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T-mobile offers free international data, text, and calls

bmiddend

I'd like to know how Verizon plans to respond to T-mobile's announcement that it will no longer charge to use smart phone features outside of the US? Because right now, I'm going to switch ASAP as I've paid more than $1000 this year in international roaming charges and I'm learning that the prices you charge are completely made-up.

Comments

jroeder

That's a good question. And the answer is they probably won't. They have the best network and thats the only selling point they really need. If you want signal almost everywhere you choose Verizon. If T-Mobile provides you with the services you need then go with them because I doubt Verizon is going to match.

bmiddend

I appreciate the response, but your argument for Verizon's network isn't

very relevant when we're talking about using the phone overseas. Whether in

Europe or Asia, I connect to whatever network or networks are available in

that country and do not use Verizon's network. Thus, they charge me a huge

fee. T-mobile is now getting rid of these outrageous fees because as they

point out, it doesn't actually cost Verizon the exorbitant rates they

charge for that service. Check this out:

http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/10/t-mobile-hands-consumers-a-pleasant-shocker/?src=me&ref=general

jroeder

Right, I was just saying that about the network because that's what they believe (Verizon) They believe since the network is better in the U.S. that they don't have to change anything about the plans, whether it be international or domestic. So because they do, they aren't going to make a international plan that doesn't make as much money with the current international plan. So Verizon's position is either lose 10,000 customers or make 10 million. They will choose the money

DKVA

Thanks for posting the link to Pogue's blog. I read it over the weekend and dreamed of the day Verizon would follow T-mobile. It is such a hassle to add the International plan every time I need to leave the country. I add the plans for "emergencies" knowing most of the calls and texts I will make can be accomplished through web-based apps that will not charge me the exorbitant amounts Verizon will charge. Makes me sick that while I'm saving maybe 50 cents I'm still charged upwards of $2/minute depending where I am in the world.

willzzz

Read more carefully and the FAQ on T-Mobile's website. T-Mobile's FREE international data roaming is limited to 128Kbps. That's SUB EDGE speeds. Hey it's free but if you can live with that then you're fine. It's enough for text/email and maps. Forget about video and any multimedia. T-Mobile, like Verizon lets you purchase data packs to enable full speed roaming on HSPA+ networks worldwide (LTE roaming is not enabled yet) with T-Mobile being the value leader in the costs ($50 gets you 500MB of FULL SPEED data roaming for 2 weeks, that's more than 2x the amount you get on VZW. AT&T's costs are in the middle.)

T-Mobile's TRUE innovation is unlimited text messages while roaming internationally and 0.20/minute in the same 100+ countries.

I know people who will get a T-Mobile plan just for the cheap international services (calls and text, occasional data) and they use Verizon/AT&T domestically.

flyingkites

I am very doubtful that VZW won't do anything as both ATT and VZW have copied everything TMobile put forth to attain customers. (No contracts and new phones prior to two years) Thus free international texts and data (even if data is throttled back to edge - Slow but it still functions) is a massive deal and win for consumers. The wireless marketplace is competitive. Historically, every time a company has offered a new product or service, the other carriers have followed suite. - Hello Unlimited plans, and iPhone

These efforts by TMobile appear to be working as they are attaining subscribers.

1st off VZW"s "International roaming" is a bit of a joke. Well at least here in Mexico where I travel often. I have Zero service due to the fact that VZW's roaming partner down here has a dilapidated CDMA network because like the rest of the world Mexico is moving away from CDMA. Though my iPhone is a world phone, the reason I have zero service (while my ATT and Tmobile friends make and receive calls) is strictly due to VZW not wanting to offer roaming because VZW would have to offer roaming with competing carriers. It is all about money, not incompatible technology.

The fact is that carriers have historically copied each other 100% of the time when offering new products and services, but given VZW's lack of international roaming agreements this might be a hard trick for VZW to copy. Sure they might have a great national network. But this is 2013, it's time for VZW to offer superior service 100% of the time, not just in America. I love some aspects of VZW service but am considering going back to Tmobile after the 3 years with VZW, I can tell you T-Mobile never throttled my data (I've never been able to attain data I pay for) and my phones always worked in Mexico and the Bahamas.

VZW and ATT will have to respond to TMobiles latest offer of free data. They've responded to everything else Tmoble has offered. If VZW doesn't offer some enhancement on international roaming within the next few months, I might have to make the change myself.

But what do I want more? To be able to be reached when I travel internationally, or to be reached when Im out in the sticks while in the states? Because that is where VZW service shines. My problem is I travel internationally just about as often as I travel nationally and since switching to VZW in order to get an iphone VZW has made international travel a bit of a drag.

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