Achtung, T-Mobile: if Project Dark is $50 unlimited, you're in trouble
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Oct 12th 2009 2:00AM
posted Oct 12th 2009 2:00AM
Rumors have been swirling the past few days about a "Project Dark" (or "Black," depending on who you believe) that revolves around a few key strategies designed to turn the entire industry upside down by rapidly pilfering market share from T-Mobile's competition -- possibly to the point of leapfrogging Sprint. The first element to this is allegedly a barrage of data-rich devices including two Nokia Nseries (the N900 being one of them) and a continued heavy push to stay the Android market leader through introductions like the Motorola CLIQ and Samsung Behold II. We're totally cool with that part -- T-Mobile's investing heavily in its 3G market lately, literally lighting up new markets every few days, and it only makes sense that they'd want devices ready and able to take advantage of those speeds. The next part says that Dark will see 21Mbps HSPA+ get rolled out at a breakneck pace, presumably designed to put pressure on AT&T which is still in the midst of a less sensational 7.2Mbps introduction. Neither the handset strategy nor the 21Mbps plans are really baseless rumors; with the exception of a single unnamed Nokia, all of the phones mentioned for Dark are very real, and T-Mobile's senior vice president of engineering operations has gone on record committing to a national HSPA+ rollout next year. It's all happening -- call it Dark, Black, Light, Blue, Magenta, whatever you want.
That brings us to the final tenet of Dark, which has T-Mobile planning a blockbuster $50 all-you-can-eat plan that would undercut its nearest national competitor -- Sprint, with its Simply Everything plan -- by a ridiculous $50 (AT&T's recently-announced unlimited prepaid plan comes in at $60, but it lacks data, the most critical element here). Sounds enticing, doesn't it? Too good to be true, even, but we don't doubt T-Mobile would do it just to shake things up, especially since they've always had a reputation for undercutting the competition.
Unfortunately, it's a fool's game -- and if it happens, we're pretty sure it's going to end in tears. Here's why:
- Boost Mobile -- operating on Nextel's historically robust network -- had bouts of trouble with the influx of subscriber adds brought about by its own $50 unlimited plan, and that was on a totally different scale: the phones aren't nearly as interesting and 3G data simply doesn't exist. When potential customers realize they can get, say, an N900 or a CLIQ and stream Pandora or last.fm until the cows come home for that same $50, there'll be a run on stores, riots in the streets, overturned cars, the whole nine yards. And that's before 10,000 new customers a day get home, turn on their phones, start downloading apps, make Skype calls, and cause cell sites to spontaneously combust.
- Capping your potential revenue per customer at $50 a month isn't a recipe for heavy capital reinvestment, which is exactly what T-Mobile will need a lot of to make good on Dark -- and fast. In fact, both Verizon and AT&T have total ARPUs (average revenue per user) above the $50 mark already, and T-Mobile's current postpaid ARPU is up there, too. Translation: excluding a subscriber influx, T-Mobile would be taking in less money per postpaid customer than it is now while offering considerably (infinitely?) more service. Including the inevitable influx, sure, revenue goes through the roof -- but profit is a huge question mark.
- One of T-Mobile's hallmarks has been stellar customer service. Historically, the carrier has never offered the biggest coverage footprint or the biggest handset selection, but you could basically always count on 'em to take care of you. Think they'll be able to keep that reputation intact with one-third again as many subscribers within a few months' time?
- We're not doubting that T-Mobile is planning its 3G network (whether it be HSPA or HSPA+) for increased capacity, but the magnitude of advanced planning and expense that would be required to accommodate the number of high data consumption adds brought about by a plan this cheap would be truly staggering. It's the perfect storm -- the carrier would be simultaneously adding the most powerful devices it's ever offered and dramatically undercutting its closest competition on plan pricing, and the resulting strain would be picked up by an untested network.
- Network build-outs are measured in months or years, not days. If markets start imploding because T-Mobile realizes it doesn't actually have the infrastructure to suddenly be the number two or three carrier, that's not a problem it can solve quickly -- or cheaply.
In a perfect world, we'd all have Cortex A9-powered phones running the mega-powerful operating system of your choice with 2GB of internal RAM and a 4.5-inch WVGA display hooked up to a network offering all-you-can-eat voice, data, and messaging in exchange for the pennies and lint in our pockets, but the cold, hard realities of spectrum allocation, technology, and the surly bonds of capitalism conspire to make it impossible. We beg of you, T-Mobile -- for the good of your network and your customers -- don't pull the trigger on this unless you're absolutely positive you've covered every contingency (and history suggests you've got some work to do there).
I believe this is a great move for T-Mobile. Especially at a time in our economy like this. Everyone enjoys getting more for less or a damn good deal. I'm one! If bad for T-Mobile, definitely good for its customers.
Getting more for less isn't always what you would expect it to be. If it were, we'd all be driving honda's, shopping at wal-mart, eating at mcdonalds, and talking on T-mobile's inexpensive yet lackluster 3g network.
I'll stick with my Audi, Vons, staying away from fast food, and Sprint's 3G.
@Mike
You're probably right, but you sound like a douche
I agree...tmo could STILl do unlkkinted everything for 60 and beat oit sprint and ATT... the phones are global, and the 21+ roll out will be a game changer, for a lot of people. tmo will be the only major character to offer such a price point. and that n900, thats salivatory.
using Sprint 3g isnt a good example of something of quality
Yes sammj417, Sprint's 3G is the best there is right now. It has beat VZW & AT&T is several INDEPENDENT tests for overall quality. Yes VZW & AT&T beat it in some places just as Sprint beats them in others, but overall Sprint is best. T-Mobile needs to continue its 3G rollout. The more competition the better.
Chris why would you concern yourself with T-Mo's business strategy? If they succeed or fail it's not up to us it's on them.
I truly believe the $50 price point is for regular feature phones...... Smartphone data, tethering and international services will most likely not be included.
Still, an unlimited voice, messaging, email and data service on a BlackBerry on a nationwide carrier for $75 still sounds fantastic for me as would it for individual users.
That's still cheaper than the bottom barrel Verizon or ATT individual plan for the same features. At least with T-Mo's option, there would be no worry of overages sans international charges.
I think you're right about the $50 being for voice plans.
The $75 plan you talk about already exists. I'm on the customer loyalty plan, which is $50, plus I have the $25 Blackberry/Unlimited Data/400 SMS or MMS. The only big change would be rolling it out to everyone, not just customers with them for 2 years or longer... and unlimited SMS.
I love this plan so much that my extreme gadget-lust for the Pre hasn't caused me to switch to Sprint. If T-Mobile and Palm can make friends and release the Pre, I'll be in heaven.
yeah, watch out tmobile 'cause a smartas*s from engadget know more about wireless technology than you and your worldwide business will ever know. lame.
man you couldnt have said it any better lol
Oh, I'm sure you're right. No simpleton blogger could ever comprehend the mystical working of a wireless giant like T-Mobile. Let us just pretend for a minute that he is leaning in the right direction. What if? MetroPCS is a fine example of a company biting off more than it can chew. I live near Detroit, Michigan where MetroPCS has been for awhile now. They can use the same bands as most VZM phones. As soon as people found that out, eBay and craigslist BLEW up with people dumping VZW phones as MetroPCS phones. The more MetroPCS expanded, the bigger they got. Now they have networks covering much of Michigan, or so you would think. HUNDREDS of people drop calls all day everyday because of network strain. In Lansing Michigan they had to start using a different CDMA AWS spectrum to pick up the slack. Guess what? VZW phones won't work on those networks. Now thousands of people have been buying and selling phones they can't use and anyone who does buy a phone gets terrible terrible terrible service. Are people also forgetting control and government fees? By the time you pay the bill for a 50 dollar plan, it's more like 60-65. Another problem. Authorized, not direct, dealers. Starting last fall in this area with the introduction of the SK08 and G1 a lot more people were willing to try T-Mobile. The number of authorized dealers nearly doubled in 3 months. Terrible customer service and rate plan mix ups were at an all time high. Several dozen authorized dealers got shut down for making illegal transactions because they were trying to convert subscribers. That's in my area alone. There is no possible way you could tell me that you would be able to pick up any phone from T-Mobile and have unlimited sms, mms, gps, data, and calling for 50 flat. Especially after all the data add on requirements and rate hikes they have implemented this summer. I have a feeling that before you know it, if they seriously launched some of the plans that rumor mills are churning out, a lot more subscribers than just Sidekick users would feel alone in the dark. Anyway, I'm sure you're right. The great T-Mobile wizard has all the magic he needs up his sleeve to take on an extra million subscribers. Right?
Isn't WIND mobile in Canada going to use the AWS band?
Doesn't the thrust of this article assume that T-Mo just a month ago said "I know, why don't we slash prices and offer everyone unlimited everything."
Me? I have to assume T-Mo is aware of everything you mention (perils and benefits), learned from AT&T's errors, and that they have planned this Project. I don't assume that T-Mo execs and engineers sit around like potted plants and just throw stuff against the wall to see what sticks.
In fact, I get the opposite feeling about the Company. They plan carefully and precisely every move they make, somewhat like a master chess player.
Sure, there's plenty of people out there who criticize anything and everything T-Mo does, while calling the employees dumb as rocks, but I have yet to see evidence that T-Mo acts like the keystone cops.
For sure, if I was T-Mo I would not be telling any of you out there what my plans are, how I will go about implementing them. T-Mo seems quite careful in this regard, for example, not trusting store employees with any information. (It's a crackup when purported employees post information on the blogs acting like they know what is going on. Well, the quickest way to get fired and sued by T-Mo is to leak information on public boards.
It's also a crackup reading how everyone knows more than T-Mo. They know what handsets the company should be selling, what price they should be listed at, what discounts to give and what plans and services to offer. This begs the question, of course, why aren't these people on T-Mo's payroll if they know so much, especially on how to make T-Mo #1? What, did they use their MBA to go work at Burger King?
Oh well, it's amusing to see that many people already know what T-Mo has planned and has declared T-Mo's plans a failure, even before the projects debut. Wish I had that skill.
I like to think that T-Mo will continue its careful planning, knows their business inside and out and that there will be an Unlimited Everything plan come October 25. And I wish T-Mo every success. I hope their customer count increases by 10 million because of Project Dark.
I'm sure it'll be offered as $50 unlimited for current subscribers first. Just like the $50 unlimited talk was offered.
Interesting comments, all... But I live in Kansas City, where Sprint is headquartered, and (as a loyal-to-the-local-business type of guy) I used Sprint for years. They're not the embodiment of "planning" as they have a new bazzilion dollar campus in town that is only half utilized, and for the first several years you couldn't get Sprint reception near the campus because Verizon had bought up all the tower space within 5 miles of the place. Also, Sprint may have a better data network, but their customer service STILL sucks, and seems to be getting worse. I ALWAYS get right through to TMo, but still talk to people who consistently wait 20-30 minutes or more for a Sprint Tech. Would I like the best data rate? Would I like the "greatest" (for a month or two anyway) phone? Sure... But I'm not stupid enough to go back to a company who can't support their customers to get it. Verizon and AT&T may be better than Sprint (never had them but I know several people with good experiences on Verizon, though not so with AT&T and the iPhone isn't all that), but TMo has incredible service, and (at $50/month for unlimitted calls + $25/mo for unlimitted data) their price is still awesome. If it drops a little more, I'm all for it...especially since I know the company knows and does what it takes to take care of their customers. Thanks TMo for pursuing perfection and stretching in the attempt to reach it... It's great for all of us!
I honestly think they are smart enough to be aware of what such a price point entails
i know this can't happen in the "dark" (i'am here all night) but it would be funny if it was an all out blitz ...like on the 25th they announce it and then flip the switch on like 20 or 30 markets for 3g...its only logical that its a price drop ...the smartphone market is getting more competitive and the type of customer that goes for a smartphone is broadening...so if they get a jump on pricing and stay consistent maybe they won't get left behind when they can't roll out LTE as fast as verizon
As I posted over at BGR, I am currently paying $140 for two lines, unlimited talk and data. That would be the same as the rumored $50 per line Unlimited Everything.
I got the Loyalty Unlimited Talk plan back in March 2009. Query: Was that T-Mo testing the waters on the unlimited everything plan, for example, to see if that would retain customers?
In any event, if T-Mo comes out with a $50 per line unlimited data and talk, that would only be $20 less than what I am paying now. So that does not seem a hard-to-believe leap, taking an additional $20 off my plan pricing.
Now if they were going from what I was paying in 2005 for two lines, unlimited data, and 2000 minutes on the family plan ($240 a month) down to $100 for the two (on Oct 25) that would seem an impossible dream. But plan prices with T-Mo decrease over the years, not increase. So $50 for unlimited data and talk does not seem a pipe dream to me.
Newspeak.... spot on, about smartphones. While other handsets have suffered about an 8% DECLINE in sales, smartphone sales have increased.
I liken it to netbooks. Right now netbooks are the must have electronic and sales are through the wall. Speculation is that this year netbooks will be the hot Christmas electronic gift.
I think smartphones are there too. More and more people look at my smartphone and tell me they want to get one too. Maybe smartphones will be the netbook of the wireless industry.
If so, I suspect T-Mo knows it. Look at their phone lineup, they have every niche covered with all the hot technologies, software and operating systems. Whatever sells like the "netbook" took off, to me at least, T-Mo has is covered: Android, Windows Mobile, RIM, Linux, keyboard, touchscreen only, high MP camera, etc.
Assuming my statement accurate (that carriers are tanking, the same as other industries) it appears that T-Mo is expertly executing its "Plan B" which I assume Project Dark is, a response to the economic implosion.
perfectly logical. read the news, all over asia and europe the prices drop. why us is always last? because there's no real competition. tmobile is making its move.
I like how T-Mobile leaks that something big is coming with "Project Dark" and then suddenly everyone is an expert about the cell phone business and marketing strategies, including I'm-So-Smart Engadget bloggers. Whatever T-Mobile does, it seems unlikely that they didn't think through the possible consequences. T-Mobile's new move may not suceed. But it seems unlikely it will fail for some reason having to do with what Engadget can make up off the top of it's head for a random blog post.
I also find it funny that AT&T is cited so often as a case study how to screw up a network. It seems to me that the iPhone has be an unprecedentedly huge success and that their network problems have not stopped that. What does AT&T care if it takes a while for the network to catch up? If people will pay anyway, just to have the iPhone, then it's irrelevant to AT&T's bottom line and that's the only thing they care about.
Similarly if T-Mobile's network gets overwhelmed for a while, because of millions of new customers, but people are happy enough because they're getting a great deal on a $50 plan, then from the perspecitve of making money the network quality won't matter. Remember, cell phone companies are not in the business of providing services of a certain minimum standard. They are in the business of making money. AT&T proved that your network can be overwhelmed and you can still have a huge success. That may well be the lesson that T-Mobile learned from them.
I like how T-Mobile leaks that something big is coming with "Project Dark" and then suddenly everyone is an expert about I'm-So-Smart Engadget bloggers posts.
I like how T-Mobile leaks that something big is coming with "Project Dark" and then suddenly everyone is an expert chill brah jack ass with nothing to say.
funny, is it April fools' day. What a ridiculous article.
include Blackberry in that $50 unlimited plan then im leaving Sprint
They will, T-mobile's BB plans are always the same price as the regular data plans.
+1
Nokia coming back in the US ? With the N900 and the N97 Mini they have a very appealing offer !!
1. Commenters that lash out at a blogger for having an opinion for not having enough "knowledge" of the industry to make an informed opinion... then assuming that theirs is right. Why? Because you like the idea, then *you* must be right? At least Chris gives examples of how and why he believes this *may* not be the best idea. What do you offer in contention... because T-Mobile knows better? Really?
2. Assumption that any corporation (regardless of how big) "knows what they are getting into". Has anybody watched as at&t, while expanding exponentially over the past 3 years thanks to the iPhone has struggled so mightily with their data service (and do I even need to mention the pathetic mess that was MMS on the iPhone). Surely their top brass took this into consideration when they brought this all to market. Yet, while "satisfaction" of the iPhone is (not suprisingly) high, satisfaction with at&t's data service and networks have taken an absolute beating.
I'm not saying Chris is necessarily correct. I'm not sure. It certainly *could* help T-Mobile vault itself into a better position with a greater number of subscribers, and that could translate into additional power and pricing advantages with their suppliers. However, on the other hand, it smacks of the same desperation that Sprint has been showing, and how has that worked out so far for them? I'm sure it has helped them get some new subscribers... but has it improved their churn rate? Turned them profitable? Helped the Pre get anywhere near the sales of an iPhone?
There was a time that MVNO seemed like a great business model. Creating niche specialty "providers" that could tend to a certain segment of the market. Many companies big (i.e. Disney) and small (Amp'd Mobile) rushed into this space seeing it as the next "goldmine." Where are all these MVNO services now? Just because it seems like a great opportunity doesn't mean that it will pan out, and no matter how great a bargain it seems for subscribers, it will do nothing for them if their phones suddenly don't work and the carrier disappears (just ask any former Voce subscriber).
Sprint's pricing was a few bucks less than what you'd pay on Verizon or AT&T -- it's not enough to break contracts over. Postpaid customers need to have a real compelling economic reason to break a contract and move. $50/mo might do it for enough people to make Project Black worthwhile.
Also, MVNO's might have made some sense if they had provided good phones at reasonable prices. They didn't. It looks like T-Mob will have a couple new, compelling phones to add to their already decent lineup, and the price will be cheaper than a MVNO. A significant price cut is a whole different thing than a picture of Mickey Mouse on your phone.
There are two arguments in this post. Let's try to think about them like the target audience for Project Black, assuming that it's a postpaid plan:
1. T-Mobile's network won't be able to handle the tidal wave of new subscribers with smartphones eating up data.
Let's be realistic about the number of subscribers this will attract. $50/month is not a "flash" pricing point for a prepaid subscriber on Boost, etc. It's a better value, but the prepaid subscriber will need to purchase a new (expensive) smartphone to take advantage of it, and that subscriber must have the credit rating and the inclination to switch to a postpaid plan.
The current postpaid subscriber on another network will need to break a contract (costly) and buy an expensive smartphone. That's not a no-brainer, and many of them who are near the end of their postpaid commitment at another provider might decide to wait it out. Also, the other providers could use loyalty pricing to cherry-pick the most profitable postpaid subscribers (those with good credit and low usage).
Finally, an enforced 5G smartphone data cap, which is still competitive with Verizon (at least), would address a lot of the overuse issue. And coverage will also play a part. There will be many people who'd love a 3G smartphone for $50/mo who don't have T-Mob signal.
2. T-Mobile won't be able to afford the capital investment needed to support the influx of new subscribers.
Wasn't the whole accelerated 3-G rollout (and probably Project Black) spurred by a major investment in T-Mobile USA from T-Mobile Germany? Revenue per subscriber is irrelevant during the short-term life of that investment. The question is whether T-Mob can sustain their network after they blow their wad of marks from their parent company.
The bottom line is that it makes sense for T-Mob to try to increase its base of prepaid customers given their cash position and the current economy, and a big price cut is the only way for them to do it, given their weak network.
Its a race to the bottom! Boost, Cricket, Metro PCS, Page Plus and others have been steadily decreasing their rates while in skads of postpaid customers from the Big 4.
Eventually the bottom will be clearly visible. T-Mobile is betting it knows what the bottom pricing looks like and is launching "Project Dark" as a pre-emptive strike before the other carriers.
The benefits to T-Mobile will be customer retention and millions of new customers who will stay put even after the other carriers try to match T-Mobile.
Painful for a while but brilliant in the end.
T-Mobile's only real competitive option right now is to lower their monthy fees. Their phones are OKAAAAY... But I'm only paying $75 a month with AT&T for an IPHONE. AT&T has a better reputation for coverage and THEY HAVE THE IPHONE!! There are literally 1000's of cheap and free apps for the iphone. AT&T's text and data rates are highway robbery though (Verizon's fees are EXACTLY the same. Coincidence, I think not). So the only real way to send a message to these evil monopolies like AT&T and Verizon who think they rule the world because they have the iphone and storm 2, is to undercut them where it'll hurt most... their monthly fees. If you can offer me an Android phone with cool apps and a big hard drive and a low monthly fee, I'm switching. I like my iphone and all but come on... if we play their game we'd be paying $200 a month for cell phones. In 2009 I should not be paying $20 for text messaging. $20!!!! Are they out of their minds. A text message is about 10 bits of data. I'm downloading 100 megabyte podcasts and they're charging me for 10 words of text!!
This predicted tsunami of customers rushing to T-Mobile kind of assumes its competitors would take the $50 price point lying down... it may take some time, but if churn just explodes at Sprint and elsewhere, I'd suspect they'll react in kind with their own plan.
Also, the other $50 carriers out there (Boost, MetroPCS, etc) are generally no-contract and sell phones with almost no subsidy; what I'm waiting to see here is whether T-Mobile will greatly reduce its phone subsidies themselves to make up for this lower monthly revenue. I'd be OK with paying $500 for a CLIQ or myTouch if it meant reducing my monthly bill by this much -- but I'm not sure the North American general public is ready for that model.
Well, just a few thoughts about the project considering the facts how things work here in Europe. I'd say that T-Mobile is aware of all those possible problems. The point is, that, the 21 mbps HSPA+ network will be very capable of withstanding the load. First, the HSPA infrastructure is quite cheap today, so there would be no problem for T-Mobile to invest into the propper capacity. But there will be a load of capacity even if customers flood the network. There are several reasons - one of them is that there is practilally none HSPA+ phone out there today, so most of the customers will reach top speeds of 3,6 or 7,2 mbps. Mostly, the wouldn't need speeds like that. Plus, there is always an option that T-Mobile can cap the top speed per user to say 2 mbps. And yes, 50$ isn't too much as an ARPU, but it doesn't have to lower the T-Mobile profit - the new HSPA+ network will be much more cost-efficient than current networks, so the profit might stay where it is now... As an example - T-Mobile Czech is now exchanging all its GSM/GPRS towers for new Huawei technology. Upon completion, it would save them 1/3 of the eletricity needed to run the current infrastructure. Plus the new technology is much more reliable, so less maintenance will be needed.
Price points missed. I have Sprints Simply Everything plan for $99 per month. To have the same coverage including the navigation, Sprint TV, NFL, Nascar. Verizon is $149. AT&T is $169. That is a big difference! I use between 2500 to 4000 minutes per month for business. So for those of us who use our phones for business and not just to say, "Hi" on Facebook or view Youtube, Sprint has it going on.
NO WAY is the IPhone worth another $69 a month to me.
I would love to see TMobile do the price drop. They do have a great selection of phones. The data coverage however is limited and certainly not running at 3G in most areas of the country.
One more kudo to TMobile... check out this website for bargain basement pricing on phones on great smart phones.
http://www.wmdeals.com/
Getting more for less... you need to remember that it has to be balanced. As the article states, if you give away too much, then you'll have problems with too many customers and we'll end up like AT&T. In a lot of places, iPhone users have a hard time getting on 3G... that's not what I want to experience with T-mobile.
Wow, I never thought I'd see the day someone begged to keep prices for service high, which is the basically the main message of this piece and the rest of you people.
If this is a race to the bottom its only good for the consumer
if tmobile does this but then puts a enforced 5gig cap on data...then its only a matter of time before someone matches the price and removes the cap
I really hope it is something like this because we might finally start to see a cell phone market here like they have in europe
unless of course some sort of government regulation puts the brakes on the whole thing
the problem with mvnos is they didnt have full access to the systems they needed in order to assist/troubleshoot/sometimes properly bill customers. the carriers gave very limited access or even different systems that weren't worth anything. also most of them were paying per minute wholesale prices to the carriers. so when the carriers themselves started offering unlimited text, unlimited data, and finally unlimited minutes, that left most of their mvnos in the dust. only a few were able to renegotiate unlimited packages, and they had to guarantee a certain number of subscribers to lock in their prices. it was also hard for most of them to get phones at a decent price because they wanted their custom software but didnt have the huge buying power of the carriers. i could go on for a while but the point is that tmobile doesnt suffer from these problems. the biggest problem with mvnos was simply the fact in itself that they were an mvno and didnt have direct access to a network. tmobile has its own network and it is currently underutilized. i would be surprised if they would drop to $50. hell, i would switch to them for a cheap n900 and $79/month unlimited. but if they wanted to, im sure they could. everyone uses at&t as an example, well even when the first iphone came out the systems only went down a few times and only for small periods of time, relatively speaking. i doubt tmobile would ever reach that same point of that many customers signing up at one time and turning on their new phones and going online at once. but this could all just be a false rumor, so why am i wasting my time? bottom line: i think they could do it, and if they do then i am switching :)
stupid comment system. that was a reply to jaymonster
if todays price leaks are true then they didnt do it. im disappointed and not switching. $59 is for unlimited minutes only. $99 for unlimited everything. but with the n900 its unclear if i would have to pay the extra $30 for web because it's a smartphone. either way, $99 is far from "[turning] the entire industry upside down." the new plans are anything but exciting. they barely catch up to sprint but dont even include as many features as sprint. and i typed a huge comment on how the family plan is neck to neck with my current AT&T plan. no big price gap as was expected. FAIL
so I pay $100 for 2 pre's with 1500 min ( unlimited min to any mobile on ANY network, so min are only used when calling landlines, which for me is never) unlimited data and text on sprint. Isn't this pretty much the same deal. $50 bucks a piece for unlimited everything.
not to rain on your parade....but I find it extremely hard to believe (unless you're some long time customer with a discount) that you pay $100 for (2) two phones on the 1500 mins Any Mobile, Anytime plan since for 1500 mins in that particular category Sprint demands $129.99 before taxes.
So ... NO its not the same as the rumored $50 Everything Unlimited plan.
T-Mobile is one of the market leaders in Germany with a high quality network. If they apply their practices from overseas I am sure they will be able to handle the influx of customers and additional network load. People are overpaying for cell phone and data service here in the US compared to Europe (same applies to cable internet and DSL..). I really hope T-Mobile will launch this plan.
A lot of talk about MVNO's. I don't think people really know who they are. Virgin is the only remaining MVNO player that comes to mind.
I hope you are not thinking of Metro PCS, Cricket, Revol, Pocket, etc. as MVNO's. They all own and operate their own networks.
mvno talk was aimed at voce, ampd, espn, disney, xl, helio, virgin, etc.
i dont think you can actually call virgin a remaining mvno. sprint bought them.