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Tag: T-Mobile

  • AT&T CEO Slaps Down 5G Criticism by Verizon and T-Mobile

    AT&T CEO Slaps Down 5G Criticism by Verizon and T-Mobile

    AT&T CEO John Donovan slapped down recent 5G criticism by Verizon and T-Mobile at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Those companies and some others have criticized them saying AT&T is “slapping 5G stickers” on upgraded 4G phones. They say it is misleading and confusing to consumers and is damaging to 5G in the long run. Donovan says that is really just not the case.

    John Donovan, CEO of AT&T Communications, discussed criticisms related to 5G marketing and how 5G is going to radically reshape technology in the future in an interview by CNBC at CES in Las Vegas:

    They Are a Little Wounded by Our Success Last Month

    The fact that we have beachfront property inside their heads makes me smile. But that’s really just not the case. If you think about the history of our industry, the top part of that phone has always given an indication of the network information. In the early days, the number of bars told you where you were coverage wise.

    Then when you were paying per megabyte you’d look to see where to get a Wi-Fi network. That’s always been the information that was available to customers about what’s going to be available and what can they do.

    For us, it was a natural evolution. We announced two years ago at this show, actually in 2017, that we were going to do this. The fact that we did it and then all of a sudden our competitors have decided that they’re upset by it, I think that they’re wounded a little by our success last month.

    AT&T Bringing 5G to Dallas Cowboys AT&T Stadium

    In December, just last month, we launched the first 5G mobile version that’s standards-based, you can buy a device and you can get on the network for 12 cities. The first part of this year we’re going to roll out in another seven cities. So we’re well down the path. We’ve been announcing some of these use cases that we’re doing with businesses.

    Just this morning we announced we’re going to work with the Dallas Cowboys to get 5G into AT&T Stadium and Rush Hospital in Chicago, where we’re going to try to transform healthcare inside the provider hospitals. and so we’re really excited about the opportunity to continue marching down this path.

    5G is Going to Radically Reshape Technology

    The 4G network itself was really the epicenter of the 4G revolution which was the device itself. As you think about how it comes together though, each of these generations, the network, the device, and then the applications, have to come together. Sometimes you get those things timed perfectly. Sometimes one is ahead of another. At the end of the day, the consumer benefits are going to arrive when all three of them come together at the same time.

    What’s different about 5G is not just that the network is more powerful. We always think of it as a real-time network. It’s also that we’ve been getting calls from customers in advance that say I’m going to do a new architecture or a new design on something that you’re going to see on the CES floor.

    It’s going to radically reshape the size of goggles, for instance, for virtual reality. It’s going to change how you would architect an autonomous car. So this is different because these things are going to happen and come together much more quickly than they did during the early days of the iPhone and the evolution of the 3G and the 4G network.

    Asked about subsidizing phones again or subsidizing something else to help aid the 5G rollout:

    Possibility of Bringing Back Phone Subsidies

    That’s a TBD. I do think that when you build a long term relationship with a customer and that relationship is expanding it does give you some degrees of freedom to say we’re going to help you with the economics of this or help with the economics of that. It’s a TBD.

    I’m not trying to shy away from the question. I think that there’s a possibility that you could get back into subsidies of some sort. Today, what customers appreciate with us is they have the ability to get HBO or music so that they get some added benefit with their traditional network.


  • Sprint, T-Mobile Hit a Stone Wall in Merger Plans

    Sprint, T-Mobile Hit a Stone Wall in Merger Plans

    Merger negotiations between Sprint and T-Mobile have hit a stone wall again, with the former’s parent company, Softbank, apparently ready to walk away from the table. The news came as a surprise as the merger was expected to be formally announced at the end of October or early November.

    It has been reported that Sprint and T-Mobile are once more at loggerheads over the merger. The problem reportedly boils down to whether Softbank or Deutsche Telekom, T-Mobile’s parent company, that would end up having a bigger share in the deal.

    It has been widely believed that Deutsche Telekom would have a controlling share of the merged companies since T-Mobile has 10 million more subscribers than Sprint. Conventional business practice dictates that in a merger, the larger company would be assuming control.

    Softbank initially appeared to be amenable with the situation. However, Japan’s financial newspaper, Nikkei, reported that it’s not.

    According to reports, Softbank is determined to have the controlling share. The company’s board has allegedly voted last Friday to retain control of the combined companies and is apparently willing to end negotiations if it doesn’t get it.

    The disagreement between the two companies is just par for the course. In 2014, both Deutsche Telekom and Softbank ended negotiations when it appeared that the deal would be blocked by regulators. Talks were resumed after Donald Trump was elected president.

    It’s highly unlikely that the merger talks between the two companies would end that easily, as both Softbank and Deutsche Telekom have a heavy interest in the deal. In any case, they do have other options open to them, including new partners.

    There’s a possibility that Softbank is hoping the news that they will “propose ending the negotiations” will get T-Mobile’s parent company to reconsider some of their terms. Some industry insiders believe the move is a bluff by Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son to get a better deal from T-Mobile. The CEO has billed himself as an accomplished deal-maker, and some say Son would consider losing control of the combined corporation as a personal failure.

    If Sprint and T-Mobile do come to an agreement and merge, their combined assets will put them on the same footing as AT&T and Verizon. Instead of being a close third and fourth place in the market, the merged companies would be squarely in the third spot.

    The merger would also lead to a major change in America’s wireless sector, as the two medium-sized companies will be transformed into one of the industry’s major players.  

    [Featured image via T-Mobile/Sprint]

  • Sprint, T-Mobile Merger Could Happen in October

    Sprint, T-Mobile Merger Could Happen in October

    The U.S. telecommunications landscape is about to drastically change once more. If rumors are correct, Sprint and T-Mobile, two of the country’s largest telecommunications players could merge by October this year.

    Of course, talks of T-Mobile merging with Sprint have been around for years. This time, however, it looks like there’s more meat to it than mere idle speculation. According to Reuters, T-Mobile, the U.S.’ third largest carrier, is on the brink of agreeing to a merger with the country’s fourth-largest carrier, Sprint, citing unnamed sources familiar with the deal.

    Timing is important in mega-merger deals. Previously, plans of a merger between the two telecom giants fell through when it became apparent that the Obama administration’s anti-trust stance would object to the deal. With the Trump administration, however, a T-Mobile-Sprint merger could push through and deal makers are not likely to let this window of opportunity pass by, according to Engadget.

    At the moment, neither Sprint nor T-Mobile has officially commented on the leaked merger plans. However, company officials from both camps have already given previous hints of such agreement.

    For instance, T-Mobile CEO John Legere gave indications last January that the company is open to a possible merger in the near future saying, “It may make sense from a scale standpoint.” On the other hand, Sprint CEO and President Marcelo Claure hinted that it would make announcements about merger discussions in the near future.

    Should the transaction push through, Japan’s SoftBank Group will end up controlling between 40 to 50 percent of the merged entity while German firm Deutsche Telekom and the rest of T-Mobile shareholder will own the majority of shares. SoftBank controls Sprint while Deutsche Telekom owns a majority of T-Mobile.

    The combined entity will likewise become the second biggest telecom player on the block. Combining T-Mobile’s 69.6 million subscribers with Sprint’s 53.7 million will create a telecom titan with 123.3 million subscribers, enough to overshadow Verizon’s 114.5 million (the current number 2) and placing it firmly behind AT&T’s 135.7 million.

    Aside from the advantage of scale, a merger between T-Mobile and Sprint could also improve the combined entity’s bottom line. According to research firm MoffetNathanson partner and senior analyst Craig Moffett, a merger could mean as much as $4 billion in savings due to cost-cutting opportunities. The combined entity could then invest those savings in areas like 5G which is critical if it wants to maintain an edge over rivals in technology.

    [Featured Image via Youtube]

  • T-Mobile Is Now the Third-Largest Carrier in the US

    T-Mobile Is Now the Third-Largest Carrier in the US

    We have a new ranking of the “big four” wireless carriers.

    T-Mobile has officially passed Sprint and is now the third biggest carrier in the US, according to subscriber count.

    T-Mobile reported 58.9 million customers last month when it dropped its latest earnings – a gain of about two million.

    Sprint just reported its latest earnings, and gains of 675,000 customers puts its total count at 57.7 million.

    “I am proud of the team for successfully executing the first phase of our strategy to stop the decline in customers. We are now one quarter into the second phase, focusing on attracting more quality customers, retaining our customers through a better customer experience and continuously improving the network,” said Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure. “As a result, Sprint platform net additions were the highest in nearly three years, postpaid churn dropped by 46 basis points sequentially, and the network received more awards in major markets, all of which will position the company for profitable growth.”

    But stopping the decline wasn’t enough to keep it from falling to last place.

    Earlier this year, T-Mobile CEO John Legere declared that his company had already surpassed Sprint – but this makes it official.

    “Going into 2013, Sprint had 55 million customers. Going into ’14, they had 55 million customers. Going into this year, they have 55 million customers. In that period, they lost 3.3 million postpaid customers as well,” said Legere at the time. “T-Mobile had 33 million customers. We merged with MetroPCS and went to 42 million customers, and we’ve since added 13 million customers to get up to, guess what, 55 million customers.”

    Now, according to official filings, the two are tied no more.

    Image via T-Mobile, Facebook

  • Verizon Wins in ‘Fastest Mobile Networks’ Study

    Verizon Wins in ‘Fastest Mobile Networks’ Study

    What’s the fastest wireless network in America?

    For the second year in a row, the crown goes to Verizon – at least according to a large study from PCMag.

    The publication, which claims to have “ran more test cycles than ever before: 131,000 cycles over 30 cities and thousands of miles of driving,” says that Verizon delivered the fastest speeds and overall best coverage. Out of the 30 major cities tested, Verizon won 16 of them. Verizon also won all the rural/suburban areas.

    Verizon scored an 89/100 on the speed index, offering an average LTE download speed of 19.1 Mbps. T-Mobile placed second with an 84/100. AT&T came in third with an 80/100.

    And Sprint brought up the real with a 69/100 score and a 12.7 Mbps average LTE download speed. Check out PCMag’s chart:

    Screen Shot 2015-06-24 at 11.50.49 AM

    When it came to 3G speeds, T-Mobile won.

    But according to the study, all of the major four networks stepped up their game. From PCMag:

    To some extent, everyone’s a winner, because heightened competition is the big story of our sixth annual Fastest Mobile Networks testing. For the past six years, Verizon and AT&T have traded off winning the national title, largely because of far superior high-speed coverage when compared with Sprint and T-Mobile. But T-Mobile emerged as a force to be reckoned with last year, and now, for the first time, Sprint is competitive. The results show that the big four carriers didn’t need to merge to succeed. They’re doing just fine.

    In the six years they’ve been doing this, 2015 provided the “most competitive wireless landscape” ever, they said.

    Image via Verizon News, Twitter

  • Project Fi: What to Know About Google’s Move into Wireless

    Project Fi: What to Know About Google’s Move into Wireless

    As you may have heard, Google’s a wireless provider now.

    The company unveiled Project Fi on Wednesday – a move that had been hinted at for months. Fi piggybacks on Sprint and T-Mobile’s networks to provide $20 per month unlimited talk and text, with $10 per GB data. Here’s what you need to know about Google’s offering.

    What is Project Fi?

    Google has entered the wireless game, but on a limited scale. Even Google acknowledges that Project Fi is, at the very least, an experiment. As Google says, Project Fi is “a program to explore this opportunity by introducing new ideas through a fast and easy wireless experience.” It’s only available on the Nexus 6.

    Project Fi offers unlimited talk and text for $20 per month, an a pay-as-you-go data plan that costs $10 per GB. That means the cheapest Fi plan starts at $30.

    Google’s Project Fi will run on Sprint and T-Mobile, and customers will have access to both networks – as well as Wi-Fi calling. What you use to make your calls depends on which method is better for your current location. Project Fi connects you to free, open Wi-Fi networks (read: no password). Google will only allow users to connect to Wi-Fi networks that are part of its network quality database, for quality assurance purposes.

    Fi customers will also have access to no-roaming data when traveling in 120+ countries. International calls adhere to these rates.

    How does Project Fi’s coverage area stack up?

    Here’s a look at Project Fi’s coverage map. You can interact with it here.

    Here’s a quick look at Verizon’s coverage map. You can explore it in detail here.

    And here’s AT&T’s. Take a closer look here.

    What’s attractive/unattractive about Project Fi?

    + Project Fi is a no contract, no obligation wireless service. Of course, that’s not revolutionary but it’s important. Google’s not going to break new ground by making people sign a contract.

    + The way Google handles data use is probably the most appealing thing about Project Fi. Google will not charge you for unused data – it’ll give the cost back to you. The way it does this is to apply it to your next bill.

    So let’s say you buy 1 GB of data for the month (at $10), and only use 700 MB. That means $3 will be applied to your next bill. And if you go over your allotted data reserves, Google will just add the difference to your next bill.

    “Project Fi will first alert you if you’re getting close to your data budget. If you go over, you’ll still get full-speed data and data is charged at the same $10 per GB rate. For example, if you go over your data budget by 350MB, $3.50 will be added to your next bill.”

    + Speaking of data, Google Fi’s no-roaming international service is a big plus. Here’s how texting/calling works abroad:

    If you’re traveling to one of the 120+ countries where we have coverage you can call and text to anywhere in the world. Unlimited international texts are included in your plan. If you’re using cell coverage, calls cost 20¢ per minute. If you’re calling over Wi-Fi, per-minute costs vary based on which country you’re calling and you’re charged only for outbound calls.

    + Project Fi frees up your phone number to work across all your devices. All you have to do is connect any device that supports Google hangouts to you number. With Project Fi, your phone number has been sent to the cloud.

    – Project Fi is only supported on the Nexus 6. There is a special Project Fi SIM card – and that’s the only device that has it. Unfortunately, it’s the only device that’s going to have it for quite some time – at least until the end of the “early access program”.

    – Battery drain? Google says its software has been designed to not “put any extra strain on your battery by only moving you between networks when absolutely necessary.” But it’s yet to be seen how all that jumping around between Wi-Fi and cellular will affect things on the Nexus 6.

    – There are no family plans. At least for now, Project Fi seems designed for lone wolves.

    – There are no contracts, meaning you’ll have to shell out for your Nexus 6 ($649-$699).

    How does it stack up, price-wise?

    Engadget has a good breakdown on whether or not it’s a good deal to switch to Fi. Remember, Fi costs $30 per month for unlimited talk and text and 1 GB of data. Each addition GB or data is another $10.

    T-Mobile’s most basic plan with unlimited talk and text plus 1GB of high-speed data will run you $50 a month, while the same amount nets you 3GB of data across Sprint and T-Mobile’s networks on Fi. If you’re on a cushy, older T-Mobile plan though, you might be better staying put. CEO John Legere announced earlier this month that all of those juicy promo plans aren’t going anywhere (unless you’re still clinging to one with unlimited data).

    Meanwhile, Sprint offers a flat $60 rate that promises unlimited talk, texting and data access each month, along with even slower international roaming in a handful of countries. It’s important to note that some of Project Fi’s broad strokes aren’t exactly new — we’ve seen upstarts like Republic Wireless and FreedomPop push the vision of a WiFi-centric mobile service for years now, so you could get a kinda-sorta similar experience for quite a bit less. Republic, for example, offers unlimited talk, text and 4G data for $40, though you’ll lose out on Fi’s network span and international chops.

    Basically, you’re going to the get more data for the price with Fi – at least that’s true for new customers.

    But if you’re thinking about making the switch from a contractual service agreement, do know that Google will not pay your cancellation fees.

    Can you get it, like, now?

    Not exactly. Google is allowing people to sign up for an invite, however. In order to do so, you must check to see if where you live falls into Fi’s coverage area. And you’ll also have to have a Gmail account.

    “If you requested an invite, you’ll hear from us in 30 days or less. Check your inbox for your invitation! Since we have a limited number of invites during the Early Access Program, we’ll use a few things to help us prioritize: network access in your zip code, whether Project Fi is ready for service in your area, and when your invitation request was submitted,” says Google.

    In conclusion…

    To call Google’s Project Fi a new entry into the wireless carrier field is both true and a bit misleading. Google is promising to deliver unlimited talk and text, as well as competitive date rates. Google Fi will be able to give you what you get from your current plan with AT&T or Verizon. In other words, Google Fi could replace your current cell plan and would need no augmentation.

    But this is all in on the Nexus, and it’s still in its nascent stages. “Similar to our Nexus hardware program, Project Fi enables us to work in close partnership with leading carriers, hardware makers, and all of you to push the boundaries of what’s possible. By designing across hardware, software and connectivity, we can more fully explore new ways for people to connect and communicate,” says Google.

    There sure is a lot of talk about “exploring” and “experimenting”. At this point, Google Fi isn’t a real competitor to your major telecoms. But that doesn’t mean it can’t have an impact.

    You’ve seen what the mere presence of Google Fiber can do in a city.

  • Google Enters the Wireless Game, Launches Project Fi

    Google Enters the Wireless Game, Launches Project Fi

    Google has officially thrown its hat in the ring, and wants to be your wireless provider.

    As previously reported, Google has unveiled a new wireless service called Project Fi, “a program to explore this opportunity by introducing new ideas through a fast and easy wireless experience,” says the company.

    “Similar to our Nexus hardware program, Project Fi enables us to work in close partnership with leading carriers, hardware makers, and all of you to push the boundaries of what’s possible. By designing across hardware, software and connectivity, we can more fully explore new ways for people to connect and communicate.”

    Google’s Project Fi will run on Sprint and T-Mobile, and customers will have access to both networks – as well as Wi-Fi calling. What you use to make your calls depends on which method is better for your current location.

    “Project Fi aims to put you on the best network wherever you go. As you move around, the best network for you might be a Wi-Fi hotspot or a specific 4G LTE network. We developed new technology that gives you better coverage by intelligently connecting you to the fastest available network at your location whether it’s Wi-Fi or one of our two partner LTE networks,” says Google.

    Phone numbers live on the cloud with Project Fi, “so you can talk and text with your number on just about any phone, tablet or laptop.”

    Here’s what Google has to say about pricing:

    Project Fi takes a fresh approach to how you pay for wireless, manage your service, and get in touch when you need help. We offer one simple plan at one price with 24/7 support. Here’s how it works: for $20 a month you get all the basics (talk, text, Wi-Fi tethering, and international coverage in 120+ countries), and then it’s a flat $10 per GB for cellular data while in the U.S. and abroad.

    With Project Fi, you’ll only pay for the data you use. If you fail to use what you paid for, Google will give you a refund for the unused portion.

    Now, before you get too excited about ditching AT&T for Google Fi, you should know that this is not a wide scale rollout. Project Fi will only work on the Nexus 6 for now, and you should probably check the coverage map before jumping ship.

    Google is taking requests for invites here.

  • Google Wireless Launch Imminent, with Pay-as-you-go Data: Report

    Google Wireless Launch Imminent, with Pay-as-you-go Data: Report

    Google is about to enter the world of wireless.

    The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Google is set to launch its new mobile network as early as Wednesday. The new service, which was confirmed at Mobile World Congress in March, will see a limited rollout.

    Google’s new wireless service will run on Sprint and T-Mobile’s networks, and will only work on the Nexus 6, according to the report. It’s said that the phone will be able to switch between the two networks, depending on which is providing the better signal at the time.

    The most interesting thing about the new service is that it’s reportedly sticking to a pay-as-you-go data structure, where users will only have to shell out for the data they used during the month – a much more desired structure than the set data plans that leave some customers with wasted data (though some carriers have begun to allow rollover data).

    Apparently, Google’s offering will also allow for Wi-Fi calling.

    Like Google Fiber, Google’s Wireless service won’t see a large scale release – the aforementioned hardware limitations prove that. But like Google Fiber, Google Wireless could affect change in the wireless market – simply by existing. The WSJ had no details on pricing.

    We’ll follow up if/when Google makes an official announcement.

  • Best Data Plans Challenged by New Sprint Offering

    Best Data Plans Challenged by New Sprint Offering

    AT&T and Verizon are sitting content at the top of the U.S. mobile industry, but other carriers are continuing to bring competitive prices and services to the sector. The new moves are an attempt by both Sprint and T-Mobile to pilfer customers from other carriers now that there are few potential first-time mobile customers left in the U.S.

    Sprint recently announced a new “Unlimited Plan” that costs only $60 per month. The plan offers customers unlimited voice, texting, and data on Sprint’s LTE network. This is in keeping with the “unlimited” marketing message that Sprint has held to for more than one year now.

    The new deal is aimed directly at competing with T-Mobile, Sprint’s closest competitor in the mobile arena. In its announcement, Sprint pointed out that the new Unlimited Plan is $20 less expensive than T-Mobile’s lowest-priced plan with unlimited data. Sprint also emphasized that neither Verizon nor AT&T offer plans with unlimited data.

    “People know Sprint for Unlimited,” said Marcelo Claure, Sprint CEO. “We have long been the leader in offering customers unlimited data and that leadership continues today with our new $60 unlimited plan. Unlimited talk, text, and data for $60 is the best unlimited postpaid plan available. And, we’ve listened to our loyal customers; we’re making the Sprint $60 Unlimited Plan available to both new and existing customers.”

    Sprint’s focus on competing with T-Mobile might seem odd, since rumors are still swirling that a merger between Sprint and T-Mobile could come sometime this year. However, T-Mobile is trying just as hard to claw its way out of fourth place in the U.S. mobile market, potentially increasing its value for those acquisition talks. T-Mobile has been rolling out its LTE network throughout the U.S. over the past year and can now offer LTE data to over 230 million Americans.

    T-Mobile today announced that it is lowering its price for extra data on its “Simple Starter” plans. Customers who currently get 500MB of data along with unlimited voice and texting for $40 will be able to raise their data cap to 2GB for $5 more per month starting on September 3.

  • No-Contract Phones Are Found To Be More Expensive Than Subsidized Devices

    No-Contract Phones Are Found To Be More Expensive Than Subsidized Devices

    No-contract phones are all the rage these days thanks to T-Mobile. The wireless carrier ditched contracts last year and instead adopted a business model that allows consumers to pay off their new phone in small monthly payments. Other carriers have adopted this new model alongside other pre-paid plans that require consumers to pay for the entire device up front. The thinking goes that consumers will save more money in the long run if they go with a no-contract plan, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.

    The Wall Street Journal recently took a look at the price of a contract plan versus a no-contract plan and found some interesting results. For instance, a consumer looking to buy an iPhone at Verizon will find that the contract plan will actually save them $175 over two years.

    Wait, how does that work? The math shows that an iPhone costs $200 at the time of purchase plus a $35 activation fee when a consumer goes with a subsidized plan under contract. After that, the consumer will pay $75 a month for two years. Under its no-contract plan, Verizon customers don’t pay an activation fee and the monthly cost goes down to $65 a month. That sounds awesome until consumers realize they have to pay an extra $27 a month over the next two years to pay off the phone. At the end of the day, the contract plan costs $2,035 over the course of two years while the no-contract plan costs $2,210.

    AT&T and T-Mobile have similar costs for consumers that choose to go for a no-contract plan. While they may not be saving money, they are securing peace of mind as the absence of a contract allows them to switch carriers at any time without any penalties. The only “penalty” would be that they would have to pay off the remaining balance on the phone, but said phone is theirs to keep after it’s paid off. In other words, a consumer could pay off a phone on Verizon and take it to T-Mobile without any problems.

    So, what’s the benefit of going with a no-contract plan over a contract beyond peace of mind? According to Verizon, the true benefit comes when a person wants to add more data or devices. Due to monthly fees being lower on no-contract plans, those looking to add more devices do stand to save a bit more money in the long run. It’s nothing major, but it’s something to look at when looking to switch carriers and/or plans.

    Still having trouble deciding whether to go no-contract or contact with your next device? As it turns out, plenty of YouTube personalities have struggled with same choice and have shared their thoughts. There might be some advice below that applies to your specific situation:

    If you need any more convincing to go the no-contract route, T-Mobile says you’ll be as free as Tim Tebow:

    Wait, is that a good thing?

    Image via T-Mobile

  • Mobile Data Plans: Data Makes Up 98 Percent Of Mobile Network Traffic

    Mobile Data Plans: Data Makes Up 98 Percent Of Mobile Network Traffic

    Mobile data plans are expensive. There doesn’t seem to be any good reason for the high prices or data caps either. The mobile carriers get away with it by saying its a scarce commodity, and that narrative can continue thanks to a new study out this week.

    Amdocs released its Annual State of the Radio Access Network Survey this week. The survey looked at 100,000 mobile devices across the busiest networks around the world. The big finding from the survey is that 98 percent of mobile network traffic is now being used to share and consume data. That’s up from 90 percent during the last 12 month period.

    Another interesting finding is that all this data consumption is leading to an increase in dropped calls. The survey found that dropped data and voice calls increased by 121 percent from the previous year with the most stressed locations having a 17 percent dropped call rate.

    Despite all this talk of mobile devices consuming more data, they aren’t consuming that much more high bandwidth data, like video. This particular fact is a little odd as 4G LTE gives users an experience similar to home broadband and it’s certainly capable of streaming video. Of course, it would seem that mobile device owners are aware of data caps and restrict themselves to avoid overages. Speaking of which, the survey also found that 30 percent of customers are frustrated with said data caps.

    With all this in mind, consumers are on the prowl for a data plan that gives them plenty of data while not breaking the bank. T-Mobile is arguably the king in this regard as the mobile carrier has been on a crusade to kill all the things consumers hate about mobile carriers. In 2013, it introduced unlimited 4G data plans. It went even further earlier this week by eliminating overage fees for those not on the carrier’s unlimited data plan.

    Sprint also offers unlimited data, but its plans are a little weirder thanks to its “Framily” plan. The plan allows friends and family members to all jump onto the same shared plan with each device getting 1GB of data per month. For those who want unlimited data, they’ll have to pay an extra $20 per device. It’s not the worst in the world, and the ability to add friends to your plan is a nice touch; but T-Mobile is definitely better when it comes to unlimited data.

    What about the other carriers then? AT&T and Verizon have conceded little ground in the wake of T-Mobile’s un-carrier approach, but the two largest mobile carriers in the country have changed their approach to mobile data just a bit nonetheless. AT&T slashed the price of its family, business and individual plans. While the 2GB data cap remains intact, consumers aren’t paying nearly as much as they once were.

    As for Verizon, the carrier introduced the “More Everything” plan earlier this week to help reduce consumers’ monthly bill. Unfortunately, it doesn’t make data cheaper, but it does reduce the monthly device cost by $10 to $30 per device per month.

    As mobile devices consume more data, consumers are going to be hunting for the best deal. T-Mobile certainly has the most to gain with its consumer friendly approach to data consumption, but AT&T and Verizon can still claim to have the faster networks. As long as that remains the case, the nation’s two largest carriers can continue enforcing data caps. Consumers can only hope that T-Mobile puts enough pressure on them that they drop caps sooner rather than later.

    Image via TMobile/YouTube

  • T-Mobile Eliminates Overage Fees

    T-Mobile Eliminates Overage Fees

    For over one year now T-Mobile has been shifting the mobile landscape in the U.S. The competition the company has brought with its “JUMP!” service plans, early termination fee pay-offs, and more has benefited mobile consumers at every major carrier.

    Today T-Mobile revealed the third of three planned “Uncarrier” announcements over the past week. The previous two announcements brought the mobile provider a new lowest-priced service plan and a new 4G tablet pricing initiative.

    With this latest announcement T-Mobile has officially eliminated all of its overage fees. Calling the practice of overage fees “one of the most reviled wireless industry practices,” T-Mobile now says that all customers on any of its plans can talk, text, and use data without fear of being charged extra.

    “Charging overage fees is a greedy, predatory practice that needs to go,” said John Legere, CEO of T-Mobile. “Starting in May for bills arriving in June – regardless of whether you’re on Simple Choice, Simple Starter, or an older plan, we’re abolishing overages for good. Period.”

    As has become customary for T-Mobile announcements, Legere used the occasion to lash out at the three other major U.S. mobile providers. In this case, Legere is challenging those providers to follow T-Mobile’s lead and eliminate their overage fees. Legere has even posted a petition to change.org calling on the carriers to do just that.

    “Today I’m laying down a challenge to AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint to join T-Mobile in ending these outrageous overage penalties for all consumers – because it’s the right thing to do,” said Legere. “Overage fees are flat out wrong. Agree with me? Join me in putting this challenge to all the major national carriers by signing my petition on Change.org. Right here. Take one minute to be a part of this consumer movement.”

    T-Mobile estimates that combined overage charges at Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint total $1 billion each year. The company also states that 20 million U.S. mobile subscribers with hit with these charges last year.

    Image via T-Mobile

  • T-Mobile Announces New 4G Tablet Deal

    T-Mobile Announces New 4G Tablet Deal

    Though 4G tablets have been heavily marketed over the past two years, the devices still make up a relatively small portion of the overall tablet market. This is largely due to U.S. wireless carriers, which charge consumers extra device and subscription fees for adding a tablet onto data plans they already pay for.

    Today T-Mobile announced new tablet policies geared toward getting more tablets onto its network.

    The new initiative, dubbed “Operation Tablet Freedom” will allow customers to purchase 4G-capable tablets at the price point of less-expensive Wi-Fi-only tablets. For example, T-Mobile will allow customers to pay a total of $499 for a 16GB iPad Air with 4G instead of the $630 the device would normally cost.

    Of course, this isn’t simply charity on T-Mobile’s part. Customers will have to sign up for a T-Mobile data plan to use the tablet on. Also, that plan will have to be at least the 1GB data tier that the company offers.

    In addition to the new 4G tablet prices, T-Mobile has also announced a $10 off deal for its data plans through the end of the year. Starting on April 12 existing and new customers that sign up for a new T-Mobile data plan will receive the discount until the end of 2014.

    “With this announcement, T-Mobile’s launching a full-on assault against the restrictions and pain points that keep tablet owners from experiencing life beyond the Wi-Fi zone,” said John Legere, CEO of T-Mobile. “The Un-carrier is all about solving pain points, and today we’re eliminating every reason to be stuck on an unconnected Wi-Fi-only tablet. There’s no longer any need to limit the use of your tablet because you’re intimidated by Big Blue, Bad Red, or Bumbling Yellow.”

    T-Mobile’s tablet announcement comes just one day after the company announced a new lowest-priced plan that comes with unlimited voice and text, but a hard 500MB data cap. The company will reveal a third initiative tomorrow that it says is part of its ongoing “uncarrier” initiative.

    Image via T-Mobile

  • T-Mobile Rolls Out Low-Priced “Simple Starter” Plan

    T-Mobile Rolls Out Low-Priced “Simple Starter” Plan

    For the past year now T-Mobile has been rolling out offers that have forced the U.S. wireless industry into competition. Starting with its “JUMP!” plans and more recently with its offer to pay subscribers’ early termination fees, T-Mobile has led larger carriers to offer lower prices and better terms.

    T-Mobile this week announced yet another initiative meant to aggressively compete with its larger rivals. The company will now offer a less expensive “Simple Starter” plan for new customers.

    The Simple Starter plan starts at $40 per month. For that price customers will get unlimited talk and text and 500GB of 4G LTE data access per month.

    This new plan comes just one month after T-Mobile announced that it was raising data caps for its Simple Choice plans. The lowest-priced Simple Choice plan is now $50 per month and offers 1GB of 4G LTE data.

    “Un-carrier is a movement, not a marketing strategy,” said John Legere, CEO of T-Mobile. “We are freeing consumers from the predatory practices of traditional U.S. wireless companies and that includes these plans that start with a low price and a low data limit, but then hit you with insane fees if you send one too many emails. It’s wrong! And I personally want to drive those ridiculous schemes out of this industry. We will continue to be relentless and bring this forced march of change to the market every day so consumers can be creative with and enjoy the true benefits of wireless. I know we have it right and when we all are done reporting results from the first quarter – I think you’ll share my conviction.”

    In addition to the Simple Starter plan’s lower price, T-Mobile is touting the plan’s lack of overage fees, which mirrors the policy of its other, more expensive, plans. However, with the Simple Starter plan there is a big difference in how data overages are handled.

    For T-Mobile’s Simple Choice plans, customers who reach their data cap are simply throttled down to the company’s very slow EDGE network. According to a BGR report T-Mobile’s new Simple Starter plan will cut customers off from T-Mobile’s data networks entirely once they reach their monthly allotment. Customers may purchase a one-day, 500MB chunk of data for $5 or a one-week, 1GB pass for $10. While this situation does mean the new Simple Starter plan does not offer truly unlimited data, it does still differentiate itself from other carriers by not automatically charging customers who reach their data caps.

  • Samsung Galaxy S5: T-Mobile Announces Pre-Orders For $0 Down

    Samsung Galaxy S5: T-Mobile Announces Pre-Orders For $0 Down

    The Samsung Galaxy S5 release date is fast approaching, but for now customers can pre-order.

    On Thursday, Mar. 20, T-Mobile issued a press release in regards to the pre-order status of the Galaxy S5.

    The wireless network operator announced that it would be taking pre-orders for the highly anticipated smartphone starting Monday, Mar. 24. But, that’s not all. Customers can even get the phone for $0 down!

    “T-Mobile will be the only place to pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S5 online and in-store for zero down (and 24 monthly payments) and with zero annual service contract, zero overages, zero hidden device costs, zero upgrade wait – and with the world as your network at zero extra cost,” the press release said.

    The announcement went on to explain the terms and conditions of the promotional discount. Payments for the phone would be made in increments over a 24-month period. However, there wasn’t detailed breakdown of the costs in the press release. So here it is: Customers will be charged $27.50 over the course of 24 months, which totals $660.00 per smartphone, reports Tech Media Network.

    John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile, also weighed in with his sentiments of the company’s advertisement for the Galaxy S5. “This thing is so hot we’ve already seen over a half a million pre-registrations for the Galaxy S5,” he said.

    “That’s a lot of very smart people grabbing this opportunity to pay nothing down, save more than a grand over the life of the other guys’ contracts, and have T-Mobile pay off every penny of their family’s early termination fees. It’s a brilliant move.”

    T-Mobile also stated that those who pre-order by March 31 will receive “a special, introductory price and be among the first to get the Galaxy S 5 without waiting in line when the device launches in T-Mobile stores on April 11th – guaranteed.”

    Image via Samsung Mobile, Facebook
    Image via Samsung Mobile, Facebook

  • 4G LTE: T-Mobile Quickly Upgrading Its Network

    4G LTE: T-Mobile Quickly Upgrading Its Network

    Just over one year ago T-Mobile was the fourth-largest mobile provider in the U.S., and for good reason. Instead of the 4G LTE networks that larger carriers were building out, T-Mobile had bet on the slower HSPA+ standard for its “4G” network. The company found itself with a comparatively slow high-speed network over a smaller area of the U.S. than its competitors.

    Now T-Mobile is still the fourth-largest mobile provider but is quickly becoming the largest competitive force in the U.S. mobile industry.

    T-Mobile recently announced that it will continue upgrading its 4G LTE network aggressively. The company has promised that through a new program to upgrade its EDGE data network to 4G LTE speeds. This means that customers currently stuck with the slow EDGE data connection should soon see their data speeds increase significantly.

    T-Mobile claims that 210 million people in the U.S. already have access to its 4G LTE network. However, most of those people are in larger markets, allowing Verizon and AT&T an advantage in the vast rural parts of the U.S. This new initiative could help T-Mobile better compete with these larger carriers throughout the country.

    “Right now, T-Mobile covers 96 percent of Americans, and over the past year, we’ve completely shattered records with the fastest 4G LTE deployment the U.S. wireless industry has ever seen.” said John Legere, CEO of T-Mobile. “Our competitors want you to believe our network doesn’t measure up. But that just isn’t true. And American consumers are going to see right through the spin and half-truths when given the facts.”

    By the end of 2014 T-Mobile is promising to have around 50% of the work done to upgrade its EDGE network. In addition, the initiative will also involve deploying 4G LTE via the 700 MHz A-Block spectrum that the company recently agreed to acquire from Verison for $2.3 billion.

    In addition to the upgrade, T-Mobile is now pushing back against what it claims are unfair advertisements by Verizon. The well-known ads feature maps showing the 4G LTE coverage of major U.S. mobile providers. As T-Mobile is still far behind in this respect, it is launching a new ad campaign to combat Verizon’s claims.

    Image via T-Mobile

  • T-Mobile Promises Fast 4G Expansion This Year

    T-Mobile Promises Fast 4G Expansion This Year

    T-Mobile has shifted the mobile landscape significantly in the past year, doing away with device subsidies and forcing a small price war among the largest mobile providers in the U.S. One area T-Mobile still struggles to compete in, however, is the overall quality of its network. Neither T-Mobile nor Sprint have the data coverage reach across rural America that AT&T and Verizon have bought over the past decade.

    To rectify this, T-Mobile is, of course, making big promises. The carrier today announced a new program to aggressively roll out 4G LTE data access to areas that currently only have access to its EDGE network. The company will also deploy 4G LTE over the 700 MHz A-Block spectrum that it purchased from Verizon early this year.

    T-Mobile expects around half of this major initiative to be complete by the end of 2014 and has predicted that the program will be “substantially complete” by mid-2015.

    “Through this major new network upgrade program, and other initiatives already underway, we’re driving hard toward our multi-billion dollar strategy to further improve what is already an amazing network experience for our customers,” said Neville Ray, CTO at T-Mobile. “Our 4G LTE is going to reach 230 million people across the U.S. by mid-year. By year’s end, we’re going to be delivering wicked-fast 4G LTE to more than 250 million people. That’s how the Un-carrier rolls out 4G LTE.

    In addition to the infrastructure upgrades, T-Mobile today also announced that it has “taken legal action” against Verizon, demanding that the company cease and desist its network coverage map ads. T-Mobile believes that the ads, which depict only 4G LTE networks, are unfair because the leave out T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network, which it also considers to be 4G.

    “Verizon’s ink blots massively understate our coverage and don’t begin to represent the actual customer experience on T-Mobile’s network,” said John Legere, CEO of T-Mobile. “So we’re setting the record straight – both by demanding an end to the misinformation, and by going straight to the people with the truth.”

    As it is unlikely Verizon will stop comparing its 4G LTE network with other carriers, T-Mobile has released a new ad touting T-Mobile’s total coverage (not just 4G):

  • T-Mobile Raises Data Caps For Simple Choice Plans

    T-Mobile Raises Data Caps For Simple Choice Plans

    For the past year T-Mobile has been putting pressure on its mobile competitors through low prices and a variety of innovative pricing schemes and service offerings. More recently the largest mobile carriers in the U.S. have begun to respond directly to this competition, with AT&T lowering prices for its family plans and Verizon raising its data caps a bit.

    Now it’s T-Mobile responding to market pressures, as the carrier has now announced its own data caps will soon rise. The company will be raising the 4G data available on its Simple Choice plans.

    The most basic Simple Choice plan currently offers unlimited text, talk, and 4G LTE data for $50 per month. The plan technically does provide unlimited mobile data the 4G data speeds are capped at 500MB. Customers can raise their data cap to 2.5GB for $10 more or pay $20 more for a 5GB cap. T-Mobile does not charge overage fees for reaching these limits and instead throttles data speeds significantly.

    Under the new plans, basic Simple Choice customers will have a data cap of of 1GB with the option to pay $10 extra per month for a 3GB data cap. The prices for these tiers will remain the same, as will the 5GB cap under the extra $20 option. The price has been raised, however, for T-Mobile’s “unlimited 4G LTE” offering which, for $30 a month now, will offer 5GB of data and the option to officially tether their device using T-Mobile’s software.

    “In the mobile age, wireless data caps and overage fees are just this side of extortion,” said John Legere, CEO of T-Mobile. “Take the basic plans from the Big Two with ridiculously low data limits that hit you with fat overages each month. It’s like getting your data from the neighborhood loan shark and paying 100 percent interest when the bill comes due. It’s the classic shakedown.”

    According to T-Mobile, the company’s subscribers are using 50% more 4G data than they were one year ago. Of course, one year ago was before T-Mobile began adding millions of customers each quarter.

  • T-Mobile Subscribers Continued to Rise During Q4

    T-Mobile Subscribers Continued to Rise During Q4

    T-Mobile this week revealed its fourth quarter and full-year 2013 financial results, highlighting huge subscriber gains and strong earnings for the smallest of the four major U.S. telecoms.

    The biggest news for T-Mobile investors would be the company’s net subscriber gains during the fourth quarter – 869,000. This number represents yet another quarterly increase in subscribers, up from the 648,000 net subscribers the company gained during the third quarter of 2013.

    Including prepaid , unbranded, and mobile broadband customers, T-Mobile’s total net customer base rose by a net 1.6 million during the fourth quarter. This adds to previous positive quarters and puts the company’s net 2013 customer gain at 4.4 million, making up for the 256,000 customers the company lost during its 2012 financial year.

    T-Mobile’s fourth quarter earnings did not follow the trajectory of it subscriber gains, with pre-tax earnings of $1.24 billion on revenues of $6.83 billion. This is down 7.8% from the $1.34 billion the company earned during the third quarter of 2013 and down 8.5% from the $1.35 billion earned during the fourth quarter of 2012. Company revenues continued their upward trend during the fourth quarter, rising 2.1% quarter-over-quarter to $6.83 billion.

    Despite the lower earnings, T-Mobile had other encouraging signals in its latest financials. During the fourth quarter the company posted a record (for T-Mobile) 6.2 million smartphone sales. It also reported a year-over-year rise in its branded postpaid upgrade rate to 9% for the fourth quarter 2013.

    “Our performance in the fourth quarter and the full year is clearly proving that we have our strategy right and that we are executing it well,” said John Legere, CEO of T-Mobile. “Customers are fed up with the old ways and are voting in favor of choice, innovation and doing business with a company that cares about them and is willing to earn their business. For shareholders, we transformed the company into a fierce, growing competitor that is changing the wireless industry and creating significant value.”

  • T-Mobile’s Jump Being Changed For The Better [Report]

    T-Mobile’s Jump Being Changed For The Better [Report]

    In its quest to shake up the mobile industry, T-Mobile revealed Jump last year as a way to allow consumers to upgrade their devices twice a year. It also instigated a six month waiting period between signing up and being able to upgrade. All of that may be gone by next week.

    TmoNews reports that T-Mobile will be introducing a new Jump program on February 23 that will remove pretty much all of the restrictions found in the original. No more will you have to wait six months before signing up and upgrading. There will be no more limits on how often you can upgrade. Tablets will also be added as eligible devices.

    So, how will the financials of all this work? When upgrading, you will bring in your old phone and trade it in. Upon doing so, T-Mobile will offer you some trade-in credit for your old device. If the payments you’ve made on the phone combined with the trade-in credit meet or exceed 50 percent of the original purchase price, T-Mobile will take care of the remaining cost of the phone. From there, you’re free to upgrade to the latest and greatest device.

    What about current Jump customers? Will they still get this deal? The leaked memo states that current Jump customers will get all the features found in the new Jump if they’ve been a member of the old program for six months or more. We can assume that recent signups for Jump will have to wait six months before being transferred to the new plan, but we’ll likely find out more on this next week when it’s announced.

    It will be interesting to see if T-Mobile announces anything else at its upcoming press event on February 23. The carrier seems to not be finished with shaking up the wireless industry for the better and we’re interested to what it does next.

    In the meantime, enjoy these silly Valentine’s Day breakup macros T-Mobile CEO John Legere has been sharing all morning:

    Image via TMobile/YouTube

  • Family Wireless Plans Emerge in Competitive Market

    Family Wireless Plans Emerge in Competitive Market

    Verizon’s hold as the number one wireless carrier in the United States may be slipping. AT&T is making a solid run to go from the second biggest wireless carrier to the first. And they’re doing it by going after your family.

    AT&T is currently marketing a new plan to cut $40 off the bill of a family that carries at least four smartphones. The plan which already includes unlimited texts and calls was previously $200. It is currently being offered at $160. And, you don’t even have to sign a contract.

    David Christopher, chief marketing officer for AT&T knows the company needs to stay competitive in the always evolving world of mobile phones. “We feel we have the best network and the best value in the marketplace.”

    In 2012 T-Mobile, who has become one of AT&T’s biggest competitors, did away with long term contracts and shortened a customer’s wait time between phone upgrades. The changes paid off big time, as T-Mobile has seen an uptick of over 2 million customers in less than one year.

    The competitive marketplace is obviously great for the consumer, even if all the alluring options can make a person’s head spin. Sprint paid the $4 million spot fee and took advantage of the monster Super Bowl audience on Sunday. They advertised something called “Framily Plan” in a funny ad that showed possible consumers the different people that you could put on a Sprint “family” plan.

    So which plan is the right one for you? Several factors should be considered when choosing a wireless carrier. A few questions to ask yourself: how many people will be on my plan, how much will an upgrade cost, how long between upgrades, what are the total monthly costs, will my data and texts be unlimited, who can I put on my plan, can I cancel my plan at anytime?

    Image via Facebook