T-Mobile 55+ Unlimited Data Plans, What?

[RetiredAndLovingIt]

Does any cell plan still places limits on text and voice?

You can build your own plan with Tello. Unlimited texts, choice of 300 or unlimited minutes, and various levels of data. They used to offer more options but cut them back recently. I have the 2GB, 300 minutes, unlimited texts for $8 plan and I manually renew my plan a day early and get to rollover my unused minutes and data so I have over 2000 minutes and close to 50GB of data banked for when I need it. They use T-Mobile towers, data may be deprioritized in times of congestion but I've never had a problem with my service. https://tello.com/buy/custom_plans

 

[foxcreek9]

You can build your own plan with Tello. Unlimited texts, choice of 300 or unlimited minutes, and various levels of data. They used to offer more options but cut them back recently. I have the 2GB, 300 minutes, unlimited texts for $8 plan and I manually renew my plan a day early and get to rollover my unused minutes and data so I have over 2000 minutes and close to 50GB of data banked for when I need it. They use T-Mobile towers, data may be deprioritized in times of congestion but I've never had a problem with my service. https://tello.com/buy/custom_plans

If you deposit at least $20 for pay as you go, Tello works internationally. I select no minutes/2GB data/unlimited text per month and pay 1 cent per min for talk. So far over the last 2 years I have averaged 45 min of talk per month (we use WhatsApp for calling family). I also use about one gig per month and the rest carries over if you pay at least the day before it auto renews. $6.15 a month. We have used the talk/text in NZ and multiple countries in Europe with no issues, use a cheap esim for data as their international data is too expensive.

 

[RetiredAndLovingIt]

Tello is an attractive choice for (very) low-cost plans that use the T-Mobile network. They have a $6/month plan that includes 100 minutes of talk and 1GB of data. I have this on a secondary/backup iPhone, and it works perfectly for what I need.

EDIT: Looks like they may have discontinued this $6 plan. Lowest I see now is $8/month for 300 minutes of talk and 2GB data. I guess I'm grandfathered into the other one.

You're grandfathered in as long as you stay with that plan and they removed your manual renewal option. If you want rollover you have to move to the $8 plan with more minutes and data included which I really don't need but I do like to keep the rollover. They also have a PAYG plan, I had it many years ago but the monthly plan was cheaper at the time so I switched.

 

[explanade]

I got the same text today. Rates raised by $6 per line. I sort of remember that the original rate was no contract and 'guaranteed for life', but haven't found where that was actually promised. I've been on the ONE Plan Unlimited 55 for years.

The only wording I've found says 'Those were our commitments that only you have the power to change what you pay for your monthly talk, text, and data rate plan. We will pay your final month's recurring service charge if we raise prices and you choose to leave.' So, not much of a guarantee - if we raise the price, you can leave with this parting gift.

But - the T-Mobile plan is valuable to me for the unlimited overseas text and data. It's worked pretty seamlessly in every country that I've been to. So I supposed I'll have to swallow the increase.

Looks like other carriers are offering international roaming or they have very low prices and let you buy international passes.

For instance, Xfinity Mobile now has "Unlimited" international data, talk and text for both their Select and Mobile Plus plans at $30 or $45 if you have Xfinity home Internet with them.

The fine print says 10 GB of data and then speed reduces to 14 Mbps after 10 GB of data. With T-Mobile, I was getting 5 GB of high speed data and then speeds of 256 kbps after 5 GB, which lasted me about a week -- though to be honest I didn't turn off things like app updates.

I get a free Xfinity Mobile line with my home Internet plan so I will try their international data when I go on a trip soon.

 

[RetiredAndLovingIt]

If you deposit at least $20 for pay as you go, Tello works internationally. I select no minutes/2GB data/unlimited text per month and pay 1 cent per min for talk. So far over the last 2 years I have averaged 45 min of talk per month (we use WhatsApp for calling family). I also use about one gig per month and the rest carries over if you pay at least the day before it auto renews. $6.15 a month. We have used the talk/text in NZ and multiple countries in Europe with no issues, use a cheap esim for data as their international data is too expensive.

Yes, I have money on my PAYG as well and was actually overseas when they announced the International update but I never checked my mails at the time so bought a local sim and missed the opportunity to check it out.

 

[explanade]

Yes, a $6 increase for no benefit that I can see for myself.

On their comparison page, I think you get Netflix with ads for free and you can get Apple TV for $3 a month.

Also I think maybe free AAA membership?

 

[CDRE]

From T-Mobile's FAQs:


Un-contract Promise


Qualifying mobile wireless accounts activated before April 28, 2022, received our Un-contract Promise. The Un-contract Promise is our commitment that only you can change what you pay for your monthly talk, text, and data rate plan. We will pay your final month’s recurring service charge if we raise prices, and you choose to leave. Just let us know within 60 days.

 

[Lorenzo]

On their comparison page, I think you get Netflix with ads for free and you can get Apple TV for $3 a month.

Also I think maybe free AAA membership?

Okay, I just took a closer look. Looks like you're correct about Netflix and Apple TV. AAA membership for one year, it says. Does that mean it does not renew for another year if you are still with T-Mobile? Similarly, what about the included international data of 5GB in their "215+ countries"? Is that per month, per year, or what? If per month, that could really save some money over their International Pass or a travel esim.

 

[Aggie1999]

Currently on a military family T-Mobile plan with 4 lines costing $100 per month. So a ~25% price increase! T-Mobile Home Internet is also tied into it at $25 per month that is supposed to also be lifetime. Wonder when they will screw us on that also.

 

[tulak]

From T-Mobile's FAQs:

Un-contract Promise

Qualifying mobile wireless accounts activated before April 28, 2022, received our Un-contract Promise. The Un-contract Promise is our commitment that only you can change what you pay for your monthly talk, text, and data rate plan. We will pay your final month’s recurring service charge if we raise prices, and you choose to leave. Just let us know within 60 days.

Weasel words. I also wonder when that definition of the ‘Un-contract Promise’ was made. I was a happy T-Mobile customer for 10+ years, but there are better and cheaper alternatives available.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

I have been with T-Mobile for 17 years. They just lost me.

 

[pb4uski]

We each have Red Pocket mobile, a MVNO, that can do any carrier, GSMA, GSMT or CDMA.

We have their Plus plan that is Unlimited Talk and Text and 20GB of 5G Premium Data for $20/mo or $200 for a year per line.

We could probably downshift to their Essentials plan with Unlimited Talk and Text and 3GB of 5G Premium Data for $10/mo or $100 for a year per line.

The Plus plan that we're currently on previously was 3GB of data.

We've been using them for a few years now and have been pleased with the service.

 

[Gotadimple]

II’m now going to port over to an MVNO maybe Mint but they’re also owned by T-Mobile. Google Fi or US mobile?

Most MVNOs are NOT owned by the carrier, they are generally independent companies that lease time on the carriers' network. Google Fi and US Mobile are not owned by T-Mobile. US Mobile leases time on all three carriers networks.

I have used US Mobile and it was excellant if you get great service on T-Mobile cells. I switched originally from T-Mobile to US Mobile and finally to Google Fi. If you travel internationally Google Fi, due to their size, gets you all 200+ countries that T-Mobile offers to their subscribers, US Mobile gets you a subset. Pricing is different between these two carriers, so do your research. Consider your options.

 

[tulak]

I don’t see US Mobile limits the number of countries. Same as when I was on T-Mobile.

 

[Golden Mean]

Big fan of GoogleFi here (Flexible plan). About $28 a month unless I use more than my typical mobile data. Then it's $10 per GB.

Worked just find in England and France.

Supports wifi tethering; perfect when I'm out somewhere with my laptop and their Wifi is down.

 

[Pluperfect]

Does any cell plan still places limits on text and voice?

Mine does. Tracfone (Verizon) has phones on QVC and HSN that come with a year of service and X number of voice minutes/text/data. It's usually about $50 for a flip phone or $60 for a smart phone.

Every year my boyfriend would fire up the new phone and then transfer the service to my old flip phone. But at some point I found out I could go online and extend the service date by a year for like $60, and I had thousands of minutes and texts built up so I didn't really need any more, and doing that is more convenient than having a new phone delivered (we travel fulltime) and doing the transfer thing. So it's a tiny bit more expensive than buying a new phone, but more convenient and certainly better on my conscience (I have a stack of unusued flip and smart phones, although I do use one of the smart phones as an MP3 player).

I was down to buying a new phone only every few years.

BUT last year I was in a situation where I was having to use my phone an enormous amount, and a couple of months ago my phone ran out of minutes. Just cut off in the middle of a call, and when I'd try to call a number, I got a message that didn't really explain what had happened.

I finally figured it out and bought a new phone from QVC. I got a smart phone this time and my boyfriend got it set up but he didn't have time to transfer the service to my flip phone, so I used the smart phone for about a week and all that did was reinforce my preference for a flip phone.

The whole ordeal did make me wonder if I'm the last person on the planet to run out of minutes on their cell phone plan.

 

[Livefree]

I just got off the phone with T-Mobile to inquire about the message regarding rate increases. We are currently on the Magenta 55+ Plan with Netflix, and paying $80 for 2 lines.

She switched us to an Essential Choice 55+ plan including Netflix for $69 dollars.
If I hadn't called, we would have been charged an extra $12 per month (2lines)

 

[audreyh1]

I just got off the phone with T-Mobile to inquire about the message regarding rate increases. We are currently on the Magenta 55+ Plan with Netflix, and paying $80 for 2 lines.

She switched us to an Essential Choice 55+ plan including Netflix for $69 dollars.
If I hadn't called, we would have been charged an extra $12 per month (2lines)

Good tip. I guess we had better look at their Essential options and call.

 

[braumeister]

I was also on the Magenta 55+ plan. When I moved recently, I wanted to switch from two phones and two watches to one of each. For whatever reason, they couldn't handle that, so I bit the bullet and went with their new Experience Beyond plan.
For the phone and watch, I'm paying $97/month plus taxes and fees (that's with a small military discount). They gave me a 5 year price guarantee, so that will be stable for a while.
I can also upgrade my phone every year, although I certainly won't want to. The way I interpret that, it boils down to about a 50% discount on a new phone.
There is also 15 GB of high speed data overseas, Netflix with ads, Hulu, 250 GB of high speed hotspot, and lots of other goodies.

 

[Fotodog]

I might have missed it, but I haven’t seen anyone post about problems with coverage. We switched to T Mobile a couple of years ago because their pricing was much better for those of us over 55. Having previously used Verizon and AT&T, I find the coverage is not nearly as good. There are many spots in the Bay Area with little to no service. It’s enough of an annoyance that I’m thinking about switching back.

 

[audreyh1]

For us T-Mobile coverage improved significantly when we got 5G phones long ago. It’s excellent now.

 

[RetiredAt55.5]

I might have missed it, but I haven’t seen anyone post about problems with coverage. We switched to T Mobile a couple of years ago because their pricing was much better for those of us over 55. Having previously used Verizon and AT&T, I find the coverage is not nearly as good. There are many spots in the Bay Area with little to no service. It’s enough of an annoyance that I’m thinking about switching back.

On the other side of the country, we've always had good T-Mobile coverage. Anecdotally, my son switched to a different carrier, which happened to be using Verizon, and he complained about problems. That surprised me as Verizon historically has a good reputation coverage wise.

 

[braumeister]

For us T-Mobile coverage improved significantly when we got 5G phones long ago. It’s excellent now.

Same here. My experience with Verizon was long ago so no opinion. But I had AT&T for a number of years, mostly here in the Midwest, and was frequently disappointed in the lack of coverage in some areas. My T-Mobile experience in recent years has been nothing short of terrific, overseas as well.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

I just switched to the essentials 55+ plan. $22 savings over the new shaft the seniors plan.

 

[RetiredAt55.5]

The essentials 55+ does limit international to just Mexico and Canada.

The hot spot data is also less generous as is the high speed data limit.

But, if you don't need that stuff it sounds like a good alternative.