Right on schedule with the whispers,
T-Mobile lifted the veil off of its new price plan tier structure, Even More and Even More Plus, and from the looks of it
all those leaks were pretty much spot-on. The traditional Even More plan is a two-year commitment and discounted phone, with unlimited individual prices starting at $59 per month and going up to $99 if you want unlimited messaging and text, too. Even More Plus scrapes the device discount but offers unlimited individual prices at $49 for voice / $79 for everything. It looks like the only major differentiator is the subsidized handset, but here's where the numbers don't add up: even with the steep $350 discount on myTouch 3G, factoring in that $20 premium would pay for the phone during the 18th month, leaving six months and $120 of extra payments left that have no obvious justification to us. Additionally the
FlexPay / equipment installment plan is now available, letting you break up the cost of your phone into interest-free monthly bills. It seems Even More's subsidized phones are offered over four installments (e.g. $37 per month for the $150 MyTouch 3G) while Even More Plus' is two installments (e.g. $25 per month for the same device at the $500 full price). Our initial takeaway from the price tiers is that T-Mobile is doing what it can to drive its consumers away from the traditional and over to the non-traditional (for US, at least) Even More Plus plan, but hey, we're not gonna argue over a beneficial contract-free plan, even if monthly phone payments keep us paying the company for at least 20 months. So T-Mo, any other
Project Dark surprises in the cards? Inquiring minds want to know.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
posted Oct 25th 2009 11:14AM
Right now the NO-CONTRACT option (Plus) is honoring phone discounts on the MyTouch3G ($-350) with still no contract! Wowee!!! :-_
Wait, are you saying they are honoring a phone discount of $350? Meaning, $399 - $350 = $49 ? If this is the case, I'm getting one! As far as I can tell, their list price is $399, but if I could get one for $49, that would be a no-brainer.
Family Plan
$69.99 My Faves 400
$19.99 Unlimited SMS
$24.99 Unlimited Web (one line)
Total: $114.97
My best option:
Even More Plus for Families +TXT +Web (both Lines would be covered)
$ 109.99
Save $4.98 but get data on our second line.
Not too shabby
This is like Welfare Wireless. Seriously, wouldnt you be embarassed to carry around a brand that the company allows you to put stuff on layaway? If you cant afford it, just stick to prepaid, besides does anyone have worse network than Tmobile??? (well maybe AT&T!)
Can you be even more of a pretentious prick? What's wrong with having a "lay-away" option? It allows people to get the phone they want with or without a 2-year ball-and-chain. I'm sorry that you're opposed to offering people that option of spreading out payments instead of leaving a large, lump sum hole in their wallets, whether or not they can afford it.
I've been following the rumors of these plans over the past 2 weeks or so.
There are so many mixed opinions on whether they're good or not.
My take: If you come from a more expensive service like Verizon, these plans are fantastic. If you're already spoiled with cheapo Tracfone or Metro PCS rates, then these plans won't do it for you.
Looks like T-Mobile has taken a middle ground approach. They are cheaper than the bigger guys but not specifically catering to the bottom of the barrel crowd.
I for one use AT&T and feel I'm overpaying for dropped calls and slow data connections. I'd consider using my unlocked jailbroken 3GS even if over EDGE to save a nice chunk of change with T-Mo's contract free plans.
Gina,
I can attest to the goodness of what you said. Having had a JB & Unlocked iPhone 3gs it is a very worthy and money saving proposition. T-Mob service is excellent where I live and i save over $23 from the AT&T plan. Their customer service is bar none the best (I've had service from all). Go for it and enjoy! EDGE on T-Mob is probably a little slower than the 3G on AT&T and way more reliable.
dharmaboy
Dont worry Gina, hsdpa+ is already available in Philly thru T-Mobile and will be rolled out to all next year in the summer. You will be downloading on 4g in no time on that I-phone. You won't need a 4g phone because it will work on any device(hence unlocked i-phone w/tmobile sim), unlike WiMax thru sprint.
Also the lower no contract price plans are there to bring in the prepaid market to the monthly payment game. Right now the market for cell phones is pretty stand still. Everyone and there kids has a cell phone with a two-year contact. So where do you get the new customers to open accounts from? Well, you steal them from the prepaid no contract market. These people are not tied to contracts and therefore don't have any big cancelation fees to switch carriers! If your lucky, you may even steal some from the competitors postpaid when they find out how much they can save, and I'm talking to YOU Verizon.
Think about it, a 79.99 unlimited everything plan with no commitment....That 9700 Bold II is looking pretty damn good. T-mobile dropped there unlimited plan from $125 a month($99+$25data) to unlimited everthing for around a $46 dollar price savings.
Josta, you're just missing it completely. It is actually in everyone's best interest to offer phones and services without deep subsidies that hide real costs, and contracts, which allow you to OWN your device free and clear and have portability of your service. Literally, the entire planet operates like this except here in the States, and I find it a welcome change. I'm much happier having a smart device I paid full price on (All $600 of it) and being able to move it around than dealing with contracts. And given how expensive these devices are now becoming, I give kudos to Tmo for bringing people the fair option of purchasing a device in installments. I hope it also gets AT&T and Verizon to wake up: no one wants a damn contract anymore!
Let's do the math: $99 for an iPhone 3G, plus a minimum $80 commitment x 24 months = $2,019 income for AT&T. That's a $1,400 service commitment they lock you into, and you get a $600 (locked) phone--a phone they're receiving a deep volume discount on to begin with. On these numbers alone, Tmo is offering the same service price for their bottom line [$59/mo -- or $1,400 over two years works out to] without locking you in, and allowing you to BUY the phone yourself in installments. And it's yours. *And* they're passing on their volume discount price, with markup for their profit. They win, you win. Sounds like a bargain to me!
Now, all that said, as a former ATTer who has switch to Tmo, I'm quite disappointed in the coverage inside my apt; ATT gave me full bars, Tmo is spotty and weak. Some parts of the house have zero coverage. But once out and about, my phone has the same full bars as my old service. Do I love it? No. But at least I'm not stuck in some silly contract being taken advantage of by a service provider who has questionable billing practices and whines all the way about how much their customers make them work.
I agree with you in principle. Unfortunately since there is no standarized frequency bands or mobile technology between the different carriers the device you get from one carrier almost certainly won't work on another carrier (or will lack some crucial functionality, like 3G compatibility). So owning your device outright doesn't enable you to take it with you from carrier to carrier, because it's just not technologically possible. Another example of the brilliance of American "deregulation." Thank God for our all American small government and how it brings innovation and choices to the people.
I agree with you Gina.
I think all the whining came from the cheap crowd. Those people are always complaining and moaning to get more for nothing.
Blogsites built up hype for something that didn't happen then all the Leap/Cricket/Boost crowd were left disappointed. T-Mobile never promised these plans. The blogsites and the bloggers themselves built up they hype themselves.
I work for Sprint and we have to fight off the same demons. It costs a lot of money to build and maintain a network and you can't cut your margins so low that you can't afford to re-invest the money back into the network infrastructure not to mention cover all the overhead costs of running a business.
T-Mobile may not have the native network size of Verizon, but they're growing fast and expanding their HSPA + footprint at a rapid pace. There is no reason why anyone shouldn't consider them if they work well in those particular area. For me, it's all about my service working where I need it not everywhere I don't need it.
trying to figure it out. so if you want to stay with tmobile for 2 years you pay more.
if you want to leave and only do month to month you pay less
I thought trying to get customers to stay with a company was how you make money
You pay more because you are receiving the benefit of the subsidy. Those paying full price for their phones are getting a deal to offset the extra sum they have to invest in the handset.
It's still asking for social security number for credit check even if you select the no annual contract plan...
@vindicated
How did you get the discount? In store?
My $30 Sprint SERO plan (w/subsidized phones) is looking more & more valuable by the day..
no kidding toolbag. the 10$ TMO EMP plan does too. you're cool.
My $10 verizon employee plan beats this any day
my free sprint employee plan is the best you could ever have!!
Maybe you didn't notice the drop in price of the "full price" handsets. The my Touch is only 399.99 now. All of the handsets have dropped in price and are able to be spread out over 20 months. BOOM!
Good for you two. Tell me, do you guys get hard every time you act like a douche?
So I pre ordered the Motorola Cliq on the 23rd... apparently this was a good move as I dropped by T-mobile today and they told me any plan started before today could take advantage of th 79.99 Plus plan even thiough I just ordered a phone @ discount b/c I was at my anniversary. Been rolling with unlimited for 49.99 and the grandfathered 19.99 sidekick plan for a while now. I'll be paying about $10 more but I'm ok w/ that for the increased functionality...
What I do not like is the $30.... or $35 I can't remember which fee to convert to the new plans.... not sure if that was reported earlier, but in the store they said it was a one time fee...
Dumb question. For the non-contract option, are phones sold unlocked? would a phone work in another network?
"Even with the steep $350 discount on myTouch 3G, factoring in that $20 premium would pay for the phone during the 18th month, leaving six months and $120 of extra payments left that have no obvious justification to us."
I can't believe you're actually puzzled by this. The phone subsidy has always been a rip off, both for those upgrading their phones and for those who don't (and effectively pay for others' subsidies). So now your surprised that the subsidy is still a rip off?
These people aren't your friend. They're not trying to make you a good deal. They're playing shell games with pricing schemes to try to extract the most money out of people, on a monthly basis, as possible. Is Engagdet really so naive as to no understand this?
Just switched my unlimited loyalty plans($180 for 2 lines) with tmobile and got the Even More Plus plan for families-unlimited everything. Too bad about the $35 fee for each line but I didnt have to buy out of my contracts. $140 is definetly a steel. $80 for family caliing-unlimited, $40 for unlimited family web and $20 for unlimited family text. No added fees either for blackberries. Gotta love that.
They are double dipping here, which makes it an awefull deal for anyone interested in a smartphone. I picked the HTC Touch pro 2, they made me pick one of the 3 plans (500/1000/Unlimited) that included the web, THEN they charged an ADDITIONAL $30 on the final page for web. But you can't change to a non-web plan. So you have to pay for the web twice??
This is a terrible deal for Family Plan Customers with more than 2 smartphones.
Just a simple comparison between T-Mobile and Sprint (based on the pricing on t-mobile.com and sprint.com):
T-Mobile Even More Plus Family: Talk + Text + Web (No Contract)
5 lines with a myTouch 3g
1500 Minutes
Unlimited Text
Unlimited Mobile to Mobile (T-Mobile Only)
Unlimited Data for first 2 lines.
Unlimited Nights (starting @ 9) and Weekends
Phone Price: 499 x 5 (plus 8% sales tax) = 2,695
Activation Fee: 175.00
Plan Price: 119.99 + 15 for additional lines + 75 for data on lines 3-5 = 209.99 + tax
Total Average Monthly Cost for 20 Months of Service: 353.49 per month
Sprint Everything Data Family with Any Mobile (2 year contract)
5 lines with an HTC Hero
1500 Minutes
Unlimited Text
Unlimited Mobile to Mobile (Any Network)
Unlimited Data for All Lines.
Unlimited Nights (starting @ 7) and Weekends
Phone Price: 179 x 5 (plus 8% sales tax) = 966.60
Activation Fee: None
Plan Price: 129.99 + 60 for additional lines = 189.99 + tax
Total Average Monthly Cost for 20 Months of Service: 238.32 per month
WOW! We are talking a savings of $115 a MONTH! Thats $2300 over 20 months! Plus, you get unlimited calling to ANY mobile phone. For me, that is pretty much like having unlimited calling. I rarely call a landline.
Just for kicks, I'll throw in Sprint's Employee Referral Pricing...
Sprint Everything Plus Data Family with Any Mobile (2 year contract)
5 lines with an HTC Hero
1600 Minutes
Unlimited Text
Unlimited Mobile to Mobile (Any Network)
Unlimited Data for All Lines.
Unlimited Nights (starting @ 7) and Weekends
Phone Price: 179 x 5 (plus 8% sales tax) = 966.60
Activation Fee: None
Plan Price: 119.99 + 45 for additional lines = 154.99 + tax
Total Average Monthly Cost for 20 Months of Service: 203.32 per month
Thats a savings of $150 per MONTH over T-Mobile. After 20 months, that comes out to just over $3000!
Even More Plus??? Sounds like Even More money for T-Mobile!
I have been a T-Mobile customer since 1997. Thats 12 years. I remember when they were Powertel! I worked for T-Mobile retail from 2003 to 2006, and I know a little bit about how these guys think. Ever since Deutsche Telekom (DT) came in, there has been a sort of culture clash going on internally. VoiceStream was, for all intents and purposes, a pretty laidback company. They had really good prices, but a limited network and limited phone selection. DT came in and couldn't decide if it wanted T-Mobile USA to be a value leader, or a premium provider (i.e Verizon). For the most part, prices remained the lowest in the business, but, slowly, upper management began to think of themselves as if they were in the same league as Verizon and AT&T (then Cingular). This arrogance all without investing in the network required to deserve such comparisons. T-Mobile slowly began losing its value edge, and started to nickel and dime customers just like the big two (2 year contracts, upgrade fees, increased text charges, etc).
Sadly, I think this lame new pricing scheme is the final culmination of the DT culture infusion. The old value philosophy of VoiceStream/Powertell has finally been purged from T-Mobile USA. Sad day.
Thing is, they really do believe that they can somehow market this in a way that will boost them above Sprint. The people I feel most sorry for are the poor reps that have to go out and sell this stuff. :-( Sure, some of the individual plans are relatively competitive, but the smartphone plans (especially family plans, as shown above) are just dumbfounding.
Epic Fail T-Mobile
The one thing that struck me about this ad... Just when did T-Mobile get a "Nationwide 3g network"? I mean, forget about the shell game of the pricing structures... all of them play some games like that. But T-Mobile doesn't even have Nationwide DATA coverage... not even in Edge! How do they get the nerve to even make that claim??? Because they have a smattering of 3g on each coast? This isn't even a fudge... this is a complete and total LIE!!!
If what you're saying is true than all the cellular companies are lying seeing as how none of them completely blanket the entire nation in 3g 0_o
Not true Heezy,
Verizon says they have the "largest and most reliable 3g Network"
at&t says "Go from 0 to 3G in seconds on the nation's fastest 3G Network."
neither of them actually claim "Nationwide 3g"
*Claim based on comparison of monthly charges for T-Mobile's Individual and Family Even More Plus Unlimited Plans against comparable unlimited talk and text plans offered by AT&T and Verizon; does not include taxes and fees or cost of phone. Plan features, service limitations, and requirements may vary among carriers. Data obtained from AT&T and Verizon web sites as of October 2009.Taxes and fees additional. Unlimited features are only for direct communication between two people. $35 per line activation and other upfront and monthly fees may be required. 3G coverage not available everywhere; capable device required.
-Read the last line lmao..you thought they said it without a catch? There is always a fine print lol
Maybe I'm missing something but for $35 dollars I went from paying $82/month (1000mins unlimited G1 plan) to $62/month (500mins everything plus)
Not sure this is a fail w/ Individual Smart Phone plans
Actually, you are paying about the same... for fewer minutes.
EM+ = 62
Price for decent smartphone (your G1 will eventually die) on EM+ = 499.99
Price for decent smartphone on contract = 149.99
Total Difference = 349.99
Divided by 20 months = 17.50
Total Actual Monthly Cost For EM+ = 79.49
You saved $2... and lost 500 minutes
I think you're forgetting the off contract part
Plus I can sim out a phone on craigslist/ebay for much cheaper than 500
True, you could get a phone online... but, you don't usually get a warranty. So, if it is worth it to pay less and lose your warranty, go for it! :-)
Besides, to really judge the value of these new plans, you have to look at it in terms of what T-Mobile is actually offering. You can be sure that it isn't their goal to push people to buying phones from ebay. They want to sell you phones too! My point is that they aren't saving you any money if you remain in their ecosystem.
Also, I just don't get what is so great about not having a contract. Sure... If I have a cheapo phone with a cheap rate plan... no contract can be appealing, but if I have just plinked down $500 for a phone... I sure hope I have it for at LEAST 2 years. In any case, what other company am I going to go to if I were to exercise my no contract rights? AT&T? lol
Well you make a good point...
I wonder whats stopping me from saving the money and then after 20 months of saving on the em+ going over to the em to get the discount on the phone...best of both worlds scenario
although who knows in 2 years all the pricing could be different
I just switched from my favs to Even more plus for families. It was the biggest mistake that I ever made!!! The new plans are not made for those who have more than two lines on their accounts. Let me explain. Even More plus for families with 1500 minutes only include two lines. If the additional lines on your account are smart phones (my daughters have sidekicks), that is an extra $25.00 per phone. plus an additional $5 per month per phone for unlimited texting and web. In all, we are spending an additional $75 per month. I believe that in six months, T-mobile is going to change their rate plans again. If your current contract is still with Fav Fives, stay their until it ends. Trust me. ALso, do your research completely before switching. Please do not depend on T-Mobile customer care to help. They barely know what is going on themselves.