September 12th, 2007
T-Mobile USA drops data rates
According to The Boy Genius Report, T-Mobile USA may be dropping their unlimited internet data service add-on from US$29.99 to US$19.99/month over the next couple of days. This actually makes a lot of sense since T-Mobile is the only carrier (out of the 4 majors) that doesn’t have a 3G network and wireless data is currently limited to EDGE. T-Mobile used to have a US$19.99 EDGE data plan and it isn’t clear if this new US$19.99/month plan will also include the T-Mobile HotSpot access that comes now with the US$29.99 plan. If you do not have a voice plan, it seems the data plans will still drop US$10 per month under this new pricing scheme.
T-Mobile may also be keeping the BlackBerry full internet plan the same US$19.99/month, but also offering a lower cost email only service for customers who do not care to browse the web on their devices.
I logged into My T-Mobile account to try to add the unlimited data plan, but it isn’t even an optional service that is available right now so they must be updating the pricing scheme. This unlimited data option was available on my services page last week so the rumors look more and more likely. This timing couldn’t be any better for me as I just unlocked my iPhone and plan to add the unlimited data plan back onto my account like I have had for the last 5 years. T-Mobile should be rolling out 3G in late 2007/early 2008 so we may see a price increase when that service is rolled out, which may explain this price reduction.
UPDATE: I just visited T-Mobile and the US$19.99 add-on service is indeed now US$19.99 and includes the T-Mobile HotSpot WiFi access. When I called and added the service this morning the customer service rep told me it was still US$29.99, but after logging into my T-Mobile online account I see that I am signed up for the US$19.99 service plan.
Matthew Miller is an avid mobile device enthusiast who works during the day as a professional naval architect in Seattle. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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