Comments on: T-Mobile prepares to pilot cheap unlimited voice plans

By: Bordello

Bordello — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 08:48:49 +0000

@tmobile: T-Mobile offers three types of contracts; 24-month, 12-month, and month-to-month, all of which are available on regular and flexpay accounts. For regular accounts to have month-to-month service, however, the customer must furnish their own equipment. Also, no, T-Mobile has recieved 7 JDPs for customer service in the last 8 years.

@tmo4life: 34.99 with T-Mobile for any smartphone (Blackberry, Sidekick, G1) covers unlimited data and messaging.

@Showtime: The MyFaves interface is included in all unlimited voice plans for convenience, sort of like having an extra speed dial. Since all minute types are included with no limit, Faves are of course going to be in that, so there’s no point in giving you Fave minutes without letting you program your Fave contacts.

@Don Louie: I haven’t seen anything about it becoming available to new customers, but at this point it’s a matter of time, really. The $99.99 bundle is pretty old (okay, really old), and the new unlimited plans are promo/trial rate plans. If T-Mobile keeps it, they’ll make it the standard with, at most, a $10 spread.

To T-Mobile bashers in general: T-Mobile is a new kid on the block, and therefore in many ways is incompatible in terms of being compared to companies such as AT&T or Verizon. Customer service? Sure. Coverage? Of course not; comparing T-Mobile to AT&T and Verizon based on coverage areas is a copout entirely, since T-Mobile simply has not been around long enough to establish the assets needed to cover so much ground. Or do you believe that AT&T/Verizon just sprung up overnight with massive coverage areas? Different carriers are for different people, and if you can’t accept that, at least accept the fact that you aren’t being rational in the comparisons you’re making. From a basic business level, the major complaints against T-Mobile (not enough coverage, really) are simple-minded and childish; coverage is difficult to expand, and requires competitive bidding on the part of service providers. An expansion in coverage means an all-out victory against other providers in purchasing rights to expand. That takes capitol that a new company can’t generate without first establishing a loyal customer base and narrowing down churn to an absolute minimum to create a stable cash flow. Then you perfect what you have to build your reputation, build liquid assets, and THEN you CONSIDER expanding. To do anything but that is corporate suicide, and leads to dropped calls, spotty coverage within an allegedly “huge” network, creates higher demand on customer service than you are able to keep up with (resulting in the big boys being beaten by T-Mobile 7 years out of the last 8), and oh yeah, having to increase prices to sustain massive growth.

By: Don Louie

Don Louie — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 03:58:39 +0000

So this will not be open to new customers, wonder how loyal you have to be to get it?

By: tmo4life

tmo4life — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:12:59 +0000

So much misinformation in this thread. T-Mobile offers 1 year and no contract options (and they’ve been advertising the crap out of it). The blackberry data for 34.99 does include messaging. And I find it very hard to believe any of this will change.

By: The One

The One — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:00:54 +0000

celz, you’re an idiot.

http://www.jdpower.com/telecom/ratings/wireless/call_quality/index.aspx

Go and look yourself…T-Mobile outperformed them in every way. Call quality & customer care. Hell they’ve won best customer care 7 out of 8 years. Go back to your old black and white commercials, damn company’s so poor can’t even buy color ads…. LOL

By: tmobile

tmobile — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:53:13 +0000

We were ranked #1 in customer service 8 times, lost to verizon last time and regained it this time.

By: tmobile

tmobile — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:51:47 +0000

Tmobile no longer offers 1 year contracts.

By: Greg

Greg — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:37:18 +0000

Thank god for Boost Mobile and T-mobile; I’m presently paying over $235 for communications:TV/internet/cell. And I think its too damn much..saving money is the new game in town. I like ATT roll-over service and the fact I can get a signal at my moms house, but don’t like the $115 they are squeezing out me every mth. $90 a month should be enough for one-line full cell service with all the features.

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 07:20:13 +0000

Well too late for me just cancelled 2 of my tmobile lines and moved to boost mobile. Well at least boost offers unlimited web access and text messaging. In addition no other hidden fees, and no contracts. Well at least I feel a bit unscrewed from tmobile.

By: bberry

bberry — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 02:31:02 +0000

So no unlimited SMS option on the Blackberry plan?

By: jase

jase — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:22:11 +0000

Damn I wish I could get this, let me in T mobile

By: BrianH

BrianH — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:10:17 +0000

I was with Verizon since the days of Cell One and changing was something I took very seriously because I was convinced Verizon had the best coverage.

After being with T-Mobile now for 2 years I can say without hesitation the fees I paid at Verizon were a rip.

I have no coverage issues whatsoever with my BB service. The H@H service also saves me a ton of international dollars besides.

The people knocking TM should actually try it.

By: MaxLaw843

MaxLaw843 — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:59:45 +0000

Well, I became a T-Mobile client when they swallowed, uh, I mean purchased Suncom. At that time Suncom had me on the Southeast US Unplan (unlimited calling whenever and wherever in the USA for $49.99), $5 for unlimited texting and $5 for Internet (if not roaming). T-Mobile said they would keep my plan pretty much the same, which they have done without my having to sign up for two years. Interestingly, the only additional charge is $2 for voicemail, which was included on Suncom. Still, I think that T-Mobile has treated me well thus far. I like GSM phone service (which you can use in Scotland when on vacation, as I did in 2007) and T-Mobile.

By: andrewkfromaz

andrewkfromaz — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:51:53 +0000

I’d guess this will be offered to more than 22-mo customers. Perhaps not right away, but I can’t imagine they’ll have a plan that not everyone can use…

By: blueball

blueball — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:48:29 +0000

Update: called the tmobile store in the san francisco at the embarcadero. Turns out you can only get it by adding an additional line to the existing one you have. You cannot upgrade your current plan to take advantage of it.
Buzzkill.

By: Showtime

Showtime — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:05:58 +0000

One thing I noticed looking at that chart. Why would you need MyFaves if you have unlimited voice?

I am a TMo customer and I hope this rumor is true.

By: marty

marty — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:44:16 +0000

Called t-mobile today and this is legit! they should be offering this on March 1 the cs rep said

By: celz

celz — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:43:30 +0000

no jd said sprint had number two network.. tmo has number one cust service just like my post said.. google it.. and technically sprint is doing great nextel is dying.. but sprint shouldnt have bout a diff network.. especially a proprietary one.. but google everything i said its fact and in cust service sprint had the fastest pick up times but tmo was num one overall… tmos network is terrible and cdma is a superior technology.. sprint might suck for everyone you know but thats an opinion and not a fact… or a sample and not the whole population

By: logic

logic — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:40:11 +0000

sounds promising but my question will be will they let me change my existing contract to that since im basically payin the same thing for 1000mins

By: Shawn

Shawn — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:16:59 +0000

celz you are wrong…T-Mobile came in #1 with Sprint not even coming close…T-Mobile’s ratings were through the roof’s while Sprint’s were still trying to escape from the basement. Your loyalty is nice, but judging by this post, it looks like it would be more appreciated elsewhere.

By: celz

celz — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:06:32 +0000

jd said sprint was numbes 2 and tied for 1 in the south west tmob is last period… last in every network related issue.. they have great cust service tho.. but sprints everything plan is cheaper only if you get everything… boost is a way better value but you can have to pick crappy iden service or crappy cdma phones.. but it is possible to get wm phones on boost cdma or metro with free 3g but thats not legal.. lol

By: Angus

Angus — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:28:08 +0000

I love T-M. We switched to them in Aug 08 after being with Sprint for 13 years, Sprint did NOTHING to retain though I asked several different Sprint reps. With T-M I have 5 line with unltd Blackberry and messaging plus T-M @ Home. The T-M Curves have WiFi. As we travel to Europe & South America monthly for business this provides a big saving. With my corp discount, the equipment was free, initial connect fees were waived and I get a 10% monthly discount on my bill. Who could complain about that. The reps in the T-M company stores and on the phone are the most knowledgeable of any in the biz. NO I don’t work for T-M but I have since bought DT stock!

By: mingkee

mingkee — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:02:12 +0000

this one is different from the one last year
it’s plain voice plan, no messaging added
probably T-Mobile tries to make money over value-adding options

By: XenomanX

XenomanX — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:21:32 +0000

“Loyalty” usually means a retention offer. I could be wrong and go into work tomorrow and see an update about a bunch of new plans, but I’m pretty sure these are going to be offered just from the Retention department to keep people from canceling.

By: James

James — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:07:42 +0000

Boost Mobile is still a lot better deal, even though their coverage might not be as good or their data speeds if your in a budget crunch and need unlimited everything as cheap as possible Boost is better. And its without a contract, credit check or activation fee.

By: Mike M.

Mike M. — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:04:09 +0000

lol MetroPCS esque pricing.

By: The One

The One — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:34:39 +0000

First of all, T-Moble doesn’t have the worst coverage. Biggest doesn’t mean best. Actually T-Mobile was ranked by JD Power has 2nd highest quality coverage nationwide, under Verizon. And though the 3G footprint is small now, this year it will finally grow to respectability. As for Sprint. Uh, yeah, why would you want to stay with a company that will be out of business soon; losing more than 1 million customers per quarter? LOL T-Mobile is the better choice since it has always offered more competitive plans, is still growing, and being GSM can get pretty much any type of phone you’d want off the market.

By: backbeat

backbeat — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:00:05 +0000

@CB: Carriers who refer to combined service packages as ‘Bundles’ or ‘Everything’, but, when broken down, there is no valued savings, purely insult human dignity. Just as I have no need or want for Crapware on my phone when I purchase it, I have no need for Crapware being forced into my service plan.

TMo is, thankfully, leading in a better direction that others will hopefully follow.

By: Don Louie

Don Louie — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:37:06 +0000

This is a huge move if upheld, I don’t see any other carrier folowing suit with them, who would all the other carriers are gaining peopleat a higher rate than them except Sprint which will probably be the subs they get so why not up the ante

By: CB

CB — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:28:58 +0000

I’ve never had T-mobile, but from what I hear from T-moblie users.. this plan is not enough to make me swtich. However, I hope it forces Verizon and AT&T to look at offering better packages for their service, then maybe I might consider switching to them

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:27:18 +0000

Is it worth it to have the WORST 3G coverage of the four major carriers and in addition only being able to use their phones for 3G? No.

Sprint’s plans are just as well and they have great 3G coverage and speed, if you really want to save money.