T-Mobile Data Plans Suddenly Stop Working

[nutzareus]

Originally Posted by tjl129

I am in San Diego and still getting full internet access on the tzones plan. my contact ended last month so it might be time to shop for a new carrier soon.

That's why I got the BlackJack on Cingular Premier (19% monthly service discount) with PDA Connect Unlimited with NO VOICE PLAN. I needed 3G now and totally fed up with T-Mobile 2.5G EDGE. When I got the BlackJack and got a taste of 3G, thanks to Slingbox, I immediately cancelled my T-Mobile Internet add-on plan. I will not extend my voice contract unless I see 3G in my area from T-Mobile in Q3 this year, not to mention an update to the slow T-Mobile MDA.

[nutzareus]

Originally Posted by tjl129

I am in San Diego and still getting full internet access on the tzones plan. my contact ended last month so it might be time to shop for a new carrier soon.

That's why I got the BlackJack on Cingular Premier (19% monthly service discount) with PDA Connect Unlimited with NO VOICE PLAN. I needed 3G now and totally fed up with T-Mobile 2.5G EDGE. When I got the BlackJack and got a taste of 3G, thanks to Slingbox, I immediately cancelled my T-Mobile Internet add-on plan. I will not extend my voice contract unless I see 3G in my area from T-Mobile in Q3 this year, not to mention an update to the slow T-Mobile MDA.

[Kris Kumar]

Originally Posted by Mark Larson

You must have a small heart, to wish ill upon people.

I guess I did sound rather mean, something that is unlike me. I guess I should stick to my own business of doing the right thing or rather in this case my own foolishness.

[Pete Paxton]

The bottom line is that people have been abusing Tmobile's data plans. If you want total internet access then go for their "total internet" data plan. I don't think anyone is foolish for not abusing his data plan. I have wifi at work and at home so edge fills in fine for now (though I can't wait for tmo to roll out 3g).

[Tim Williamson]

I don't get why people talk about switching carriers, which other carrier offers a $19.99 data plan? :confused totally: And is 3G really important when you're talking about browsing the web on a tiny slow processor (unless you use your Smartphone to tether to a laptop)?

[Mark Larson]

Originally Posted by Mike Temporale

Wait a second - Kris is using the right plan for the job, and you're saying he should have signed up for the cheaper plan and stole access instead? And because he didn't do that, he's foolish? :roll:

Its not about using the right plan for the job at all - if he knew that the $5 plan existed and gave him the same level of access as the $20 plan (never did, I can testify to that) then why didn't he himself move to the $5 plan?

There's no need to get on the moral high ground because some people might want to exploit a loophole that you yourself don't want to.

There's no stealing access going on, don't try to paint us as thieves like the RIAA loves to do. We took advantage of a loophole that T-Mobile full well knew was there.

When I first signed up for T-Mobile, I had free Internet access. I could do anything I wanted online with my T610, which is the reason I signed up with them.

They pulled the rug out from underneath me and I was ok with that, after a couple months without Internet, I signed up for the $5 plan and have been happy with that, even though I need to use workarounds and some things never work.

But now t-mobile is doing the same thing and in response, I'm pricing out a Sprint SERO plan with a Motorola Q. $100 for the Q and $30 for the plan, I should be pretty happy.

[Mark Larson]

Originally Posted by Kris Kumar

I guess I did sound rather mean, something that is unlike me. I guess I should stick to my own business of doing the right thing or rather in this case my own foolishness.

It irks me too when people get the same thing for cheaper, but it passes - right now I can't sign up for the $20 plan (not the Blackberry one) even if I wanted to.

[Mark Larson]

Originally Posted by T-Will

I don't get why people talk about switching carriers, which other carrier offers a $19.99 data plan? :confused totally: And is 3G really important when you're talking about browsing the web on a tiny slow processor (unless you use your Smartphone to tether to a laptop)?

Internet on the phone is a luxury, one that different people will pay different amounts of money for - you can find a lot of people who will say "oh what the heck, $5 a month is not too bad for internet on my phone, I'll see if I find it useful" but you will also find people who will say "wow $30 is a bargain for hotspots + internet! I visit Starbucks and kinko's all the time!"

I fall on the "cheap" end of the spectrum - I bet most smartphone and PDA users fall on the other end. I know many folks who received fancy Samsung i730s from their company with unlimited data plans - they themselves have a personal free phone with no frills because its not even worth it for them to upgrade to a $49 phone.

[eliteramen]

Originally Posted by T-Will

I don't get why people talk about switching carriers, which other carrier offers a $19.99 data plan? :confused totally: And is 3G really important when you're talking about browsing the web on a tiny slow processor (unless you use your Smartphone to tether to a laptop)?

Yes! It is important. EDGE is slow as molasses. 3G is like rivers of fast-flowing sugary slurpie goodness.

I would like to paint a grisly scenario for you. Fair warning, friend. This story involves the untimely demise of a wireless device ...

Let's pretend for a second that you used only the built-in apps on your smartphone. OK, now let's also say you're in the mood to surf the web. What are your choices? Pocket IE. OK, for the sake of argument, you want to bring up http://www.adobe.com because you read from some review linked from http://www.smartphonethoughts.com that there is an Adobe Reader LE that runs on Windows Mobile! And you want desperately to install a PDF viewer that doesn't SUCK! So you visit http://www.adobe.com and you wait. And you wait. And then the progress bar looks like it's almost full but you wait 3x longer than you expect to! Stupid lying progress bar! Stupid EDGE! You throw up your hands in disgust, dash your Dash's screen against a boulder, then promptly switch to Cingular, eating the $200 early termination fee.

It's important, mmmkay?

[eR]

[nutzareus]

Originally Posted by T-Will

I don't get why people talk about switching carriers, which other carrier offers a $19.99 data plan? :confused totally:

Cingular actually has a "Smartphone Connect Unlimited" Internet add-on for $19.99 if you get a voice plan on your Cingular 2125 (T-Mobile SDA) or 3125 (HTC StarTrek). BlackJack users cannot get this plan even though the BlackJack uses a smartphone OS. Basically Cingular says because it has a keyboard, you must use PDA plan. Whatever. This issue has been beaten to a pulp in Cingular and Howardforums message boards, some have this plan on their BlackJacks, and some were forced to get the "PDA Connect Unlimited" for $39.99. Supposedly tethering is off-limits too with these plans. I'd like to see Cingular enforce this one, I am using Slingbox and Cingular Video (at least 500mb of data traffic daily) with my BlackJack. Probably 10-15% of that is tethering traffic. Once the barn doors are opened, you can't put the horses back in.

[cinimod1000]

Guys!!!
Give me a breeeeaaaakkkk...!!!
What's the problem here? T-Mobile charging $29.95 (?) for Internet. Many have been getting it for $5, including me. I use it because it is there, and I can. I would like to keep it, but will NOT pay that amount to continue, if I am cut off. I currently pay half that amount ($15) to get my "Hi speed" at home - and I can use several computers at the same time on that!!! I like T-Mobile, as they have really looked after me, but it's crazy that ANY carrier wants $20, $30, or $40 so I can occasionally browse the web, and get my e-mail. Come on.............I dont care if it is Edge or 3G.........that's too much money. Period.