Just another marketing ploy by T-Mobile, their service and coverage isn't even close to their competitors. I see this as more of sign that things are crumbling.
T-Mobile to offer free unlimited international data, texts
171–177 of 177 posts
Re: T-Mobile to offer free unlimited international data, texts
#172Earlier quoted context omitted.
I switched with the iPhone 5S. Off-contract too. I rarely leave the city, so the lack of coverage in rural areas doesn't bother me. In NYC I have to say I've noticed a small improvement in reception over AT&T - buildings where I've been dead in the water before now have some connectivity. So far so good, this new announcement is just icing on the cake, especially as a Canadian expat. It used to be that when visiting…
Awesome. How's the HSPA/LTE network in the city? Can you do a quick speedtest and post results?
Brooklyn Heights, 6th floor of pre-war apartment w/ 3 dots LTE:
Re: T-Mobile to offer free unlimited international data, texts
#173Earlier quoted context omitted.
As much as I love T Mobile's policies, I hate their coverage. I get 0 bars inside non-wood buildings, but when I step outside, I get a few bars. I live in a somewhat hilly area, so I get spotty reception in certain parts of town. I really wish they would spend more money trying to improve their coverage instead of telling everyone how they are so different. Because even if they are different, if they have poor covera…
If you don't mind me asking, where are you located? I get good T-Mobile reception inside all types of buildings in and around the Kansas City metro. The only place I've ever lost coverage is in the basement floors of my doctor's office away from windows. Their rural coverage is pretty awful though.
I am currently in Charlottesville, VA (it is kind of like a suburb). It has a lot of hills, which affects the reception. Every carrier other than T-Mobile has signal boosters placed throughout the city to counteract spotty coverage.
I've noticed that I only have issues when I go into a building that's not made mostly out of wood. At McDonalds or something, I get great reception, but when I step into a lecture hall or a federal building, the reception drops to 0 bars. Immediately outside of it, the reception is fine.
Aside from getting a phone with a really strong antenna, I'm not sure what to do about this.
Re: T-Mobile to offer free unlimited international data, texts
#174Earlier quoted context omitted.
Donating to GVGW ( https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6524728 ) to use the GSM codec combined with csipsimple ( http://code.google.com/p/csipsimple/ ) has actually been surprisingly usable over HSPA+.
First link wrong? Seems like a useful service. https://simonics.com/gvgw/
That's the one! I don't know how I missed that...
Re: T-Mobile to offer free unlimited international data, texts
#175Earlier quoted context omitted.
It'll certainly be huge step forward -- I sometimes go to Japan, and it's hard to find pay phones these days, and they make me jump through a lot of hoops getting prepaid phone there, if that's even possible as a foreigner...
I used b-mobile in Japan for a pre-paid data-only SIM earlier this year. They will even mail the SIM to the airport so it is waiting for you when you arrive.
How much do they cost these days? I remember they were bit pricy... (and quick search really doesn't reveal how much it is any more?)
Re: T-Mobile to offer free unlimited international data, texts
#176Earlier quoted context omitted.
I have the same experience on a daily basis. I get no service to a maximum of 1 bar standing next to a window at home and the same sitting at my desk at work (which happens to be next to a nice, big window). Couple that with dead zones on the commute to work, and I spend almost 100% of my day with little to no service. And no, I do not live in the middle of nowhere; I live a tad bit north of Chicago. AT&T, Verizon, a…
I live in Schaumburg and work in the west loop in Chicago. I have no problems whatsoever with T-Mobile reception or data speed wise anywhere in the Chicago area, and I'm on a Galaxy Nexus.
I also have a Galaxy Nexus, and I had the same problems when I tried out the Nexus 4. Apparently The near-north suburbs are just not as well covered, even thought T-Mobile's coverage map shows pretty much perfect coverage.
I just got an Aio Wireless SIM card to try out for a month, and it's awesome. I even get service in the elevators and the parking garage. I finally feel like I'm living in modern times!
Re: T-Mobile to offer free unlimited international data, texts
#177Earlier quoted context omitted.
3G after
Not 3G, EDGE.
You're right, it's not 3G:
Me: On a plan that says "First N GB at 4G speeds", what
speed do I get after I hit the cap?
Rep: Once the allotted high-speed data has been used
speeds will be throttled down to our 2G speeds.
This would be comparable to about twice the speed
of dial-up which translates to about 100 kbps.