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 October 25th 2009 11:14AM
Ooh, where do you see that? I'm looking through the list of plans on the site and I don't see it.
BlackBerry
Activation of a new two year agreement on both a qualifying voice plan and data service is required. A data service is needed in order for the phone to work properly and to provide you with access to your favorite websites, e-mail, directions, and more. Once added, the data service may not be removed during your contract term but can be changed to other data services compatible with your device.
BlackBerry Unlimited Web
More details ›
$30.00 per month
BlackBerry Unlimited Web + Unlimited Messages with Enterprise Email
More details ›
$45.00 per month
BlackBerry Unlimited Web + Unlimited Messages
More details ›
$40.00 per month
Ah, if I'm reading that correctly, it requires adding it on to a voice plan... which, of course, I would only use about a half hour of.
Ha - exactly.
My thoughts...
I'm currently with T-Mobile and I've had no issues at all.
However, I would consider tied for the 3rd tier of providers with Sprint, with 1st being Verizon and 2nd being Att. These new plans were made out to be the next best thing, that would position T-mobile as the value leader.
My current plan:
2 Lines
1500 shared minutes
Both have Blackberry internet/email
Both have 400 TXT messages
Both have myFav
Both on a 1 year contract
Monthly payment $119
With the new plans:
2 Lines
1500 shared minutes
Both w/ BB internet/email
Both w/ unlimited TXT messages
2-year contract
Monthly payment $169
That is $50 difference - I gain unlimited TXT (which I don't need) and lose myFavs (which accounts for a large chunk of used minutes).
What gives?
You can still be grandfathered in for your plan - T-mobile won't do anything unless you ask for it.
IF YOU HAVE A G1, YOUR DATA COST IS STILL 25$, not the 20$ that is listed on that site. i hate to say it, but these plans do not help me in anyway.
boh :(.
This new pricing is a joke ! I have been with T-Mobil since 2002 and have two lines through them as we speak. I already have unlimited nation wide on each device for $49.99 a month. I was thinking about leaving T-mobil because I want the web stuff too and don't want to pay an extra $30.00 a month per line when I could go with Metro and get everything I want for $50.00 a month and a customer Rep. talked me out of switching a last week telling me to wait for the cool new cheaper plans coming out that looks to only save me $10.00 a month.
And they've raised the chocolate ration to 300g! Doubleplusgood!
This new pricing is a joke ! I have been with T-Mobil since 2002 and have two lines through them as we speak. I already have unlimited nation wide on each device for $49.99 a month. I was thinking about leaving T-mobil because I want the web stuff too and don't want to pay an extra $30.00 a month per line when I could go with Metro and get everything I want for $50.00 a month and a customer Rep. talked me out of switching a last week telling me to wait for the cool new cheaper plans coming out that looks to only save me $10.00 a month.
Yeah we do get ripped off in the U.S. Ripped off by healthcare and Mobile phone services. This is a step in the right direction and the competition is heating up. If enough people leave the other 3 then we will see some lower prices.
I heard from someone at radioshack yesterday that T-mo has totally removed their MyFaves plans. Can't find them on their website either...
They have been removed. I asked this question to the T-Mobile CS rep and I was told it's because the cheapest MyFaves plan is $39.99 and the new unlimited talk plans are just a little more expensive, so there is "no need for MyFaves" any longer.
That doesn't even make sense. Of course MyFaves makes sense for some of us. My plan is a family plan with 1800 minutes shared across 4 lines. It's 89.99 (the same price as the family time unlimited.) However, if I had gone with unlimited, I would have had to pay an extra $40 per line to add lines 3 and 4 (as opposed to the standard $9.99 per line for lines 3 and 4.)
Anyway, the point is with 4 lines sharing 1800 minutes, the myFaves does indeed help us stay below our 1800 minute threshold.
This is a FAIL for T-Mobile of EPIC proportions.
The new plans aren't really all what they are advertised. After a long conversation with numerous T-Mobile CS representatives, if you switch from your current contracted plan to the non-contracted Even More Plus plan, you are required to pay a $35 "migration" fee. This fee is due to the "account changing" from a contracted account to once your contract is over, you will never be in a contract again. You are still obligated to finish out your current contract after the switch to the Even More Plus plan. From what I gather from my conversations, once you have Even More Plus as your plan, you cannot go back to a contracted plan. In addition, if you upgrade your phone after today on your current plan and then change your plan to the Even More Plus plan, you will be charged $200 for the early cancellation fee, even though you aren't canceling your service, because "it breaks your contract." I specifically asked what upgrading the phone had to do with the rate plan, considering if you change your rate plan to the Even More Plus from the myFaves plan, you still have to finish out your contract without paying $200 as if you upgraded your phone. The response was all companies make business decisions, and this is one of T-Mobile's. The T-Mobile website also makes no mention of the migration fee or this brand spankin' new policy on upgrades and rate plan changes, which I mentioned to the CS rep. "It definitely needs to be on there," is all I was told.
Why is everyone so upset?? These are good prices. The only people hyping this up was.... all of us. T-mobile never said anything and now everyone is bashing them like they let everyone down on purpose. Get over it.
You know, on looking closer I agree with you.
I have 4 lines on a family plan. So if I want unlimited "everything" I would pay
T-Mo
$99.99 for first two lines combined, then $10 for lines 3 and 4. = $120. Plus (4) data plans @ $30/ea = $240. Plus Family SMS/MMS for $25 total = $265.
Sprint
$189.98 for first two lines combined, then $89.99 each for lines 3 and 4 = $370.
AT&T
$199.99 for first two lines combined, then $99.99 each for lines 3 and 4 = $400. Plus $50 each for "Smartphone bundle" SMS/Data = $600.
So, I'm wondering why people are saying that this is a rip-off and that Sprint is a better deal... I mean, I just got these prices right off the website. Sprint is $105 more per month for the same thing!
It's called even more because you now have to pay even more for the plans. For example, I haveba shared plan, 1000 minutes ($50), unlimited family messaging ($10), and two unlimited data add ons for our MyTouches ($50 total). So I pay $110 before taxes and fees bit I switched to Even More (I prefer a contract and subsidized phone), I would pay $60 for just 750 minutes and (now this is crazy) $40 per phone for unlimited text/email and data. That's $140 before taxes. How is that in any way beneficial? The rates went way up. WTF? I'm actually encouraged by the fact that it says this is for a limited time only. The sooner they dump this total crap, the better.
Is it me, or are the prices cheaper for the contract-free plans.
Even More Plus 500 Talk + Text + Web (No Contract) $60 a month
Even More 500 Talk + Text + Web (2yr Contract) $80 a month
Strange. But without a contact you pay around $500 for a phone, as opposed to $100 or $150
What are they trying to do here???
They're trying to demonstrate that the average American doesn't know their discount rate from their elbow.
Even More Plus sounds ridiculous.
ok people im on the plan....
im on the EVEN MORE PLAN...its everything i aready had before but just 15 bucks more and im unlimited which is ok i guess..
after like 2 hours on the phone (cuz no one knew what i was talking about) i had the plan changed
so i now have 2 LINES
UNLIMITED MINS
UNLIMITED TEXT
AND ONE LINE HAS SMARTWEB AND INSURANCE
TOTAL OF AROUND 175 which before i had 700 mins instead of unlimited so its jus like 15 bucks difference..
the even more is cheaper but when u thorw taxes in then its again around the 15$ difference from mine..
MY OLD PLAN 160$ WITH 700 MINS
MY NEW PLAN 175$ UNLIMITED EVERYTHING
i guess its kool
ok people im on the plan....
im on the EVEN MORE PLAN...its everything i aready had before but just 15 bucks more and im unlimited which is ok i guess..
after like 2 hours on the phone (cuz no one knew what i was talking about) i had the plan changed
so i now have 2 LINES
UNLIMITED MINS
UNLIMITED TEXT
AND ONE LINE HAS SMARTWEB AND INSURANCE
TOTAL OF AROUND 175 which before i had 700 mins instead of unlimited so its jus like 15 bucks difference..
the even more plus (month to month) is cheaper but when u throw taxes in then its again around the 15$ difference from mine..
MY OLD PLAN 160$ WITH 700 MINS
MY NEW PLAN 175$ UNLIMITED EVERYTHING
i guess its kool
It's not gone. It's free. $40 for an additional UNLIMITED line is more than reasonable.. it's $10 for the 750 and 1500 plans and it costs more than double that for unlimited on lines 3-5 at Sprint, AT&T and Verizon.
Just switched this morning I went from $80 to $64 a month and thats with taxes. I got 500minutes + mobile to mobile, unlimited web, unlimited messages! I used to have only 400 messages so this is great for me. This is also good because most of the people I talk to are on T-mobile so I won’t really be using any minutes. Oh and now I’m not on contract so I can leave T-mobile any time without having to pay any stupid termination fee. I have a Mytouch 3G so these plan are for both dumb and smart phones.
Only $35 to "break" my contract? I'm on with CS right now... because I currently have:
300 MyFaves $39.99
400 msgs + Web $24.99
= $80 according to the CSR I talked to last night..(Idk how that adds up to $80.. I know some taxes and whatnot but $15???)
soooo anyway, going to talk to a CSR in a minute to hopefully just pay the $35 and go to the $80 everything plan. :D (that is if my current plan is $80 anyway, we shall see!)
Was worried last night it would require $200 fee. Contract expires 5/2011 anyway LOL
I forgot to add taxes to the new plan LOL oopsy, probably switch anyway.
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.
apparently engadget is not familiar with the concept of the time value of money?
i have an idea! you give me $350, and i'll give you $20 a month for the next 18 months, you come out $10 ahead!!
crap I want the 1000 .. I'm on hold for the $80 unlim going into effect LOL. Ok good now 1000 talk, unlim msg, unlim web. Nice. I have 3k MyFaves usage a month, thankfully they are on T-Mo anyway so instead of unlim talk 1000 makes more sense LOL and keeps the price closer to what I just had.
i've been an avid tmo'er for years but there's a knot in the pit of my stomach about this move. unlimited everything for that price will potentially drive the masses onto the tmo bandwagon. and thereafter, project dark will definitely be true to its name = network overload, network fail. hoping this doesn't happen or i'll have to abandon ship.
Okay. I'm on Family Time 1000, which is 1000 minutes plus unlimited mobile-to-mobile for both me and my wife's phones for $50.
This has been great and we rarely use more than half of the minutes. They'll have to pull this one from my cold, dead hands.
However... My wife has a G1 with the $25 data+400text plan. I'm considering upgrading to a CLIQ, but I can't find any reference to the 400 texts coming with the $25 CLIQ Android data plan.
Have they split out the text messages from the data plan, so now I have to pay $30 on the CLIQ to get the SAME THING as she gets on the G1 for $25?
FROM: MyFaves 300 $39.99 + 400 msgs/Unlim Web $24.99 = $75/mo with taxes
TO: Even More Plus 1000 min + Unlim Text/Unlim Web $69.99 = $83/mo with taxes
So basically this is what I sacrificed: Instead of having Unlim calling to 5 people, I now have Unlim calling to only T-Mo customers (which is fine for now since one person that was on MyFaves equaled 3k minutes a month has T-Mo), however I lose unlim calling to the 4 other people since they were landlines and AT&T. Which is fine since I barely talk to them.
Obviously I don't technically save money, but in a way, I did. Had I kept the previous plan, I think I would've had to pay $15 to access unlimited texting, instead of about 9... so I only save about $4 a month when though of that way. Too bad I'm not a huge texter, but w/e lol.
Everyone switch to T-Mo so I can go to the 500 plan from the 1000 plan I just signed up for LOL. Or have them make a Talk/Web plan. Thanks lol.
Anyway, so it's a win/lose situation unless you go with the Unlim Everything Plan. Win = unlim texting only a few dollars extra, Lose = 4 people are now in the 1000 minutes LOL. But I guess it's a good thing since I barely talk to the 4, I'd rather have unlim msgs instead of MyFaves.
Yes, this sounds like a plan that T-Mobile had before that would've saved me money BUT mobile-to-mobile would've been $7 a month, and certain amounts of minutes had free nights only, so this is a much better deal now since they all come with unlim nights and weekends and free mobile to mobile.
However, once I make more money I'll def switch to the Unlim Everything Plan since that's the best deal of all (coming in at about $95 with taxes). Sprint is 99.99 before taxes..... so yeah.
I can absolutely guarantee that the N900 IS coming to T-Mobile.
Also, those of you saying that your moving to Verizon, Sprint or anyone else just don't understand the T-Mobile program.
For $59.00 you get UNLIMITED talk.
For $69.00 you get UNLIMITED talk and text.
For $99.00 you get UNLIMITED talk, text, web (that's NO restrictions on data gang, not like the other guys puny 5 stinkin' gig limit)
So, if you still think any of the others can beat that right now (you know they are working on new plans) your nutz!
No, you can't guarantee jack. Kindly go away, as we've had enough people spouting BS in the last few weeks to last a year. I don't care if your half brother's niece's BFF Jill who's dating a customer service rep told you that, you know absolutely nothing.
No, JACK - I AM the CR that knows it! Dumb azz!
OK, first of all Sprint doesn't have a cap on phone data usage. The cap is on data cards and Phone-as-Modem plans. T-Mo also caps their data cards and doesn't even offer PAM anymore.
Also, unlimited everything is the same price on both T-Mo and Sprint. However Sprint includes Sprint TV, Sprint Music and Sprint Navigation in that price, services that T-Mo doesn't even offer. Sprint also has a much larger 3G network and already has a 4G network that is blowing T-Mo's HSPA+ out of the water before it even gets started.
The ONLY reason to choose T-Mo over Sprint is if they have a phone you absolutely MUST have and you don't mind missing out on Sprint's greater data coverage and features.
@NYTECHIE, You should have checkout that promotional plan that T-Mobile was offering. It was unlimited anytime calling for a single line 49.99, 2 lines 89.99.
I have three lines the first 2 @ 89.99 the 3rd for 49.99 web for 2 lines at 24.99 each and unlimited texing for all 3 lines 14.99,
Hey Obama, where's my public option for wireless service?! Growing the government solves everything!
I was a customer for 5 years on T-Mobile and left because of dropped calls and limited coverage. Looks like their phone selection has become horrible within the last two years. I miss the low prices for voice but until they figure out how to expand their coverage and generally get serious about catering to more than just college kids and the local townsfolk I won't go back.
Whoa! Might want to correct that mistake! You list the installment price for a $500 MT3g on Even More Plus is two installments of $25. Shouldn't that be $250?
I think I missed something...
"while Even More Plus' is two installments (e.g. $25 per month for the same device at the $500 full price)"
Did you mean 2 installments of $250, or 20 installments of $25 to equal the $500?
Is it me, or is the wording of this article confusing?
Maybe. I'm confused by why the no-contract plans are cheaper than the 2-year contact plans. What is the point of that?
@Eli: this is cuz u r handset is subsidized by the carrier and that your cost per month includes the charges for the handset as well. With this new plan TMobile is giving the users an option to buy their own handsets and choose the cheaper plans or get the handset from them and pay the regular monthly price.
In comparison other carriers hide the cost of the handset by not providing the cheaper no contract option
I switched to t-mobile when these prices were announced. I was going to switch anyways, but after all the rumors I decided to wait what all the fuzz was about. I am definitely happy. $60 a month for unlimited texts, web, and 500 minutes. Sure beats 115+tax for 400 minutes+text and web at at&t. I'm still using my iphone and I bought a mytouch for the 3g, but sadly I get terrible 3g. I have not been on 3g since I turned on the phone yesterday. not once. I am returning the phone, but other than that, super happy with the plan.
There is no way you can even for a moment think that these 'Project Dark' prices are all that good. $79 for unlimited talk, text & data? I pay only $45! I use the Straight Talk unlimited plan available at Wal-Mart. It uses the Verizon network, so it's not as if its just a regional carrier or something like that. True national coverage on the best network at a much better price.
WOw.... so much anger so much confusion, disregarding the fact Ive taken advanced Calculus in USC... plans for every carrier are 2nd grade math and not that complicated to understand guys, seriously. I work for Business accounts and support all major carriers; Verizon, At&t, Sprint and T-mobile. I love every one of them I offer every company accordingly. You guys either have some sort of ego or have a brainwashed way of thinking. Verizon might have the best advertising about their coverage that even if you dont have signal, you dont complain. Has anyone really gone to every state and seen if their coverage is 100% accurate all maps and coverage are just estimates and dont include the fact of interference. Anywho, yes sprint has its upsides of Anymobile anytime for 69.99 txt and web unlimited but is limited for 450min for landlines or 900min for 89$ so for people that actually do call everyone and call business or call their family at their house your limited big time! their true unlimited is 99$. Now, tmobile even more + is cheaper because of the handset so truly everything is 79$$ and if you get a mytouch for 350$ its divided to 20installment including the 1st installment at time of purchase so that of course is 19 months left to pay your phone so lets make it 2nd grade math for the ones i lost. ;;
79$$ even more plan= TRULY everything unlimited TEXT, WEB, Minutes (for sony ericson or any other non smartphone its 69$$!!!)
Mytouch monthly = full retail 349.99 compared to pre = 249.99 with 2 year price before 100$M.I.R.
Thus, if you were to activate today you could pay anything for your phone with a minimum of 18$ to cover one month of the payment for 20 months so logically if you wanna get the same deal as sprint then pay the 150$$ you would of paid for pre (after mail in rebate)
conclusion,
today you pay only 150 for mytouch; your monthly payments are 79.99+ fees plus $10 for the rest of your mytouch sale( 350-150 paid today= 200 divided to 19 months left approx 10$$ )
so if your not cross eyed by now;;;; your payments are 89.99$$$ !!! for only 19months!! for TEXT UNLIMITED MINUTES UNLIMITED WEB UNLIMITED AND YOUR MYTOUCH... after your 19 months you paid your phone off , your still not under contract and you pay 79.99 for as long as you stay with unlimited.. Get it??? I only compared to sprint because trully their the only other competitor.. verizon has the nation brainwashed with their NETWORK i travel from pennsylvania to New orleans to new york and Live in Bel Air in SoCAl and let me tell you Tmobile has some reliability and so does Sprint... And the IPHONE????? Been there done that Even 3GS Guys really you need to get the 32gb Iphone just to get voice dialing???? you serious?? you pay 30 for unlimited web only ?? you still need to pay for unlimited TExt for 20!!! and your Voice plan??? SO THINK!! 50$$$ + 40$$ MINIMUM!!! NO WAY!! BUT ITS TRUE.. SO WITH THE IPHONE YOU PAY 299.99 FOR 32gb plus 149.99 a month!!! for everything unlimited!!! BUT YET PEOPLE ARE STILL SUCKERS THATS THE LAST I TALK ABOUT THEM.... wow Ive been dealing with every phone and mytouch has won my heart.. Mytouch has voice recognition for everything!!! from speaking the website to speaking a location it does it without typing anythingg and VOICE TO TXT soooo much of convenience?? just with that customers go crazy... not to mention iphones internet tops at 850kps and mytouch tops at 1079kbps iono.. this nation is soo commercial happy that doesnt take the time to figure it out themselves..
I only back up tmobile right now because people arent talking bad about any other company.. Visit the websites because my conclusion of MONTH TO MONTH CONTRACT WITH EVERYTHING UNLIMITED AND GETTING THE MYTOUCH FOR 89.99 FOR 19MONTHS!!!!!!! for those that dont even use minutes your plan Are even cheaper I.E.= 79.99 with 1000 min and 69.99 for 500min!!!!!! including ofcourse web for smartphone and txt unlimited...
TMOBILE IS A WORLDWIDE COMPANY STARTED IN 1979 IN EUROPE GO TO WIKIPEDIA AND FIND OUT; VERIZON IS THE BEST IN ADVERTISING THATS ALL! THEY MAKE IN WIRELESS 50BILLION A YEAR THE MOST IN AN AMERICAN COMPANY BUT... TMOBILE MAKES 90BILLION A YEAR!!!! they cover EUROPE SOUTH AMERICA AND NORTH AMERICA AND MANY MORE. A FEW YEARS FROM NOW TMOBILE WOULD DOMINATE AMERICA WITH SAME VIDEO CALLING AND TV BROADCASTING AS THEY HAVE IN EUROPE.. just give it time... for the 10years it has in America this nation has made them 20Billion a year and not to mention theyve bought out 14% of cingulars towers and 90% of small companies in eastern US..
BOTH VERIZON AND AT&T DONT HAVE THE REVENUE TO KEEP UP THEIR TOWERS IN THEIR NETWORK AND LOWER THEIR PLANS SIGNIFICANTLY SO THEY HAVE TO KEEP ADVERTISING THEIR PHONES AND NETWORK ONLY!!!!! DEUTsCHE TELEKOM (TMOBILE) HAS 90BILLION OR IF YOU SEE WIKIPEDIAS STOCK EXCHANGE ITS 60BILLION IN POUNDS!!!! SO THEY HAVE ROOM TO EXPERIMENT AND GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY ACTUALLY WANT!!!!
from tmobile they ACTUALLY want you to get month to month because EVERYWHERE else in this planet, thats all they have and have been doing well so far you move out to Europe you pay your phone and your service everymonth THATS IT!!! no contracts...
so in conclusion number two lol ; pay wat you want the day of your activation for your phone (mytouch 18$$ min up to the whole 350$$) and then the remainder of your balance add it to your choice of plan;
59.99 500 min with unlimited; text, web(smartphones), mobile to mobile, nights/weekends
69.99 1000 min with " "
79.99 unlimited Minutes with " "
THE END???!!! GEEZ Class is over.
I went with TMO for 2 reasons, the G1 (via android early adapter) and myFaves. I will have to say that I am very disappointed. I'm about 45 minutes north of Pittsburgh Pa - you know, the 6 time Super Bowl winning Champs! Guess what? No 3G, not even when I'm in the city of Pittsburgh. I have been patiently waiting for 3G coverage here, but it doesn't even look like its in the works.
Now I can live with no 3G since my phone does have wi-fi, not happy about it, but i could live with it. I purchased the phone and plan with the thought that TMO would be expanding the 3G coverage and that my phone wouldn't be out of date 8 months after purchasing it. By out of date, I'm referring to the fact that the phone was not built with enough memory to support full versions future updates.
Now I love the myfaves plan. That is huge for me. I don't talk to many people, but I spend a lot of time with the few people I do talk to. These new plans are going to cause TMO to lose more than they gain. It's apparent by the number of negative remarks about the plan. I am on my way to Verizon, where the 3G coverage is actually covered and where I can get a family plan with 10 numbers that I can call without minute restrictions for $9 more than what I am paying now. My wife's phone doesn't need unlimited data so no need to have it on both phones. I'm looking at $129/mo with VRZ for true 3G coverage, 1400 mins to share, 10 unlimited numbers and unlimited data for my phone. I'll take the data plan off of my phone and them to my kids and cancel once the contract is done.