T-Mobile Unlimited Internet or Not

kikouno

Hi,

I am considering T-Mobile for a 24month contract and have chosen my handset (HTC Desire HD) and narrowed down to the two plans below:

Plan1
300 cross-network mins + 300 texts + 500MB data plus Unlimited Web and Email • 24 months £ 20.42 a month

Plan2
600 cross-network mins + 500 texts + Unlimited data • 24 months £ 25.54 a month

I only will need around 250-300 mins and 200 texts p/m - Plan1 seems enough. Although I am not sure about the 500MB data plus Unlimited Web and Email. I understand the 500MB is for apps and download/upload but the claim of unlimited Web and Email seems too good to be true.

I will not be downloading or uploading but will do some skype calls. I understand this will use the allowance, I am fine with that.

I will manage my hotmail and gmail account and quite a lot of facebook daily, I will also view around 30 to 40 youtube videos per month. Does this usage fall within T-Mobile's "Unlimited Web and Email"? Am I likely to suffer speed issues if I watch youtube?

Can I watch BBC I-Player with this Plan1?

If all the above usage falls within the "Unlimited Web and Email" it would render Plan2 too expensive and not necessary for me.

Plan 2 would be excellent if I use Skype Video Calling, although this is not a priority for me. I would just like to browse and use my emails freely without being capped or incur charges.

Look forward to your replies, if you have any of the above plans or opinion please share your experience as I will be very thankful.

Thanks for your help in advance.

jamespir

the unlimited is 500mb too

grumbler

jamespir wrote: »

the unlimited is 500mb too

500 is for downloading/streaming with the 'booster'. Much more for browsing.
At some plans it is 1G.
However, AFAIK, they started doing almost truly unlimited internet recently on some tariffs.

MorrisonsEmployee

I always exceed my 500MB allowance by a long way yet never have any restrictions imposed for downloading etc,

essexman77

I think the for unlimted its any contract with over 25 pounds month

Paygo is also 500mb

Three and GiffGaff are the only truly unlimted

Also BBCiplayer only works on wifi

And if you want to use skype on TMOBILE or Orange forget it its blocked all voip is blocked on tmobile and orange when you make call on skype voice will be all scrambled but you can still use skype on wifi while on there network.

Three is the best for skype if thats what you think you will use most.I have used skype on giffgaff but its hit and miss but does work.

neil40

It is true that you can continue to browse unlimited after 500mb but streaming services like youtube will be blocked for the rest of the month.I did find that internet radio streaming still worked after the 500mb cap though.

Neil

jenniewb

I was told by both a phones4u store worker who had dealt with many complaints and a TMobile phone shop worker (who had a tmobile contract himself) that you get 500mb on an "unlimited internet" contract, once you go over the next month it slows down and if you exceed again it slows down further but that the drop from the initial month to the next is so big its enough to put you off going over again (as its too slow to be viable).

Haven't tried it myself, the internet is too much of an essential service to have on a mobile, its pretty much the only service I'd be using.

kikouno

essexman77 wrote: »

I think the for unlimted its any contract with over 25 pounds month

Also BBCiplayer only works on wifi

And if you want to use skype on TMOBILE or Orange forget it its blocked all voip is blocked on tmobile and orange when you make call on skype voice will be all scrambled but you can still use skype on wifi while on there network.

I didn't know BBCiplayer only works on wifi with T-Mobile but most shockingly is the block on VOIP.... Curiously there is no mention on the T&Cs or FUP ..... this is making me seriously re-consider my options.

jenniewb wrote: »

I was told by both a phones4u store worker who had dealt with many complaints and a TMobile phone shop worker (who had a tmobile contract himself) that you get 500mb on an "unlimited internet" contract, once you go over the next month it slows down and if you exceed again it slows down further but that the drop from the initial month to the next is so big its enough to put you off going over again (as its too slow to be viable).

Haven't tried it myself, the internet is too much of an essential service to have on a mobile, its pretty much the only service I'd be using.

If I understand correctly, I would be penalised if I exceed the 500MB on the following month and every other month when the usage exceeds the allowance? I cant see anything on the T&Cs or FUP about this.


Thanks for the responses, really appreciated so my questions are now the following;
Q1 - Is the Unlimited plan for over 25pounds p/m really unlimited?
Q2 - Hypothetically (not that I will), but can I watch 1GB of data on youtube with the 25 pounds p/m plan?
Q3 - With the 500MB usage plan, is web and email really unlimited if I don't use video streaming websites?
Q4 - I read on the T-Mobile T&Cs using the mobile as a modem is called "thendering" or something similar, what does this mean? Is it blocked/restricted to make use of the larger screen of my laptop to use facebook? Even if I visit the same websites on phone? The only benefit would be the larger screen of the laptop? Has someone used their phone as a modem to the laptop? What are the implications?

Thank you.

Bmwm3gt2

I think I am right in saying if you are on a £25+ pland there is no FUP so you have no 500mb limit for streaming or downloading but the voip and tethering resrictions still apply.

vax2002

How they get away with this "unlimited" false advertising scam is a scandal

c-m

Beware T-Mobile will limit you to 3G 0.35Mbs speeds if you're not careful. Even when you do get HSDPA speeds they will limit that to 1.86Mbs.