August was T-Mobile’s biggest month ever with 2.7 million gross adds

[isekii]

Ive been with TMO since Omnipoint and Voicestream days. Hell, I had a SonyEricsson Voistream phone that had an IR port and used my laptop to connect to it for internet back in 1998. I will never leave them.

I was a customer since then too.. but I left and came back.

Voicestream --> Cingular --> Verizon --> Voicestream/T-mobile

 

[HumblePie]

Was a Sprint customer for 17 years or so. Just jumped ship in July to T mobile.

Reason? Sprint service and phones suck. Tmobile service is marginally better, but I do get much better 4g LTE coverage than Sprint ever did. Price is also comparable for my usage as I never used close to unlimited data or even the 2.5gb throttle limit I have with TMobile.

I will say that I did switch my wife over to Tmobile from Straightalk and her coverage did get a bit worse than previous. The main reason for the switch was to upgrade her phone. So basically when 6 months are up and I can apply to have our phones unlocked I will probably switch the phones over to straight talk unless the coverage gets a bit better, although it's not horrible, it's not near as good as straightalk (AT&T) was for my area.

 

[golem]

I thought they were gaining a lot of new subscribers, but actually losing money.

 

[shortylickens]

I thought they were gaining a lot of new subscribers, but actually losing money.

People like me take advantage of their low cost plans. 30 bucks for unlimited data and 100 minutes of talk. I think I talk for 2 minutes each month, on average.
But I milk that freakin data. Most of it comes from HD netflix, but that Amazon finally has a proper Android app for their movies, I may use up even more.

Maybe Tmobile is hoping lots of them will move up to 60 dollar plans eventually.

 

[paperwastage]

I thought they were gaining a lot of new subscribers, but actually losing money.

Chicken and egg problem- need subscribers for cash flow, but need money to attract subscribers (promotions, advertising, more customer service)

One thing that doesn't change is sunk cost - T-Mobile already has their network built in cities, doesn't cost them much to gain more subscribers (other than paying out etf bills via credit internally)

Eventually, each new customer is a net gain in $

 

[akugami]

Treat people well, and I bet many of them will stick around.

Still, the profits used from all these new customers better be spent on aggressive network upgrades; they'll need it to handle the extra load.

Good customer support? That's some crazy shit. :hmm: Normally we just legislate our way to more profits.

Chicken and egg problem- need subscribers for cash flow, but need money to attract subscribers (promotions, advertising, more customer service)

One thing that doesn't change is sunk cost - T-Mobile already has their network built in cities, doesn't cost them much to gain more subscribers (other than paying out etf bills via credit internally)

Eventually, each new customer is a net gain in $

If you can keep the customers, you'll gain in the long run. That's why they must continually identify weak coverage in the major cities and improve it and also slowly build out coverage in rural areas. This means they must continually invest in their network for the next few years.

 

[stlc8tr]

People like me take advantage of their low cost plans. 30 bucks for unlimited data and 100 minutes of talk. I think I talk for 2 minutes each month, on average.
But I milk that freakin data. Most of it comes from HD netflix, but that Amazon finally has a proper Android app for their movies, I may use up even more.

Isn't only the first 5GB at 4G? The rest of the "unlimited" is at 128 kbps.

Or are you talking about a different plan?

 

[Bateluer]

Isn't only the first 5GB at 4G? The rest of the "unlimited" is at 128 kbps.

Or are you talking about a different plan?

Sounds like he was specifically referring to what is commonly called the 'Walmart' TMO plan. 30 dollars, 5GBs of 4G data, 100min of voice.

All of TMO's plans are technically unlimited, the tiers are segmented by how much data is given at 4G speeds. From my perspective, I'd rather have my data throttled down after hitting my limit, if I had one, then have to deal with overage charges.

 

[holden j caufield]

tmobile for 3 years and I've been unable to make a call indoors for 3 years. I've got a nexus 4 phone so no LTE (unless I root it and do the LTE mod, but I've heard of completely bricking phones too). I'm debating doing this mod, but I really can't go 1 day if it bricks.

 

[stlc8tr]

Sounds like he was specifically referring to what is commonly called the 'Walmart' TMO plan. 30 dollars, 5GBs of 4G data, 100min of voice.

All of TMO's plans are technically unlimited, the tiers are segmented by how much data is given at 4G speeds. From my perspective, I'd rather have my data throttled down after hitting my limit, if I had one, then have to deal with overage charges.

I was guessing that was the plan but I wasn't sure since the way he was talking, it sounded like a lot more than 5GB.

5GB doesn't go very far if you're streaming HD Netflix.

 

[midwestfisherman]

I liked Tmobile before it was cool.

I was country before country was cool!


Oh yeah and I'm a T-Mobile customer too. I get great service.

 

[holden j caufield]

is it correct that all tmobile hi speed data plans include tethering? My mom uses maybe 30mb of her unlimited data, wondering if she should just tether her phone as internet as all she does is look up email at home.

 

[paperwastage]

is it correct that all tmobile hi speed data plans include tethering? My mom uses maybe 30mb of her unlimited data, wondering if she should just tether her phone as internet as all she does is look up email at home.

all tmobile Simple Choice plans include tethering

Unlimited plans have 3GB($20 grandfathered) or 5GB($30 current) of tethering.

The normal data-limited plans (1GB, 2.5GB, 3GB etc) have tethering up to the same data limits. All of them apparently get cut off after you hit the limit (though I used to just get throttled when I hit the limit a year ago on the 500MB plan)


the $30 5GB prepaid plan includes 100mb of tethering

 

[holden j caufield]

ok thanks

Edit, now i need to either switch carriers or find a phone with wifi calling, is an unlocked samsung s3 compatible with wifi calling, or do I specifically need a Tmobile Samung s3 version. I'm pretty much tired of paying $75 plus and not being able to call except from my computer's google voice app.

 

[npaladin-2000]

ok thanks

Edit, now i need to either switch carriers or find a phone with wifi calling, is an unlocked samsung s3 compatible with wifi calling, or do I specifically need a Tmobile Samung s3 version. I'm pretty much tired of paying $75 plus and not being able to call except from my computer's google voice app.

You specifically need branded T-Mobile devices to use T-Mobile WiFi calling. The code for it is added at the OS level, it can't be packaged into an app.

I assume the Galaxy S3 would support WiFi calling since the Galaxy S2 did.

 

[s44]

You specifically need branded T-Mobile devices to use T-Mobile WiFi calling.

No, you don't.

You specifically need branded T-Mobile *ROMs* to use their wifi calling. The device can be from anywhere as long as the ROM takes.

You can pretty much cross-flash anything across US Galaxy S models these days, though there can be tricky parts.

In any case, I'm not sure why OP is worrying about a problem that no longer exists. Hangouts Dialer is now a thing.

 

[holden j caufield]

hmm I've not tried hangouts dialer yet. Now to make hangouts call throug my google voice number so I don't use minutes but data. thx

 

[senseamp]

If you are a no contract guy, T-mobile is easy choice. I think with decent smartphones (with notable exception of iPhone) getting cheaper off contract, it doesn't make sense to sign a long term contract, so T-mobile stands to benefit from this trend.

 

[npaladin-2000]

No, you don't.

You specifically need branded T-Mobile *ROMs* to use their wifi calling. The device can be from anywhere as long as the ROM takes.

You can pretty much cross-flash anything across US Galaxy S models these days, though there can be tricky parts.

In any case, I'm not sure why OP is worrying about a problem that no longer exists. Hangouts Dialer is now a thing.

Probably because he's

pretty much tired of paying $75 plus and not being able to call except from my computer's google voice app.

. Specifically. So I'm thinking moving to the phone's Google Voice/Hangouts app isn't an improvement.

And 99 out of 100 people don't know what a ROM is, and are unlikely to go flashing one on a non-TMO device that may not necessarily support the right frequencies anyway. And since there's generally no real price advantage in non-TMO equipment anyway, for all intents and purposes, you need a T-Mobile branded device.

 

[dagamer34]

for now, I'm waiting for VoLTE, Band 12 support (on t-mobile)... in the next gen or so, you'll find 64-bit CPUs, 600-mhz band support, ...

everything else (quad-core CPU, 2-3GB ram, 1080p/2K display) seem to have peaked... you're just waiting for better performance / lower battery life, which will come at every process shrink

Don't expect that in phones for another 3 years at the earliest. 700Mhz auction was in January 2008 and that band didn't get integrated into phones until early 2011.

 

[s44]

Don't expect that in phones for another 3 years at the earliest. 700Mhz auction was in January 2008 and that band didn't get integrated into phones until early 2011.

That was because VZ had to roll out a whole new protocol - LTE!

This would be a lot faster. The main holdup would be TV license clear-out...

 

[RagingBITCH]

I was a customer since then too.. but I left and came back.

Voicestream --> Cingular --> Verizon --> Voicestream/T-mobile

I've been with them since around 2000-ish...Nokia phone. Never had an issue with them, and they've always been good to me and the family.

 

[bamx2]

Good news. Improved coverage is badly needed .

They should be able to deploy 700mhz A Block (Band 12) in DC, Atlanta, and Kansas City in the next 6-12 months. I am extremely bummed that the iPhone 6 doesn't support band 12 though.

 

[RaulF]

I loved their service when i was in San Diego. I moved to Maryland sort of in the middle of no where per se and if i move out of the main road service is terrible. And even then they dont have 3G. Would love to jump back with them.

 

[lopri]

T-Mobile is getting better and better and I am keeping an eye on its coverage. It is not yet on par with AT&T's coverage but it's getting close in many areas where I travel. (mostly NY/NJ)