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Truly Unlimited High-Speed Data Coming to T-Mobile USA, No Really

Michael Kwan — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 14:51:10 +0000

Yes, it’s true that T-Mobile already has a $50 plan that gives you unlimited talk and text, but the “unlimited data” part of that equation downgrades from high-speed to 2G after you hit the 2GB cap. Given our need for high-speed wireless data all the time, that just won’t do and T-Mobile is finally changing its tune.

Starting on September 5, T-Mobile USA will offer a truly unlimited data option where you get to stick with the company’s 4G speeds regardless of how much data you consume. Go ahead and stream that Internet radio and watch YouTube clips to your heart’s desire. This truly unlimited data option rivals what MetroPCS announced just yesterday. Keep in mind that both Verizon and AT&T cap their data, so that leaves Sprint as the only other major carrier to have unlimited data.

To get unthrottled unlimited data with T-Mobile, you’ll need to tack on an additional $20 fee on top of the existing $49.99 unlimited plan. That brings you up to $69.99, which is still cheaper than the totally unlimited plan from Sprint. Now if only T-Mobile could figure out a way to get the iPhone 5 as part of its lineup…

[Source]

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Wind Mobile Simplifies Down to Just Two Unlimited Plans

Michael Kwan — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 22:32:39 +0000

Choosing a cell phone plan can be an exercise in frustration for a lot of people, so Wind Mobile has decided to simplify its offerings down to just two voice plans: The Wind 25 and the Wind 40, which are appropriately priced at $25 and $40 per month, respectively.

With the Wind 25 plan, you get unlimited local talk and unlimited text, along with 100MB of data. It also includes unlimited Canada-wide Wind-to-Wind calling, unlimited incoming, and call control (which includes caller ID). With the Wind 40 plan, that gets upgraded to unlimited Canada-wide talk, text, and data. The rest of the features are the same as the Wind 25.

Naturally, there are still the standard add-ons for you to consider too, like $8 voicemail and $10 unlimited US-wide calling and text messaging. The Wind 40 plan also has a $5 option for BES. For long distance, they’re also offering a “World Saver International Talk & Text” option for $8 per month. That gives you unlimited global text, plus up to 90% off international calling rates.

Check out Wind’s site for more information. As an aside, the Pay Your Way prepaid service from Wind has just added unlimited incoming calls too, in case you want to take that route instead of a monthly plan.

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Republic Wireless $19/Month Unlimited Plan Has Soft Caps

Michael Kwan — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 01:00:04 +0000

Tired of paying $50, $60, $100 or more to get some decent cell phone service? It looks like a real deal is being offered by new wireless carrier Republic Wireless, because they’ve got a $19 per month plan that gives you unlimited talk, text, and data. Yes, unlimited data too.

This crazy plan is now live and it does not appear to be a promotional price to lock you into their fold. That $19 price point sticks with you for however long you stick with Republic Wireless. If it sounds too good to be true, well, you have to understand a couple of catches.

First, you’re not really allowed to bring your own phone. Instead, you have to use a special phone with special hardware geared specifically toward Republic Wireless. For now, the only handset available is the LG Optimus with Android 2.3 ($199 outright, $99 with coupon code “welcome19″), but they’ll surely add more in the future.

The service is designed so that you use Wi-Fi for most of your needs and it only falls back onto 3G (Republic uses the Sprint network) as necessary. This includes both data requirements, as well as voice. This “hybrid technology” is not unlike the UMA service from T-Mobile. Texts can be sent over Wi-Fi too.

The other catch? While the plan is “unlimited” in name, there are some soft caps. If your Cellular Usage Index (CUI) is too high, meaning you do too much on 3G (and not enough on Wi-Fi), Republic Wireless will show you the door. The “soft caps” appear to be set at 550 minutes, 150 texts, and 300MB of data. Remember that these are only over 3G and you can be as unlimited as you want over Wi-Fi.

Oh, and in case you’re curious, Republic Wireless is a venture by Bandwidth.com, which also happens to be the parent company of such companies as Skype, LivingSocial, and Pandora. So, yes, they know what they’re doing when it comes to consumer-geared online services.

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The new ‘unlimited’ data plans from T-Mobile

Michael Kwan — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 22:20:46 +0000

I’m tired of this. It’s one thing to make boastful claims like having the largest network, the fewest dropped calls, or the fastest data rates. It’s another thing altogether to say that you have unlimited data, only to cite specific limits to how much of that unlimited data you can have. And that’s exactly what T-Mobile has done.

The new “Value” plans will be made available on July 24 and the idea is that you can get access to T-Mobile’s 4G network (let’s not open the whole “what is 4G?” can of worms again) in a “more affordable” way. They say that these plans offer “unlimited data” but then they immediately say that they come with “2GB, 5GB, or 10GB of high-speed data — with no data overage charges.”

So, they just cut you off when you reach your cap rather than throttling you down? It’s not exactly unlimited when you have a limit set at those specific numbers. To be fair, most users aren’t going to use all that much data, but you can’t market these plans as having unlimited data when it’s clearly limited. An example they give is the $49.99 per line Value family plan “with unlimited talk, unlimited text and unlimited data with 2 GB of high-speed data.” It’s not unlimited data!! Grr…

Image from DeadZones.com

Serious: ‘Unlimited’ Plans at T-Mobile Limit you to 2GB

Michael Kwan — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 21:39:44 +0000

It’s like going to an all you can eat buffet, only to discover that you’re limited to one hour of eating before they make you go through a complicated maze to get another piece of fried chicken. You can keep eating, sure, but each successive trip to the buffet line takes longer and longer.

And that’s fundamentally what is happening with the “unlimited” plans being offered by T-Mobile USA. Yes, you have “unlimited” data to use, but you’re effectively capped at 2GB of bandwidth. After that, you get throttled (possibly down to a crawl) to deter you from using any more data.

As per the press release: “Consumers exceeding 2GB of usage in a billing month will still have access to unlimited data at reduced speeds until their new billing cycle starts.”

I’m not sure if this is better than the “virtually” unlimited plans that were out a couple years ago, where you experienced a hard cap after a certain amount of data. Don’t sell me an “unlimited” plan if it isn’t really unlimited. If I’m paying for unlimited, I want unfettered access to my roast beef. Where are the government regulators on all this? Shouldn’t they step in and straighten out their turnspeak. T-Mobile is now Turnspeak-Mobile.

T-Mobile’s Even More Plus plan will run you $60 a month sans contract, but at $80 a month, hey, you’ll get the “Even More plan” on a two year contract. Wait a little longer and you may even see an “Even More Plus More Plan” for $100 giving you more limits. Give me a break.

T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced that new, single-line unlimited plans are available starting tomorrow for just $79.99 per month, with an Even More™ plan and a two-year contract, or $59.99 per month, with an Even More Plus™plan with no annual contract required. Available for a limited time, the new plans offer great value for new and existing customers with unlimited nationwide calling, texting and data on America’s Largest 4G Network™.

“Consumers today are looking for even more value and flexibility from their wireless plans,” said John Clelland, senior vice president, marketing, T-Mobile USA. “While data plans for many of our competitors continue to be very expensive, T-Mobile is lowering the price of our unlimited plans and offering more options, making it easier than ever for customers to step up to a richer mobile data experience on our 4G network.”

Combined with an extensive lineup of affordable smartphones, T-Mobile’s new Even More unlimited plan allows customers to save more than $350 per year on an unlimited smartphone plan, compared to similar plans from AT&T, Verizon and Sprint1. Customers have the flexibility to purchase any phone in T-Mobile’s lineup and sign up for an unlimited rate plan — with or without a contract term commitment.

In contrast to some competing offerings, T-Mobile’s new Even More unlimited and Even More Plus unlimited plans enable customers to use mobile data on their smartphones without incurring any overage charges. Consumers exceeding 2GB of usage in a billing month will still have access to unlimited data at reduced speeds until their new billing cycle starts. On average, T-Mobile 4G smartphone customers consume about 1 GB of data per billing month.

In addition to its unlimited plans, T-Mobile continues to offer one of the industry’s most affordable entry-level data plans, starting at just $10 for 200 MB per billing month. The company also strives to help customers on these data plans avoid surprise bills with SMS alerts when they are reaching their data limit.

The new $79.99 Even More unlimited and $59.99 Even More Plus unlimited plans are available starting tomorrow for qualifying customers. To find the T-Mobile plan that best fits their needs, customers can visit http://www.t-mobile.com.
T-Mobile’s HSPA+ 4G network not available everywhere. See coverage details at T-Mobile.com.

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Verizon teases with limited-time $30 unlimited iPhone 4 data plan

Fabrizio Pilato — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 22:39:10 +0000

Words are such funny things, especially in marketing. Here anything is possible, unlimited can have a limit, especially when it comes to a much sought after device. The Apple iPhone 4 will soon be gracing the shelves at Verizon Wireless and big red will offer a $29.99 unlimited wireless data package, but it won’t last long.

According to Wall Street Journal, Verizon Chief Operating Officer Lowell McAdam said the unlimited plan would be temporary and switch to tiered pricing in the not too distant future. How long? We don’t know, it could be as little as 3 months, or closer to 6 months.

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Virgin Mobile offers $40 unlimited MiFi plan, delayed a few days

Michael Kwan — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:36:33 +0000

Looking for a way to keep your notebook connected to the Internet no matter where you go? Even if you can’t find a Wi-Fi hotspot? It looks like Virgin Mobile has you covered and it’s actually a remarkably affordable option. That’s because they’re offering unlimited data via the MiFi device for just forty bucks.

In case you’ve been living under a rock for the last couple of years, the MiFi is a credit card-sized device that will translate the mobile broadband connection into a WiFi hotspot. Other devices like the Novatel USB modem work. This way, any WiFi-enabled device can connect to the Internet, including notebooks, netbooks, tablets, and smartphones.

The new $40 unlimited MiFi plan from Virgin Mobile (Piggy backed off Sprint) is the best (current) deal in the country by about $20 a month. That’s unlimited data folks. This new 30-day plan kills off the old $20/$40/$60 tiered data of old. If you want to save a few bucks, you can still opt to pay $10 for 10 days of access, but that caps off at just 100MB.

Update: PC Mag reports that this is delayed due to “technical difficulties” however, Virgin Mobile’s spokeswoman Corinne Nosal said its only for a few days.

Virgin Mobile shifts up their MiFi plan: $40. Unlimited. Contract-free. Glorious [MobileCrunch]

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