Update: T-Mobile announces unlimited global data roaming at no extra charge

[newarkhiphop]

UPDATE:

T-Mobile unveiled the latest part of its Uncarrier initiative today: the carrier is offering unlimited international data and text services at no extra charge starting October 31st. The new international services will be available to existing Simple Choice customers for no additional cost over their current rate plans, and will work in over 100 countries across the world. In addition to the data and texting services, traveling customers will be able to place voice calls at a flat rate of 20 cents per minute while in those countries.

T-Mobile's new plans are significantly different than the industry is accustomed to — most international roaming plans are prohibitively expensive and have limited caps for data and text messaging. T-Mobile notes that 40 percent of traveling Americans turn off data services on their phones when they are abroad to avoid the exorbitant fees. The carrier says that by removing this bill shock, travelers will be more open to using their phones while overseas. CEO John Legere says that the included countries cover "pretty much everywhere people travel, about 95 percent of where people go."

UNLIMITED DATA AND TEXT PLUS DISCOUNTED VOICE CALLING IN OVER 100 COUNTRIES ARE AUTOMATICALLY INCLUDED

The carrier didn't provide a lot of details for the new plan — it didn't really describe the level of service that customers would get while they are in foreign countries. The company is providing options for customers to pay more for faster service while abroad: there will be options for daily, weekly, and two-week packages that provide the "fastest speeds we can deliver" over the standard, included unlimited service. While the company says the included data should be good enough for emails, social network status updates, and even streaming music, it's not particularly fast: just 128 kilobytes per second on average, chief marking officer Mike Sievert told CNET.

In addition to the new, free roaming services, T-Mobile is also launching its new Stateside International Talk & Text feature, which offers discounted calling and text messaging from the United States to all of its participating Simple Choice countries. Calls to mobile phones will be 20 cents per minute, while calls to landlines are unlimited in over 70 of those countries. Texting from the US to any of those countries is unlimited. Simple Choice customers are able to add the new plan to their existing service for $10 per month.

T-Mobile also revealed today that it now has LTE coverage nationwide, covering over 200 million people in 233 metro areas in the US. The carrier has also signed a multi-year partnership with musical artist Shakira to help get its word out there. The agreement will result in "unique content, fan engagement, and exclusive access to her new music" for T-Mobile customers.

T-Mobile has been shaking up the wireless industry for the better part of the year as part of its "Uncarrier" movement. In the spring, it announced that it would be eliminating the traditional carrier contract, and in July it was the first carrier to launch a payment plan for smartphones that lets customers upgrade their devices more often (AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint quickly followed suit with plans of their own). Today's announcement might be the most revolutionary — international roaming charges have been one of the biggest frustrations for traveling customers. T-Mobile's aggressive moves have helped it gain marketshare, but it is still far behind the other three carriers when it comes to user numbers. Whether or not today's announcement will turn the tide further in T-Mobile's favor remains to be seen, but it's sure to make more than a few frequent travelers happy.

http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/9/4...imited-global-data-roaming-at-no-extra-charge

Could this be the global data plan of our dreams? A fan site for Shakira, the artist set to perform at T-Mobile'sUnCarrier eventtonight, published a teaser on its Facebook page today. The image above suggests that the carrier will announce data plans that include global roaming in more than 100 countries, with no additional fees. That's all we have to report for now -- it's unclear whether or not data will be capped, which countries are included and what you'll need to pay for the plans -- but this Facebook post is consistent with a tweet from T-Mobile CEO John Legerethis morning, declaring "Today is the day! The day we change the way the world uses their phones! You ready? #unleash

http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/09/t-mobile-global-data/

 

[Akata Man Bromo]

 

[head shots101]

tmo is the peoples champ man..

 

[Joe Sixpack]

tmo is the peoples champ man..

too bad their service sucks

 

[Smooth3d]

too bad their service sucks

Not in my area, you be a fool to pay for any other carrier. T-mo has great coverage here.

 

[Smooth3d]

Look at the 4g lte signal! In the most heavily used part of the day!

 

[detach]

Cool but they need up their coverage in the USA before they try to save the world.

 

[head shots101]

too bad their service sucks

Real talk and I live in ny

 

[Smooth3d]

Cool but they need up their coverage in the USA before they try to save the world.

they are working on it. It takes time to build up the infrastructure. As far as worldwide data roaming all they will have to do is pair up with the International T Mobile

 

[Rekkapryde]

Look at the 4g lte signal! In the most heavily used part of the day!

might jump ship in December with those speeds....

 

[Liquid]

tmobile is great where I live. Better than sprint and at&t

 

[ExodusNirvana]

Speedtests tell us nothing about service unless you are literally filming yourself taking the speed test.

Results vary even within a couple block radius, Manhattan is notorious for this. I was at JP Morgan Chase the other day on Park Ave, on the 15th floor and the 26th floor, and I got 3 down and 1.5 up. A few blocks away near Central Park and NYIT's Manhattan Campus? I was getting 7 down and 5 up.

Every city is different. Lots of factors.

 

[GoldenGlove]

too bad their service sucks

Look at the 4g lte signal! In the most heavily used part of the day!

@Joe Sixpack

So you were saying?

 

[STAN JONES]

too bad their service sucks

it doesnt suck everywhere

They are pretty good here in bmore...only verizon is better here and they are ALOT more expensive

Look at the 4g lte signal! In the most heavily used part of the day!

Damn

And I thought I was good getting 20-25 mbps down

 

[Joe Sixpack]

Real talk and I live in ny

T Mobile has weak signal penetration.. I live in NYC too and there are spots in the city where I get no signal.. Thats why they have to do all this shyt.. To distract people from the fact that their service sucks ass..