• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

Apple coming to T-Mobile in 2013

Status
Not open for further replies.
Jeff-DSA said:
Nah, the iPhone ones showing off features that are old news on other phones are the worst, because you have people telling you that iPhones are the best because they can do panoramic shots or you can talk while you look up a website. Then when you tell them that your phone can do that too, you're informed that it was a feature ripped off from Apple.
Click to expand...

So bitter.

Good to know your phone invented panoramic shots though.
 
Jeff-DSA said:
Nah, the iPhone ones showing off features that are old news on other phones are the worst, because you have people telling you that iPhones are the best because they can do panoramic shots or you can talk while you look up a website. Then when you tell them that your phone can do that too, you're informed that it was a feature ripped off from Apple.
Click to expand...
It's funny because it's true.
 
numble said:
Looks like they are getting rid of phone subsidies? But what are equipment installment plans? Maybe it's $30/month, plus $X/month for 24 months to pay off the phone?
Click to expand...

In Canada, we have a few providers that use "tabs". Basically, they give you a partial subsidy (typically $200-300), 10% of your bill per month gets applied it towards the tab, or you can pay it off at any point.
 
Great news for TMobile. Can't deny that the iPhone is popular and will bring new customers. Overall been happy with the service...live in a big city. I am on a value plan and pay $90 for 2 lines with unlimited text and unlimited data.
 
T-Mobile USA will eliminate all device subsidies from its rate plans in 2013. During Deutsche Telekom's annual investor conference, T-Mobile CEO John Legere said that customers will be able to pay an upfront fee for their devices and then pay the balance of the device in affordable monthly installments.

T-Mobile's move is a striking change for the industry, as all Tier 1 operators for many years have subsidized the cost of devices in exchange for customers agreeing to a two-year contract. Currently T-Mobile offers Classic plans that subsidize the device and require a two-year contract and Value plans that let customers pay the full cost of their smartphones or pay it off in monthly installments in exchange for lower monthly plan rates. Legere said that in 2013 T-Mobile will eliminate its Classic rate plans that include device subsidies and instead only offer Value plans to customers.

"We think there is a huge room for a carrier to change in a way that the larger players will choose to or will not be able to respond to," Legere said. He noted that the Value plans T-Mobile will offer next year will be "fair and simple pricing" with "low out of pocket expenses" for consumers. While not alluding to the iPhone specifically, he said that customers may be able to purchase the "most iconic device in the world" for $99 and then pay monthly installments of $15 or $20 over the next 20 months.

Although Value plans have lower margins than T-Mobile's traditional Classic plans (33 percent compared to 46 percent for Classic), Legere said the switch makes sense because T-Mobile will eliminate costs associated with device subsidies. He also said Value plan customers tend to stay two months longer than Classic customers do.

Legere also provided some insights into how T-Mobile plans to compete in 2013, nothing that the company is going to tackle some of the problems that have dogged it over the past few years. "I'm very certain in the coming months you are going to see dramatic change," he said.

Specifically, T-Mobile will aggressively battle AT&T Mobility (NYSE:T) in its advertising beginning in the spring when the MetroPCS acquisition is expected to close. AT&T tried and failed last year to purchase T-Mobile for $39 billion. Legere said one element of the advertising could be summarized as, "You love you iPhone, you hate AT&T." He said: "I want you to get used to that tone because that is the way we're going to play."

Legere did not provide specifics on the company's plans to offer Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) products, which was announced earlier today. However, he did say that when the company launches Apple's products, it will be dramatically different. He also said that T-Moible had not made a volume commitment to purchase Apple products on size of what Sprint Nextel Nextel (NYSE:S) has committed to "or anything close to it." Sprint last year inked a four-year, $15.5 billion deal to sell the iPhone.
Click to expand...
http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/t-mobile-kills-device-subsidies/2012-12-06
 
value plan typically ends up being cheaper over the length of the contract when you count the costs of the phone and plan for 24 months.


i'm guessing the mere IDEA of 'paying full price' for a phone will scare some people though...
 
The Faceless Master said:
value plan typically ends up being cheaper over the length of the contract when you count the costs of the phone and plan for 24 months.


i'm guessing the mere IDEA of 'paying full price' for a phone will scare some people though...
Click to expand...
Yup. It's that upfront price sticker shock. But generally over time, the plan is much cheaper.
 
The Faceless Master said:
value plan typically ends up being cheaper over the length of the contract when you count the costs of the phone and plan for 24 months.


i'm guessing the mere IDEA of 'paying full price' for a phone will scare some people though...
Click to expand...

Definitely but I think I'm going to start doing this just to avoid contracts
 
Great move. Hopefully it doesn't affect my great speeds. The service in my area is fantastic.
 
RBH said:
http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/t-mobile-kills-device-subsidies/2012-12-06
Click to expand...

Will the monthly rates stay the same though? That's a colossal ripoff to pay the same amount but now no longer get a subsidized phone. This would actually push me away from them depending on what they charge. I think this a hilarious change after you used to be able to buy unsubsidized phones from them no questions asked until the beginning of this year and now they don't let you unless you have a contract.
 
Zaraki_Kenpachi said:
Will the monthly rates stay the same though? That's a colossal ripoff to pay the same amount but now no longer get a subsidized phone. This would actually push me away from them depending on what they charge. I think this a hilarious change after you used to be able to buy unsubsidized phones from them no questions asked until the beginning of this year and now they don't let you unless you have a contract.
Click to expand...
They just said classic plans that offer subsidized phones will be cut in favor of value plans which don't (but offer a lower rate). Value plans are awesome, for the price.
 
giga said:
They just said classic plans that offer subsidized phones will be cut in favor of value plans which don't (but offer a lower rate). Value plans are awesome, for the price.
Click to expand...

I'm confused by the wording I guess. Is the value plans the "monthly 4g" stuff or something else?
 
Zaraki_Kenpachi said:
I'm confused by the wording I guess. Is the value plans the "monthly 4g" stuff or something else?
Click to expand...
The wording clearly says value plans are lower than the classic plans. They have a unlimited text/data plan for $30/month.
Currently T-Mobile offers Classic plans that subsidize the device and require a two-year contract and Value plans that let customers pay the full cost of their smartphones or pay it off in monthly installments in exchange for lower monthly plan rates.
Click to expand...
 
Zaraki_Kenpachi said:
Will the monthly rates stay the same though? That's a colossal ripoff to pay the same amount but now no longer get a subsidized phone. This would actually push me away from them depending on what they charge. I think this a hilarious change after you used to be able to buy unsubsidized phones from them no questions asked until the beginning of this year and now they don't let you unless you have a contract.
Click to expand...

value plans are on average $20 less than classic plans.

then the pricing for the device is whatever upfront and then $15x20 months or $20x20 months, but paying the entire cost of the phone upfront is usually even cheaper.

so usually, the value plan is cheaper than the classic plan, even with the payment option, and then the value plan is even cheaper than that if you buy the device outright.
 
if tmobile is better then at&t i'm switching, hell if my monthly bill is less then 40 bucks i'm switching. I have no problem paying for the iphone upfront if my monthly bill is low enough.
 
giga said:
How does tmobile's prepaid plan compare to other MVNOs? Their $30 100 min, unlim text, and 5gb data plan, specifically.
Click to expand...

They're all trade offs. Others have slightly more minutes (usually ~300 IIRC) but they are limited to just using 3G instead of 4G but the data is unlimited. Tmobile is unlimited but only 5GB is 4G. Virgin and others also have specific phones you must buy from them where t-mobile can use any unsubsidized phone that works on their spectrums. It depends mostly on what the carrier is like in your area I think more than anything. They both have positives and negatives but most others piggyback off of sprint and sprint coverage is beyond terrible in my area so it's not an actual alternative.
 
Hopefully they do something about their shitty website. Here I am with my new phone and I can't add funds to an account because of some system error.
 
Zaraki_Kenpachi said:
They're all trade offs. Others have slightly more minutes (usually ~300 IIRC) but they are limited to just using 3G instead of 4G but the data is unlimited. Tmobile is unlimited but only 5GB is 4G. Virgin and others also have specific phones you must buy from them where t-mobile can use any unsubsidized phone that works on their spectrums. It depends mostly on what the carrier is like in your area I think more than anything. They both have positives and negatives but most others piggyback off of sprint and sprint coverage is beyond terrible in my area so it's not an actual alternative.
Click to expand...

I think Simple Mobile uses HSPA+ as well, actually. But that costs 50/month for "Unlimited" 4G.
 
Zaraki_Kenpachi said:
They're all trade offs. Others have slightly more minutes (usually ~300 IIRC) but they are limited to just using 3G instead of 4G but the data is unlimited. Tmobile is unlimited but only 5GB is 4G. Virgin and others also have specific phones you must buy from them where t-mobile can use any unsubsidized phone that works on their spectrums. It depends mostly on what the carrier is like in your area I think more than anything. They both have positives and negatives but most others piggyback off of sprint and sprint coverage is beyond terrible in my area so it's not an actual alternative.
Click to expand...

Is it possible to get around minute limitations with things like skype calling?
 
Valnen said:
Is it possible to get around minute limitations with things like skype calling?
Click to expand...

Yeah or just use Google Voice + GrooveIP. I have been doing it for months. Just making my calls over wifi at home and work. It was surprising to me how much phone time I use under wifi. I had something like 400 minutes used last month over WiFi and like 30 minutes used of the T-Mobile plans 100 minute allocation. Now granted I talk a LOT during this time of the year, with family and whatnot, but still... Using nearly 450 minutes and 4.6 or so GB of data in a month and paying $28.50 for that months service is sort of amazing. I had those same usage amounts in past years on Sprint, but I was paying $80 for a month of service after taxes, while being locked onto a contract.
 
zoku88 said:
I think Simple Mobile uses HSPA+ as well, actually. But that costs 50/month for "Unlimited" 4G.
Click to expand...

Ah, ok. That is one company I haven't looked at, I just know that like 99% (or it feels that way) of prepaid use sprint and so you can only access 3G with them. That's cool if one or two are getting above 3G on their prepaid.

Valnen said:
Is it possible to get around minute limitations with things like skype calling?
Click to expand...

Yes, you can use google voice or whatever for free calling and then you just need GrooveIP or Talkatone type app to have it use wi-fi/cellular data. Talkatone free one lets you use data where as free version of GrooveIP only lets you use wifi. There are paid versions with more features for both though.
 
For these voIP apps, how are emergency calls handled? I know it would be a rare situation, but it would be good to know if they work with that type of service.
 
Holy Crap said:
Virgin Mobile was the best bang for buck; 35 for unlimited data and text, but limited talk.

Sprint has unlimited everything but for 100 bucks.

T-Mobile has a weird data tier unlimited talk and text.

Not sure about Verizon.
Click to expand...

Sprint is not $100, it's $70 or $80 for unlimited everything. You should be able to find some discounts online to reduce it further. TMobile is cheap but data is throttled at a certain point.
 
andycapps said:
Sprint is not $100, it's $70 or $80 for unlimited everything. You should be able to find some discounts online to reduce it further. TMobile is cheap but data is throttled at a certain point.
Click to expand...

No, if you're talking about a regular contract then T-Mobile has had unlimited for a while now.
 
andycapps said:
Sprint is not $100, it's $70 or $80 for unlimited everything. You should be able to find some discounts online to reduce it further. TMobile is cheap but data is throttled at a certain point.
Click to expand...

Actually Tmobile Unlimited 4G is true unlimited and not throttled
 
GoldenEye 007 said:
Hm I see. Thanks. I guess the cell network is there as a backup. Forgot about that. And if you don't have service at all, then you're SOL anyway.

Well, good to know.
Click to expand...

Cell phones will dial 911 and connect you even if there is no service on the phone last I checked. So 911 calls just fall back to the normal towers.
 
Currently paying $55/month for unimited 4g w/ no throttling, unlimited talk, and unlimited text.

Was thinking about doing the $30 macguyver voip schindig, but this is an infinitely better deal value and with none of the hassle.
 
FindMyFarms said:
Currently paying $55/month for unimited 4g w/ no throttling, unlimited talk, and unlimited text.

Was thinking about doing the $30 macguyver voip schindig, but this is an infinitely better deal value and with none of the hassle.
Click to expand...

How are you only paying $55 for that? Some sort of employee discount?
 
Well, apparently T-Mobile and AT&T's HSPA+ = 4G obfuscation campaign has worked wonders.

10 points to GSM carriers!
 
T-Mobile USA will start selling the iPhone in about three to four months and will enforce its plan to get rid of cellphone subsidies in a similar timeframe, according to Chief Executive John Legere.

Legere declined to disclose details about the company's agreement with Apple, except to say that T-Mobile USA's timing for selling the smartphone would be sooner rather than later, along with its subsidy elimination plan.

"They're all, I would call them, in three to four months as opposed to six to nine months, Legere told Reuters in an interview at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

T-Mobile USA said late last year it would eliminate handset subsidies in 2013 to give customers more flexibility and lower service prices. It said at the same time that it will also sell the iPhone, making it the last U.S. mobile provider to do so.
Click to expand...
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/09/us-ces-tmobileusa-idUSBRE90806420130109
 
Tonight was T-Mobile's time to shine in the CES 2013 spotlight, and the carrier took the opportunity to announce several big pieces of news. There's an awful lot of news to digest here, so we'll break it all down bullet point style for you:



  • First up, the magenta operator confirmed that it'll begin offering its Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan with no contract starting tomorrow, Jan. 9. The plan originally launched in September 2012, and since then T-Mo says that it's been extremely popular with consumers, with 46 percent of new subscribers in December 2012 signing up for the rate plan. The no-contract Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan will cost $70 per month and will give customers a bottomless bucket of data with no caps or overages. To help celebrate the arrival of the no contract Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan, T-Mobile will knock the price of the LG Optimus L9 down to $199.99 with no contract required on Jan. 9.
  • T-Mobile also introduced a new program dubbed 4G Connect. The purpose of 4G Connect is to give customers a free T-Mobile data connection when they purchase a select laptop or tablet. The initial batch 4G Connect devices will include Windows 8 Ultrabooks from HP and Dell, like the HP Pavilion dm1 and Dell Inspiron 14z Ultrabook. T-Mobile says that more devices, including Windows RT units, will be introduced in 2013. As far as pricing goes, the cost for devices in the 4G Connect program will start at under $500. Those products will be given up to 200MB of free data access each month for up to two years. Customers that need more data can purchase it from T-Mobile at rates that start at $10 per gigabyte.
  • The next big bit of news from T-Mobile this evening concerns HD Voice. T-Mo today announced that HD Voice is now available on its network, offering improved call quality to customers with devices that can access the service. T-Mobile devices that are compatible with HD Voice include the Samsung Galaxy S III, HTC One S and Nokia Astound. It's worth noting that both users on a call must have an HD Voice-capable phone to actually use the service.
  • Speaking of network enhancements, T-Mobile has revealed that its refarmed 1900MHz HSPA+ network is now available in some new cities. The network, which will allow unlocked AT&T devices (including the iPhone) access to T-Mobile's HSPA+ service, is now available in Denver, Los Angeles, San Diego and Virginia Beach, Va. The 1900MHz HSPA+ coverage is now live in 46 metro areas and covers 126 million people.
  • T-Mobile CTO Neville Ray went on to say that the carrier is "stepping on the gas" when it comes to its 4G LTE network. The magenta operator expects its LTE network to cover 100 million people by mid-2013, with that number growing to 200 million people by the end of this year. Ray told PCMag that markets like Las Vegas "are pretty much ready" to go live with T-Mobile LTE, adding that "another week or two" and T-Mo's LTE will be ready for action.
  • There's also a small bit of T-Mobile hardware news this evening. T-Mobile CTO Neville Ray revealed to The Verge that his operator is planning to release a new version of the Samsung Galaxy S III that will feature support for T-Mobile's upcoming 4G LTE network. Details on the new model are light, and it's not known if it'll gain a new spot on T-Mobile's shelves or if T-Mo will simply swap out the non-LTE model for the LTE-enabled one. Ray also confirmed that the Galaxy Note II already contains support for T-Mobile's LTE network and that it'll require only a "small" update to enable LTE connectivity once the network goes live.
Click to expand...
http://www.phonedog.com/2013/01/08/...-data-hd-voice-and-new-galaxy-s-iii-with-lte/
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

  • Locked
Neogaf unusable on mobile
10
931
EviLore replied
  • Poll
UFC 326: Holloway vs. Oliveira 2 - T-Mobile Arena - Las Vegas - March 7
Poll Event  2
75
660
MaestroMike replied
  • Poll
UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett - T-Mobile Arena - Las Vegas - January 24
Poll Event  2
90
1K
MaestroMike replied
Tim Cook stepping down as Apple CEO, John Ternus will take over in September
2
51
385
AJUMP23 replied
Mobile mode
7
384
ForAcademicPurposes replied
Top Bottom