T-Mobile Business has many great mobile internet options, including some of our Top Picks, and they've recently come out with a new "backup" plan that is principally designed to be a fixed-location temporary backup service to landline or other internet.
Called "Business Internet Backup" it currently has T-Mobile's no-end-date promotional pricing of $15/month (normally $30/month) and comes with the following terms and features:
- Unlimited data, but only for a total of 7 days per month
- 50GB deprioritization limit
- Must use a T-Mobile-provided business gateway
- Fixed location terms of service similar to T-Mobile Home and Small Business Internet.
- No video streaming cap (up to 4k+ is possible)
- Potential compatibility problems with live TV streaming services, just like T-Mobile Home Internet
- T-Mobile's Business productivity filter is turned on by default but can be turned off
The big question we have is how T-Mobile counts the seven days of usage. For example, if this service is connected to a Multi-WAN router to use for instant failover, will the router's periodic connection checks - which do use a tiny amount of data - trigger a day of usage? Or does plugging the router in and having it connected take up a day?
The initial T-Mobile business reps we spoke to didn't know, and they've escalated our inquiry to find out. We'll update this article when/if we get an official response on exactly how T-Mobile counts a day of usage.
But overall, even at the $15/month promo price point, this new backup plan has a lot of downsides for mobile users despite appearing to be an attractive backup option for those who might just need a few days of T-Mobile service a month:
- Not BYOD - You have to use and keep T-Mobile's router, which is one of its Home/Small Business Internet routers
- Fixed Location Terms - T-Mobile hasn't enforced these on other plans and is unlikely to on this one, but it's still not intended for mobile use
- Only 7 days - What if you need an 8th day of usage? There is no provision in the plan to get extra days if you need them
Overall, most mobile users will probably be better off with one of T-Mobile's standard Business data plan options or, for an inexpensive backup plan, T-Mobile's "secret" consumer postpaid 30GB for a $10/month data plan.
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Key Mobile Internet Related Considerations:
- A "backup" plan that provides unlimited data for only 7 days each month for a low price is an interesting and unique product that is potentially useful for mobile users
- The plan terms, however, do have some significant downsides, and T-Mobile is unclear about when customers will be charged for a day of usage.
For more information:
- T-Mobile: Business Internet Backup Plan Page
- The Mobile Report: T-Mobile Has A New “Backup Internet” Service For Dirt Cheap
Related Content at the Mobile Internet Resource Center:
- Gear Center: T-Mobile Business Plans
- Gear Center: Getting Lots of Cellular Data: Unlimited and High Cap Cellular Data Plans For Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile
- Guide: Top Cellular Data Plans for RVers & Cruisers – Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile
Related Updates:
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