Tmobile are you kidding me with throttle speeds of heavy data users

walgarin · Thread Author #1 10-14-2010, 01:11 PM

T-Mobile to throttle speeds of heavy data users

Recently, T-Mobile released a statement detailing how it would handle customers who utilize more than 5 GB of data per month on their mobile devices. The statement reads:

Beginning on October 16, T-Mobile will begin to reduce data speeds when a customer reaches 5GB of usage in a billing cycle, in accordance with T-Mobile terms and conditions. This change should only affect extreme data users (less than 1 percent) and is being made to ensure that all subscribers receive the best Web performance available by limiting the number of extreme data users on our network.

The majority of T-Mobile customers should not be affected by this change. The new 5 GB threshold limit, which is equivalent to approximately 125,000 yahoo.com page visits, is enough bandwidth to satisfy most customers’ Web and data needs.
If a customer happens to reach the 5GB limit, they will receive a free text message informing them their data speed will be reduced. Customers will continue to have Web browsing capabilities but at slower speeds, which will be determined by their device type. Once their new billing cycle begins, data speeds will no longer be restricted.

dat dude · #2 10-14-2010, 05:11 PM

I'd rather them do that than to be charged.

2ndHalfCor · #3 10-14-2010, 05:57 PM

There is no free lunch. "Extreme data users" use up bandwidth that slows down the rest of us. T-Mobile can either create tiered data plans like some carriers do, or can leave us with unlimited usage with a cap that only affects the very heaviest users. I think this is the better remedy to deal with the few data hogs. Perhaps T-Mobile could offer a pay-by-the-gb plan for the "extreme data users" that reflects the actual cost of providing the service for those who don't want to be subject to the throttle.

It seems likely that this is a prelude to opening up tethering to the Android community.

Pyrus · #4 10-14-2010, 08:01 PM

to be honest with you guys i dont really understand all of this news hoopla becasue when i first started working with t-mobile almost 2 years ago now they told us that they have been doing this and always have...for both cell phones and data sticks after 10 GB you are throttled down on speed this policie has been in effect since i started working at t-mobile so im not sure if they are drasticaly changeing the policie or what but its always been this way...the only difference i can see is the limit is changeing form 10GB 5gb and the hole text message thing...before now it just happend and noone was infomred of it unless they called in and asked then we could tell you it was being done

NorrisCell · #5 10-15-2010, 01:40 AM

It's a cost of doing business. Everyone who follows the wireless world knows how huge smartphones have become. Smartphones = data. Too much data usage hurts everyone. As mentioned above, this is a much more desirable alternative to the tiered structure AT&T has, and VZW will have soon. I agree that there should be an option to purchase additional non-throttled bandwidth, but that would probably complicate it. Even with all the things I do on my vibrant, I come no where near 5 GB unless I tether it. I probably wouldn't break 1 GB on a BB, because the apps and web experience are light years behind that of Android.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for things being open and available However, if controls have to be in place, I don't think there is a more fair way to do it.

As Pyrus mentioned, there has been a 10 GB soft cap in place for quite some time. For those of you think that's a ridiculous amount to use in a month, 5 GB is only slightly less ridiculous for 98% of the users out there

Artemis68 · #6 10-15-2010, 10:13 AM

I'd take a 5 GB softcap over tiered pricing with overages any day!!

Does this mean that wifi hotspot will come to tmobile androids soon?

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

NorrisCell · #7 10-15-2010, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Artemis68

Does this mean that wifi hotspot will come to tmobile androids soon?

If you don't mind voiding the heck out of your warranty, it's already here. Works great too

TheScionicMan · #8 10-15-2010, 10:49 AM

Good. I doubt it will affect most people that are using their phone data plan as it was intended... for the phone.

Artemis68 · #9 10-15-2010, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NorrisCell

If you don't mind voiding the heck out of your warranty, it's already here. Works great too

I don't have an Android yet but if they don't officially support wifi hotspot when I get one, then YES I'm rooting it, haha.

I'm sorry to bother you Norris but do you think you could send me a link on how to EASILY root a tmo Vibrant and how to get wifi hotspot? I have no clue. My boyfriend has a Vibrant and is new to smartphones, so he's lost, but he wants to do wifi hotspot, just doesn't know how. I'd love to help him.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

mitchsurp · #10 10-16-2010, 12:38 AM

I use Wi-Fi too much to notice. I realized recently that I rarely pass 1GB, and I consider myself a very heavy user. I imagine anyone who uses/tethers with their berry more than I do is using the network in a way for which it was never intended.

T-Mobile is the last company to offer the so-called "Unlimited" plan at their price point. I could see how heavy users of the service (how they can use more than 5GB just baffles me) could slow down the network for the rest of the users. T-Mo's own press release said that something like 1% of the users would even notice. Apparently I'm not in that 1%.

Take a look at your data allowance. Log in to T-Mobile.com and check your data usage over the past 3 months. Because of the ubiquity of Wi-Fi, I rarely find myself over that 1GB mark for which you would pay dearly on other companies.

I'd prefer a friendly text message to tell me that the internet is gonna be slower than to get slammed with overages. I would much rather get a flat-priced full-speed-up-to-5GB-per-month-then-reduced-speed-but-still-unlimited amount of data than switch to a tiered plan and get slammed with overages one month where I had to tether more than usual.

If you're that pissed about it, why not switch to Verizon. They'll let ya tether at full speed... for an additional $30.

\T-Mo for life

BoldtotheMax · #11 10-17-2010, 11:27 AM

Personally this news don't bother me one bit.

I mean using up to 10g on a phone is insane IMO...I am heavy user and get no where near the 5....

Tmobile FTW!

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

Armando175 · #12 10-17-2010, 11:39 AM

There's always AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon at $30+ for tethering. Like many of you, I'd rather be throttled back on speed then paying for overages. I always tether but I don't even reach 5GB in a month, maybe 3GB so it won't affect me.

dagerlach · #13 10-18-2010, 01:12 PM

While I have not exceeded the 5gb limit, I have called to find out why my data rate was so slow.

My question is whether or not adding this limit to an unlimited plan changes the terms and conditions of one contract. I believe it does, thus allowing anyone out of their contract should they elect to terminate the contract.

Thoughts?