yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[General Topics] AxlxA:
Thinking hard about getting this plan. So only 5GB/mo allotment then throttled to dialup speeds? How much hot spot data do you get on this plan?

Currently on an AT&T add-a-line $30 unlimited data grandfathered line so if i switch to tmo, it'd still be $30
[General Topics] BinkXDA:
A near useless 100MB.
[General Topics] AxlxA:
Wow, tethering is my #1 wish list for any phone/service

Maybe I have to reconsider.
[General Topics] baiju2012:
I don't use tethering to a laptop, but to a Nexus 7 tablet and an iPad, it works flawlessly without any limits on this plan. Last week on vacation, my kids played games during travel in the car. With music freedom, I used 7.2 GB and T-Mobile counted just 1.7 GB. There is no plan like this in USA ATM.
[General Topics] Mr Ian B:
What is everyone using to compensate for the 100 mins limit. I know Skype USA is $2.99 but are there any other options or buy $10 card and add additional 100 mins??

Ian B
[General Topics] sirxdroid:
Hangouts app for outgoing calls. If you use GV as your main number you can also get incoming calls in the Hangouts app.

Vonage app used to offer free outgoing calls (2000 min.) and could use a number you verified as your CID, not sure whether they still offer free calls.
[General Topics] Mr Ian B:
Thanks for info. Don't use hangouts nor have go number. Vintage was atrocious when I used in the past.

Ian B
[General Topics] slowpok22:
I use hangouts for out going and incoming calls, even works over LTE, very rarely do I use my minutes
[General Topics] Johnny Broccoli:
I was under the impression that "music freedom" wasn't valid with their prepaid, no contract plans? That's the thing they started where you can stream most of the main music sites without it counting against your data plan, right?

---------- Post added at 10:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:03 PM ----------

I don't talk on the phone all that much but usually throw an additional ten dollars on my account each month just in case (this amount/credit rolls over to the next month if not used).
[General Topics] AxlxA:
Wow how did you set up the WiFi hotspot to bypass the 100mb limit?
[General Topics] Anderson2:
Sorry if this has been asked already. I just read

http://www.tmonews.com/2015/06/mobi...ed-on-all-active-t-mobile-plans-from-june-12/

and am not sure if it applies to me. I have the "Walmart" $30 a month prepaid t-mobile plan. Does it?

I've never used tethering. What do I need to do to implement it and use it for my nexus 7?
[General Topics] baiju2012:
Music Freedom is available on this plan for a long time now. I used to use 3 - 4 GB every month before. Now, it is less than .5 GB. Only goes over that when my kids require me to tether.

---------- Post added at 06:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:10 PM ----------

What I learnt about tethering on this plan was that it was blocked by detecting the browser's user agent. That is how they are able to block it after 100 MB limit on laptops. On tablets, that limit is not applied, in my experience. Nexus 7 and iPad with flawlessly with this tether for me. By switching the user agent on the laptop's browser, it may work their too.

---------- Post added at 06:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:19 PM ----------

Just setup and use it with tablets. It just works.
[General Topics] macallik:
As someone who has used Talkatone/Groove IP/Vonage and Hangouts, a lot has changed in the last year or so.

1.) RAM has improved. The first phone I tried VoIP calling on was a Samsung Galaxy Exhibit II. It had maybe 1GB of RAM. Issues like the phone not waking out of sleep quick enough for me to answer were major issues.

2) Integration is better: Things were hit and miss with other providers but with Voice and Hangouts in-house, the compatibility is a lot more evident.

3) LTE: My Nexus 4 experience was better than my Galaxy Exhibit II but my Alcatel Idol 3 w/ all T-Mobile bands is even better. I made an international VoIP call while walking around for 40 minutes and it was great. Before, I could make a decent call over HSPA if I stayed stationary, but LTE allows much more freedom.

I feel like I am becoming a cheerleader for Hangouts, but you really owe it to yourself to try it again imo. Especially since it is free. Project Fi uses Hangouts for all Wi-Fi calls so you can also check there to see if any complaints are being lodged by Nexus 6 users,
[General Topics] Mr Ian B:
Thanks for all info. Vonage and hangouts works on wifi only or works on LTE too?

Do we get the initial 10gb data stash on this plan?

Ian B
[General Topics] slowpok22:
Hangouts works on LTE and wifi, not sure about vonage
[General Topics] baiju2012:
Vonage works on cellular days too, LTE or otherwise.

This plan has no data stash. Just 5 GB pet month of bought speed data. Use it or lose it.
[General Topics] Mr Ian B:
Thanks for info. I thought all prepaid plans had it too.

Ian B
[General Topics] Johnny Broccoli:
Hello, all. I have a question to all on this plan: are you aware of there being separate pricing for buying a phone outright from T-Mobile depending on whether you're a prepaid or postpaid customer?

I went to purchase the LG G4 at the heavily advertised discount price of $479.99 earlier this evening. They asked what my phone number was and then told me there was a "slight" price difference if I wanted to keep my phone number and stay on a prepaid plan. I told them that I had no interest in changing my plan and they proceeded to tell me I'd have to pay a whopping $629.99 for a new LG G4. I asked them if they were sure of this and if there was any way around it and they insisted they were completely sure of themselves and there was definitely no way around it.

I saw nothing stating as much in any of the articles or ads advertising this new discounted price, and most directly say that $479.99 is the OFF CONTRACT price. Am I missing something here or just dealing with incompetent T-Mobile employees?
[General Topics] Anderson2:
My understanding is that that is the primary difference between any contract and non contract phone.

When you buy a contract phone you pay a higher monthly charge because you are paying off - during the length of the contract - the amount of money the company has subsidized the phone. That is why the price of contract phones are lower than the full phone price.

If you don't agree to a contract, with its higher monthly cost, nobody is subsidizing the price of the phone so of course you pay the full cost of the phone.

---------- Post added at 11:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:50 AM ----------

Does the $30 Walmart T-Mobile no contract plan include the option of having a second line (on another phone) for $10?

Thanks.
[General Topics] Johnny Broccoli:
Except all the articles clearly stated that $479.99 is the price....OFF contract. Which seems to kinda contradict what you just wrote.
[General Topics] Johnny Broccoli:
Just to confirm for anyone else dealing with the same BS in an attempt to not get raped on phone price: this deal (and others like it) are definitely doable whether you are prepaid or postpaid. They just made me buy $40 in "credits" for my next month's bills. Just gotta talk to someone who knows what the hell they're doing.
[General Topics] whmaurer:
I've been using the $30/5gb plan for almost 2 years, and it has been mostly great, but this new family plan that T-Mobile is taking right now is pretty tempting ($30/month for unlimited talk/text and 10gb data per line).

Has anyone done this? If yes, I'm curious what the "taxes and fees" come out to, generally speaking. Assuming that you're not financing a phone, did this track on an extra $4-5? Or is it more than that?
[General Topics] James62370:
Is there a minimum amount of lines required for that price?
[General Topics] baiju2012:
I suppose it's at least 4. Otherwise, I would jump right in. :)

---------- Post added at 07:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:28 PM ----------

It is generally close to 10%. My guess is $12 for $120 plan for 4. If the corporate discount works on this plan, then you may get 10-15% off on the $120 base price.
[General Topics] lchiu7:
You need at least two lines and that's $50/line. You only get $30 for 4 people so if you can find 3 friends it might be worthwhile but you get only 2.5GB each.
[General Topics] whmaurer:
Actually, this promotion (availability ends in September) includes 10gb per line, not 10gb total shared data.

explore.t-mobile.com/simple-choice-family-plan-with-10gb-data

Twice the data for almost the same price is the main reason I'm interested, though not relying on hangouts for phone calls will be nice too.

If the per line cost added on by taxes and fees is $5, it might be worth finding 3 other people to do this with...
[General Topics] lchiu7:
In that case if you can find 3 friends, it's a pretty good deal.
[General Topics] AxlxA:
I am trying out T-Mobile through this prepaid plan. So far service/signal is absolutely terrible. Would love to keep T-Mobile but if I can't even get 4g let alone LTE.... Not sure how I can be happy at the $80 plan
[General Topics] whmaurer:
t-mobile coverage definitely varies by location a lot. i live in a big metro area, so my t-mo coverage is pretty great and the $30 prepaid plan is perfect for me. if i travel to the far suburbs or into the country, i generally expect to have zero service. i actually have an AT&T gophone SIM handy sometimes, just in case i am traveling somewhere that may not have reliable t-mo coverage. if you don't get signal where you live/work, t-mo probably isn't a good idea for you.
[General Topics] vmenonvz:
Hello
[General Topics] macallik:
I will say that my T-Mobile coverage was decent with a HSPA+ phone, but amazing with a LTE-phone with all bands (Alcatel Idol 3)
[General Topics] 954wrecker:
THE GOOD

Watched a Netflix movie on LTE and my data moved .1mb

THE BAD

Looks like the prices in California are going up 10% for prepaid cell service.

http://www.mtsnotice.com/
[General Topics] Gaffadin:
Some weird stuff happening with Binge On and our $30 plan, or at least my $30 plan.

I tried the Netflix sample short to get a bitrate, and it seemed to cap out at 750kbps on the stream. Perfectly watchable, but I wanted to see what it was like with Binge On disabled. I went to the site and checked the box to modify Binge On, but it would never progress to the next screen. I tried three different browsers and all were the same.

Ok, so I downloaded the T-Mobile My Account app and tried to do it through that instead. Success, and I was able to disable Binge On. Now Netflix showed as capping out at 1750kbps over 4G, so a little difference. I went to toggle Binge On back on and... the option is gone. Both on the site and in the app, there isn't a Binge On option anymore. Either it's teething issues, or perhaps they only let you disable it once a day? I'll see if the option reappears tomorrow I guess...
[General Topics] andy o:
I also got that notice by text. It's dependent on location though. Also, it seems from the looks of it that T-mo itself will still charge you $30, only when you buy credit the taxes and fees will apply, so if you wanna save a few bucks you may buy as much credit as you can before the cutoff date.
[General Topics] milesius:
Can someone provide the Binge on apk? I am also having this problem.
[General Topics] ritchea:
Don't think there is an app. Some are using the T-Mobile app to access controls.
[General Topics] BinkXDA:
How noticeable was the difference in the stream quality?

Lame. Any update on this?
[General Topics] Gaffadin:
Bit of a long story.

First, the difference was noticeable, but not overly so.

And it took me almost two months to get the Binge On toggle thing sorted out. Long story short (with the help of T-Force Twitter) I now have a toggle under https://manage.my.t-mobile.com/profile/profilelanding.aspx (bottom left -> Phone Controls -> Binge On). This is only meant to be there for post-paid T-Mo customers, and prepaid is meant to instead toggle it under https://manage.my.t-mobile.com/Plan/Prepaid/PrePaid.aspx?unavid=PrepaidPlan (Add Available Services -> Other Services -> Binge On). However, like I said, if I toggle it there, it just disappears.

So now I have a normal toggle and it seems to work fine. Not sure if other $30 prepayers have the same toggle or what, but this is what I ended up with.
[General Topics] next_1989:
Good job
[General Topics] andy o:
EDIT 2: should have checked 2 posts up.

Anyone else noticed that video is being throttled? Youtube and Netflix maybe others, top out at about 1.6Mbps measured with Network Monitor Mini, and when connecting through a VPN or Wifi it's of course much faster, and also the speed tests, and non-video services. HD video is impossible to watch without interruptions on LTE.

So it would appear it's Binge On, but there's no way to turn it off. The instructions for prepaid plans don't work with this plan. There is no "disable Binge On" option, just one that says "Binge On" as if you were to add it to your plan, but that does nothing when pressing "next".

EDIT: Found out how, it's undocumented apparently. You need to go to your profile, and there are phone options, and there is a Binge On button, turned on by default.
[General Topics] jmetal88:
Pittsburg, KS. I don't mean the coverage wasn't good, I had it almost everywhere I needed it, but it was just really frustrating not having it inside that Wal-Mart (especially when I would scan for towers and saw two perfectly usable AT&T towers that my SIM wouldn't let me connect to). Then there was also the fact that I had an unlocked AT&T phone at the time, so I could only get 3G or 4G coverage where T-Mobile was supporting the AT&T band (i.e. for roaming iPhone users). AT&T has this area covered just slightly better. Verizon is really the best coverage in this area, but there's no way I'm going with Verizon.
[General Topics] kayone73:
Does anyone know if unused talk minutes (100 min/month) roll over into the next month?
[General Topics] jmetal88:
It does not. I never saw that happen, and I think I was on the plan for nearly two years.
[General Topics] Shinyhead:
I found this thread and was going to do the same thing next month when my verizon accounts expire.

http://rootzwiki.com/topic/42073-how-to-sell-verizon-contract-and-keep-your-number/
[General Topics] DroidDavi:
once my normal t mo contract is up im switching over to this i dont use voice much so i might as well save the money
[General Topics] cstcyr:
I went to T-Mobile and got a micro-sim and I went to Walmart and got a $30 card.

I'm having trouble changing to the Wal-Mart plan. There is no option for it on the T-Mobile website. I may have to give them a call.
[General Topics] br0adband:
It's not "a Walmart plan," it's from T-Mobile and it's there to choose amongst the other plans on the prepaid SIM activation page. While you can do it in store in some situations the employees there just don't have a clue, it happens sometimes.

If you already have T-Mobile service you cannot switch your current plan to the $30 plan, you have to start over again brand new but you can port your number to the $30 plan - this is not the same as "switching" the current plan, however. It might seem like it, and people might argue that's what's happening, but it's not - you're actively dropping the old service and creating a new plan with the $30 one, and porting the number is acceptable.

There is a difference here, in case people keep missing it. You could have just purchased a $30 card at T-Mobile while you were there, it doesn't matter in that respect, but you still have to activate the service online at T-Mobile's website or do it at Walmart with knowledgeable staff - for me it's always been easier to just do it online, takes like 3 minutes tops, service is/was activated in 15 minutes or less. I can't say that will the case for anyone/everyone but it was for me.
[General Topics] dz1:
Hey guys the reason why I ask about the throttle speeds is because some of my family members are going into the family plan with 2.5 gb.. So I'm comparing numbers.. How much of your 5gb do you actually use?
[General Topics] cstcyr:
Yeah I goofed. I got my SIM at the store. So they activated it there. Then I used the refill on the account that they activated. So mostly $10 + $30 down the drain. I realize now that I need to activate the plan online. I switched to the $3/day plan so I can try things out. Then I'll try this all again later. But it'll cost me another $40. Stupid impatient me.
[General Topics] TiltedAz:
My VZN GNex account ends in a month or so. I want to try both phones side by side plus avoid the nominal VZN cancelation fee. Is it possible to uses a new temp cell number and then a month later convert it over to my VZN cell #?

I assume I'd need 2 SIM cards.
[General Topics] mattcoz:
Got my free SIM card delivered today, ordered it on Saturday. Popped it in my Nexus, bought a $30 refill from Calling Mart, activated my plan, and now I'm all set up! So long, Sprint! :D
[General Topics] iexplus:
It seems like the Sim kit is no longer free from T-Mobile website... :(
[General Topics] slowpok22:
Went into the T Mobile store this morning and they had no idea of the $30 plan, and I couldn't find it on t mobiles site so I ordered from Wal-mart, said I could pickup in store and had them in my store, got an email 10 minutes later and said it was delayed :(

did a speed test with one of the galaxy phones while I was there against my Verizon LTE, the best I could get out of my verizon nexus was 6 Mbps and the store phone was 32 Mbps, must have been a trick, the phone showed the 4g signal and not wireless but I failed to go into settings to double check, I guess the could have a signal booster in store who knows, guess I'll find out if I ever get my sim.

the phone comes tomorrow.
[General Topics] lensgrabber:
A T-Mobile store won't help you at all with getting the $30 plan. It's like a bastard child to them. If you order a sim starter kit from T-Mobile online it will be one of the choices you have when activating the sim during the activation process. I assume ordering from Walmart is the same.
[General Topics] Letitride:
The "last" free promotion ended on 11/4/13 - I got an extra p/p micro-Sim and data only micro-Sim for a total of $1.08 shipped free, ups-ground out of .... Louisville, KY yesterday.

Not to worry unless you are in a hurry, T-Mo will run the promo again soon - I got 2 micro-Sim for prepaids last month for 99 cents each and they are ready to go - with the activation codes.

You can try going to a T-Mo store & ask, if you have an existing T-mo account (mine is a PAYG prepaid) - they will swap & give you a new micro ones (my full-size Sim card is 3 years old) ...

I can see lots of brand new happy N5 owners running off to sign-up for T-Mo once they learn about this, even if it's just to try it out for a month for $30 (as noted above, this is an online only special offer and also at Walmart locations only - not available at T-Mo stores)
[General Topics] Greg Tolan:
I am a little confused about the process of getting the plan and then "refilling" it. I did not really see it spelled out so I'll ask about it.

I ordered my free SIM kit from TMO, it should arrive by thursday. When I get it, I assume I go to the TMO website to activate the SIM at which point I can choose the $30 plan on T-mobile's website and port my existing number over to TMO. Is that correct? After the initial payment I need to "refill" it....what exactly does that mean? I can't set it up so that it auto pays monthly? Why do I read about people going to 3rd party sites like callingmart to refill? Why call it refill in the first place and not just ...."pay your bill". Sorry for the silly questions it is my first time going prepaid.
[General Topics] Letitride:
It is prepaid as in paying in advance for next 30 days of service - and like AT&T's Gophone, it offers auto pays to avoid interruption of services (on vacation, traveling abroad or simply forgot the next due date for 30 more days of services, etc.) There is no credit check for prepaid customers and everyone is approved for it, well ... almost, I think.

I've been using Callingmart for 5+ years now and always get refills at 2% discount, sometimes 5% when it goes on sale - and as much as 10% (at one time, at least) and there is no sales tax. You can buy refills at T-Mo, Walmart, CVS, Target & 7-11's, etc. but sales tax were added, on my purchases anyway. Callingmart can instantly refill your account once your cc payment is approved/processed ...

That's a quick & simple explanation, partially ...
[General Topics] slowpok22:
Guess I'll have to be patient, figured $40 isn't going to break me just to test the signal where I live for a month , I can do wireless at home but can't live without the phone signal, was going to try net10 on AT&T since my neighbor AT&T and gets a good signal, aha the luxury of an unlocked phone and too many choices :)
[General Topics] NotoriousBEN:
Has anyone had any success activating their N5 on the $30 plan today? Got my SIM yesterday and my N5 today. I've gone through the activation process online several times but before the payment step, I keep getting a page that says "We’re sorry, we’re still working to process your activation. Please wait a few moments and then try navigating to another web page. You should receive a text message to your device when your activation is processed." I never receive a text, there's no indication that anything is actually happening.

Customer service has been NO help at all and, frankly, have made me regret this choice to try out T-Mobile but I'd still love to get this thing activated. Anyone offer any insight?
[General Topics] unknown1205:
i just got mine activated although i ran into an issue where it wont accept my money, says even though i filled it out. so then i went onto my.t-mobile.com and set up an account, made payment and set up autopay. just waiting for my number to be ported now from sprint.

No auto pay calendar date selected

The following field is required:

Auto pay amount
[General Topics] mattcoz:
Ha, of course on the first day of being on this plan I get two calls from coworkers who just went on and on... I think I'm going to have to look into Groove.
[General Topics] Gaffadin:
Some great info in here, thanks.

Currently psyching myself into buying an N5. It's more money than I'd like to spend (I'm a real cheapskate) but I know it would be great and I would keep it for years. Right now I'm using a Motorola Triumph on Virgin (don't laugh - actually go ahead, it's well past its sell-by date) and I really could use something better. The $30 T-Mobile plan seems right up my alley.

One thing, if you buy cards from Callingmart, is it the "T-Mobile to go prepaid wireless airtime" cards? I notice those are only available in denominations of $10, $25, $50 and $100, whereas the "Monthly plan" cards seem to be available for $30, $50 and $70, or are we able to use both of these?
[General Topics] Letitride:
Why not give them a quick call - CS is available 9AM to midnight on weekdays, EDT just to make sure. There is also auto load to phone # option - no need to wait for the PINs and then apply it online or whatever.

Although, I believe you can use either.
[General Topics] chucktownscitch:
First off I'll say I've only had tmo for about 2-3 months. I have a sprint account for years and was having tons of problems with service for a little while. So I ended up buying a Nexus 4 off CL and thru it on the $70 a month plan with unlimited 4g.

Now I am seeing all this $30 month 5gb LTE talk and I'm interested. I don't care about minutes at all, as I barely use my tmo line for anything but data. Use my Sprint line for calls.

With that said, my Nexus 5 will be here tomorrow and I am seeing that I will need a new Sim card for it anyways, one for size and two for the LTE network.

With that said, what would be the easiest route to obtain the correct LTE Sim card and go about getting my n5 on that $30 plan and just canceling my current one? Also I would like to buy the Sim kit locally. Maybe Walmart if they have the right one.

Thanks in advance.