Today T-Mobile announced a new unlimited plan - the 'Essentials' plan - offering a few less features than their previous plans - at a reduced price.
But of high interest to mobile consumers, T-Mobile has announced they are doubling the hotspot threshold on their Unlimited ONE+ Plans from 10GB to 20GB, with a price increase for single line accounts.
Both Essentials, and the new 20GB of hotspot data on ONE+ plans feature will begin on August 10th.
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Table of Contents
The New T-Mobile Essentials Plan
Juxtaposing what we've seen the cellular industry do with their plans in the past few months, T-Mobile has announced that they will begin offering a stripped down unlimited plan beginning on August 10th.
T-Mobile has made it clear that they have no plans to raise prices on any of their unlimited plans - and their move to offer an even cheaper plan version backs their statements up.
T-Mobile CFO Braxton Carter said to CNET this week that T-Mo isn’t “pursuing a monetization path.” He added that “The benefits of creating more subscribers outweigh the shorter term benefit of tweaking (average revenue per user).”
The T-Mobile Essentials plan is designed for those who are looking for a more basic plan than T-Mobile's ONE plan line-up. The Essentials plan focues on unlimited talk, text and smartphone data - and cuts out many of the 'perks' of ONE plans - like high-speed international data, a free Netflix subscription, HD video, and hotspot data.
However, unlike all other T-Mobile plans, the new Essentials plan does NOT include taxes and fees - which can quickly eat into the savings.
Plan Details
- Unlimited talk & text
- Unlimited on device high-speed data in U.S.
- Always prioritized behind other T-Mobile customers
- Further deprioritization after 50GB are used
- Unlimited hotspot data with speeds always capped to 3G speeds (512kbps), with option to add on 10GB of 4G hotspot for $10/month.
- Video speeds capped to 480p (standard definition)
- Taxes & Fees not included in pricing (which may negate most of the potential savings of this plan)
- Unlimited talk, text, and 2G data in Mexico and Canada, plus unlimited texting and low flat rate calling at $0.25/minute in 210+ countries and destinations.
Pricing Details
- Taxes & Fees not included in pricing
- $60 for single line
- $30 for second line
- +$15 for lines 3 - 6
- Advertised prices are with autopay discount - without autopay add +$5/line
T-Mobile Current Plans Comparison
Increased High-Speed Hotspot Data on ONE+ Plan
In addition to the announcement of the new Essentials plan, T-Mobile is unceremoniously raising the high-speed hotspot data limit on their ONE+ plan to 20GB (previously 10GB).
However, for single line accounts the price is going up from $10/month to $15/month. Multiple line accounts will remain at $10/month per line, but only if you add the feature to all accounts on the plan - which then shifts you to a new plan called Family One+ (which can result in losing an promotions you have).
Those currently on ONE+ should be grandfathered in and be able to keep their 10GB hotspot cap, regardless if they have the feature for free, $5 or the current $10 pricing. If you want the 20GB cap, you'll need to opt in under the new terms.
Sneaky Move: +International RETIRING on 8/10
August 7 update: What T-Mobile didn't announce in their press release, but is now confirmed by representatives is that they are also retiring their +International Plan.
This is the plan that enables unlimited 4G mobile hotspot use - a desirable feature for mobile nomads. If you wanted in on this deal - the last unlimited hotspot option standing direct from a carrier - make sure you have this enabled on your account before August 10.
Check our news center for the full details (this is a breaking story).
What's Next for T-Mobile?
T-Mobile has announced that their next 'Uncarrier Announcement' will take place on August 15th.
Last time T-Mobile announced high earnings, we saw Verizon go a little crazy and announce big changes of their own - including a re-invented unlimited plan (as well as a new definition of 'unlimited').
We'll be watching closely to see what T-Mobile has in store - and how the other carriers respond.
Mobile Internet Resource Center (dba Two Steps Beyond LLC) is founded by Chris & Cherie of