The new option is applicable to T-Mobile's Simple Starter plan which made waves back in May. The plan features unlimited talk and text and 500 MB of LTE data at a monthly rate of $40. On September 3, plan subscribers can get an amazing LTE data of 2GB by adding only $5 on top of their monthly bill. The upgrade will not in any way alter the plan's no domestic overages and no annual service contract offers.
While it is true that T-Mobile doesn't charge an overage for subscribers who go beyond their data cap, the carrier offers the optional service of providing an extra 500MB of data for $5 which is good for one day and 1GB of data that is valid for one week. In the case of the company's more pricey Simple Choice plans, subscribers who hit their threshold would simply get their speeds reduced after 1GB of usage.
The carrier's new data offer comes a week following Sprint's total pricing scheme revamp. Sprint completely drops its "Framily" plan and replaced it with a new pricing that offers unlimited data service. On Thursday, Sprint announced the new unlimited plan of $60 which is billed by the carrier as $20 cheaper than the unlimited plan offered by T-Mobile.
T-Mobile responded by concocting a referral and network transfer program that offers unlimited data that's free from additional charges for a period of one year. The program hopes to entice customers from Sprint but can also apply to those coming from Verizon and AT&T. It is also available to existing T-Mobile subscribers who would refer their friends to the service. The limited offer will be rolling out on August 29.
T-Mobile's latest offer of 2 GB data for $45 a month is part of its "Uncarrier" strategy which had been shaking things up in the mobile industry for the past 18 months. The strategy is aimed at making subscribers to get rid of their carrier contracts and device subsidies. Since its launch, it had affected major wireless carriers with Sprint being the hardest hit of all. The "Uncarrier" strategy also features free data roaming for those who are traveling internationally, reimbursement of early termination fees for those who want to end their subscription in other networks, and a number of other promotions.
"People who use loads of data use T-Mobile," says president and CEO John Legere of T-Mobile. "And it's no wonder. The old guard telecoms punish people for using more data on their networks with crazy overage charges and fees. Get Verizon's $50 plan and use just one gig more data, and the price jumps to $65. It's crazy."
