Comments on: New T-Mobile Partial Upgrade Pricing Discounts

By: ItsMichaelNotMike

ItsMichaelNotMike — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:02:32 +0000

Will be interesting to see how the iPad pricing affects devices and service across the industry.

The iPad, that just debuted, will be priced starting at $500. But the plan with AT&T is what should be noted.

The iPad can use WiFi, but the upper models will have the ability to use an AT&T data connection to access the Net (and to do anything we can do on our phones, except calls? I did not see Jobs demo calls and he did not mention it. Is this because they don’t want the iPad competing with the iPhone?)

Anyway, data use on a device for $30 a month, and they said that is WITHOUT a contract. So will this conflict and compete with pricing models on smartphones? And conflict with pricing on data plans?

This is an interesting development that I am sure carriers will be watching since it is Apple that is doing it. Will everyone go back to using dumb phones and start using iPad type devices? I don’t think so simply because people are not going to be toting tablets everywhere. Smartphones are simply too portable compared to tablets, even the iPad which is pretty thin and light (24 ounces).

But what should be noted is 1) the iPad’s pricing; and 2) more significantly, that AT&T is introducing a data plan at $30 a month with no contract required. (The iPad’s prices were not subsidized rates.)

IMHO this adds an element to the price war, not only on handsets (e.g., will carriers have to lower prices of handsets even more to compete with these kinds of devices, to maintain a stronghold they hope to have), but now also pricing on data plans.

Of course, we will be enjoying the benefits of this new development. I suspect T-Mo will see how it goes for a month or two then adjust prices across the board accordingly depending if there is an affect on smartphone sales.

(Sidenote: They did not say what that $30 a month data plan gives you, unlimited? 5GB, 10GB? Since it will be a heavy user of bandwidth (playing movies) I would not think a 5GB limitation would be all that well received.

By: Camusa

Camusa — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:42:33 +0000

I appreciate the feedback, butI could have sworn I saw the Diamond 3 as an Amoled device with some sparky specs and wunning WinMo not Android?

http://experts.thelink.co.uk/2010/01/27/htc-diamond-3-toys-with-obsession/

By: JBLmobileG1

JBLmobileG1 — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 01:18:35 +0000

Hopefully Tmobile let’s customers keep their old plans and not make them add anything to it. I know where I work AT&T and Verizon are both requiring on all of the touchscreen and keyboard phones (and some that are neither on Verizon) to have some type of data or text package on the phones. AT&T requires to have a minimum of $20 of data services on a single line or $30 on a family plan. Verizon requires the minimum $9.99 data on almost all lines ($30 for smartphones) an the $9.99 only offers 25mb of usage… What a rip off. I haven’t heard of Tmobile doing this… but if they do anyone who wants a touchphone like the Highlight may need the $10 data. Hopefully Tmobile plays it smart and uses this to their advantage. I almost guarantee people will switch to Tmobile (or a prepaid carrier) once they find out they either need a $10 to $20 to even $30 increase to their phone bills each month depending on the carrier they have. Hopefully Tmobile won’t do something this stupid. If they do then maybe my theory of everyone trying to make customers go prepaid instead of contract is true. I mean heck… $60 on AT&T prepaid gets unlimited talk and text where their new unlimited plan is $69.99 ($30 less than before) but includes no text… that’s another $20 for unlimited. If it wasn’t for the phone choices contracts would be not worth having anymore.

By: SteveGowski

SteveGowski — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:11:14 +0000

No, you can most likely keep the plan you have, or switch it to any plan you want…Upgrading to a “NEW 2yr Agreement” doesn’t mean “New Plan”…meaning you can pick an “old” plan if you want. I hope that made sense because your question was somewhat confusing.

By: Eurohomie

Eurohomie — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:59:05 +0000

So it says i have to upgrade to a NEW plan… my 22 months is finally up and i have a 500 minute family plan, will i have to upgrade the 750 minute plan???

By: SteveGowski

SteveGowski — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:41:57 +0000

Its so sad that Google is blaming T-Mobile for their own faults. I thought Google was better than that, I guess not. Really makes Google look stupid.

By: B-Mobile

B-Mobile — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:58:28 +0000

from what i can tell here:

There’s also the HTC Obsession, which should hit T-Mobile in October 2010. The Obsession is like a “slightly smaller HD2” that might integrate HTC’s Sense UI with WM7 and feature the following:

3.7 inch capacitive AMOLED multitouch display
HSDPA
Wi-Fi
5MP autofocus camera with flash and HD video recording
Qualcomm CPU at 1GHz
512MB RAM, 512MB ROM
4GB of internal memory

no android here: http://www.unwiredview.com/2010/01/19/lg-apollo-htc-obsession-to-be-among-the-first-windows-mobile-7-phones/

By: SteveGowski

SteveGowski — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:55:26 +0000

You’re exactly right. I’ve been with T-Mobile a while and they have always cut me a sweet deal when I wanted to upgrade while under contract. Thats why I stick with them. They care more about their customers and their services, than how much money they make. They live by the old saying…”If you watch the pennies, the dollars will take care of themselves” Meaning – don’t be rushed into a purchase for fear of missing a bargain.)

By: SteveGowski

SteveGowski — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:50:26 +0000

The pricing structure for the N1 for existing tmobile customers should be posted on FAILblog. Even as a big fan of google: voice, wave, gtalk, gmail, maps, etc…this was a major dissapointment. I patiently waited for the N1 only to be slapped in the face with a shitty plan to choose and a crazy price option. I’ve been with T-Mobile for over 5 years now. Love them to death, and I understand the non-sub options that Google has in place (as well as many other phone makers) are where the phone pricing is going these days, but even a $50 or $100 rebate to existing T-Mobile customers would’ve been nice, especially if you could show them proof of adopting Android early for us G1 owners. I feel bad for T-Mobile and I am glad to see they are getting better phones to choose from everyday. The N1 will be a babys toy in 6 months from now.

BTW: XBOX Live Integration on WinMo7 will be KILLER!!

By: Perno

Perno — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:26:23 +0000

I may be wrong, but T-Mobile has offered these sort of discounts to me in the past, partial discounts after griping about my current old phone. Maybe this is just the same thing but it’s more official.

It’s NOT a full discount, it’s a partial discount.