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Does T-Mobile really have unlimited data? No catches, gimmicks or limitations?

jackroo

jackroo

Android Enthusiast
I've heard and read a lot about the new plans coming from T-Mobile. My main question is this: are there any limitations on the data? Is there anything like after you use 10gb or something you'll be throttled down to 2G EDGE speeds?

I'm on Sprint now and I average over 10gb each month due to streaming music and YouTube movies etc. I have never experienced any type of throttling. I'm just curious because the T-Mobile plan is $40 cheaper vs what I'm paying now at sprint but I don't want to give up truly unlimited data for a so-called unlimited data plan that truly isn't. I have a two line phone plan.

Thank you to anyone who contributes to this thread.
 
My data plan is unlimited data with the first 5gb at 4g.

You'll have to read the fine print in their plans or speak with a sales rep to find out for sure about the plan you are looking at.
 
All T-Mobile plans are unlimited data - no cutoff or overage charges. You can choose truly unlimited, as in no throttling ever, or to save money several data plans with a given amount of 4G then 2G past your allotment.
 
I signed up for unlimited 4g plan when I bought my galaxy S4. Yes, it is unlimited with no throttling. My first month, which ended about a week ago, I used around 25gb of data, all at 4g speed. Still waiting on LTE in my area. :mad:

I've already used about 12gb this month. If you're on a plan like the $30 prepaid plan that comes with 5gb data. You will be throttled after 5gb.
 
That is true. Think how ATT and Verizon rape users with all these surcharges.

Tmo data is really a true buffet.
 
droidgoo said:
The catch is a lousy network
Click to expand...

T-Mobile has been fine for me, much better than Sprint was. However everybody's mileage varies but I had Sprint for a while and it was terrible at my house and the airvana didn't even fix all my problems as the unit had problems. Also with no LTE or WiMax in my area Sprint is stuck on EVDO here and their EVDO network is quite slow. T-Mobile has worked for me better in coverage as well as data speeds than I experienced with Sprint's network.
 
I'm also on Sprint and have been really thinking of moving to T-Mobile around the fall. Their plans are just too hard to pass up. Not that I do it often but the thought of upgrading to a new phone(well after you pay the whole amount off) anytime you want is pretty awesome. I've enjoyed Sprint's unlimited. Now that T-Mobile has the same thing, I'm really thinking of jumping ship lol. The only thing that's worrying me is the coverage. I'm in the NYC/Westchester area. I hear its a mixed bag. But if I can get just decent coverage......I'm in!
 
Orion said:
I'm also on Sprint and have been really thinking of moving to T-Mobile around the fall. Their plans are just too hard to pass up. Not that I do it often but the thought of upgrading to a new phone(well after you pay the whole amount off) anytime you want is pretty awesome. I've enjoyed Sprint's unlimited. Now that T-Mobile has the same thing, I'm really thinking of jumping ship lol. The only thing that's worrying me is the coverage. I'm in the NYC/Westchester area. I hear its a mixed bag. But if I can get just decent coverage......I'm in!
Click to expand...


That's what's holding me back a little bit: this whole "paying the phone off" thing.
 
jackroo said:
That's what's holding me back a little bit: this whole "paying the phone off" thing.
Click to expand...
You already do that when you buy a phone subsidized through another carrier. The only differences are that T-Mobile now shows it while other carriers still hide it, and once you pay it off, it comes off your bill on T-Mobile. With other carriers, you continue to pay for it even after your contract ends. However T-Mobile + Nexus 4 straight from Google play is a tough combo to beat. :)

There is one restriction with T-Mobile's truly unlimited, no throttling plan. Tethering isn't included.
 
jhawkkw said:
You already do that when you buy a phone subsidized through another carrier. The only differences are that T-Mobile now shows it while other carriers still hide it, and once you pay it off, it comes off your bill on T-Mobile. With other carriers, you continue to pay for it even after your contract ends. However T-Mobile + Nexus 4 straight from Google play is a tough combo to beat. :)

There is one restriction with T-Mobile's truly unlimited, no throttling plan. Tethering isn't included.
Click to expand...

Actually, tethering is included, it is just limited to 500 MB/month (at least on the no-contract post-paid plans). I believe you can pay to increase the limit on hot spot/tethering.
 
jhawkkw said:
You already do that when you buy a phone subsidized through another carrier. The only differences are that T-Mobile now shows it while other carriers still hide it, and once you pay it off, it comes off your bill on T-Mobile. With other carriers, you continue to pay for it even after your contract ends. However T-Mobile + Nexus 4 straight from Google play is a tough combo to beat. :)
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly.
 
Orion said:
My thoughts exactly.
Click to expand...
I can't believe I didn't sign up with the 30 dollar plan earlier. Having it makes every other carrier/plan seem like a rip-off for my usage. Barely and minutes, lots of texting, and a moderate amount of data (2-4GB).
 
jhawkkw said:
I can't believe I didn't sign up with the 30 dollar plan earlier. Having it makes every other carrier/plan seem like a rip-off for my usage. Barely and minutes, lots of texting, and a moderate amount of data (2-4GB).
Click to expand...
Well I need more because I'm a heavy user lol. But that plan is pretty good.
 
Thank you all for the replies in plans, phones, and other info! Giving me a lot to think about! I'm headed to the store tomorrow night to see what deals are available! I'll let you know what I decide! Thanks again! :)
 
mogelijk said:
Actually, tethering is included, it is just limited to 500 MB/month (at least on the no-contract post-paid plans). I believe you can pay to increase the limit on hot spot/tethering.
Click to expand...

I do not see the option to pay extra for hot spot/tethering on the $70 unlimited prepaid plan.
 
chong67 said:
I do not see the option to pay extra for hot spot/tethering on the $70 unlimited prepaid plan.
Click to expand...
Tethering is not allowed on the prepaid plan.
Change to post paid for tethering.

On a related note: I use WAY more than 500MB of tethering, Yet to see my tethering get throttled/disabled.

EDIT: I called T-Mobile today for unrealted billing issues, I asked them about tethering.
They said "If your pass the 500 MB the tethering will just be cut off"
Or something similar.
This tells me the methods of tethering that I use are not being detected by T-Mobile networks as tethering.
 
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