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

[BuffaloTF]

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.

So, if you bumped each line to 10 gigs, your cost would drop to $100/mo rather than the $110/mo you'd get with only 6 gigs per line. And naturally, you'd get the free roaming in Canada and Mexico with full access to your data bucket, and then the unlimited data at slow speeds basically everywhere else in the world.

So the value in T-Mo really starts kicking in at higher allotments. I can do 6 lines at 10 gigs for $180/mo. Whereas I have 30 gig (data doubled from 15) for 100 on AT&T, plus 90 in phone fees... so I do see a value. But I also have 4 open phone payments too... and I want to dump the other 4 people and go on my own with my wife and I anyway since our kids are only getting older and will start asking for their own eventually.

 

[Tycho24]

*scratches Andorra off of to-visit this summer countries*

 

[nutmac]

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.

I switched from very similar AT&T FAN account (2 lines) to T-Mobile 2 years ago, back when T-Mobile offered corporate discount (15% off the entire monthly bill). While the discount is no longer offered to new customers, T-Mobile frequently offer promotions.

Just few months ago, T-Mobile offered 6 GB per line (2 lines minimum) at the same price as the base plan. I believe this promo is still available but with 4 lines minimum. So I switched to it and we now pay $80 for 6 GB each (well, $68 since 15% is grandfathered).

Beyond roaming, T-Mobile also offer a number of side benefits.

• Gogo inflight Wi-Fi: 1st hour free, unlimited SMS and messaging (iMessage, Google Hangout, WhatsApp, etc.)
• Free unlimited 128 Kbps data in 140 countries (and LTE speed in Canada and Mexico that counts toward data as you mentioned)
• Free 802.11ac Wi-Fi router rental ($25 security deposit)
• Unlimited music and video (throttled to 1.5 Mbps) streaming for large number of services, unlimited App Store downloads for plans with 3 GB or more
• Up to 20 GB unused data rollover for 12 months for plans with 3 GB or more
• In an unlikely event in which roll over data is all used up, data throttles to 128 Kbps instead of automatically charging you overage
• T-Mobile Tuesdays: free video rental, movie tickets, etc. every Tuesdays

Of course, none of these matters if the wireless service itself isn't solid in your area. I live in Silicon Valley and the service is admittedly worse than AT&T. It has gotten significantly better, but there are still coverage holes, especially in rural areas, some large indoor buildings (e.g., shopping malls), and underground. It's improving very steadily, however.

 

[pokerplayer73]

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.

I was in Frankfurt Airport during transit in Dec 2014 and I got LTE speeds at the time. I was surprised since I had expected 128 kbps speed as well. The SIM was borrowed from a friend. I was just testing it out at the time.

 

[k.alexander]

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.

I had AT&T, 4 lines: 2 iPhones, 2 feature-phones. Switched to T-Mobile during the 4 Lines for $120/month Promo, each line got 10GB of Data (btw there is no overage, not that you'd ever run out with Music Freedom and Binge-On (should you choose to use it)), 20GB Rollover Data Locker, and other features. That alone brought my bill down from roughly $190/month after fees/taxes to under $140 after fees/taxes; and I got a lot more for it, like an ability to get iPhones for the other two lines, unlimited texts - I had 200 before, teethering which AT&T would not allow us before, all the international stuff, etc. I then rolled over two more family lines that were already on Tmobile into this plan for a total of $160 for 6 lines (same features, unlim everything, 10GB of data per line, plus rollover locker, etc).

Did all that while managing to bring over our two iPhone 6S phones, got them unlocked in the process. Overall huge savings! The service is not 100% on par with AT&T, but pretty close, and for between the savings and the pleasure of not having to deal with AT&T anymore--I COULD NOT BE HAPPIER!

PS: Leaving for Europe tomorrow, can't wait to actually have a usable phone for free while traveling.
[doublepost=1466704662][/doublepost]QUESTION RE: APPLE MUSIC WHILE TRAVELING ABROAD: Does anyone know if I'll be able to stream my Apple Music subscription while traveling in Europe? Asking with regard to geographical limitations on licensing and so on, not asking whether music will stream over Tmo free data overseas. Does anyone have any experience with this?

 

[soccerjoshj07]

Can I sign up for Tmobile temporarily? :|

 

[nutmac]

Can I sign up for Tmobile temporarily? :|

There's no contract (just 1 month minimum commitment) so technically you can. Although if I was traveling to Europe, I would probably just pick up a SIM card at destination as it's probably cheaper and less troublesome overall. Just make sure your phone is unlocked.

 

[delnerdo]

Sorry but it's Andorra or no deal.

I did sign up with T Mobile temporarily for a visit last year but it ended up costing as much as the charges for a third-party SIM card. Plus my personal info was compromised by their data breach. Not going back there.

 

[Pacostacos]

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.

FYI the iPad Air2 does not have band 12 LTE.

I own a Air2 (on T-mobile) and an iPhone SE (also on T-Mobile). If you are in a B12 market the coverage difference is quite a bit different between devices.

 

[dampfnudel]

I was in Frankfurt Airport during transit in Dec 2014 and I got LTE speeds at the time. I was surprised since I had expected 128 kbps speed as well. The SIM was borrowed from a friend. I was just testing it out at the time.

I got slower speeds in Frankfurt and in a city near Frankfurt called Aschaffenburg (where I stayed and have family in the area), despite seeing the LTE indicator on my iPhone most of the time. Maybe data speeds were increased after I visited?

 

[Sea Bass]

I was in Poland two summers ago, 128kp (showed up as 3G) was actually very nice. I was able to use social media and browse the web without any problems.

 

[AManInACan]

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.

This is not be entirely true any more. Most phones now support roaming tables that specify preferences of some networks over others. Many times this will cause your phone to stay connected to a preferred (usually lower cost) network even if you get a stronger signal from a lower ranked system. In the example above, your French issued phone might connect to a French network even when you physically in a German border town provided that the French signal is ranked as preferred over the German one and you have adequate French signal.

 

[Zaqfalcon]

Does this now exclude the UK? #Brexit

 

[Steve.P.JobsFan]

---

 

[iPhonemaster5S]

I had AT&T, 4 lines: 2 iPhones, 2 feature-phones. Switched to T-Mobile during the 4 Lines for $120/month Promo, each line got 10GB of Data (btw there is no overage, not that you'd ever run out with Music Freedom and Binge-On (should you choose to use it)), 20GB Rollover Data Locker, and other features. That alone brought my bill down from roughly $190/month after fees/taxes to under $140 after fees/taxes; and I got a lot more for it, like an ability to get iPhones for the other two lines, unlimited texts - I had 200 before, teethering which AT&T would not allow us before, all the international stuff, etc. I then rolled over two more family lines that were already on Tmobile into this plan for a total of $160 for 6 lines (same features, unlim everything, 10GB of data per line, plus rollover locker, etc).

Did all that while managing to bring over our two iPhone 6S phones, got them unlocked in the process. Overall huge savings! The service is not 100% on par with AT&T, but pretty close, and for between the savings and the pleasure of not having to deal with AT&T anymore--I COULD NOT BE HAPPIER!

PS: Leaving for Europe tomorrow, can't wait to actually have a usable phone for free while traveling.
[doublepost=1466704662][/doublepost]QUESTION RE: APPLE MUSIC WHILE TRAVELING ABROAD: Does anyone know if I'll be able to stream my Apple Music subscription while traveling in Europe? Asking with regard to geographical limitations on licensing and so on, not asking whether music will stream over Tmo free data overseas. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Apple Music works just for fine for me while I have been in Europe with T-Mobile some times it's a it slow but that's really it. No limitations on licensing and stuff like that either.