T-Mobile ends cheaper plans and imposes new limits on unlimited data

[NWCorona]

Source: Arstechnica

T-Mobile USA has announced a $70 unlimited data plan, but in reality the plan has a lot of limits. And T-Mobile said it will stop offering cheaper plans to new customers.

The $70 unlimited "T-Mobile One" plan caps hotspot usage to 2G speeds, which T-Mobile defines as up to 128kbps. Normal-speed mobile hotspot usage will cost $15 for each 5GB allotment.

The new unlimited plan also throttles video to 480p, similar to the carrier's Binge On promotion that throttles video and exempts it from data caps. On the new unlimited plan, customers who want HD video must pay an extra $25 a month per line. The unlimited plan also throttles customers who use more than 26GB a month if they are connected to a congested cell tower.

Despite all these limits, T-Mobile CEO John Legere boasted that "Verizon and AT&T could never do this because their outdated and overcrowded networks flat-out cannot handle it."

Read more: http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/08/t-mobile-ends-cheaper-plans-and-imposes-new-limits-on-unlimited-data/

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That unlimited plan sure does sound limited.

And we wonder why we lag behind the rest of the world.

[Hugin]

1. We lag because we bill by the bit.

And there will be no incentive for innovation because that would cause competition. An anathema to our "capitalist" system.

[Richard D]

2. There's many third world countries

That do better than this.

[JCMach1]

9. I was uploading 4G video of the animals in Kenya's national park... think about that for a sec

I am lucky in many spots in this country to even get 2G.

[tazkcmo]

3. awesome

Just in time for my current Tmobile account to expire! They used to be a fairly good company way back when. Now not so much. I look forward to their continued decent into irrelevancy.

[brooklynite]

4. They're still the best of the big 4...particularly when in comes to foreign travel.

[snooper2]

5. individual users need no more than 1.544Mbs- Plenty for tweens and pokemon go

and posting on random intertubes

[LovingA2andMI]

6. Well....

Won't Be Getting a New Phone With T-Mobile Unless The Current Plan is Grandfathered.

[progree]

7. Buh Bye, T-mobile. I'm not going to pay 75% more.

So, will we all have to pay $70/month next month? I have a $40/month plan with 3 GB of data (and unlimited talk and text), and 3 GB of data is far more than I need or want to use. It is so slow that I'd rather chew broken glass than use my phone for browsing the web (forget watching video).

[Javaman]

12. I think it said for new customers. I have t-mobile as well. nt

[progree]

13. I think you are right. But after a few more years will it still be available for us old

legacy customers?

[Javaman]

14. good question.

got to keep an eye on them and on my bill.

[progree]

17. Good news: the old plans will be available for new customers (as well as old)

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/t-mobile-sprint-unlimited-plans-000000845.html

The carrier’s “T-Mobile Goes All In on Unlimited” blog post, which features a video of CEO John Legere declaring “the era of the data plan is over,” also implied T-Mo’s current plans will vanish for new customers.

Not so. Half an hour into a call with the press explaining the new plan, Legere clarified that “we’re not going to eliminate our other plans now.” T-Mobile PR confirmed Friday morning that the company’s current $50 per month 2 GB, $65 per month 6 GB and $80 per month 10 GB plans will remain, as will their tethering allocations, T-Mobile’s Data Stash data rollover service and free BingeOn opt-out.

[Javaman]

18. Thanks for the info! :) nt

[YOHABLO]

8. I still have my LG flip phone. LOL At&t keeps wanting me to "upgrade".

I'm clueless when it comes to choosing plans .. phones GB's etc. Any advice?

[JCMach1]

10. Wow, must likely you are paying far too much for very basic service...

If you are paying more than about $9 per month for that, you are.

[Massacure]

11. Boost ofers an unlimited plan for $55 a month.

Boos Mobile offers an unlimited data plan for $55 a month. According to the fine print on their website, they only throttle high bandwidth users when there is network congestion. They use Sprint's network.

[texanwitch]

15. I have this plan.

I have never had a slow down.

I watch a lot of videos.

[Hokie]

16. The ATT "Unlimited" data plan isn't either

I almost switched to ATT unlimited data from my current 20 GB shared data plan. In the fine print they tell you that they start throttling at 22 GB. They also take away the personal hot spot that I have now. The agent failed to tell me that little detail. I found it out on a forum. I called them back and said thanks but no thanks on their "unlimited" plan. I use the hot spot to connect my iPad when I am in the car and not driving or anywhere I don't have WIFI.