All T-Mobile users: Question

[DBabskie]

I heard about the Unlimited plan T-mobile maybe offering soon. I have the Unlimited plan by Sprint now. I went to talk to my local T-mobile store & they stated that the plan will most likely be what everyone has been reporting and will be out soon. My questions: How is T-mobiles cell service? I have Sprint & and drop calls or get data dead zones and hate it. How is the 3G data? Is it spotty in areas or pretty constant? Does T-mobile roam on ATT alot? How is traveling cross country with T-mobile? Can you get Data in say Walmart (Sprint CDMA cannot penetrate large buildings for some reason)? Any response to these questions I would be very helpful. I live in Northeast PA. I just doesn’t want to switch and have a phone that doesn’t get service or data.

Thank you everyone.

[BlackBerry Brian]

Originally Posted by DBabskie

I heard about the Unlimited plan T-mobile maybe offering soon.
I have the Unlimited plan by Sprint now. I went to talk to my local T-mobile store & they stated that the plan will most likely be what everyone has been reporting and will be out soon.

My questions:
1) How is T-mobiles cell service?
2) I have Sprint & and drop calls or get data dead zones and hate it.
3) How is the 3G data? Is it spotty in areas or pretty constant?
4) Does T-mobile roam on ATT alot?
5) How is traveling cross country with T-mobile?
6) Can you get Data in say Walmart (Sprint CDMA cannot penetrate large buildings for some reason)?

Any response to these questions I would be very helpful. I live in Northeast PA. I just doesn’t want to switch and have a phone that doesn’t get service or data.

Thank you everyone.

1) For me it's just fine with UMA calling over Wi-Fi ability to help when I'm at one place and most anywhere I go service is great, for you however, I don't think the same will be true... Personal Coverage Check
2) I don't drop many calls, and usually if I have voice service, I have data service as well.
3) For now EXTREMELY spotty, and non existent where you live... 3G coverage map
4) T-Mobile (for me) won't roam period anymore, no more roaming agreement with AT&T, which is bad because anywhere I don't have service, AT&T does, so I WAS covered 100% before the loss of the roaming agreement... T-Mobile and AT&T roaming agreement
5) Interstate coverage for me has always been great.
6) Yes, I have voice AND data in EVERY Wal-Mart I've been in, LOL

[DBabskie]

Thank you for your input. I have checked the coverage maps before posting. The reason I asked these questions is because when I signed my my contract with Sprint they showed me coverage maps and stated that I would have 3g in my house. Well I don't get service in my house and have a Airave so I can at least have voice. Plus other I talked to said the cover maps are far off. T-mobile stated the exact same thing. I worried that I will not have service. Plus, I use a lot of data. I use the internet on my phone constantly. I still want to hear from other who use T-mobile.

PS when I was at T-mobile they said that they do roam on ATT for free. Any thoughts on why they stated that?

[BlackBerry Brian]

Originally Posted by DBabskie

Thank you for your input. I have checked the coverage maps before posting. The reason I asked these questions is because when I signed my my contract with Sprint they showed me coverage maps and stated that I would have 3g in my house. Well I don't get service in my house and have a Airave so I can at least have voice. Plus other I talked to said the cover maps are far off. T-mobile stated the exact same thing. I worried that I will not have service. Plus, I use a lot of data. I use the internet on my phone constantly. I still want to hear from other who use T-mobile.

PS when I was at T-mobile they said that they do roam on ATT for free. Any thoughts on why they stated that?

You need to find people from PA to direct your questions to, because you say the coverage maps are off and my experience in SC obviously isn't going to do you any good.

If it's the "in your house" you are worried about, get a UMA capable Wi-Fi BlackBerry and have the fastest data and clearest voice possible any time you are at your house.
I use UMA at home, work, and 5 of my friends houses, and most of the eating places I go to, as well as public access Wi-Fi, AKA the main places I am at any given time and I can't live without it now!

Because the CSR's don't know any different about the roaming agreements and there are still SOME places that roaming on ATT is still allowed for T-Mobile customers.

[ashbeexoxo]

There is no more roaming allowed on AT&T. I know this first hand because I received a letter from tmo over the summer asking me to leave their service due to roaming charges. I called and found out the roaming agreement ended and I was racking up charges from march until june. I told them I had just purchased an 8900 and would use UMA from here on out at college and they let me slide. Be careful!

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[Artemis68]

I roam sometimes on AT&T for free at my college. Of course, the majority of my use is on T-Mo/Wifi, so it's not a big deal.

But yes, sometimes I roam on AT&T. the network switches over automatically. This roaming agreement is actually NEW in my area and I've been using it for months without charge. Don't listen when people tell you that "t-mobile doesn't roam anymore" because that's not true. Roaming agreements change depending on the area. Some lost the ability to roam in once place while I gained it in mine. It's weird, I know.

As ashbee said, if you DO roam, don't go nuts with the data. I believe it said in the fine print that more than HALF of your usage should be on T-Mobile native towers, not roaming with AT&T. Just keep that in mind.

Overall, I found their native EDGE coverage to be decent. I'm in PA now btw.

Wi-Fi and UMA is GREAT for getting signal in your house or in areas when it's not good. It's such a lifesaver.

[denison1g]

I've been with T-Mobile for a couple years now and I love it, absolutely no problems

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[DBabskie]

Thank you for the input. I appreciate the replies.

1) How is T-mobiles cell service? Splendid.

2) I have Sprint & and drop calls or get data dead zones and hate it. So switch.

3) How is the 3G data? Is it spotty in areas or pretty constant? Most BBs on TMO don't operate on 3G. This is a moot point.

4) Does T-mobile roam on ATT alot? Service doesn't roam. You roam.

5) How is traveling cross country with T-mobile? Fabulous.

6) Can you get Data in say Walmart (Sprint CDMA cannot penetrate large buildings for some reason)? Yes. And the reason the service can't penetrate huge buildings is because of the amount of concrete and other electronic devices running in the store that interfere with reception - much like if you go into a hospital and your phone is on, it screws with the equipment - just backwards

[TequilaAddict]

I am in Los Angeles. I have great service with EDGE here.

My husband has a MyTouch with 3G on T-Mobile... so far, I haven't heard him mention any problems either.

You really should tell us what city you live in, so people near you might tell you how their coverage is.

[fjerske]

I live in NEPA and I roam on att often w/ data. There are a few. Places where I don't, but that's because tmo owns spectrum there but no towers. But that's just past honesdale in white mills. Other thatn that no problems. FCC requires voice on like systems to roam where your provider does not own spectrum, but most data roams since they have to bill eacher just the same.

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