Sorry, T-Mobile,
Is it still truly unlimited if you have to pay extra to tether?
Worse, is it truly good to your 2+ year customers if you suddenly cut them off from tethering while they're traveling?
T-Mobile Announces Truly Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data
31–40 of 48 posts
Re: T-Mobile Announces Truly Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data
#32I share doubts about whether their "unlimited" truly means unlimited, but I am also dubious of the "nationwide" claim. Don't zoom in too close on their coverage map or those vast swaths of comforting green (strong signal, yeah!) dissolve into pale yellows and whites (hm, maybe 2G, maybe nothing?).
It's the same in the UK. Although this time apparently it is truly "unlimited" according to No data caps, speed limits, or bill shock
I was on an "unlimited" plan here with a 3GB monthly limit... I could go over it but it was a 3 strike rule and then they would charge extra. I wish they'd do what Australia do and not let them false advertise. In Oz if it if 10GB then they must advertise as such.
Re: T-Mobile Announces Truly Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data
#33I share doubts about whether their "unlimited" truly means unlimited, but I am also dubious of the "nationwide" claim. Don't zoom in too close on their coverage map or those vast swaths of comforting green (strong signal, yeah!) dissolve into pale yellows and whites (hm, maybe 2G, maybe nothing?).
I was on T-Mobile for a few months this year. There are large swaths of metro Boston and Cambridge where they have no coverage -- most of the Esplanade, Harvard Square, every MIT building I've been in, Route 2 from Alewife through most of Arlington. All of these places are fully green on their coverage map. So I don't even want to know what they mean by yellow and white.
Re: T-Mobile Announces Truly Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data
#34Earlier quoted context omitted.
Huh? How could there be rules against that? That seems weird. I'm not aware of any such rules in Germany. If you have a SIM card you can do with it whatever you want.
Well, I guess T-Mobile USA ain't the same. One of the rules you agree to when you sign up for this plan is that you won't use the SIM card in a modem.
How do they know? IMEI?
Re: T-Mobile Announces Truly Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data
#35Earlier quoted context omitted.
Most cellular modems are USB devices, intended to be plugged into (laptop) computers. You should be able to use something like the awesome ASUS WL-330N3G credit-card sized 3G router ( http://www.asus.com/Networks/Wireless_Routers/WL330N3G/ ), once 4G-capable versions become available. Which I really hope they will. Of course, you could also replace your router with a 4G USB-capable one.
Could you point me to an example of a 4G USB-capable router with ethernet ports? For some reason my searches are failing.
Look at the "Cradlepoint" brand, such as:
http://www.cradlepoint.com/products/mbr1000
I'm sure you can then find some similar offerings.
Re: T-Mobile Announces Truly Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data
#36I still feel that $89 is way too high. With taxes and BS you're looking at ~$100/mo for a fricking phone.
I'm seriously considering Cricket at $55/mo (no contract) or the similar Metro PCS. But these are capped at ~2gigs. Of course, since I don't use much bandwidth and 2 gigs sounds good to me, that's probably why $100/mo sounds high.
I'm waiting until someone can bundle my life and provide TV, music, phone, home internet, mobile internet, etc for $300/mo.
Re: T-Mobile Announces Truly Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data
#37I was hoping that this would be a data-only plan and that you could get it without a voice line. Unfortunately, this "unlimited" plan is just an add-on to a voice plan. I really want someone to offer $30-50 : 10GB / month service so that I can completely avoid the issues of minutes and SMS counts. :/
This just about covers you (search for "Great for video chat, streaming music/movies/TV, playing online games, and more"): http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/monthly-4g-plans You still get 100 minutes of talk, but you get unlimited texts and "unlimited" 4G data (first 5GB at 4G speeds, then you get throttled). All this for $30/month pre-paid.
I use this when I'm in the U.S. for more than a couple of weeks at a time, T-mobile has the most flexible pre-paid plans for data that I've found. You need to call them or go to a store to buy more data though, their website doesn't accept foreign credit cards even though they allow you to choose your country.
Re: T-Mobile Announces Truly Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data
#38Earlier quoted context omitted.
Well, I guess T-Mobile USA ain't the same. One of the rules you agree to when you sign up for this plan is that you won't use the SIM card in a modem.
How do they know? IMEI?
I've heard that they do deep packet inspection so if they see e.g. a desktop Chrome user agent, they know you're not on a phone. Sounds excessive, but it could be true. (And yes, you could probably find ways around that, but I'm not sure what the goal is here.)
If you want a portable data service for your laptop, this is not the plan for you. I was using Clear (Sprint WiMAX) for a while and it was relatively cheap and fast. Only downside is the limited coverage area -- check the map before you buy.
Re: T-Mobile Announces Truly Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data
#39I still feel that $89 is way too high. With taxes and BS you're looking at ~$100/mo for a fricking phone. I'm seriously considering Cricket at $55/mo (no contract) or the similar Metro PCS. But these are capped at ~2gigs. Of course, since I don't use much bandwidth and 2 gigs sounds good to me, that's probably why $100/mo sounds high. I'm waiting until someone can bundle my life and provide TV, music, phone, home int…
I think that if you are bringing your own phone, the price is pretty solid. I'm paying $60 a month for my old plan with is 500 min, Unlimited Text and 5GB cap. If prices stay the same for plans I can switch to a comparable Value plan that has unlimited data instead of a 5GB cap.
Sounds like a solid deal to me.
Re: T-Mobile Announces Truly Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data
#40I share doubts about whether their "unlimited" truly means unlimited, but I am also dubious of the "nationwide" claim. Don't zoom in too close on their coverage map or those vast swaths of comforting green (strong signal, yeah!) dissolve into pale yellows and whites (hm, maybe 2G, maybe nothing?).
I was on T-Mobile for a few months this year. There are large swaths of metro Boston and Cambridge where they have no coverage -- most of the Esplanade, Harvard Square, every MIT building I've been in, Route 2 from Alewife through most of Arlington. All of these places are fully green on their coverage map. So I don't even want to know what they mean by yellow and white.
Yes... T-Mobile coverage at MIT is almost non-existant. Once I walk outside of the main campus, I magically get reception again.