T-Mobile recently implemented some major changes to their international service, and now they’ve announced yet another change (but don’t panic, they’re just ending one specific type of plan, and not international data on the whole, or anything).
Changes T-Mobile recently made to international service
T-Mobile expanded their international plan from 154 countries and destinations to 210+, which I’m very excited about. But then T-Mobile increased the cost of international calls from 20 cents per minute to 25 cents per minute, which is obviously bad news.
Then T-Mobile announced that they were introducing a new $5 Global Pass, where for $5 per day you can get high speed data and calling abroad. You receive 512MB of up to 4G LTE speeds and unlimited calls for just $5 per day, which I consider to be an excellent deal.
The bad news is that the T-Mobile Global Pass is surprisingly annoying to actually use, so I’m a bit disappointed by it.
T-Mobile has now announced yet another change to their international plan.
T-Mobile ONE Plus International Plan being eliminated
T-Mobile has a few international data options at this point:
- The most basic plan is the T-Mobile ONE Plan
- For an extra $10 per line per month you can upgrade to the T-Mobile ONE Plus Plan
- For an extra $25 per line per month you can upgrade to the T-Mobile ONE Plus International Plan
T-Mobile has just announced that the ONE Plus International Plan will no longer be available as a new option starting August 10, 2018. A company representative told tmonews.com the following:
“We simplified and made almost all of the features from ONE Plus International available on ONE Plus. We still offer Stateside International Talk as its own separate add-on option for customers and customers who have ONE Plus International can keep it for as long as they keep their plan.”
So don’t worry, T-Mobile isn’t eliminating their general international plan, and they’re not even eliminating the T-Mobile ONE Plus Plan, but rather just the ONE Plus International Plan.
Here are the differences between the ONE Plus and ONE Plus International options, as described by T-Mobile:
If I’m understanding things correctly (someone correct me if I’m wrong), what sets T-Mobile ONE Plus International apart is that it offers unlimited free international calls to landlines in 70+ countries and mobile phones in 30+ countries, and it offers 20GB of 4G LTE mobile hotspot data.
So this plan is ideal for those who like to tether a lot internationally, as well as those who talk a lot on the phone to those internationally. Personally this isn’t a plan I’ve ever used, but I know it’s one that some people find useful.
You can still get a separate international talk plan added to your line if that’s something you value.
If you could get value out of this, you can still sign up for it today.
The cost of T-Mobile ONE Plus is going up
Also as of August 10, 2018, the cost of T-Mobile ONE Plus will be increasing from $10 per line to $15 per line for those with a single line, while it will continue to be $15 per line for those with a family plan. This isn’t a huge deal for those of us with a family plan, but if you do have a single line, you also might want to upgrade today.
Bottom line
I don’t want to say that these changes are that bad, though increasingly I’m seeing T-Mobile going further and further away from what made them special. I remember they were such a breath of fresh air when I switched to them a couple of years ago, but I guess it should be no surprise that as they increase market share they don’t feel the need to differentiate themselves that much.
I’m not sure if I feel that way because their competitors have improved (they now all also offer decent international plans), or if it’s just because T-Mobile has been doing little to innovate.
Like I said, these changes as such aren’t a huge deal (in my opinion), but I expect we’ll see more negative changes than positive changes in the future.
What do you make of these T-Mobile changes?
(Tip of the hat to Simon)
@AR
Crippled service on due unsupported phone is not my cup of tea. Sure its works, but no auto carrier switch, no visual voicemail, etc..
I find it interesting that Ben hasn't been in and about the comment section to acknowledge the feedback about what was missed in his summary. Most especially since it was... You know... Requested of us.
I would certainly hope that a follow-up article will be coming around the proverbial corner about the actual impact to the customer base on this change. Literally none of the comments have shared the neutral take that Ben had...
I find it interesting that Ben hasn't been in and about the comment section to acknowledge the feedback about what was missed in his summary. Most especially since it was... You know... Requested of us.
I would certainly hope that a follow-up article will be coming around the proverbial corner about the actual impact to the customer base on this change. Literally none of the comments have shared the neutral take that Ben had with the article, with the overall response tone ranging from mildly annoyed, to outrage.
@AR
If you would be so kind, what settings does one change? My ability is running kinda low on modicums this month.
Correction: I currently use an iPhone 7 with Project Fi but have exclusively used an iPhone with Project Fi since joining in mid-2015.
@Sung:
Also Project Fi, the main issue for most people is that is only available on very select few phones. Mainly the Nexus/Pixel line, and few LG/Moto.
That is patently untrue. I use an iPhone 7 with Project Fi and have done so since mid-2015. What you mean to say it's only supported on those phones. Anyone with a modicum of ability to change settings on a smartphone can essentially use Project Fi on any phone.
Yes, like Nick and august, I too tether 4G LTE for 50G (they call it unlimited but it's really not) per month as I do not have a broadband connection here in the States, Moved from being a 20-year ATT customer when they capped at 10G of tethering about a year ago.
It's been a great service. I don't use international much as I just swap my iPhone US SIM for my English one when I get there.
@Rojer Lowe: I bought a Vodafone "pay as you go" at a Vodafone store and had no issues to pay with my US credit card. I then either load that SIM using my US credit card or PayPal from the Vodafone app or you buy a voucher at any Boots pharmacy also using a US credit card. Three does not allow you to reload via their app if you don't have a UK address.
Sung says: "In UK I got the sim at airport machine but when registering, it would not accept my billing address for US credit card", This is standard in the UK with prepaid -- there's a lot of credit card fraud so you need a UK credit card with a UK billing address (applies to some other online shopping too - which will just flatly refuse an international credit card or an international billing address).
...Sung says: "In UK I got the sim at airport machine but when registering, it would not accept my billing address for US credit card", This is standard in the UK with prepaid -- there's a lot of credit card fraud so you need a UK credit card with a UK billing address (applies to some other online shopping too - which will just flatly refuse an international credit card or an international billing address).
An option is to get a UK prepaid SIM from somewhere like My UK SIM Card (www.myuksimcard.com). It's $39.99 and it comes preloaded with 12GB of 4G LTE data and you can add funds using your USA credit card.
Perhaps also consider getting a pass from BT Openzone (www.btwifi.co.uk). 30 days of unlimited Wi-Fi at more than 5 million hotspots is £39 ($50).
And of course if you are using paid or free Wi-Fi you should always use a VPN when doing anything that requires a secure connection eg online banking.
I usually travel to Europe once a month. I have a Vodafone "pay-as-you-go" SIM that allows me to use in almost all Europe. Every time I go there I load my account with 10-15GBP and I have enough data for my needs. I get 4G and coverage anywhere. I am happy with my ATT for the US. T-Mobile is for people that never leave big cities in the US. If you travel outside big cities T-Mobile is useless.
Not all countries are that easy to pick up local sim. In Brazil you have to actually go to a store, and then it took me 1 hour at store to wait in line and get all the paperwork filed. In UK I got the sim at airport machine but when registering, it would not accept my billing address for US credit card. Also Project Fi, the main issue for most people is that is only available on very select few phones. Mainly the Nexus/Pixel line, and few LG/Moto.
It's just more cost effective for me to simply pick up a SIM card locally. Some countries unlimited data is just $10 per month, and it's not like I use my phone to make actual calls, that's what the apps like Skype and WhatsApp are for.
I've managed to get quite a collection so far.
Another +1 for Project Fi. There's literally none of this garbage about plans and being grandfathered in and data/speed caps and such-and-such going away but so-and-so staying put but with minor changes. And for most folks it's likely going to be cheaper than what you're already paying for normal use before you factor in international travel.
This is confusing. I have tmobile one and it already has the unlimited mexico and canada. I never had plus one international.
Lucky,
I'm not sure why you don't see this impact. If you travel outside USA a lot, instead of paying $25/mth, you now would pay, $5/day × 30 = $150 + all your calls at $0.25/min, easily another $25 to $50 a month.
This sucks.
If I’m understanding things correctly (someone correct me if I’m wrong),
This is where you get corrected. The differences are:
1. Unlimited LTE in Canada and Mexico (otherwise they get the 256kbps treatment)
2. Unlimited LTE hotspot while in the US
3. The international calls you mentioned.
Furthermore, the LTE 10 GB/mo on the regular Plus add-on is getting bumped to 20 GB/mo, and it remains $10/mo for folks on family plans (not $15 as you said).
Just waiting for the next Project Fi sale on a Pixel 2 or X4 and I'll probably jump ship.
I am in same situation as Nick, use it intl as well, but main thing is tethering data in US where i can not get landline internet.
Woof. This is a huge deal for me - hope the plan stays grandfathered the way it is for the foreseeable future. My wife and I both have One Plus International because it currently comes with UNLIMITED 4G LTE hotspot -- we use that as our primary source of Internet access here in the USA, both at home and when traveling within the US. I typically use 25-30GB per month of 4G LTE hotspot (closer...
Woof. This is a huge deal for me - hope the plan stays grandfathered the way it is for the foreseeable future. My wife and I both have One Plus International because it currently comes with UNLIMITED 4G LTE hotspot -- we use that as our primary source of Internet access here in the USA, both at home and when traveling within the US. I typically use 25-30GB per month of 4G LTE hotspot (closer to 40GB total data). Our phones are our primary source of Internet access because of this feature and with both of us working remotely, we've come to count on them for access. In our case, the advantage of One Plus International was all mobile hotspot for us....
I panicked when I read the title (even with your warning). I'm currently on an unexpected overseas trip for family reasons and have been relying on T-mobile here. Thank goodness their not discontinuing it as a whole.
Google Fi?
Lost all respect for T-Mobile when they hired Cory Lewandowski to lobby for them to get approval for the merger with Sprint. Despite an outcry from customers T-Mobile has refused to dump Lewandowski or even make a public statement about the issue. Yes, that Cory Lewandowski, Down Syndrome child mocking Cory Lewandowski.
@Debit - i think i’m beginning to like you... ;)
I want to marry Debit.
So if you travel a few times a year you could add the T-Mobile ONE Plus Plan for a particular month and then remove when you don't need it? If not are there any other TMobile options for those that only need the increased international speed a few times a year?
Debit is horny online again
Trash, honestly.
The major difference you missed is the discontinuance of unlimited data in Canada and Mexico.
Mind you, their terms and conditions already hedge against that on the back end (saying things like "if more than 50% of your usage is incurred outside of the US for more than 3 billing cycles per 12" they consider it an abuse of service and will cancel you.
The cost difference is massive. 5...
Trash, honestly.
The major difference you missed is the discontinuance of unlimited data in Canada and Mexico.
Mind you, their terms and conditions already hedge against that on the back end (saying things like "if more than 50% of your usage is incurred outside of the US for more than 3 billing cycles per 12" they consider it an abuse of service and will cancel you.
The cost difference is massive. 5 dollars per day for a 30 day billing cycle is 150.00. This is 6 times more expensive than the previous arrangement, where the international data was built in.
Again... See note regarding terms and conditions that I mentioned earlier, but still. As a front end change, this is terrible.
@Lucky
The "grandfathered" onePlus is $10 add-on with 10GB hotspot
The "new" onePlus is $15 add-on with 20GB hotspot ($10 if all lines on the plan have it)
The "discontinued" or "grandfathered" onePlus Intl has 1) unlimited hotspot 2) unlimited LTE in Canada and Mexico 3) Stateside Intl calling
The basic international plan is the TMobile One Plan not the Simple Choice Plan. The One replaced the Simple Choice Plan a couple years ago.
The only time I have ever panicked in my life is when i falsely heard they were discontinuing magnum XXXXL.
Now I am cool!