In the past few days, gadget, phone sites and forums have blown up with news about T-Mobile’s new “game changing” Project Dark plans. While we’ve seen comparisons of the new unlimited plans to the competition and all non-unlimited plans appearing to beat the competition in minutes and/or price, has T-Mobile beaten themselves up a little too much on the lower end? Some say yes, some say no. To help out, we’ve created a small chart (look familiar?) to help compare T-Mobile’s old plans versus their new plans, the non-unlimited variety of course. To make things fair, the Even More Plus plans have not been used in the comparison (as they do not have any phone subsidies or contracts) but subtract $10 from the Even More prices and you’ve got your price anyway.
This chart doesn’t cover absolutely every possible combo of plans and add-ons but should give a brief outline to look at for pricing below unlimited… therefore, your mileage may vary. Adjust accordingly. Individual 1000 at the promotional price has been included as that was a very popular promotion that ran three summers in a row. Add $10 if you want to compare with the old standard 1000 minute rate.
For those who do not remember or never had it, the 1000 minute promotionfor $39.99 included unlimited nights and weekends. It is completely different than anything that was normally listed on the website. So yes, it compares
Important Note on Even More Plus. No contracts required on these plans. Phones must be purchased at full retail price but the payments can be split up over 20 months with no interest. If you decide to leave T-Mobile while on one of these plans, remaining balance for the phone must be paid in full but no ETF exists since you wouldn’t be on contract. Exception: People switching from old plans to EM+ plans still have to remain on the contract they previously agreed to. There is a $35 activation fee to switch from an old plan or Even More plan to Even More Plus.
Remember, if you’re on one of the plan combos where you’re saving money now versus the new plans, you do not have to switch and can stay on your current plan as long as you’d like. A few reps have stated to a person in the comments of this article that add-ons such as data will be available to old plans for as long as you have them. Whether this is true or the reps were confused/misinformed (also understandable) we do not yet know, only time will tell.
More on unlimited plans and myFaves after the break (including a myFaves comparison chart)…
Sunday is a big day in T-Mobileland, and while the company is trying to keep things from leaking, that is very hard to do in today’s world. What we have here is further, clearer and more detailed confirmation of the rate plans accompanying Project Dark. As it is, though, we are considering these rumors, so have your daily dose of salt. Of course, maybe T-Mobile is trying to keep people in the dark by printing out false information sheets (we have our doubts that any company would do this, but what a genius move to keep people in the dark (if that is what they are trying to do)). Either way, head on past the break for a full, and much easier to read, peak at the rate plans (including a family plan breakdown). Leave your thoughts in the comments!
Project Dark, we have high hopes for you and we sure hope this is enough to catapult you into the good graces of the wireless deities.
I know what you all want and we are prepared to deliver. We’re putting this in the rumor column at this point but we’re pretty confident on this pricing. You’re going to skip right past anything else I write so here is what we know:
The leaked information follows the jump, if you don’t want to know what T-mobile is planning on offering, haven’t yet seen or want to be surprised everything after the read link is going to spoil something for you.
At this point, there is significant speculation regarding Project Dark. There is simply too much buzz surrounding it for someone “in the know” to not want to feel a little powerful, drop some hints and create a larger buzz. Rumors are running wild on the forums and for the moment we’re going to let them remain rumors. The above image is meant merely to confirm an unlimited plan exists. We don’t know what “Even More” and “Even More Plus” means yet and we don’t want to throw out any more misinformation. We simply cannot confirm or deny anything with 100% certainty at this point. We know whats likely (see forum link) and whats not (iPhone). We know some of you will look at the above picture and say “Ok…what does that mean?” Well, we can’t say for sure, but at this point we know T-Mobile has something big brewing. That something is seemingly related to that picture.
The last five days or so has seen a rush of discussion regarding “Project Black.” The guessing game for “Project Black” has taken the T-Mobile Internet with hopes from an iPhone launch to an unlimited plan that makes even Sprint jealous. However, this morning was also met by an editorial courtesy of Engadget that begs the question, is a $50 dollar all-you-can-use plan enough to boost T-Mobile USA’s fortunes? The short answer is no, courtesy of the Blogosphere who simply don’t believe that a $50 dollar all-you-can-use plan is enough to give T-Mobile a chance at passing Sprint and taking 3rd place in the US wireless game. Is that the endgame for T-Mobile, $50 dollars and that’s the last gamble before Deutsche Telekom comes a’knockin? First and foremost, we don’t believe that the rate plan is the entire “Project Black” undertaking. Aside from the one thing we know to be true, that the uniforms in the retail stores will be changing, everything else is unsubstantiated.
That’s not to say that the guessing game around the web is wrong or that the hopes of many will be shut down. Engadget isn’t wrong per se, I would just like to think that T-Mobile is smarter than simply launching a $50 plan and hope it carries them past the likes of Sprint. While a plan at that dollar value is certainly more in line with budget carriers like Metro, Cricket or Boost, T-Mobile can’t count on stealing their customers to launch past Sprint. More is required–more plans, more phones and my favorite factor: marketing. Verizon has an awesome marketing campaign; see this link if you don’t think they have a clever team. AT&T has awful marketing, more bars in more places simply makes me think of more “bars” in more places. As in a bar to help me cope with the dropped calls and shoddy network quality.
The recent speculation for “Project Dark” has allowed T-Mobile to create an internet buzz not seen for them across the blogosphere since the days leading up to the G1 launch. We have stated, based on the writings of others that T-Mobile USA needs a win and soon, so Deutsche Telekom can rest a little easier at night. Rumors surrounding what “Project Dark” really is remain both secretive and mysterious. BoyGenius reports this afternoon that one of their “connects” has stated that they believe it is both a handset launch and a rapid network upgrade. Our sources have remained tight-lipped but have hinted toward a rate plan revamp worthy of taking the wireless world by storm. Which rumor is true? Nobody at this point knows and you should not take any of them as gospel, as nothing said has shown to be completely 100% factual.
We know new handsets are launching, T-Mobile has stated so much themselves. So why would such launches be so wildly secretive and mysterious? They would not be, not unless it was tied to something much more buzz worthy. To that end, we will continue to play the guessing game and wait for the inevitable leak. Until then, discuss away in the forums, the comments or at the water cooler. One thing is for sure, this hype had better not be for naught or the moans and groans of T-Mobile customers will be caught on the Richter scale.
I think it goes without saying right now that speculation for “Project Dark” or “Project Black” as we believe its mistakenly been called around the web is quite high. With that said, either everyone thinks they already know what it is, what it should be or most importantly, what they want it to be. The real question is what it would really take from T-Mobile to pole vault over Sprint to the number three spot. Is the iPhone as a number of you have come to speculate really the answer? Is the iPhone even on the table or is AT&T retaining its kung-fu like grip on the Apple relationship? Regardless of your opinion on the idevice it’s undoubtedly the key to AT&T riches right now regardless of whatever network hell their customers are enduring. So here we have it, a mighty poll for “Project Dark,” as we have read your comments but now want to see where the majority falls with their hopes for whatever it turns out to be. So vote below, if the option you like isn’t there, check other and comment below. Want to continue discussion on “Project Black?” The forums are a mighty fine place to discuss it and they look oh so good these days!
It’s been a while since we’ve heard something REALLY BIG. Well the guys over at PhoneArena have received word from a tipster that T-Mobile is about to “shake up the status quo of the U.S. cellular industry”. T-Mobile employees are being trained tomorrow for “Project Black”. This mysterious but catchy sounding name is supposed to be something so BIG for T-Mobile USA, that it is expected to lift T-Mobile out of 4th place among the nation’s wireless operators (Take that Sprint). PhoneArena’s tipster has stated those involved in this have signed non-disclosure agreements, so this looks to be huge. Also, their tipster also claims that we should expect a 3G enabled BlackBerry (9700 anyone?) headed to T-Mobile by Christmas time. The tipster also bumped into an ex-Nokia Rep who revealed to him that there will be two Nokia N-Series smartphones headed for T-Mobile USA early next year, one of them being the N900 with Maemo5. She says to expect more high-end Nokia devices headed for Magenta in the future. It looks like T-Mobile subscribers just won the Lottery! Sound off in the comments!
UPDATE: After doing a little digging around I’ve found some more interesting info. Our trusted ninja claims that there is something big brewing (not chicken soup) for the end of the month it seems. Bigger than a phone or a promotion plan. Everyone involved in it had to sign secondary non-disclosure agreements apparently. It is seemingly rolling out on October 25th because all field supporting positions are being required to work (its a Sunday) to support this mystery offering. Trainings will be the Friday before. T-Mobile USA is keeping this a super big secret so nobody knows what it is quite yet.
