Author Topic: T-Mobile Free calls and data in foreign countries including israel  (Read 67834 times)

Offline plainbachur

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T-Mobile to Make It Cheaper to Make Calls While Abroad
By BRIAN X. CHEN
October 9, 2013
Cellphone plans are a little like languages: they don’t always translate well in foreign countries.

Often, travelers have to pay an extra $100 to their provider to get any cell service abroad. Or they must sign up for a short-term plan with a carrier in the country they are visiting.

T-Mobile US, one of the largest phone carriers in the United States, wants to change that. The company on Wednesday said it was eliminating the charges that a customer normally paid to use their phone number and data service in a foreign country, called roaming fees.

John Legere, T-Mobile’s chief executive, said in an interview that travelers had long been shocked by exorbitant cellphone bills after they traveled, so many people now just leave their phones off.

He said the point of the change was to help the people who would pay $100 for service abroad. But it was also to help “the people who fear turning their phone on.”

T-Mobile customers will be automatically enrolled in the free-roaming agreement on Oct. 31. Those who subscribe to the company’s plan, called Simple Choice, can take their smartphone to a foreign country and pay 20 cents a minute for voice calls. Text messages and data will be unlimited.

The free roaming benefit will apply to about 100 countries, including France, Spain, China, Japan, Russia and China.

The plan is the latest aggressive move from T-Mobile, which has been on a campaign to disrupt the American wireless industry over the last year. The company has said its goal is to eliminate the things that make people angry with their phone companies.

In March, the company shifted from requiring customers to sign two-year contracts. And in July, the carrier offered an option for customers to upgrade to a new phone after as little as six months, instead of waiting two years. The company also continues to offer unlimited data plans, which AT&T and Verizon Wireless discontinued long ago for new customers.

The changes are working. In August, T-Mobile reported that it had gained 1.1 million customers in the last quarter, its largest growth in four years.

The elimination of roaming fees raises a question: if the customers don’t have to pay the fee, then who will? Mr. Legere said he expected customers to continue joining T-Mobile in droves, which will more than make up for the money that could have been made from charging roaming fees.

“We just changed the game to where our coverage map is now the world,” Mr. Legere said. “Our network is now by far a much bigger coverage area than AT&T and Verizon combined.”

Offline sky121

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Re: T-Mobile Free calls and data in foreign countries including israel
« Reply #1 on: October 09, 2013, 08:35:57 PM »
What?? Free unlimited Data while roaming? Hmm. I need more details.
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Offline DovtheBear

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Re: T-Mobile Free calls and data in foreign countries including israel
« Reply #2 on: October 09, 2013, 08:39:19 PM »
What?? Free unlimited Data while roaming? Hmm. I need more details.
+1
The T-Mobile deal is getting better and better.
The changes are working. In August, T-Mobile reported that it had gained 1.1 million customers in the last quarter, its largest growth in four years.
I wonder if some people around here had something to do with that.
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Offline sky121

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Re: T-Mobile Free calls and data in foreign countries including israel
« Reply #3 on: October 09, 2013, 08:49:25 PM »
Are the plans that the frum guy is offering considered 'Simple Choice' plans?

           Either way this sounds pretty interesting.
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Offline AJK

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Re: T-Mobile Free calls and data in foreign countries including israel
« Reply #4 on: October 09, 2013, 09:38:13 PM »
Love it. This should put some pressure on the rest.
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Offline sky121

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Re: T-Mobile Free calls and data in foreign countries including israel
« Reply #5 on: October 09, 2013, 09:40:10 PM »
Love it. This should put some pressure on the rest.

+100
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Offline DovtheBear

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Re: T-Mobile Free calls and data in foreign countries including israel
« Reply #6 on: October 09, 2013, 09:41:15 PM »
Which networks do they roam on?
Whatever's available?
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Offline DovtheBear

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Re: T-Mobile Free calls and data in foreign countries including israel
« Reply #7 on: October 09, 2013, 09:45:25 PM »
Are the plans that the frum guy is offering considered 'Simple Choice' plans?
The lady who answered didn't know; she'll get back to me.
I'm assuming its is.
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Offline smart brit

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Re: T-Mobile Free calls and data in foreign countries including israel
« Reply #8 on: October 09, 2013, 10:16:16 PM »
Love it. This should put some pressure on the rest.
+1
T Mobile is trying hard to compete here in the USA
And so far they are doing a great job imo.
But unlimited data while abroad is something I don't believe they are going to offer although I wish and hope so

Offline meshugener

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Re: T-Mobile Free calls and data in foreign countries including israel
« Reply #9 on: October 09, 2013, 10:28:54 PM »
Does the phone have to be unlocked for that?
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Offline Dan

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Re: T-Mobile Free calls and data in foreign countries including israel
« Reply #10 on: October 09, 2013, 10:39:34 PM »
Does the phone have to be unlocked for that?

No, but it would need world bands.
Here's hoping others matched this like they matched their crappy phone program.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline HowYaDoin

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Re: T-Mobile Free calls and data in foreign countries including israel
« Reply #11 on: October 09, 2013, 10:40:59 PM »
...There will be some limits for frequent travelers. Any trip abroad needs to be six weeks or less, and customers need to spend at least half their time in the U.S. in any three-month period. The program is not for students spending a year abroad, for instance.http://www.vosizneias.com/143183/2013/10/10/new-york-t-mobile-to-eliminate-international-data-fees/

Offline sky121

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Re: T-Mobile Free calls and data in foreign countries including israel
« Reply #12 on: October 09, 2013, 10:48:26 PM »
...There will be some limits for frequent travelers. Any trip abroad needs to be six weeks or less, and customers need to spend at least half their time in the U.S. in any three-month period. The program is not for students spending a year abroad, for instance.http://www.vosizneias.com/143183/2013/10/10/new-york-t-mobile-to-eliminate-international-data-fees/

Sounds reasonable.
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Offline HowYaDoin

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Re: T-Mobile Free calls and data in foreign countries including israel
« Reply #13 on: October 09, 2013, 10:50:30 PM »
Sounds reasonable.
just informing. we dont want all heck to break loose

Offline sky121

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Re: T-Mobile Free calls and data in foreign countries including israel
« Reply #14 on: October 09, 2013, 10:51:06 PM »
just informing. we dont want all heck to break loose

People will try this anyways. You know they will. :)
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Offline HowYaDoin

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Re: T-Mobile Free calls and data in foreign countries including israel
« Reply #15 on: October 09, 2013, 10:52:42 PM »
People will try this anyways. You know they will. :)
and chances are it'll probably work :)

Offline smart brit

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Re: T-Mobile Free calls and data in foreign countries including israel
« Reply #16 on: October 09, 2013, 11:15:32 PM »
and chances are it'll probably work :)
Probably work on a family plan where most users are in the USA

Offline DovtheBear

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Re: T-Mobile Free calls and data in foreign countries including israel
« Reply #17 on: October 09, 2013, 11:17:24 PM »
No, but it would need world bands.
Which phones have those?
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Re: T-Mobile Free calls and data in foreign countries including israel
« Reply #18 on: October 09, 2013, 11:21:49 PM »
Probably work on a family plan where most users are in the USA
taka smart :)

Offline biny235

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Re: T-Mobile Free calls and data in foreign countries including israel
« Reply #19 on: October 10, 2013, 09:47:42 AM »
From the terms and conditions it seems like they are only giving 2g data.