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T-Mobile confirms $70 contract-free plan with unlimited data, offers $200 Optimus L9 as a lure
It was increasingly probable T-Mobile would expand its truly unlimited data to no-contract plans, and it's using CES to get a little more attention now that it's official. Starting January 9th, Monthly4G fans can pay $70 a month to get throttling-free internet access as well as unfettered calling and voice. They just need to have bought a supporting device outright to qualify. T-Mobile knows that might not be enough for those used to subsidized device prices: to sweeten the pot, it's cutting the off-contract price of an LG Optimus L9 to $200 for the foreseeable future. Although we'd naturally opt for slightly more powerful hardware, we could easily see more than a few converts when both the plan and the phone cost that much less than usual.
T-Mobile Monthly4G plans may get an unlimited data tier on January 9th
The perpetual gotcha for T-Mobile's Monthly4G prepaid service has been the absence of truly unlimited data -- you could have one advantage or the other, but not both. TmoNews understands that this either/or choice is fading away after spotting what looks to be leaked promo material. Come January 9th, the carrier is reportedly replacing its 5GB Monthly4G tier with an unlimited alternative. The same $70 should net the previous unlimited talk and text, but skip the pesky throttling for very frequent users. As long as customers have good coverage, it's hard to see a downside for them if this proves real; next week can't come soon enough.
T-Mobile memo asks staff to sell 'against the iPhone' on September 21st
T-Mobile has been virtually screaming for an iPhone deal, but a memo leaked to TmoNews suggests Apple isn't prepared to listen just yet. The note tells carrier staff they'll get training material to learn "selling against the iPhone" from September 21st onwards. Why does that date sound familiar? Although we don't know if T-Mobile has an inside track on Apple's plans or is just making assumptions based on rumors, that's not the language we would associate with a carrier that has a new agreement to sell the iPhone -- not unless it's using a loose definition of the word "against," at least. As a consolation, T-Mobile is reportedly supplying updated micro-SIM kits on August 29th to emphasize its improving support for unlocked iPhones on refarmed 3G spectrum. Nothing's official until Apple struts on stage, of course; you may nonetheless want to research alternatives if getting a cheaper contract phone on Magenta trumps having Cupertino's latest and greatest.
ZTE-made Concord arrives at T-Mobile and Walmart, caters to the starter crowd at $100 contract-free
T-Mobile wants to offer as much of a lure to smartphone newcomers as to power users who might spring for its truly unlimited data, and the ZTE Concord might just be the right kind of bait. The truly 2010-vintage Android 2.3, 3.5-inch screen and 2-megapixel camera won't get anyone's pulse racing, but a $100 contract-free price is hard to ignore -- even for the sort who'd otherwise be looking for a just-does-calls flip phone. Accordingly, the carrier plans to put the Concord in front of audiences that would rarely care to set foot in a dedicated cellphone store. Walmart is selling the phone today for those comfortable with a Walmart Family Mobile plan. If you'd rather show fealty to T-Mobile itself, you'll have to swing through a Target store on or after August 26th.
