T-Mobile intros unlimited family plan
Remember when unlimited calling plans were a sweet figment of our imagination? Times have changed for the better. Following the relatively recent introduction of its unlimited calling/messaging plan for individual users, T-Mobile has just announced a new unlimited calling option for Family Plan customers, available immediately. Under the new plan, up to 4 additional lines of unlimited calling/messaging can be added to an existing $99.99 unlimited. Each new line is $49.99. It’s not cheap, but if you have a family member or two that refuses to shut up, this might be the right option. Will the other carriers follow suit? Time reveals all, but we have a feeling that we might see some similar offerings from other carriers in the near future.
Tags: family talk, T-Mobile, Unlimited
I am a tmobile employee and this is getting an awesome response quickly from customer! People first noticed it on the tmobile.com website prior to us in cc even knowing it was being released today! Another reason why T-Mobile rocks! And I’m not just saying that as an employee! I had T-mo for 2 years prior to working for them and thought they were awesome then!
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This doesn’t make too much sense at $49.99 each additional line considering you could probably go with a cheaper plan and get free tmobile to tmobile calling? IMO
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I don’t think this actually makes sense for anyone unless you have an entire family who refuses to shut up (I think I would kill myself…)
I think it would be cheaper if only one family member needed unlimited to make that person get the unlimited separate from the Family Plan.
The existing Family Plans offer a pretty wide range of shared minutes at $10/additional line, plus the option for unlimited SMS/MMS for like $5 monthly per line. What they need is a plan that allows you to have shared minutes added to an unlimited line - so you have one unlimited phone and up to four lines with a couple hundred or so shared minutes at maybe $15 per line.
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I think if I had a few teenagers, this plan would let me sleep at nights… LOL.
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This plan is pretty well thought out if you ask me.
I think problem most of you are having is that you think you need unlimited minutes but don’t feel like you should pay more than $10 per line for it like a regular family plan.
Considering their top tiered plans myFaves or otherwise range between $129.99 to $139.99 for the first two lines, $149.99 for two lines with unlimited minutes and text (pix, flix and IM) is a damn good deal. And then the $49.99 per add-a-line isn’t all that bad either. Since the 3000 minute single line plan they have runs the same price without texts included.
And I’d be willing to bet that most family plans only consist of two lines, so that third through fifth option isn’t even a concern.
Simply put unlimited is new and expensive. This is probably the best value thus far. If you can’t afford it don’t get it, and quit bitching.
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The question really is if T-Mobile cares to verify that you actually are members of a family and how they go about doing it. Because if 2 or 3 (or more) friends need/want such a plan and they decide to join T-Mobile as a ‘family’ even with just 2 people that is $25 cheaper/month = $300/year. Of course the person whos credit is being used has to trust his/her friends enough to put them on their account as a ‘family member’.
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Yeah, there’s the rub. It will be interesting to see if people take advantage of this (not just family members) because it is a good deal for people who need unlimited everything. The only drawback would be that the bill goes to one person.
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Reply to no 6. The phones are always under on name so really it doesn’t matter who you give the other lines to.
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This is also great for a small buisness customer who needs to give out a few lines to their employees.
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They don’t care if you are a family. Nobody does. I work for at&t and we put businesses on familytalk plans all the time. It’s just a name for a plan, it’s not a requirement for service. It just means you guys are all on the same acct.
So yes if you and your buddies want unlimited you could do it.
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Great for a small business…
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To be fair, T-Mobile’s unlimited plan isn’t an industry first.. Nextel had one for $99 as far back as 2000.
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No one said it was first, but it was first to offer unlimited text. And now, while all of the other carriers offer each line at $99, T-Mobile is offering you five at roughly $60 each…That’s innovation…now the phones have to catch up.
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it is not the first unlimited plan, however, it is the first unlimited family time plan. great for small business customers and it will catch on tremendously.
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I would love to get a similar plan with att, but they’re charging 200 for the first line and 99 each after and it only includes the minutes! No text, no internet and that sucks!
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this is great, I’ll be switching before the week is over… well maybe not that quick, my contract is up and I can get a new phone so maybe I’ll select a phone with all the discounts and then switch
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While this is a good deal, Metro PCS is far better. They have always offered $40/month (with no contract) for unlimited calling and text, now they have an unlimited family plan with 4 phones for $100 (i.e. $25/line) that gets you calling and text. Just thought I would toss that out there……
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I think its funny how when we talk about which service provider has the best deals it always seems to be T-mobile. We all should just except the fact that there rate plans for the most part are the lowest in the industry.
I know there are a readers out there who might be using a regional sevice provider such as Metro PCS or are subscribed to a special account such as Spints Sero plan and are probably getting a better deal.
T-mobile is nation wide and is availbe to almost everyone in the US it is not only regional like metro pcs. To those people on Sero plans I understand why you would say your plan is the best.
Discount plan are awsome I am on one myself but not everyone is able to get on a special plan like Sero.
I am getting tired of Sero people bragging about what they get. So this is for all those Sero customers who thing there special account is the best in the land. Did you know that T-mobile also offers discount rate plans for dealers, freinds and employees.
I am currently on the T-mobile employee plan for 9.99 a month 2000 minutes unlimited mobile to mobile unlimited myfavs, unlimited blackberry bes data.unlimited sms/mms usage and unlimited data tranfer using phone as a modem. Upto 3 lines of service at the same cost plus 2 free upgrades a year 1 free data line including sidekick plus once tmobiles @home service goes national I will be able to get unlimited home phone service just for the one time cost of $10 for the router.
Keep up the good work t-mobile
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Just checked with my TMob reps and was told that this unlimited plan does not include internet, just yapping and texting.
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Umpteenth that - T-Mo, or anyone, couldn’t care less how/if you’re related to the others on your account; that’s your freaky sh*t, not ours.
All any carrier cares about is the credit of the person responsible for the account, and that the monthly gets paid. Family, employees, best buds - whatever. Really - we’re soo not interested.
Just understand that whomever’s name is on the account is on the hook for however many years of service, and we don’t care if the ole gang had a falling out / the business ain’t doin’ so great / someone moved away. The account holder signed a contract and they’re responsible for seeing it through - or else.
So before getting down with a “family” group plan take a long think about where you’re all gonna be over the life of the contract, how you’ll handle it if someone flakes out, and what risk the account-holder is taking.
FWIW I regularly see folks coming in with huge bills a former pal is running up on their shared account. Those are on their tab, and the most they can do is deactivate the other SIM and find another buddy looking to take over the line for the remaining time on the contract. Not a good way to end a friendship.
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is there any family offers for only one line? which costs £20 and £5 per month??
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Not only is this a great plan for families, businesses or groups, but it allows you to seriously consider dropping your landline. That has to be a savings…. I know in my case it sure will be.
Also, I would imagine that with a “hot spot @home” plan added, I could use this at ANY hotspot, say in Europe and not pay roaming!
Anyone know for sure if the hot spot @home can be added to this plan?
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geoff, you missed the point, it’s unlimited calling to ANY #, any landline or cell
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I signed up for this plan and am happy to say that it’s saved us a BUNCH of money. My Blackberry plan pretty much stayed the same, but my wife & teenager now have unlimited voice, and their lines are only $49.99 each. For us, that’s actually cheaper than MetroPCS and much better since we frequently travel outside the MetroPCS coverage area.
Now they can both talk until they’re blue in the face and text until their thumbs are sore, and it won’t cost us extra. Nice to be able to know how much the bill is going to be on a monthly basis, too. No surprises.
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i wonder how many people u need on a family plan cuz i just want it for me and my dad.
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