some work to do on 3G/HSPA+, but they are going to upgrade EDGE to that and LTE once they gain enough spectrum.

They already have the spectrum. They purchased a nationwide slice of AWS in 2006 to supplement their PCS holdings.

If Sprint can deploy LTE nationwide on PCS and AT&T can deploy 3G/EDGE nationwide on PCS, why can't T-Mobile do it with their PCS/AWS holdings?

 

[ross1998]

They already have the spectrum. They purchased a nationwide slice of AWS in 2006 to supplement their PCS holdings.

If Sprint can deploy LTE nationwide on PCS and AT&T can deploy 3G/EDGE nationwide on PCS, why can't T-Mobile do it with their PCS/AWS holdings?

My guess is tmobile is waiting for some lower band spectrum because it penetrates better and travels further.

Or they could be waiting to sell out to sprint or dish so no point in wasting money on more upgrades.

 

[yeah]

They already have the spectrum. They purchased a nationwide slice of AWS in 2006 to supplement their PCS holdings.

If Sprint can deploy LTE nationwide on PCS and AT&T can deploy 3G/EDGE nationwide on PCS, why can't T-Mobile do it with their PCS/AWS holdings?

Well T-Mobile doesn't have all of the financial ability to do that now and they didn't acquire enough AWS/PCS in some areas to deploy LTE or even HSPA+.

 

[jamezr]

Yup. Being the last carrier to deploy both 3G (still not completed) and LTE is considered "innovation" now for the T-Mobile fans.

Gotcha. Image

Well done AutoUnion39….you've become the most negative poster in another thread. Well done…even after others have refuted your negative comments you still post FUD…..

 

[Kohkane]

I'm actually excited to see where T-mobile goes in 2014, they seem to be doing well. I don't think they're offering gimmicks, they're just flat out telling you what you pay instead of trying to mask it around "deals". If it wasn't for the fact that I currently have a better deal with Sprint (and my LTE is amazing) I would hop over to T-mobile to try them out again. Along with Sprint, both these carriers have a long image and network overhaul to do, so here's to 2014 actually leading to plans that don't suck.


Side note: I do really hope that Uncarrier 4.0 has more to it, because right now, at least compared to the other announcements, this just seems like a crappy deal still.

 

[EbookReader]

I was primary talking about the Un-Carrier phases:

Phase 1: No contracts, iPhone, LTE launches.
Phase 2: Upgrade restrictions are dead, 116 LTE markets and no-credit plans.
Phase 3: Free data and texting internationally + Nation-wide LTE, Part 2: 200 MB free tablet data.

.

the Un-Carrier strategy is paying off:

http://www.fiercewireless.com/story...ould-face-uphill-battle-regulators/2013-12-17

Additionally, T-Mobile has spent this year carving out a distinct identity under CEO John Legere as the "uncarrier," and merging with another operator would seem to fly in the face of that strategy. The strategy seems to be working as well--T-Mobile added 2.1 million total customers in the second and third quarter alone.

T-Mobile's success and SoftBank's acquisition of Sprint this year, along with Sprint's plans to deploy 2.5 GHz on a nationwide basis for faster TD-LTE service, likely validate the DoJ's reasoning that four national competitors make for a healthier wireless market in terms of competition.

2Q of 2013: 1.1 million additional customers
3Q of 2014: 1 million additional customers

 

[EbookReader]

http://www.tmonews.com/2013/12/what...ther-carriers-early-termination-fees-covered/

I mean, if you have 4 lines on Verizon or AT&T, and are desperate to save some money, switching to a different carrier is no easy task. Of course, you could save a packet on T-Mobile, but if you have a good chunk of time left on your contract with VZW, how do you get out of it to switch? It’s even harder still to switch if each of those 4 lines has a different end date.

Let’s use a “typical” 4 person family: Dad, mom, brother, sister. Dad has 12 months left on his line, mom has 4, brother has 8, sister is due an upgrade. In that situation, the endless cycle would normally continue as the daughter starts looking around for upgrades. Switching isn’t an option, since the rest of the 4-person family are nowhere near an end. Using Verizon as an example, the early termination fee for smartphone users is $350 minus $10 for each month they’ve had the contract. So, Dad is $350-$120 = $230. Mom is $350-$200 = $150. Brother is $350-$160=$190. Sister is $0. In total, that’s $570, a total which T-Mobile could potentially pay off if they trade in their old phones (to pay the down payments on new ones) and get their final bills covered by this “Houdini” scheme. Switching and sorting the finances isn’t hassle-free, but it’s not going to be expensive.

To T-Mobile, it would be a fairly bold move. But with families, it’s not as risky as with a single consumer. Customers may well choose to go through this hassle to switch to a carrier with better value and more customer-focussed plans, but would they really be bothered to do the opposite, and leave again? I doubt it. Tmo could have a group of people here who are customers for life and have no desire to leave. This is presuming that they’ve checked coverage in their most-frequented locations and know they’ll be good with magenta.

 

[paulyeo]

Well done AutoUnion39….you've become the most negative poster in another thread. Well done…even after others have refuted your negative comments you still post FUD…..

He only shows up when a T-Mobile thread is up and running

 

[gbrnole]

the Houdini deal is potentially brilliant for VZW customers looking to switch who have an LTE enabled device (especially 5S and 5C) that they like but also still have an old VZW smartphone kicking around the house.

the same deal not so much for ATT & Sprint customers who have carrier locked devices.

 

[2298754]

Well done AutoUnion39….you've become the most negative poster in another thread. Well done…even after others have refuted your negative comments you still post FUD…..

Yet once again, all I'm hearing is complaints when I bring facts into this thread. If you only want to revere TMobile and talk about how amazing their mediocre network is, might I suggest the comments section at tmonews.com?

Can't expect anything less from the TMobile apologists on this board.

TMo in my current location

Everyone else, even Sprint, have LTE

 

[jamezr]

Yet once again, all I'm hearing is complaints when I bring facts into this thread. If you only want to revere TMobile and talk about how amazing their mediocre network is, might I suggest the comments section at tmonews.com?

Can't expect anything less from the TMobile apologists on this board.

Really? So show me your facts………Others have disputed your opinions that were stated as facts. So in the context of this thread…..show me where you presented facts.
Also back up your claim that I am an T-Mobile apologist. I don't even have TMomile……please try to stay current. I posted where is said i would think about switching to T-Mobile if they paid my ETF among other things. So again you state misinformation and broad generalizations when you get caught posting FUD.
Your screen shot shows YOUR experience with T-Mobile. Might I suggest you cry a river in the comments section at tmonews.com?
Others on this thread have said how great it is in THEIR area….so what you get bad service where you live! What does that prove?

 

[yeah]

Yet once again, all I'm hearing is complaints when I bring facts into this thread. If you only want to revere TMobile and talk about how amazing their mediocre network is, might I suggest the comments section at tmonews.com?

Can't expect anything less from the TMobile apologists on this board.

TMo in my current location
Image
Everyone else, even Sprint, have LTE

People have different experiences with different companies. If you despise a company, you can politely and calmly state your reasons on why you left the company. Gabbering about how T-Mobile has no coverage everywhere and how they have 99% EDGE isn't going to affect T-Mobile customers who actually live and work in major cities. Just because you have EDGE where you live, doesn't mean the rest of T-Mobile's HSPA+/LTE covered areas will have EDGE.

Get a grip on yourself AutoUnion, there are millions of people living outside of your street and outside of Boston. Just because you have poor QoS in one area, doesn't mean you will have it in all areas.

Just to let you know, AT&T and Verizon are not perfect carriers, and they do not cover the whole entire USA with EDGE/3G/HSPA+/LTE.

 

[2298754]

perfect carriers, and they do not cover the whole entire USA with EDGE/3G/HSPA+/LTE.

Nor do they have the audacity to claim "Nationwide 4G," like TMobile does.

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Just because you have EDGE where you live, doesn't mean the rest of T-Mobile's HSPA+/LTE covered areas will have EDGE.

Get a grip on yourself AutoUnion, there are millions of people living outside of your street and outside of Boston. Just because you have poor QoS in one area, doesn't mean you will have it in all areas.

I'm speaking from experience in the entire Northeast. I still see EDGE from T-Mobile in major cities, such as NYC, Hartford, Boston, Worcester, Portsmouth, NJ, Phily, Baltimore, and DC. It's not just my area in Boston. It's a significant portion of the United States. Where's that perfect T-Mobile service in top metro areas?

No amount of excuses can pardon T-Mobile from the fact that they are a bunch of liars. It is almost 2014. Why do I still see EDGE in major cities? Why is I95 (top 2 most busy interstates in the US) still not completely covered with HSPA? It's mostly EDGE/GPRS with some HSPA sprinkled in.

What's the point of mobile data, if it doesn't work when you're traveling?

 

[yeah]

Nor do they have the audacity to claim "Nationwide 4G," like TMobile does.

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I'm speaking from experience in the entire Northeast. I still see EDGE from T-Mobile in major cities, such as NYC, Hartford, Boston, Worcester, Portsmouth, NJ, Phily, Baltimore, and DC. It's not just my area in Boston. It's a significant portion of the United States.

No amount of excuses can pardon T-Mobile from the fact that they are a bunch of liars. It is almost 2014. Why do I still see EDGE in major cities? Why is I95 (top 2 most busy interstates in the US) still not completely covered with HSPA? It's mostly EDGE/GPRS with some HSPA sprinkled in. What's the point of mobile data, if it doesn't work when you're traveling?

I'm sure you haven't been to every-single T-Mobile cell tower in the Northeast USA to justify that T-Mobile sucks in the entire Northeast. So if they have some EDGE spots (as a T-Mobile customer, I would like to see that improved, which T-Mobile will eventually do as they gain more customers), 45 million people do not have an issue with that, since they are in areas with HSPA+/LTE most of the time.

And of course, since T-Mobile has high-frequency spectrum, except some low-frequency in Boston (), they have to space towers pretty close and they can't build a lot of them because of zoning/lease rights and selecting the best area. You can say that Sprint is cool because they are deploying 800 MHz SMR and 1900 MHz PCS (and some 2500 MHz TD-LTE) on all 38,000+ towers that they have, but with the $20 billion fund from SoftBank, Sprint is capable to achieve that, where as T-Mobile obviously does not have the fund that Sprint has.

CTO Neville Ray and the man of T-Mobile, CEO John Legere know that customers want more coverage, and they will provide that next year. I guarantee it, AutoUnion.

 

[jamezr]

Nor do they have the audacity to claim "Nationwide 4G," like TMobile does.

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I'm speaking from experience in the entire Northeast. I still see EDGE from T-Mobile in major cities, such as NYC, Hartford, Boston, Worcester, Portsmouth, NJ, Phily, Baltimore, and DC. It's not just my area in Boston. It's a significant portion of the United States. Where's that perfect T-Mobile service in top metro areas?

No amount of excuses can pardon T-Mobile from the fact that they are a bunch of liars. It is almost 2014. Why do I still see EDGE in major cities? Why is I95 (top 2 most busy interstates in the US) still not completely covered with HSPA? It's mostly EDGE/GPRS with some HSPA sprinkled in.

What's the point of mobile data, if it doesn't work when you're traveling?

Other people are getting better service in those cities than you do….

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2323983

http://blog.laptopmag.com/t-mobile-4g-lte-116-markets

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2013/07/31/t-mobiles-60-mbps-4g-lte-network-may-be-the-perfect-companion-to-the-new-nexus-7/

Why all the hatred for T-Mobile? Do you have service with them? Why? switch if you do not like your service….but continuously crying about just paints you in a bad light.

I have AT&T and have nothing bad to say about them. I have a buddy at work that has a iPhone 5s on T-Mobile and i have the same iPhone on AT&T. Yet everywhere we go in our offices or when the group goes out to lunch he has faster speeds and the same service I do here in the Phoenix area. So what does that prove? Should I bash AT&T? No…..if i don't like then they should get service somewhere else. Just as thou should…….
I would switch to T-Mobile just to save money if the rumors are true and they will pay for my ETF and just swap phones on my 4 lines.

 

[paulyeo]

Was in downtown Portland earlier and did speedtests for both T-Mobile and Verizon, at the same time.

Again, it all depends on the area! Just cause my test shows T-Mobile won doesn't mean T-Mobile is the best.

Get that in your head AutoUnion39.

 

[Apple Trees]

It would probably gain them tons of customers but I don't see how they can afford to do this. The cash would be better spent buying spectrum from other companies.

 

[EbookReader]

It would probably gain them tons of customers but I don't see how they can afford to do this. The cash would be better spent buying spectrum from other companies.

T-Mobile USA is profitable. The more customers they gain, the more profitable they will be.

As for buying spectrum from other companies, the other companies need to be willing to sell their spectrum.

 

[BENJMNS]

I love tmobile

 

[EbookReader]

http://www.tmonews.com/2014/01/john...-the-wireless-industry-hint-at-uncarrier-4-0/
John Legere’s 2014 resolutions for T-Mobile to “transform the wireless industry”, hint at Uncarrier 4.0

 

[jamezr]

http://www.tmonews.com/2014/01/john...-the-wireless-industry-hint-at-uncarrier-4-0/
John Legere’s 2014 resolutions for T-Mobile to “transform the wireless industry”, hint at Uncarrier 4.0

Yep.........can't wait for CES for T-Mobile and other exciting tech news.