T-Mobile Unveils Doubled Data Plans, Free Video Streaming at Un-Carrier X Event

[acgmph]

Gotta love the Big 3 that we got

For 1GB CAD $70 is the same as US $50 nowadays, so you're pretty much getting close to same offer. Not that much more expensive if you compare currencies only. Not sure about service though...

And I see Rogers offers Spotify Unlimited too... Not a bad deal
And free NHL, if that's your thing

 

[mtneer]

Let me remind you all you can turn binge on or off. IF you want better quality turn it off

Will that start your data counter then? In other words, is this "unlimited data" only applicable when the "binge-on" setting is enabled?

 

[Fenez]

this HTML class. Value is Good for you, but fo


Good for you, but for me, it doesn't work. Most of the day I am driving in NJ and on Long Island; it sucks.

I work and drive NYC and long island everyday...the only places where t mobile has issues is north of 25a...and that is because there are very few towers allowed there so every carrier has spotty service there..other than that T-Mobile is really good.

 

[Michael Goff]

Will that start your data counter then? In other words, is this "unlimited data" only applicable when the "binge-on" setting is enabled?

Yes, it counts against your data when binge on is turned off. They're not going to give you free 1080p or above video streaming.

 

[Rigby]

Really? How much is your iTunes movie streaming subscription per month?

What does that have to do with anything? Vudu isn't a subscription service either, yet they are included in T-Mobile's offer.

 

[whodatrr]

yes, and that's not lost on many of us. But really, it's no different than what almost all providers do right now. Personally, I've gotten a few emails form my ISP about my torrent activity. They all snoop and gather metrics, both for technical/quality reasons as well as more questionable purposes.

Now, the Net Neutrality angle is another thing entirely. But it appears they're trying to be fair and mindful about it. Slippery slope... but also, free is good. These are the mantras that the demon and angel on my shoulders are shouting.

Back to the nitty gritty, it appears some of the "magic" here is that they're downgrading from higher res to 480p. this saves them bandwidth, and is probably fine for the majority of viewers who are watching on tablets of phones. Put another way, they're asking "is it OK that we downgrade your stream a bit, in exchange for us not charging you for the data?". Win-win, for many.

So you all realize that T-Mobile basically has to 'spy on you' to know when you are watching a streaming video to trigger that data to be free.

And everyone here is OK with their privacy being completely invaded by T-Mobile???????

 

[BJMRamage]

Because iTunes is not a video streaming service.

ahh sorry, i get confused with their Cloud-based play now feature without "downloading" to my phone...but i think that might really download it while "streaming"

 

[BJMRamage]

Then why are they still selling SD content in the store? And actually you can easily stream iTunes content in HD over LTE (not that it would make a huge difference on a phone).

what i meant was that if you were to BUY HD content and play it on an iPhone though it may stutter on LTE, it should look great/HD quality.

BUT, if you were to use T-Mo video thing, then the HD quality you purchased via iTunes would only be coming to you at DVD-quality. and that might cause some to think (foolishly) that Apple is doing something wrong here.

 

[acgmph]

What does that have to do with anything? Vudu isn't a subscription service either, yet they are included in T-Mobile's offer.

Vudu is actually a video streaming service, just not like Netflix where you pay a monthly fee. Vudu streams content to your device, you don't download an m4v like in iTunes.

I was being sarcastic about the monthly fee

 

[XTheLancerX]

So you all realize that T-Mobile basically has to 'spy on you' to know when you are watching a streaming video to trigger that data to be free.

And everyone here is OK with their privacy being completely invaded by T-Mobile???????

They aren't spying, they can't tell what you're watching, but only that you're watching something. You have to be watching video for the data consumption "meter" to stop, so they *have* to know you're watching video. They probably do the same thing with the free music streaming too.

 

[Cndnmax]

So you all realize that T-Mobile basically has to 'spy on you' to know when you are watching a streaming video to trigger that data to be free.

And everyone here is OK with their privacy being completely invaded by T-Mobile???????

No way! I just found out that they also keep track of every single number you've called and for how long you talked to them!!
What's wrong with people and their "privacy". Of course they know the difference between between video/music/web usage- every ISP does!
If people that are so obsessed with their privacy knew how much information was out there they would go live under a rock lol

Although,If Tmobile is planning to keep a list of every single movie I've watch...oh wait, every single video streaming service does it-nvm.

 

[akuma13]

what i meant was that if you were to BUY HD content and play it on an iPhone though it may stutter on LTE, it should look great/HD quality.

BUT, if you were to use T-Mo video thing, then the HD quality you purchased via iTunes would only be coming to you at DVD-quality. and that might cause some to think (foolishly) that Apple is doing something wrong here.

I don't see how when Itunes is not part of this, also Itunes is not a steaming service. If you downloaded an HD video you will see an HD video.

 

[MrXiro]

Binge On is included in Prepaid plans, see attachment from TMos website

Only the Simple Choice plans and only for the upper tiers.

https://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-24291#subhead1

 

[JackieInCo]

this HTML class. Value is Good for you, but fo


Good for you, but for me, it doesn't work. Most of the day I am driving in NJ and on Long Island; it sucks.

Sucks for you.

 

[scottyknox]

While on one hand, I appreciate T-Mo trying to not count the biggest offender of mobile data usage... on the other, this sure is starting to sound like the Satellite/Cable TV packages. "And for only 5 bucks more a month, such-and-such different streaming service also doesn't count against your data usage."

Yuck.

You couldn't be more incorrect. Customers who have paid data...minimum $10 (which is almost everyone including myself) no longer has to have those services use up their data. I'm assuming customers that had the minimum data plan (1GB) weren't considering streaming a lot of video content. Also, every customer including the base web plan gets to utilize the video optimization so video streaming will use less data anyways which greatly benefits the 1GB (now 2GB) base plans.

There are 2 options....the old way (1GB free data or $10 for 3GB and all data except music streaming counts against your bucket)
Or the new way....( 2GB free data with video streaming optimization or $10 for 6GB of data with free video streaming and non impacting to data bucket)

(of course there are higher data packages as well including Unlimited 4GLTE which at that point go ahead and stream anything and everything at whatever quality you want)

ZERO YUCK

 

[mambodancer]

But you don't have to go that way. When I switched, I just got the unlimited everything plan. i don;t worry about caps or squat. The only cap I have is 7GB for my wireless hot spot, which I couldn't even use on AT&T.

Now, I wonder if this works with the wifi hot spot? Hard to see how, as it will likely be streaming to another device without that compression...?

Anyhow, I like what T-Mobile is doing.

I did the same thing. Quit my grandfather ATT plan for T-Mobile. Now, does anyone know if this streaming package not go against the tethering data? If it doesn't, good by Comcast too!

 

[Rigby]

Vudu is actually a video streaming service, just not like Netflix where you pay a monthly fee. Vudu streams content to your device, you don't download an m4v like in iTunes.

I can stream movies from iTunes, which makes iTunes a streaming service.

I was being sarcastic about the monthly fee

Right.

 

[Rigby]

what i meant was that if you were to BUY HD content and play it on an iPhone though it may stutter on LTE, it should look great/HD quality.

BUT, if you were to use T-Mo video thing, then the HD quality you purchased via iTunes would only be coming to you at DVD-quality. and that might cause some to think (foolishly) that Apple is doing something wrong here.

I have no idea what you are talking about. Why would iTunes HD be degraded to SD on T-Mobile? Did they mention a bandwidth cap somewhere that would limit iTunes streaming to SD?

Edit: After reading the T-Mobile FAQ, you are kind of right: The streaming is no longer free if you turn off their "optimization" (i.e. compression):

"Binge On™ optimizes video quality for smartphone screens. It provides a great experience which can also minimize buffering and maximize quality while using a fraction of the data. You can always choose to turn off Binge On™, however, you will no longer have the ability to stream for free from your favorite streaming services"

 

[Huracan]

I kissed them goodbye several months ago.

 

[whodatrr]

From the T-Mobile website, it doesn't count against the 7GB. also, someone earlier said the the 7GB was being raised to 14GB, but I coudn't find a reference for that.

Still, it's good news. But the unlimited stream required downgrading to 480p, which is OK for mobile stuff, but might suck on your TV or desktop. I'd also be uneasy with relying upon a cell provider for home Internet, but that's just me. I now have a 300Mb plan, and appreciate every bit of pipe.

I did the same thing. Quit my grandfather ATT plan for T-Mobile. Now, does anyone know if this streaming package not go against the tethering data? If it doesn't, good by Comcast too!

 

[DblHelix]

Are they also doubling the deprioritization point for unlimited plans (from~20gb to ~40gb)?

 

[Darien Red Sox]

Hopefully AT&T will see this an lower prices. T-Mobile dose not have any service in some of the scout camps I stay at often. I was thinking about switching until last weekend when I was camping and saw someone wondering around with there phone who had T-Mobile trying to get service. As much as it is nice to be off the grid sometimes it is not a comfortable feeling when your are responsible for a bunch of kids.

 

[vampyr]

No way! I just found out that they also keep track of every single number you've called and for how long you talked to them!!
What's wrong with people and their "privacy". Of course they know the difference between between video/music/web usage- every ISP does!
If people that are so obsessed with their privacy knew how much information was out there they would go live under a rock lol

Although,If Tmobile is planning to keep a list of every single movie I've watch...oh wait, every single video streaming service does it-nvm.

I guess my point is... do you REALLY think T-mobile is doing this out of the kindness of their heart? Do you REALLY think they are going to give away data for free?
Hell to the no... they are making deals with all of those video services to collect information about HOW you watch their videos. GPS will tell T-Mobile where you are when you are watching them, what bandwidth you are using... are you moving or stationary? what type of content do you watch the most? What time of the day are you watching? how often do you pause and play? what other apps were you using just before you started watching a video? What link did you use to get the video to come up?

Personally, I think it's downright wrong that a company charges me to use their service, but profit off of my usage behavior. But what can I do? I'm only 1 voice.

 

[Chatter]

I live in Maywood, right between Hackensack and Paramus. I commute to NYC every day so far no issues with AT&T but I have an eye on T-Mobile and have been thinking about it for the past few weeks. I dont think I'll make the move but definitely tempted

Understand. I take the train into the city and I do not have any coverage in the tunnel but I think Verizon or ATT do? I havent been to Hackensack specifically so cannot comment on the coverage there but the rest is fine. It does drop off right after the DWG though into PA.

 

[Cndnmax]

Sounds good but this raises serious questions about net neutrality. Also wonder what type of effect this will have on network congestion.

It's actually a genius way to reduce the network workload. By default all videos included in the service will be downgraded to 480p(which is more then fine for cell phone viewing). Tmobile will be reducing the video streaming bandwidth by 2-3 times what it was because most people won't bother switching it off. Sure more people might start watching videos more often but the majority of people won't change their routine.