Limited data with T Mobile

[bigtime2]

I've had T Mobile's unlimited data plans for a few years now. I even thethered in the past. Last month I downloaded Slacker Radio app and subscribed to their service. On most days I listen to music on my 9700 for about two maybe three hours. My cycle ends on the 28th.

I downloaded Slacker on the 18th or the 19th of November. Worked fine for about seven days then I would just get a message saying "cannot retrieve the song." Emaild Slacker and was told that my subscription was fine. As soon as the new month (the 29th of November) started it went back to normal. I could listen to Slacker. That was up until this morning. I get the same error message. I tried to listen on wi-fi and it worked fine.

Everything else also works fine; email, bbm, web browsing, etc.

Does this mean that there is a limit of how much data one can use per month, and it actaully is not unlimited? Anyone else had a problem like this?

[Artemis68]

Nah, I doubt it...

T-Mobile's plans are really unlimited...well,there is a soft cap at 10 GB but then they just slow down your service. I highly doubt that you're using that much.

[bigtime2]

That's what I thought also, since I used to thether a lot about a year ago, but now this...

[Artemis68]

Originally Posted by missginacandy

Not unlimited if they cap u

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

You're right...it's not TOTALLY unlimited, but I'd say that this is as close as it gets.

Remember, it's a softcap at 10GB. You CAN continue to use the data service after 10GB but they may slow down your service a bit. However, data will not be shut off completely and nor will you be charged more.'

I've never heard of them enforcing this year but maybe I just need to talk to more people.... hmm

[pkcable]

I find it hard to believe you could go over 10GBs. I think there's another issue at play here. Are you able to check your usage on Tmo, like you can on Verizon? We just send a text to #data and get a text back with our data usage, plus they have an app, and you can check via the website. I'm sure Tmo has something similar. And FTR Verizon's softcap is only 5GBs.

[Artemis68]

Originally Posted by pkcable

I find it hard to believe you could go over 10GBs. I think there's another issue at play here. Are you able to check your usage on Tmo, like you can on Verizon? We just send a text to #data and get a text back with our data usage, plus they have an app, and you can check via the website. I'm sure Tmo has something similar. And FTR Verizon's softcap is only 5GBs.

I would say that if someone had 3G and they tethered (which T-Mobile allows on their smartphone plans) then they might go over it. I myself haven't heard about it though.

T-Mobile currently doesn't have a text system in place where you can check your usage but you can do it online from either your PC or your WAP browser if you're concerned. Usually, it's not a big deal though...With T-Mobile, you either get unlimited data or none at all...and then the apps/browser won't work. So there's no per MB charges to worry about.

[berryite]

Originally Posted by Artemis68

Nah, I doubt it...

T-Mobile's plans are really unlimited...well,there is a soft cap at 10 GB but then they just slow down your service. I highly doubt that you're using that much.

This is interesting Artemis. Do you have any other details? Do they seriously track this and do you know how they go about "slowing down" your service? Wouldn't that require reverse engineering your service somehow? Appreciate any education you can give me on this.

It amazes me. Companies no longer deliver on their promises. Unlimited should mean unlimited. Words mean things right?

[bigtime2]

Originally Posted by pkcable

I find it hard to believe you could go over 10GBs. I think there's another issue at play here. Are you able to check your usage on Tmo, like you can on Verizon? We just send a text to #data and get a text back with our data usage, plus they have an app, and you can check via the website. I'm sure Tmo has something similar. And FTR Verizon's softcap is only 5GBs.

When I log in to my online account it just shows data used: 35, remaining: unlimited. It does not specify whether it's 35 MB, GB or something else.

Tmo customerservice tells me --when I call them-- it is probably becuase the coverage is bad, however I have almost perfect 3 G coverage where I am trying to use it.

[Artemis68]

Originally Posted by berryite

This is interesting Artemis. Do you have any other details? Do they seriously track this and do you know how they go about "slowing down" your service? Wouldn't that require reverse engineering your service somehow? Appreciate any education you can give me on this.

It amazes me. Companies no longer deliver on their promises. Unlimited should mean unlimited. Words mean things right?

I got this information from another phone forum that I frequent. It is not Blackberry-based but people there are extremely knowledgeable on the inner workings of the cell companies and their policies. They have been around since the 90s and really know their stuff.

What I've been told there from many veteran posters is that T-Mobile has a "soft" cap at 10GB for their data plans (smartphones, at least). They have this in place to prevent abuse...I mean, honestly, who is going to reach 10GB unless you're torrenting 24/7. The "service slowdown" is something (at least I'm told) that T-mobile may or may not do to chronic abusers. I am not sure how it's done, but basically they'll slow down data to a crawl (in the lower Kb or something) until your next billing cycle begins. There is no data shutdown or extra charges.

As I've said, I haven't heard of it being enforced but that's what it is. I wouldn't worry about it too much. It's a lot better than the other carriers who cap you at 5GB, don't allow tethering, AND can charge you when you run over. For normal users (and even those who do a lot of tethering) it's essentially unlimited.

@bigtime2

Yeah the site is kind of vague. It's 35 MB, not GB. It will always show in MB.

[berryite]

Originally Posted by Artemis68

What I've been told there from many veteran posters is that T-Mobile has a "soft" cap at 10GB for their data plans (smartphones, at least). They have this in place to prevent abuse...I mean, honestly, who is going to reach 10GB unless you're torrenting 24/7. The "service slowdown" is something (at least I'm told) that T-mobile may or may not do to chronic abusers. I am not sure how it's done, but basically they'll slow down data to a crawl (in the lower Kb or something) until your next billing cycle begins. There is no data shutdown or extra charges.

Interesting. I'd never heard about any of this.

[Artemis68]

berryite, if you want the address of the forum I mentioned, I can PM it to you. The guys there have tons of information about this. I can't post it here because I believe that may be considered "advertising" or something.

[Han-ShinBi]

you know in the scoop they have in the tiny print about how they can reduce your data for the "benefit of others".

http://forums.crackberry.com/f69/fin...s-mean-141706/

[froggie427]

I would say that you would have to listen to a LOT of slacker radio to go over 10 Gb. I am on Verizon currently and I have only used between 30 and 40 mb in like 2 weeks.

[mofoahh]

Well tmobile is kinda slowing the speed down when im on my iphone. Maybe too many data users at the same time. I notice the speed dramatically increases in the middle of the night when not many users are on.