[hecatae]

http://t-mobile.co.uk/datachanges


T-Mobile is the only operator to give customers the Mobile Internet for a fixed-price. We never charge our customer's more than they expect for their Mobile Internet in the UK.

Therefore you'll never need to worry about how many emails you've sent, how long you've been on-line or the ‘data / GB’s’

Browsing means looking at websites and checking email, but not watching videos, downloading files or playing games. We’ve got a fair use policy but ours means that you'll always be able to browse the internet, it’s only when you go over the fair use amount that you won’t be able to download, stream and watch video clips.

So Whats Changing? - From 1st February 2011 we will be aligning our fair use policies so our mobile internet service will have fair use of 500MB.

What Does This Mean? - We’ll always let you email and browse the internet and you’ll never pay more than you agree to. We do have a fair use policy but ours is there to make sure we deliver the best service possible to all our customers. This means that you’ll always be able to browse the internet.

So remember our Mobile Broadband and internet on your phone service is best used for browsing which means looking at your favorite websites like Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, BBC News and more, checking your email and looking for information, but not watching videos or downloading files.

If you want to download, stream and watch video clips, save that stuff for your home broadband.

[gorilla]

I still think 500MB is a good amount of data for the average mobile phone user.
What I would like to see though is the networks charge less for 500MB and offer additional 500MB add ons for circa £2.50.

Either that or just scrap caps!

[Hands0n]

Good heavens, what on earth does that all mean? They're saying that you can use as much data as you like but the FUP is 500MB, but you can really use as much as you like for all of that good stuff. But "If you want to download, stream and watch video clips ..." don't use our network...

Well, at least, thats how it reads to me.

[miffed]

Jesus this has become a real roller coaster - Remember T-mobile were the first to offer a decent amount of Data for a decent price with Web & Walk , now it seems the instinct of all the networks is to cap & discourage , rather than compete !

I stumbled upon this the other day

http://blog.o2.co.uk/home/2010/06/offering-fair-and-transparent-access-to-mobile-data.html#more

[DBMandrake]

The way I read it is if you go over the new 500MB cap, all internet access except for web browsing (presumably limited to port 80 and 443) and Email (again presumably port 25, 110, 143, 587, 993 etc) will be blocked. No Skype (although I hear T-Mobile block Skype traffic to begin with anyway) or any other non web browsing or email traffic until the monthly data cycle rolls over. Since you can download and stream video by http, presumably they use some kind of intelligent throttling on that to make sure any big downloads are slowed down.

Very poor backwards step in my opinion, especially when T-Mobile users are already saddled with horrendous jpeg/gif/png image compression that can't be turned off, and get throttled to ~300kbps unless they pay for the Web&Walk plus addon! (Or haggle with the CS enough to get the speed cap lifted for free, which a few have managed)

Their claim that "T-Mobile is the only operator to give customers the Mobile Internet for a fixed-price. We never charge our customer's more than they expect for their Mobile Internet in the UK." is also demonstrably false given Three's new unlimited data with no extra charges on The One Plan.

Is there any good reason to go for T-Mobile in light of these changes ? :rolleyes:

[Hands0n]

T-Mobile, in common with a lot of ISPs these days, are making use of Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) to monitor and control/throttle how their network is used.

It is all very well having this technology in your network. The fact that you can doesn't mean that you should!

Besides which, how exactly is this competing with Three's latest industry challenge The One Plan (http://store-3.co.uk/3-the-one-plan.html?id=014420000081&gclid=CPr_v6_QsKYCFQZO4QodURHeZg)? Is this really the competition that OFCOM keep on telling us that they're there to see occur in our marketplace?

[Ben]

How the hell can T-Mobile possibly say "If you want to download, stream and watch video clips, save that stuff for your home broadband."

Avoid!

[chaslam]

Im absolutely fuming about this. The majority of the customers who are with Tmobile are with them because of the generous usage that comes alongside it.

They are basically saying that because the 3GB isnt actually included in the price plan (its an add-on that comes free with it), they arent giving the customers the right to cancel. However, when I (and many others) purchased their contracts with tmobile, this was explained as part of the tariff, which now they are saying its not! Therefore, surely you have the right to cancel, as we were mis-sold the contract in the first place.

If you look on the tmobile website they are now still advertising 3GB data allowance with the contracts, and someone on the tmobile discussions board actually used the online helpdesk who told him it was 3GB and refused to tell him it was going down before they were questioned about it (therefore continuing to sell it as a 3GB bundle, knowing full well that this time next month it wont be!

Tomorrow i will be writing to Tmobile to let them know that I wish to terminate my contract and quote the relevant T&Cs, and I will also state that if they will not terminate it because of that, I wish to send it back and terminate it that way, as I believe I was mis-sold it ie with the relevance that i was sold the 3GB as part of the package, NOT an additional add on.

[hecatae]

http://www.villainrom.co.uk/vBwiki/index.php/Ofcom_Letter

http://cantankerous.co.uk/?p=499

http://http//www.bitterwallet.com/slow-and-steady-wins-the-race/39291

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=2971328

http://conversation.which.co.uk/mobile/mobile-phone-networks/t-mobile-is-likely-in-breach-of-its-customers-contracts/

http://www.coolsmartphone.com/2011/01/12/t-mobile-data-cap-the-backlash-begins/

http://www.littlefluffytoys.com/

http://www.wizbongre.co.uk/

all the above taken from Modaco's thread.

http://android.modaco.com/content/android-news/329049/t-mobile-uk-hacks-its-data-allowance/


new information

http://support.t-mobile.co.uk/help-and-support/index?page=home&cat=DATA_CHANGES

backtracking now


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.

[Ben]

Power to the people ;)

How do these massive corporations continue to make such pathetic mistakes?

[chaslam]

Well thats good news. Im less then 10 days into my month and ive used more then 250mb, so I would have no doubt suffered if It had lowered. I just don't understand what they were thinking when they made the initial announcement. I bet all hell is now breaking loose in the PR dept and heads will roll for whoever wrote that press release.

[hecatae]

but, anyone who upgrades with them is now screwed.

there will be plenty of pac requests come February

[chaslam]

Oh yeah 100% agree with that. Ive still got a good year and a half on my contract, so unless something has changed when i upgrade I will definitely be moving to someone like three, or even giffgaff!

[The Mullet of G]

T Mobile and mis-selling contracts, this sounds all too familiar sadly. I think everyone knows my feelings about T Mobile so I'll spare you all another tirade.

The initial announcement was hilarious though, on one hand you'll never need to worry about "how long you've been online or the ‘data / GB’s’" but on the other hand you shouldn't go above 500MB, also don't download or stream stuff. This will apparently result in the best possible service for all customers, but since they can't actually do anything besides browse websites then what's the point? Also Like DBMandrake pointed out they already hammer you with a mediocre 300kbps speed cap unless you pay extra, could this service possibly be any more limited?


TL;DR - T Mobiles data network is really poor and barely fit for browsing, to hide this fact they are building fences in front of the wall in their tiny little walled garden in the hope you wont notice the wall for the fence. :)