T-Mobile Set To Introduce New “Actual Unlimited” Data Plans

T-Mobile is introducing, or re-introducing from days gone by a data plan that is without “speed limits, caps, or overages.”

This plan is just $30 for Classic Plan customers and $20 for Value Plan customers and is available for all account types, including Small Business, Enterprise and in Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, the plan cannot be combined with the Smartphone Mobile Hotspot (tethering), as customers who want to add the Mobile Hotspot should continue to choose from the 5GB and 10GB rate plan options instead.

So what’s Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data good for?

• Watch HD videos, stream music, and browse the web without worrying about data speed limits
• Do not plan to to share their phone’s data connection with other devices
• Currently have 2GB data and want a worry-free data experience
• Do not know how much data they will use per month and want the peace of mind of never having to monitor their data usage ever!

Source: TmoNews

MetroPCS Alteres Throttling Practices

MetroPCS altered its LTE 4G plans. It added a new, $70 plan at the top end that offers unlimited 4G access, but MetroPCS will throttle data on its lower-tier LTE plans. The new plans are as follows: $40 per month buys unlimited talk, text, and 250MB of data at 4G speeds; $50 buys unlimited talk, text, and 2.5GB of data at 4G speeds; $60 buys unlimited talk, text, and 5GB of data (but unlimited access to Rhapsody streaming); and $70 per month buys unlimited talk, text, and unlimited LTE data (and unlimited access to MetroStudio Video On Demand). "Customers will remain on the 4G LTE network but receive a reduced speed similar to what they might experience on MetroPCS' 3G networks," said MetroPCS spokesman Drew Crowell to FierceWireless. "Even though 4G LTE speeds may be reduced, because of the 'always on' nature of our 4G LTE network, the experience for the majority of what a customer does on a daily basis, like Facebook, web surfing, etc., should continue to be solid." Customers' data speeds will return to normal at the start of their next billing cycle.

Sprint Confirms That LTE Phones Can Enjoy Unlimited Data On Everything Plans

The formal unveiling of LG's Viper this morning may not have piqued your interest, but Sprint loyalists hellbent on maintaining access to an unlimited plan may want to take a second look. Initially pointed out by techhog the carrier's impending LTE data network will indeed be included on its existing Everything plans. In other words, the Viper -- as well as any other LTE smartphone, will be able to surf the LTE superhighway without limits. To date, the "unlimited" nature of Sprint's data remains a huge differentiator in a world full of hamstrung options, tiers and throttles, and it'll certainly be used to get the attention of heavy users in the months ago. We also reconfirmed that Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City and San Antonio are on track to receive LTE in "midyear 2012," with "other markets following in the third and fourth quarters.

T-Mobile To Raise Data Plans Beginning April 4th

According to TmoNews, the nation’s No.4 carrier may be looking to increase the price of its premium 5GB and ultra 10GB unlimited data packages. The change could go into effect as early as April 4th and would add an additional $5 to the cost each plan. The 5GB plan will jump from $35 to $40 per month and the 10GB plan will increase from $65 to $70. T-Mobile’s Value Plan pricing will remain unchanged. The premium and ultra plan increases will only apply to customers who sign up for service after the effective date, however. The price increase comes as the carrier is looking to restructure and in doing so, will also cut 5% of its workforce and close seven call centers over the next three months. 

Do You Really Need Unlimited Data?

Smartphone users are angry as carriers do away with unlimited data plans, but a new study shows many customers don't need to spend as much as they do on data. According to Consumer Reports, nearly half the customers holding on to unlimited data plans at AT&T would see no ill effects if they switch to the carrier's $20 a month plan, which allows just 300-megabytes of data usage a month. In addition, just one percent of the other half of customers actually take full advantage of their unlimited capabilities -- the rest use under 5-gigabytes of data, which is what AT&T allots for $30 under its new data plans.  While there are very real cases of network congestion caused by individuals who consume 50+ GB of "unlimited" data over a short period of time, studies show that the vast majority of unlimited users consume much smaller amounts of data than the equivalently priced tiered plans allow.