T-Mobile USA Offering Free Unlimited Data in Europe This Summer

[MacRumors]

T-Mobile has announced a new promotion that will offer postpaid customers free unlimited high-speed data, at up to 4G LTE speeds, in all European countries, except Andorra, between July 1 and August 31 of this year.

The carrier noted that customers will receive the highest available data speeds depending on where they are traveling in Europe, while text messaging is free worldwide and calls are 20 cents per minute throughout the continent. Customers do not have to take any steps to take advantage of the promotion.

T-Mobile will also be gifting all passengers on any domestic U.S. flight with Gogo service with one free hour of Wi-Fi on their smartphone between this Friday and Sunday at 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Being a T-Mobile customer is not required.

Last, T-Mobile will be adding Belize to its Simple Global coverage area starting July 1, bringing free unlimited low-speed data and texting, and calls for 20 cents per minute, to the country. The expansion means that Simple Global will now be available in every country in the central and south Americas.

Article Link: T-Mobile USA Offering Free Unlimited Data in Europe This Summer

 

[skinned66]

Good on T-Mobile.

 

[NervousFish2]

Funny, I've been out of the US for the last year, and my Ohio-based T-Mobile phone number is on hold til I get back in August. In the meantime, I've been in Ireland, and I'm using a local pay-as-you-go service. This service costs me €20.00/month, for infinite 4G data (tho you do get hammered if you start making non-network or landline calls). Its not a perfect service, but its pretty damn cheap, all considered. Returning to the US soon, I am really struggling to justify the costs of postpaid service....

 

[bushido]

ha meanwhile their "mother" treats their customers like crap in Germany. 2GB for only 45 Euro a months and 50 mb in the EU!

 

[anthonymoody]

MAN I wish their service by me were even remotely acceptable.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

MAN I wish their service by me were even remotely acceptable.

When was the last time you checked? My understanding is they've gotten dramatically better every year for the last few years.

 

[thebluepotato]

Don't you get French or Spanish service in Andorra? Just wondering...

 

[k.alexander]

So do you have to do anything to get this, like sign up for anything, change / make any plans to your account, or is it automatic?

 

[hlfway2anywhere]

So do you have to do anything to get this, like sign up for anything, change / make any plans to your account, or is it automatic?

it happens automatically. i traveled the UK in March and had 128kbps unlimited data the whole time without doing anything. this promo allows unlimited high speed instead.

 

[Bacco]

I was just in Italy and my daughter was in England and Scotland. We both service ranging from Edge to LTE. It really depended on where you were.

Speaking for myself, while traveling between cities, speeds tended to drop to mostly 3G, but when in cities, speeds were mostly LTE. If you call them, they tell you that they promise slower speeds just to protect themselves, you will get whatever is available in your location.

Great features.

 

[BeSweeet]

I was just in Italy and my daughter was in England and Scotland. We both service ranging from Edge to LTE. It really depended on where you were.

Speaking for myself, while traveling between cities, speeds tended to drop to mostly 3G, but when in cities, speeds were mostly LTE. If you call them, they tell you that they promise slower speeds just to protect themselves, you will get whatever is available in your location.

Great features.

Are you sure you were actually getting EDGE / 3G / LTE speeds, or were you just getting those data connections? Speeds should've still been limited to 128Kbps down and up (until now, at least), regardless of what data type you're connected to.

 

[Bacco]

I can't swear to it, I didn't run a speed test, but the connection was very responsive. It certainly didn't appear as slow as 128Kbps.

 

[captain cadet]

So how will this go if the UK leaves?

 

[fenderbass146]

Awesome! I am leaving for Europe in two days for two weeks. At least half my trip i'll be able to use my phone.

 

[barkomatic]

If I weren't on a grandfathered unlimited data plan with AT&T that comes with a work discount I'd switch. If you've got coverage in your area, T-mobile can't be beat unless you go the MVNO route.

 

[jomirrivera]

MAN I wish their service by me were even remotely acceptable.

I used to say the same. Made the switch from ATT two months ago, cut the bill in half and it has been awesome.

 

[zeemeerman2]

Don't you get French or Spanish service in Andorra? Just wondering...

If you're close to ANY border, you get service from the tower that your mobile phone connects to, in whichever country it is in. (At least in Europe)
Source: I live in Europe.

Edit:
E.g. say you're in France and your mobile phone has the best signal at a tower in Germany, then you're roaming, even if you in person are in the first country respectively.

 

[powaking]

I used to say the same. Made the switch from ATT two months ago, cut the bill in half and it has been awesome.

Me as well. Was getting 2-4mbs with att at home, now I've gotten has high as 100mbs with tmobile on the same phone.

 

[anthonymoody]

When was the last time you checked? My understanding is they've gotten dramatically better every year for the last few years.

I have an iPad Air2 with a TMo SIM that includes the 200MB of data/mo. so I am able to check pretty easily. Unfortunately still bad around me despite their map claiming otherwise. I'd switch in a heartbeat if I could.

 

[k.alexander]

I used to say the same. Made the switch from ATT two months ago, cut the bill in half and it has been awesome.

Same here, had two lines of AT&T with the unlimited and work discount. Left for Tmobile in February. I had other non-smart phone lines on the account, these lines now benefit from having smartphones. I pay A LOT less, I get A LOT more, and I don't hate every minute that I think about the fact that I have to deal with AT&T and get taken advantage off every time I have to have any kind of interaction with them.

 

[12vElectronics]

I've said this in every other T Mobile thread: I really really really can't wait till I switch to T Mobile (This September).

 

[RowellE]

Is it possible to use their free wifi for mobile phones only but then tether to my laptop via Bluetooth during my flight?

When was the last time you checked? My understanding is they've gotten dramatically better every year for the last few years.

Yes! Two years ago, I had crappy service at my apartment complex with just 1-2 bars; I always had to connect to wifi to do anything on my phone. Last year I noticed I get full 5 bars and I've never had to connect to my wifi since then! I was so relieved because I was getting so frustrated with the poor reception and was almost going to switch to ATT!

 

[avanpelt]

Same here, had two lines of AT&T with the unlimited and work discount. Left for Tmobile in February. I had other non-smart phone lines on the account, these lines now benefit from having smartphones. I pay A LOT less, I get A LOT more, and I don't hate every minute that I think about the fact that I have to deal with AT&T and get taken advantage off every time I have to have any kind of interaction with them.

I just don't see the value in T-Mobile for my wife and me. We currently have AT&T with a 24% FAN discount on a 6 GB MSV plan with rollover data. Our service is roughly $90/month for two off-contract iPhones including the taxes and fees.

Looking at T-Mobile's site, the cheapest postpaid offering they have for two off-contract BYOPs is $80/month plus taxes/fees for 2 GB for each line but the 2 GB per line plan does not include Data Stash. To get Data Stash on both lines, you have to bump up to the 6 GB per line plan but that cost is $110/month plus taxes and fees...so roughly $25 more than we're currently paying with AT&T and it gives us more data than we need -- we're fine sharing 6 GB now and having some rollover each month.

We also have roaming in Canada and Mexico included on our AT&T plan -- unlimited voice, text, but only 1 GB of data per line. We do not have unlimited calling from the U.S. to Canada and Mexico but we don't need that.

Maybe I'm missing something, but I just don't see the savings with T-Mo's postpaid offerings compared to our AT&T FAN discount.

 

[dampfnudel]

Maybe in one of their future Uncarrier events, T-Mobile users will get 3G/LTE speeds throughout the year in Europe, using their plan (like Canada & Mexico). I'm thinking about going to Germany, Austria and Denmark in September to visit family, including my mom's aunt who just turned 100 last month. While the 128kbps speed was adequate for email, texting, FB & other social media two years ago, browsing & streaming was a pain at times.

 

[Deelron]

I just don't see the value in T-Mobile for my wife and me. We currently have AT&T with a 24% FAN discount on a 6 GB MSV plan with rollover data. Our service is roughly $90/month for two off-contract iPhones including the taxes and fees.

Looking at T-Mobile's site, the cheapest postpaid offering they have for two off-contract BYOPs is $80/month plus taxes/fees for 2 GB for each line but the 2 GB per line plan does not include Data Stash. To get Data Stash on both lines, you have to bump up to the 6 GB per line plan but that cost is $110/month plus taxes and fees...so roughly $25 more than we're currently paying with AT&T and it gives us more data than we need -- we're fine sharing 6 GB now and having some rollover each month.
need that.

Maybe I'm missing something, but I just don't see the savings with T-Mo's postpaid offerings compared to our AT&T FAN discount.

Plans and offers do change, I recently got the 10 GB plan (per line) for 2 for $100 a month by walking into a store as a normal person without an organizational discount (I believe the 6GB plan special that rolls around now and then is $80, so pretty close to what you have on a 24% discount but with a lot more data per line. Granted if you don't need it, it's not a value).