T-Mobile users

[joshua]

It seems changes are afoot and not for the better, from the Register:

T-Mobile UK is cutting "fair use" data limits on Feb 1 from up to 3GB to 500MB and has sparked furious complaints from customers, who were told by text today of the move.

T-Mobile customers on "unlimited" Android monthly data contracts who contacted The Reg were particularly aggrieved. Most were aware that the fair use policy was 3GB per month, but all felt this was sufficient for their smartphone use.

But today T-Mobile invoked "subject to change" rights, outlined in the contract small-print, to reduce fair usage down to 500MB.

The amendments, state that customers who exceed the 500MB cap can no longer download files or watch videos. Browsing sites such as Facebook, Gmail and BBC News will not be affected, though.

T-Mobile suggest that if "you want to download, stream and watch video clips, save that stuff for your home broadband".

As a smartphone user, streaming video and downloading files are part of the experience and unsurprisingly, many customers are feeling stung.

http://www.reghardware.com/2011/01/10/t_mobile_fair_use_data_limit/

http://cow.neondragon.net/index.php/t-mobile-cuts-unlimited-internet-fair-usage-limit-to-500mb-per-month

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/sep/30/everything-everywhere-tmobile-orange-job-losses

 

[db]

It seems changes are afoot and not for the better, from the Register:

T-Mobile UK is cutting "fair use" data limits on Feb 1 from up to 3GB to 500MB and has sparked furious complaints from customers, who were told by text today of the move.

i haven't had any such text, nor has the missus afaik

T-Mobile suggest that if "you want to download, stream and watch video clips, save that stuff for your home broadband".

gotta say, i can't argue with that.. i love being able to access my email, news headlines, facebook, etc. on the go, no matter where i am.. phones aren't for watching films & shiz on, but if you really must just download it on your nice, speedy 10Mb home connection & bung it on an SD card innit..

 

[tek-monkey]

I use my phone to tell my home PC to download it

Unfortunately my server is dead, and I'm 3Tb of data down!

 

[My Name is URL]

I'm all over this like a tramp over a bag of chips.

Only got three months left on my contract but if I can get out of it for free now then i'm going to.

I love my Hero but its showing its age now....

I agree with DB, but if T-Mobile sell you a contract based on 3GB FUP then thats what you should get.

 

[tek-monkey]

I have 6 months left, may well do the same! Keep us posted

 

[staffordjas]

I know this may sound like a stupid question but.....will this affect things that my son downloads off the computer onto his T-Mobile phone? He reckons not , but he will tell me anything!

 

[jagman]

I have the 3gb package and 9 months left. They can get stuffed if they think I'm going to pay the same for less. Time to move across top 3 methinks.

 

[My Name is URL]

@ staffordjas - does your son download this stuff over your broadband connection and then just transfer to his phone? If so then he will be ok.

This will only affect contract t-mobile customers using the internet on their phone. Even if he is on a contract and does download too much, he won't incur loads of charges.... they will just stop him downloading / streaming on the phone until the next month.

 

[tek-monkey]

Hmm, I am on the combi 30 + web n Walk. It appears (I don't have my contract here) that I only got 1Gb anyway, and I have not been told I'm affected by any change yet?

 

[joshua]

An update (sort of) from the register

T-Mobile's attempt to rein back heavy users of mobile data has put the operator up against the wall, but talk of Ofcom investigations and contract breaches is still premature.

Not that T-Mobile will confirm its stance either way, the operator tells us it is still preparing a statement on the matter (and has been for 24 hours now). Meanwhile, Ofcom assures us that it is "examining" the situation: not "investigating", and certainly not "probing". The regulator will respond to complaints from the public, but for the moment the ball is firmly in T-Mobile's court.

The announcement from T-Mobile – that its idea of fair use was being cut by more than 80 per cent, from 3GB to a mere 500MB – was not handled in the most sensitive fashion. Telling users: "If you want to download, stream and watch video clips, save that stuff for your home broadband" was supposed to sound chummy, but came off sounding arrogant – more like a restrictive parent's rules than a friend's advice. The fact that web browsing is now outside that fair-use cap has passed most customers by, all they see is their headline allowance going down, and they're not happy about it.

T-Mobile's idea is to start differentiating by content type – video streaming and file downloading comes from one pot, while web browsing and email comes from another (never-empty) pot. The former has a fair-use limit of 500MB under the new rules, the latter is unlimited, and the idea is to stop the light data users from subsidising those who want to stream media all day.

And there are many of them: applications such as Orb will stream your audio/video collection to your mobile, consuming massive quantities of bandwidth for the delivery of the X Factor's finest, and those listening don't see any reason why they should pay more than someone who checks their email twice a day. T-Mobile isn't saying you can't stream tunes over its mobile network all day, only that you should pay more for the privilege.

But that's irrelevant if the changes are "likely to cause [consumers] material detriment", as that will let them out of their contracts without penalty. Given the huge handset subsidy network operators claw back over the length of a UK contract, mobile customers are always keen to find a way out – and many will be turning on T-Mobile in the hopes of being let off the hook following this change. The operator reckons only a tiny minority of its customers consume more than 500MB of data anyway, and thus the vast majority can't claim any "material detriment", though it's unlikely to stop them trying.

It will be interesting to see how the operator argues with a customer who claims he's about to ramp up his internet usage, despite previously not having hit 500MB. All the UK operators want to charge more for data, as voice revenue declines, but changing the rules at short notice is just going to rile users and seems excessive when they could just change the price (as Three recently did) instead.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/01/12/t_mobile_data_cap/

 

[staffordjas]

@ staffordjas - does your son download this stuff over your broadband connection and then just transfer to his phone? If so then he will be ok.

This will only affect contract t-mobile customers using the internet on their phone. Even if he is on a contract and does download too much, he won't incur loads of charges.... they will just stop him downloading / streaming on the phone until the next month.

Thanks gk - I guess that's what he's doing,but will check when he gets back home. Will keep an eye on the bills on-line just in case

 

[joshua]

Yay, the buggers have backed down, can't think why

Changes to Mobile Internet fair use policies

T-Mobile Statement:

“On Monday 10 January 2011 we announced that, in line with the rest of the industry, T-Mobile would be reducing its Fair Use Policy for data usage to 500MB a month for all mobile phone customers. Following a further review of our policy, these changes will now be introduced from 1 February, to new and upgrading customers only - not existing customers.

There will be no change to the data packages for existing customers for the duration of their contract and we apologise for any confusion caused. The revision to the Fair Use Policy is designed to ensure an improved quality of service for all mobile internet users."

Lysa Hardy, VP, T-Mobile UK


Information on new data policy:

From 1 February 2011 new and upgrading customers will be given a monthly 500MB data allowance. There will be no charge for those customers exceeding that limit, and those who do will still be able to access important services such as email and web browsing, however file downloading and streaming services will be restricted. Customers will then have the option to increase their monthly Fair Use Policy to 1GB a month by purchasing a Mobile Broadband Booster. This will ensure an improved quality of service for all of our mobile internet users.

"Following a further review of our policy..."

"Following a chat with our lawyers..."

But watch out if you are upgrading, you might want to look at 3 or gifgaff

 

[proactive]

I should think so too. They ought to be investing in improving their infrastructure rather than restricting users.

 

[My Name is URL]

Well impressed.... just gutted I sent my cancellation latter today... cost me £1.50