Wow, T-Mobile's Family Share Options DESTROY the other 3 big carriers

[condemned]

Unlimited Talk/Text for 2 lines start at $100/month and you can add additional lines with 500 minutes per line for $10 or unlimited minutes per additional line for $30.

On Verizon, Sprint, and ATT every line MUST share the same amount of minutes. And if you want unlimited, each additional line starts at $50 which is insane. Who the wants to pay that much just to add a line?

I am so glad I'm one of the lucky people to be blanketed with T-Mobile 4g all around my area and its great to see them expanding their coverage everyday. If they can expand huge everywhere then maybe it'll convince other carriers to stop ripping off customers.

Seriously, I pay $199/month before taxes on T-mobile for 4 lines now - 2 of those lines having unlimited talk, 5gb of data, and unlimited text while the other 2 lines have 500 minutes, unlimited data and unlimited texts.

^A similar plan to that on the other 3 carriers would cost at least $370 before taxes which is almost double which I would never pay. I'd rather go back to using flip phones with minimal texting than pay that outrageous amount.

Thank God for T-Mobile's great family plan prices otherwise it wouldn't be worth it to own a smartphone.

[doxa sub750T]

Yep, I agree. I have 5 lines and a mobile hotspot 2GB unlimited high speed data.

All 5 lines are on BB data plan (2GB), plus unlimited international SMS and the premium device warranty. Two lines have unlimited minutes and the other 3 have 500minutes. But I also have unlimited WiFi calling for all 5 lines too. After the corp discount and taxes, my monthly bill is $280 round up. Very hard to beat indeed!

[karaya1]

I have a friend whose family had 6 lines, on verizon and 2 Ipads, some extra wifi hotspot serves ect. I think they have like 4000 minutes or soomething like that, all lines have data and text plans. Their bill is north of $650 a month.

I had 4 people on my Tmobile line, 3000 minutes, unlimited N/Wkd, unlimited text/web for 210 after taxes.

Unreal.

[ridesno159]

Who uses their cell phone to actually talk on the phone anymore?

I'm glad you found something that works for you though!

We're on day 30 of 31 for our 4 lines right now, have used 149 minutes out of 700. I feel like I have a great deal on Verizon though too! 700 minutes/month, unlimited texting, 2 9930's with unlimited data, 1 iPhone 4 with 15$/150mb data, and a dumbphone. After our discount, then taxes and other charges it comes to $190 a month. All on America's biggest and most reliable network.

I know I shouldn't be in the Tmobile forum, but just wanted to point out that the top carriers aren't always as greedy as some make them out to be...

[doxa sub750T]

Well, two of the lines are for business and almost always close to 1,500 minutes per month. We are on the road often and WiFi is not always available, particularly while driving.

Our miles vary. For some 2GB unlimited high speed data may not cut it. But on ours, we hardly use it more than 600MB So the 2GB is plenty enough. Even the hotspot, way south of 1GB is the most I ever used in a month.

I think that the OP intention is to point out that the overall family plan package value is hard to beat on TMO. I am sure that other big 3 carriers have plan that fit everyone budget. But I don't think that I can save my bill by switching to anyone while keeping all the services I have with TMO

[Armando175]

TMO has some great plans. The only thing I don't like is that you have to sign a two year contract regardless of the plan you choose except their Monthly 4G plans (prepaid).

[BoldtotheMax]

I know people who have 2 lines on Big Red paying 220 a month and anther family plan of 5 phones over 3 bills......Just cant justify that myself.

I pay 180 right now on 5 phones, 3 data packages, unlimited texts, warranty on 3 phones and 1000 shared minutes. We never go over it, so it works out great!

It will be going up to 210 as my 3 add a lines for free are up next month. Still not shabby!

[dosto]

You're so right. I've been with TMO, or their predecessors, since 1998. Almost switched to Verizon this year, but after doing lots of research and comparison, the TMO price won out. I've got great 4g (HSPA+) coverage where I am.

I'm partial to the Value plans. No "hidden costs" for phones. I know exactly how much I'm paying for my phone.

[raino]

Originally Posted by dosto

I'm partial to the Value plans. No "hidden costs" for phones. I know exactly how much I'm paying for my phone.

Value plans sound great to me too, but I really wish T-Mobile would do a better job at advertising them . I've come across a lot of people who are turned off by the sticker shock of paying upfront for a phone, without realizing that they are actually saving $ over the length of the two year contract. I wish TMO would hammer this point in, and also how Value is pro-BYOD.

[cherimoya]

am looking at t-m value plans right now. how is the 4G coverage in nyc? brooklyn? qns? staten island? jersey? baltimore-dc area?

can a famly plan have 1 line unlmtd minutes and 2 line 500 or 1000? each with different data plan amts? ie line 1: 49.99 unltd talk w 2 g, line 2 1000 minutes /5 g?

or do the first 2 lines have to both choose same plan?
if so, are they splitting the cost of and sharing 1000 minutes and 2g data? or does each line have 1000 minutes and 2 g data? if necessary, is it possible to increase data amount mid-contract without restarting the contract or facing early term fees?
is there a bis fee per bb on top of these amts? or is the amt stated the amt paid, just in case of bb its a bis plan?
does tmobile discount for credit union membership? aaa? aarp? and would any of those work with the value plan?

how does value compare to going prepaid on tmo? advantages of one over other? besides helping with cost of devices. if bring my own device, and purchase a gsm unlocked, do att branded bbs work completely with tmobile on all t-mobile networks? do tmobile branded bbs work fully on att when unlocked? what bandwidths should an unlocked gsm have in order to work fully no tmobile 3g? 4g? backward compatible? since they are all gsm phones, if travel overseas and change out sim, will they work globally?

can someone tell me how tmobile 2 gsm speed compares with sprint 3g? among other things, could use unlocked sim on my sprint 9650, in which case wouldnt get tmobile bandwidth 3 and 4, but might not be worse than sprint spreed on 3g and would save $ 2 bbs. if so, would bis work on 2? (no bis, no deal. if im using bb, i dont want it to mimic a simple phone).