What T-Mobile's shake-up means for prepaid smartphone service

[bob60626]

Visual voicemail works just fine for me.
I would like a stated 500mb tethering allowance on the $30 plan. I don't need to tether much and I don't need data on my 4g tablet often; this would be the perfect compromise.

 

[kwalla]

You misunderstood. GV voicemail *is* available for Unplans. Simply put, it's like this:

Postpaid plans *do* include call forwarding.
Prepaid plans *do not* include call forwarding.
...

Thank you for clarifying. I did understand correctly, but expressed myself poorly. I am looking at the Unplans (prepaid) and currently use Google Voice for ONLY v-mail. I use my VW number for everything else. My current situation would need to change and I'd go with, I think, TMobile's visual voicemail solution.

 

[MacFett]

You can get 20% discount from ebay. You can even more if you dare to do risky free style.

Only ones I have seen on eBay with that much discount are from scams or stolen credit cards.

 

[SuperAfnan]

Only ones I have seen on eBay with that much discount are from scams or stolen credit cards.

Or shady Asian sellers. (my race amazes me).

 

[mikehorrocks]

Only ones I have seen on eBay with that much discount are from scams or stolen credit cards.

Just purchased $50 T Mobile refill on eBay for $35.99, or 28% discount. Worked fine, no problems.

 

[epp]

Does someone have the direct link to the prepaid plans? I still can't find the "link labeled "Pay in Advance" at the very bottom-right of the home page."

The link was part of that small magenta ribbon that is situated over the Activate a T-Mobile Phone and Refill Your Mobile Account links. It hasn't worked for a week.

Makes one wonder...

 

[new optimus]

Or shady Asian sellers. (my race amazes me).

Did you sell a t mobile galaxy s2 end of jan-first of feb?

 

[kingdeeray]

I understand the 5gb cap for the 30$ prepaid plan is not supported but I have a question for anyone currently in that tier of the plans. Does their mobile hotspot function actual operate effectively or no?

 

[SuperAfnan]

Did you sell a t mobile galaxy s2 end of jan-first of feb?

No.

 

[new optimus]

I understand the 5gb cap for the 30$ prepaid plan is not supported but I have a question for anyone currently in that tier of the plans. Does their mobile hotspot function actual operate effectively or no?

Dont use tethering often, but in feb I tethered at least 2.5gbs of data, in march I used tethering twice probably only a few mbs worth.
But since the plan change I have not tried it.
my phone has custom rom, cm10.1 and its built in wifi hotspot has worked flawlessly.

 

[epp]

I understand the 5gb cap for the 30$ prepaid plan is not supported but I have a question for anyone currently in that tier of the plans. Does their mobile hotspot function actual operate effectively or no?

There is no 'cap' on the $30/month prepaid plan.

This plan (available only online the T-Mobile web site, or at Walmart) provides high speed data up to 5Gb. If this threshold is reached during the month, the speed drops to what you would see on the EDGE (2G) network. 200Kb would be at the high end of EDGE speeds.

I actually exceeded 200Kb recently, on the EDGE network using the Speedtest.net Android app, to T-Mobile's Speedtest server in NYC (Manhattan), from a location in southeastern Connecticut.

 

[psychoace]

Look like T-Mobile's Pre-Paid plan has lost one of its biggest incentives. The prices have now sky rocketed for phones. Every phone listed on postpaid is cheaper then if you bought it prepaid by a pretty large margin. Look at the L9, Note II or the Nexus 4. All are $50 more on prepaid then if you bought it post paid. It really seems like they want to get rid of its prepaid service.
Prepaid Phones | Pay as You Go Prepaid Cell Phones | T-Mobile

 

[new optimus]

Look like T-Mobile's Pre-Paid plan has lost one of its biggest incentives. The prices have now sky rocketed for phones. Every phone listed on postpaid is cheaper then if you bought it prepaid by a pretty large margin. Look at the L9, Note II or the Nexus 4. All are $50 more on prepaid then if you bought it post paid. It really seems like they want to get rid of its prepaid service.
Prepaid Phones | Pay as You Go Prepaid Cell Phones | T-Mobile

I think they just want to try to generate some income from there lower tiered monthly plans, also they want an incentive for people to continue on post paid. They give you cheaper phones and a no interest loan they may keep people on rather then losing them to prepaid.

Oh and really what incentive does anyone on prepay have to buy phone such as the nexus 4 from t mobile when they can get it from google much cheaper.
I already listed many reasons a person would do this but for the prepay crowd who are mostly about saving money buying from t mobile would not happen as much.

 

[MacFett]

If they had a $40 post paid plan I'd make the change from prepaid. But not for $50.

 

[new optimus]

If they had a $40 post paid plan I'd make the change from prepaid. But not for $50.

I would like to see a $40 plan that was either 500 mins 1.5-2gbs of data full speed throttled after that, or bit more mins and possibly a bit less gbs, but the lowest I would want is 1gb I could probably keep at or under that most months.

 

[bob60626]

The GSM Nation plan sounds interesting, but it seems it won't happen.