T-Mobile in the USA has announced it has eliminated wireless data roaming charges for its customers–worldwide. That means those who sign up for an international data plan can roam worldwide and get unlimited 2G data and texting without fear of “bill shock”.
John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile US, Inc. had this to say:
“The cost of staying connected across borders is completely crazy,”
“Today’s phones are designed to work around the world, but we’re forced to pay insanely inflated international connectivity fees to actually use them. You can’t leave the country without coming home to bill shock. So we’re making the world your network – at no extra cost.”
This means Simple Choice customers will get unlimited global data at no extra charge or roaming fees in 100 countries worldwide, which includes Canada. Calls will be billed at a flat rate of $0.20/minute:
Starting Oct. 31, these Simple Choice individual and business customers automatically get unlimited data and texting in more than 100 Simple Global countries worldwide, and they will only pay a global flat rate of 20 cents per minute for voice calls when roaming in the same countries. Eligible customers on T-Mobile’s popular Simple Choice plan won’t have to activate anything or pay an extra monthly fee.
The announcement was made tonight at New York’s Bryant Park, where international superstar and new T-Mobile collaborator Shakira held a concert event for customers. This is definitely a game changing announcement considering international data roaming has been a profitable source for wireless carriers around the globe, even if the data is on EDGE.
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wow
Note that it says 2G…in other words data at the speed of molasses.
same speed many tmobile users had with iphones that were faster than 3G in manhattan
wow the sense of entitlement over something that didnt exist in the slightest 24 hours ago is astounding
You can buy data packs to increase the speed to 3G/4G. Most expensive is $50 for 2 weeks and includes 500MB I believe.
Update: If you’re phone is capable of connecting at UMTS levels it will. The data will just be throttled. They throttle the data to decrease costs to 128Kbps (FREE). (unless you buy the full speed packs) and voice is only 0.20/minute. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIt3RLjDquY
Would be nice if Canadian carriers offered half a GB at home as a minimum and the same in the US as an add-on. Stop being scrooges Bell, Telus and Rogers. Give us a break.
Why couldn’t they have offered the 6GB plan at 30 bucks like in previous years?
Previous 3yrs terms gave you $40 for the plan (most likely 200 mins 10 favs sms voice mail caller ID) + $30 6gb =2520. Now it’s 2yrs at $105 (unlimited can, sms voice mail and caller ID 6gb) = 2520 it’s the same thing. This is the same across all forms of financing globally. You’ll always pay more for a shorter contract, it’s called economy. Btw before you comment, yes you can still get that price even though they expired the bonus add ons just call them.
^by your logic every year added should save me 33%*….??!! Fido at one point was stacking contracts with no extra savings!!
It’s not the same, prices don’t go up by 33% just because the contract is shortened by a year. When you stretch the time frame out to 3 years, for example a unlocked phone user now has to pay 33% higher prices but he had no contract to begin with. Economics doesn’t work this way
2G… Why does everything suck… This is why aliens won’t talk to us…
I wish other mobile carrier will do the same at least, I can at least text or check email for no extra charge overseas? Sign me up!