Changes afoot at T-Mobile; smartphones to require data plans, family messaging rate hike
There has been quite a bit of movement recently as far as T-Mobile’s plans are concerned and if you haven’t been keeping your eye on the ball, you probably missed something. For the most part, T-Mo has added plans and options that are pretty favorable for subscribers but word just came in from one of our ninjas regarding a few more upcoming changes some might not be happy about. The first concerns smartphone users: We know that all you BGR fans out there obviously have data plans but there are plenty of people who enjoy the enhanced functionality of a smartphone who haven’t yet embraced mobile data services. Unfortunately, those people are in for a bit of a disappointment — some time in June T-Mobile will begin requiring that all smartphones (new activations / upgrades) have a data plan. This new requirement will not apply to the BlackBerry Pearl, BlackBerry Pearl Flip, Samsung Behold or Samsung Memoir. Next up, messaging addicts: Also beginning some time in June, T-Mobile’s Unlimited Domestic Messages for Families will jump from $19.95 per month to $24.99 per month. It’s still a pretty sweet deal of course, just not quite as sweet as it used to be.
Obviously, the next thought for a lotta t-mob users will be…will these changes enable an individual or family to get out of contract without ETF?
Is that eliza dushku? man she’s hot
It won’t be… because it is an add-on.. not like raising text messages price from 20 cents to 30 cents…
Well so much for Being able to compare TMobile plans to Simply Everything.
Is that not the same eliza that was rockin a Pre at a party?
I knew T-Mobile was starting to slip by killing off unlimited t-zones, and then by not having UMA calling on FlexPay, but then forcing people to have Unlimited internet bundled with texting (there is no option for internet solely anymore)…. and now raising the price for families, and FORCING data on renewals and upgrades… Ummm….
Suddenly, Im starting to think Sprint is actually better priced for the same thing now.
With them talking about “(new activations / upgrades)” it probably means that they won’t let you out of a contract….
@striggity you’re so right.
too bad Clear doesn’t have service in NYC, or I may switch laptop data
currently I use VPN total internet, which is truly unlimited for $20 with voice, the best deal
if T-Mobile dares to touch my VPN, then I yell “FUCK THE FUCK OFF”, throw in ETF, and you won’t see me anymore, forever and ever
While the prices may go up a few dollars, they are still one of the most affordable mobile companies; they still beat-out At&t’s prices, and the service is much better; both customer and mobile. My only issue with T-Mobile, is that it take sooo long to get a new phone. I have had my G1 since October, and am used to changing phones every couple months, or even multiple times in a month. It is unfortunate that Tmo customer’s have to wait so long for new products. I have considered an iPhone, but I will never use Att…
I though this was a standard? Well at least at the carrier I know, it’s a $29.99 data plan for smartphones, per line… no shared rate. Guess you T-Mobile customer’s had it good for a while…
thats a breach of contract right there! if that really happens, goodbye tmo!
the latest RIM agreement’s, appearently has a price tag…….lol
So, what if I upgraded to a Dash in February?
Will they start charging me or are these new policies gonna be in effect starting from June only for those who upgrade or activate a new line since June? I heard btw, that if you are a long time customer and you already have the 19.99 unlimited texting plan, you can ask to drop the data plan from 34 to 19 dollars since they understand you don’t need the 400 texts.
The article said “new activations / upgrades”. It doesn’t sound like they will scan the network for all smartphones (branded and unlocked) and make them all add a data plan. Buy a new smartphone when they make these changes? Then you have to get a data plan. I can’t see using a smartphone without a data plan anyway. (well, the $5.99 plan is sweet with a smartphone. Cheap!).
I bet if you get an unlocked phone, it will work fine as is. And if you get a t-mobile branded smartphone from ebay or a friend, it should still work fine. But the minute you access the internet w/o a data plan, expect to see a page asking you to subscribe to a data plan.
Guess they’re finally starting to catch on to all of you cheapskates using the $5.99 T-Zones plan for unlimited data and tethering.
From their perspective, allowing this is a huge revenue loss and plugging this hole ensures they get a piece of that pie.
I hate rake hikes too, but the UL family messaging cost is still good.
I’m all for it as long as they keep their promises to deliver a their next generation network to over 208 million POPS by years end as well as enhance their current infrastructure.
They need to put back a portion of that money back into the network and less into the shareholders who nudge them to raise prices.
T-M can blow my whistle until the balls start rollin:))
I don’t think they should “FORCE” the data plan on all smartphones, esp if the phone has WiFi capabilities.
No way they’ll make me give up my $2.99 grandfathered T-Zone plan with 250 free text messages.
I know T-Mobile is trying to make money but they can’t FORCE us to upgrade!!!!
This may as wel be mcdonald’s because I am LOVING it
Tmobile wants to make money, guess what, they are in it to MAKE MONEY
if it wasn;t for all the cheapskate poor people trying to rip them off with the hotspots free abuse and retarded free internet abuse, this wouldn’t be needed, blame those guys.
i love how people think cell compnies should be cheaper and make LESS money
idiots
Man she is an all time babe. I would drink her bath water.
For all those retards who really like spending a lot of money on cellphones plans & data plans. I have one comment for you.
I think North America is only place on earth where cellphone coverage plans are ridiculously expensive.. Everywhere else I go in the world, I get a prepaid service with FREE incoming calls, a dirt cheap cost for text messages and YES a cheap data plan.
Am I the only one that CAUGHT the fact that the lovely Eliza Dushku is the one holding the basketball…? T-Mo can do anything they want if they let me look at her all the time….
W/ an upgrade? I’ve had the same plan since 2002.
Unlimited Minutes $39.99
Unlimited Text $9.99
Unlimited Data $14.99
So should I decide to get a new berry? W/ a renewal contract? My data goes up?
Thande, I’m pretty sure your plan stays the same since you’ve always had the unlimited data to begin with. Nothing to change.
I’m glad I got in on the unlimited family messaging a few years back for $9.95/mo
$24.95 seems outrageous.
Also, if they are going to require that ALL smartphones have a dataplan, then they should lower the price of the phones.