T-Mobile, MetroPCS Does Throttle-Free Unlimited 4G Data
T-Mobile and MetroPCS are offering unlimited data plans, but the latter is a limited time-only deal.
On Wednesday T-Mobile said it is launching a "true" Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan that doesn't have data caps, speed limits or "bill shock" next month. The new plan will be available to both current and new T-Mobile customers.
T-Mobile has always offered unlimited data -- it's one of the carrier's key points when comparing itself to Verizon and AT&T. But the catch is that plans still have data caps, thus the connection is slowed to a virtual crawl (throttled) once the user goes over the monthly allowance. However starting September 5, this new plan will cost $20 per month when added to a Value voice and text plan, or $30 per month when added to a Classic voice and text plan.
As an example of pricing, a single line Value plan with unlimited talk and text combined with unlimited nationwide 4G data will cost $69.99 per month. A single line Classic plan with unlimited talk, unlimited text and unlimited nationwide 4G data will cost $89.99 per month. Current T-Mobile customers on Classic or Value plans can simply upgrade their existing service by adding an Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan, the company said.
"We’re big believers in customer-driven innovation, and our Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan is the answer to customers who are frustrated by the cost, complexity and congested networks of our competitors," said Kevin McLaughlin, vice president, marketing, T-Mobile USA. "Consumers want the freedom of unlimited 4G data. Our bold move to be the only wireless carrier to offer an Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan reinforces our value leadership and capitalizes on the strength of our nationwide 4G network."
Meanwhile, MetroPCS has introduced a promotional 4G LTE service plan that offers unlimited talk, unlimited text, and unlimited 4G LTE data with no throttling for $55 (including taxes) on a single line, undercutting T-Mobile's new unlimited plan. But given that it's a promotional plan, the offer could be pulled at any time. However customers who sign up now will receive service at the promotional price for as long as they maintain service with MetroPCS.
The promotional plan arrives in conjunction with the launch of the Android-powered LG Motion on the MetroPCS network. The carrier is also offering consumers a mail-in rebate on the second of any two 4G LTE smartphone purchases. The rebate offer applies to all MetroPCS 4G LTE phones, including the newly launched LG Motion 4G -- meaning customers can purchase this new smartphone as a second device for around $99 and unlimited 4G LTE service for around $55 per month.
"As MetroPCS’ first smartphone powered by Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), the LG Motion 4G has everything consumers need to fully utilize the benefits of one of the most advanced Android versions available," the carrier said on Tuesday. "Its 1.2 GHz dual-core processor makes multi-tasking easy while consumers use the phone’s 5MP still camera, 1080p HD video recorder and browse the web and multimedia on the 3.5-inch touchscreen."
The drawback to the MetroPCS plan -- outside the limited time offer -- is that the carrier only covers 14 cities nationwide. Even more, both the T-Mobile and MetroPCS options do not include built-in hotspot capabilities, preventing customers from leeching gigabytes of data from their desktop, laptop or mobile device. Hotspot capability is offered for an additional monthly charge, the carrier said.

I can't really imagine needing that much data unless you are tethering or streaming video/music all day long. If that's the case, maybe get off your damn phone for awhile everyday
4G != Always fast internet
depends hwo you look at it, i stream pandora watch youtube videos, stream netflix and am constantly swapping data between my home pc and phone when i need certain pdf files or excel files for work. using sprint and thanks to unlimited data its ok as even though i use about 10-15 gigs a month but thanks to an unmited plan i am ok. my biggest month ever was the first month i got my galaxy nexus and i pulled down a little over 20 gigs sprint dind't send me any words or letters just listed my amount of data used on the next bill with the magical word "included"
You use a lot of data, lol. My bro is the same way, constantly streaming Pandora all-day and he goes over his plan all the time. I wouldn't mind an unlimited plan that I could tether with, but T-mobiles "4G" is just not fast enough most of the time.
Reads like an ad but f rogers, bell, telus, fido, etc.
T-Mobile is just a value carrier masquerading as a marquee provider. No iPhone = no one cares. See ya, wouldn't wanna be ya!
Sent from my iPhone
And uh, you can buy an iPhone and stick a T-mobile SIM in it.
Get your facts right. T-Mobile is not some corner store outfit; it is a subsidiary of Germany's Telecom giant "Deutsche Telekom"; a spinoff from the German Postal Service. Hardly the kind of company to disappear tomorrow. I happen to have their service for a while now, after the usual disasters with AT&T, Verizon and Sprint, and must say they are pretty ok. The billing is on target and they don't bugger you all the time with crappy upgrade 'specials'.
As for the iPhone; who cares what the phone company offers. Just buy one if you need to impress your girlfriend.
This will be even more relevant once T-Mobile refarms HSPA+ into their 1900 PCS band. A few markets have already seen this begin to happen and they're shooting for "Most Major Markets" to be refarmed by year's end.
Or I'll put it another way--still not cheap enough to make me separate with Virgin Mobile, where I'm paying $25 for unlimited data and text, but only 300 talk minutes. Downside is VM started (allegedly) implementing throttling after 2.5GB of data usage. But still, $25/mo, and if you're in an area that gets proper coverage... But the downside is the limited handsets.
they sent me a text saying that i'm in a 5% of users who use data excessively,durr...that was the whole point of getting unlimited data,SOO I COULD USE IT EXCESSIVELY.soo i go from a blazing 10 mbps down to 100 kbps slower than dial up,the worst part is there is no option available to restore my data speed,they told me i have to wait until my billing anniversary.they say it's unlimited phphph noo such thing,don't believe it.the worst part is with the service provided at ten megs a sec they can put at&t and other isp's out of business.and i'd be willing to pay more if it was truly unlimited especially if it means crossing off home internet service and it's mobile.instead of realizing the power they have they shit all over people by defrauding them and selling a lie.
Thanks for the comment, man. I just got their unlimited plan as well and was wondering if was truly "unlimited". However... let me ask you this... any idea just how much data you actually used? I mean... if it was like 7GB... that sucks. But if it was something like 25GB... well... let the rest of us know.
Nothing happened that month. So i didn't even bother installing TW cable. Just kept my phone tethered.
This month, right after i hit 49gb, i got the 2 txts. I'm in the 5% and it's abnormal. Which is by and large a ridiculous thing to say. Someone will *always* be in the top 5%... but 5% of what? 1tb, or 100mb? I'm not surprised i'm in the top 5, but now i'm bugging them to give me some numbers. This is total shit to say 5% and that's that, with an unlimited plan... regardless of how much i've used.
I'd much rather have a fixed limit that i know i can work with, than this BS, because they can always say you're too high, with their own criteria, which is crap.
And don't even get me started on the fact that NYC 4g is caps at 4mbs... maybe. Or the fact that tethering is supposed to be supported, even including a tethering app on the phone... but i still need to change my browser' user agent to go anywhere but google.com. Oh... and god in heaven, the crappy phone selection they have. All in all, it was probably a bad choice to go with MetroPCS over TMobile/Sprint (who also has unlimited 4g).