T-Mobile’s new Simple Choice plan: the time to switch is now

Brian Ambrozy 30 Mar, 2013 at 4:26pm ET Article published in Tech

It’s not often that anybody here at Icrontic just blatantly endorses something as complex and important as a mobile rate plan, but after witnessing the positive experiences of several trusted Icrontians as well as experiencing some major cost savings first-hand, this is going to be one of those times.

First, some background

A complicated mobile situation

My mobile situation has been on the “complex” end of the scale for years. When I started off with T-Mobile, I was married with two small children. Smartphones didn’t exist. The important choice of the day was how many minutes you got. My wife and I got a phone each, and that was that. Over the years, a divorce, two kids getting older and needing their own mobile phones, the advent of smartphones, a new girlfriend that turned into a fiancee and more all added up to an increasingly complex set of needs and contracts. Toss in some world travel and the need to cover large events with a mobile hotspot, and the result was my mish-mash of complexity so thick even a lawyer couldn’t make sense of it. Five different lines, with four smartphones, two with unlimited data, one with a global SIM unlock, two with data blockers so they couldn’t accidentally get online and accrue data charges, five different contract ending dates, and…. well, you get the idea.

My bill was somewhere in the neighborhood of $250 a month when you factored in the handset protection plans (the aforementioned teenagers, and believe me, this has come in handy on three occasions now) and all the other idiosyncrasies. The way my contracts were staggered, it seemed like I would be perpetually involved in two-year contracts in one way or another. If T-Mobile ever ceased to be my carrier of choice, it would have been even more complicated than a divorce to get out of all that mess.

A simple choice

Recently, I started hearing rumbles of disbelief about T-Mobile’s new Simple Choice rate plan. I saw a couple of friends on Facebook talking about how it saved them money. When I looked further into it, I realized that it could probably do the same for me… but I didn’t hold out hope.

I called. A bubbly and excited girl named Megan sounded as excited as a customer service rep could possibly be. She basically said, “Let’s dig in to this mess and save you some money”.

The way the new plans work is like this: There are no more “minutes”, no more certain numbers of texts, and no more data packages. There are no more “shared” minutes or data or anything. You pay $50 a month for the first line ($70 if you want “real” unlimited data—more on that in a minute), $30 a month for the second, and $10 a month for every line after that. Therefore, with my five lines, my new rate plan would look like this: $70+$50+$10+$10+$10 = $150 a month. Toss in my handset protection and taxes, and we’re looking at $200 per month—$50 less than it has been for years. That’s $600 per year less than it was. On top of that, my two teenage sons now have unlimited (with a catch) data… something I never really planned on getting for them (I always told them the could have data plans when they could pay for it themselves. Get a job!).

Looking at it another way, T-Mobile is essentially looking at each device on your plan in the same way your cable company looks at your computers… They are just providing the pipe, and you pay a flat rate for access to it, with whatever device you bring to the table.

The only catch with the “unlimited” data is that the first 500mb is included at full speed. After 500mb per month is used, data rates are decreased to very slow speeds. Regardless, there is no more looming threat of insane overage fees. First 500mb is fast, the rest is slow. If you want to get the “real” unlimited data, it’s an extra $20 per month, per line. My teenage boys are thrilled with any data, so 500mb is a dream come true for them.

The Switch

In order to cash out of all my various contracts and get everything onto this new plan, I had to buy out of my existing contracts. With all my various plans, the total contract buyout was a $350 one-time charge. Since I’m saving $600 per year to switch to this, that’s an easy fee to swallow.

I realize this editorial reads like a sponsored post or an advertorial, but it’s not. It’s just a tremendously good idea from T-Mobile that has directly impacted my bill. I know several other community members have also switched to this plan and have been raving about it. If you’re on another provider and T-Mobile is a viable option in your area, I really cannot recommend staying with your current plan. Visit T-Mobile to see what you can get.

Full disclosure: We use Skimlinks to affiliatize all links on Icrontic, so I suppose those T-Mobile links could be affiliate links, but I can’t be 100% sure. Just thought I’d throw that out there.

Comments

30 Mar 2013 ~ 5:05pm Thrax And for single-line people, T-Mobile's "unlimited everything" plan is at least $40/mo cheaper than any other carrier in the US. And no contract. At the end of 2 years, that's $960 in your pocket.

And now you can afford to flat out buy any smartphone, and still save money at the end of it all. In fact, because T-Mobile isn't charging you the $100-200 subsidy fee other carriers are to basically rent the phone from them, you essentially have $1100 to spend on a phone. Any amount less than that is money saved versus any other carrier.

EXAMPLE

Sprint unlimited: $100 phone + (($109.99/mo)*24)) = $2739 for two years.

T-Mobile unlimited: $600 phone + (($70/mo)*25)) = $2280 for two years.

Closest AT&T plan (only 5GB/mo data): $100 phone + (($139.99/mo)*24)) = $3459.76 for two years.

And I'm too lazy to finish Verizon, but it's just as bad as AT&T. Dunno about you, but LTE isn't worth $1200 in my book.

T-Mobile is challenging you to rethink the way you deal with your smartphone plan. I've demonstrated here that paying "only $100" for the phone ends in highway robbery. You will get gouged for that carrier subsidy, and a phone you could have bought for just $600 will end up costing you in the neighborhood of $1500 with anybody but T-Mobile.

We need to stop being allergic to the true prices of cell phones, and play the long game to see real savings.
30 Mar 2013 ~ 5:17pm PirateNinja T-mobile has done a fascinating job in marketing, the proof is in this post.

The problem is even for somewhat recently locked in AT&T customers, this isn't worth the hassle. I'd have to wait 18 months before I saved any money, and if you consider the future value of money and opportunity cost it doesn't actually make sense for many to change.
If I were brand new to the mobile world and wanted to start from scratch, yes T-mobile all the way. Unfortunately it just isn't worth it for me.
For many "family plan" people locked in with other carriers, the switching cost is too high.

For the record I have a spreadsheet that details the finances of this, and it could just be my own situation. I'm sure a ton of people can save from switching to or updating T-mobile plans. I am also sure a lot of people are like me where it doesn't add up.
30 Mar 2013 ~ 5:32pm Thrax Given the emphasis carriers place on single-line plans, I'd wager that's the bulk of their volume. If so, even a full-fat ETF of $350 and a the purchase of a new phone at full MSRP is cheaper than sticking with AT&T or Verizon if you're such a customer.
30 Mar 2013 ~ 5:43pm PirateNinja The cost of breaking contract and buying new phones is not worth it for me, whether I buy the phones up front or over time on what is essentially an interest free loan. Depending on what route I would choose, it could take up to 55 months to recoup my money assuming I'm not investing it in the first place. It just isn't worth it. I'd advise everyone considering a switch in carrier to make a proper financial analysis. For many, it will be worth it. For many, it won't be worth it. As with pretty much everything, it depends.

Edit:
Per what @Thrax said, if I was on an individual plan I would have already switched. No question. It's a lot easier when you don't have to worry about your family members. C'est la vie
30 Mar 2013 ~ 5:55pm PirateNinja One more critical variable in the equation:
How often do you want to get a new phone? For me it is at least every two years. If you are a replace your phone every 4-6 years person, then by all means T-mobile it up. Of course, do your own analysis first, but this is a critical variable.
30 Mar 2013 ~ 6:15pm Thrax If you're on a single plan: you could buy a new $600 phone every year, and still come out even or ahead vs. all other carriers on T-Mobile.
30 Mar 2013 ~ 6:56pm Linc Verizon contract expires in June. iPhone 5 + tethering + unlimited data + half the bill? Peace.
30 Mar 2013 ~ 6:58pm Thrax Just make sure the iPhone 5 you have supports 1700MHz. It might not, so you'll probably have to sell your current iPhone and buy a new one that's compatible with T-Mo's network.
30 Mar 2013 ~ 7:08pm primesuspect He doesn't have an iPhone 5 right now. He'd be buying a new one from T-Mo.
30 Mar 2013 ~ 7:20pm Thrax Gotcha
30 Mar 2013 ~ 7:43pm fatcat My case scenario: (I don't need unlimited minutes, I've never gone above 50 in a month)

$0 phone / 24 months = $2046.72

switching to T-Mobile:

$350 cancellation fee + $299 phone (Nexus4) / 24 months (2GB plan) = $2209.00 (A proximate without knowing taxes/fees per month(used $65x24))
The Unlimited Plan would put me at $2449.00

So, switching to T-Mobile NOW would be more expensive. A year from now it might be cheaper with pro-rated cancellation fees on Sprint.

Again, this is my case with employee discount
30 Mar 2013 ~ 8:12pm MiracleManS The unfortunate part is that T-Mobile is all but non-existent outside of major metro areas or college towns. I would absolutely switch (even if it were only "3G") but the entirety of coverage up I-81 is 2G. I'm not sure I could survive on dial-up speeds.
30 Mar 2013 ~ 8:18pm ardichoke You'd be surprised what you can get used to. I spent a week in Michigan's Upper Peninsula where T-Mobile doesn't even have 2G data coverage. I got used to hitting a wifi hot spot when I needed data and not caring otherwise.

It was a good vacation.
30 Mar 2013 ~ 8:31pm NiGHTS FWIW - Boost Mobile and Virgin offer decent plans to compete against the 'big 4' - Boost's even goes so far as to begin lowering your monthly payments after you pay on time. MetroPCS offers similar plans without the decreasing monthly payment, but their LTE tiers are a bit wonky for data capping.
30 Mar 2013 ~ 8:43pm QCH Yesterday I switched my 4 line tmobile account to the new no-contract plan for $250. I was paying over $200 a month and afterwards I will be paying $130 a month. Then, today, I traded in my glitch ridden phone for a new Samsung Galaxy Note II. I am very, very happy.
30 Mar 2013 ~ 8:50pm mertesn I am on Verizon, I have four phones with unlimited LTE coverage. For those four lines I pay $280 per month after company discount.

The same plan with unlimited 4G on T-Mo, before taxes, fees, and any discounts, costs $180.

My only concern is voice coverage in my area. According to the maps, it's fine when you're near the freeways, but start moving away from them and you get spotty coverage. I guess those are the hazards of living in semi-rural Oklahoma areas.
30 Mar 2013 ~ 9:16pm GnomeQueen How does T-Mo's network compare to Sprint's? I'd been looking forward to hopefully being able to afford Verizon again after grad school since Sprint's coverage is kinda crappy.
30 Mar 2013 ~ 9:35pm Thrax Larger, faster. Sprint is a distant fourth in the carrier race.
30 Mar 2013 ~ 9:44pm primesuspect The only place I've had terrible coverage was in the Dakotas, Montana, and Wyoming. I was in very rural areas. In places that T-Mo doesn't have towers, they have sharing agreements with AT&T; for example, I'm in northern Michigan right now on AT&T's network. I get something like 250mb of data sharing per month on AT&T, which is enough for my infrequent visits. In any normal area, T-Mo coverage is fine.
30 Mar 2013 ~ 9:48pm fatcat Larger coverage...ah no:

Sprint

T-Mo
30 Mar 2013 ~ 9:49pm CrazyJoe $80/month for my wife and I plus a better network (we have Sprint now) means we will definitely look into switching. Why are the plans more expensive if you bring your own phone? It's $80/month for two lines if you buy the phone from them or $120/month if you bring your own ($60/line.)
30 Mar 2013 ~ 10:39pm Thrax It's $120/mo either way. Not sure where you're reading.
30 Mar 2013 ~ 11:24pm CrazyJoe Oh. I just saw that it said it was $50 for one line and $30 for the 2nd line. I forgot about the $20/line charge for the phone cost. We're paying about $150/month for our phones so it's not really worth it at that point to switch since we'd have to pay the cancelation fee.
30 Mar 2013 ~ 11:35pm Thrax What are your ETFs at the moment?
30 Mar 2013 ~ 11:58pm CrazyJoe Since our contract runs through May 2014 the website says our fees are $280. I was thinking that was per line, but I don't think it is now it might be better. Might have to look into it once the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S4 come out in a bit. Right now all our money is going into the move though.
31 Mar 2013 ~ 3:51pm MiracleManS
Larger, faster. Sprint is a distant fourth in the carrier race.
I was surprised to find that Sprint has 4G coverage up and down I-81 at this point. That said, I only use WiFi at home, I do not use the work network.
31 Mar 2013 ~ 5:46pm Garg
Larger coverage...ah no:
OpenSignal relies on crowdsourced data, so some of the apparent holes in coverage of T-Mobile (or anybody else's) is simply because nobody has run their app in that area. You can see T-Mo's official coverage map here.

National coverage maps also exaggerate the importance of blanketing all of the Dakotas in LTE. Areal coverage != population coverage.

All that matters is if a given network covers your usual locations. I hope nobody makes the mistake of signing with a provider because it has the "best" coverage in general, because it'll cost you.
1 Apr 2013 ~ 11:00am ardichoke Okay hivemind of Icrontic, riddle me this, will T-mo offer insurance if you bring your own device, or only if you purchase through them? I ask because my fiancee drops her phone CONSTANTLY. I can't even tell you how many times she has had her phone replaced because of drops. Not insuring her phone is really not an option and right now our plan is for her to take my Galaxy Nexus and me to buy myself a shiny new Nexus 4.
1 Apr 2013 ~ 11:12am primesuspect Since the insurance is offered through a third-party (Asurion), I cannot fathom a reason why they would not insure any phone.
1 Apr 2013 ~ 11:25am ardichoke Besides the cell phone industry being strange and not user friendly you mean? I'm sure they could contrive some reason about not covering unlocked devices because they might not meet their quality standards or somesuch bullshit.

I didn't think about this before I started googling on the topic, but I might be better off just insuring our cell phones through my homeowners insurance provider.
1 Apr 2013 ~ 11:40am primesuspect That might very well be true; Asurion is expensive as hell, and the deductibles are nuts. But with two teenage boys, it's worth it. I've used it three times already.
1 Apr 2013 ~ 11:44am d3k0y hmmm. I am paying 225 per month with Verizon's Share-Everything plan. But that is for 2 smartphones, 1 standard and a 4G router. So counting that as 3.5 smartphones, with 12gigs of Intertubes per month (we rarely break the 10gig point), it breaks down to less than 65 a month. With unlimited minutes, text, tethering, and more internet than I can use (I try to wi-fi everywhere I go).

I guess I just barely get a better deal than T-Mobile. Unless there is something I am missing.
1 Apr 2013 ~ 12:05pm Thrax Your plan is too complicated to work out with their online tools. Best to call and see.
7 Apr 2013 ~ 2:15am Garg Grabbed some sweet T-Mo LTE while passing through Phoenix yesterday. It'll take awhile to roll out everywhere, but I'm still pretty impressed that T-Mo enabled the radio in my Note 2 with the latest update. I've grown too cynical to expect that kind of consumer-friendly behavior. Amazing what can happen when contracts aren't in the business plan anymore.
7 Apr 2013 ~ 9:34am Ryder Phoenix? You are on the wrong end of the country, go home, you're drunk.
9 Apr 2013 ~ 12:42am Mt_Goat I got in on some of the same with my Note2 in Houston last week and remembered that it is supposed to be widespread by the end of summer. And now that T-Mo and Verizon have struck a deal on sharing things could really get ineresting.
10 Apr 2013 ~ 2:41am Butters T-Mo is now offering Iphone 4/S trade-in for a free Iphone 5 for T-Mo converts this friday. If its in good condition they'll credit an additional $120.

I don't own an Iphone, but I can see the appeal of the promotion.
10 Apr 2013 ~ 9:49am CB
And now that T-Mo and Verizon have struck a deal
I would like to know more.
10 Apr 2013 ~ 10:01am Thrax It's less of a deal, and more of a spectrum swap. Verizon gave up enough spectrum for 60,000,000 T-Mobile customers to ease FCC concerns regarding airwave acquisition from big cable firms. T-Mobile gave back enough spectrum for 20,000,000 Verizon customers.

Net/net, T-Mo gains bandwidth for 40 mil. users and Verizon can continue gobbling up assets from cable companies.

It's not a roaming agreement.
10 Apr 2013 ~ 7:33pm CB Will there be changes to the coverage maps or just capacity? We had decided not to go with T-Mo because of some frequently visited areas which are not currently covered by them.
10 Apr 2013 ~ 7:40pm Thrax Depends on what T-Mo decides to do with their new spectrum. They could either deploy coverage to underserved areas, if that's where Verizon gave them spectrum, or it could be utilized to add LTE atop existing areas.
12 Apr 2013 ~ 1:01am Mt_Goat
It's less of a deal, and more of a spectrum swap. Verizon gave up enough spectrum for 60,000,000 T-Mobile customers to ease FCC concerns regarding airwave acquisition from big cable firms. T-Mobile gave back
enough spectrum for 20,000,000 Verizon customers.

Net/net, T-Mo gains bandwidth for 40 mil. users and Verizon can continue gobbling up assets from cable companies.

It's not a roaming agreement.
That wasn't exactly all of it that I got from the buisness release that I read and can not say more than, there will be expanded service coverage including LTE expansion this summer. Howeever Thrax is correct about Verizon gobbling up acquisitions.
12 Apr 2013 ~ 1:08am Mt_Goat I sure hope T-Mo increases coverage in eastern/central Ohio, WV, Kentucky and southern Indiana as I travel to that region regulary. And as such I now have a Note2 on T-Mo and a flip phone on Verizon to make sure I'm covered.
10 May 2013 ~ 3:36pm I-need-a-better-name We've been T-Mo customers and even though we were on contract they let us switch. We're now sporting Nexus 4s and enjoying our lower bills. I'm fine with the coverage.
10 May 2013 ~ 4:00pm Kwitko On t_mobile, if you don't pay for a phone outright, you're still on the hook for the cost of the phone. How is it any different from any other carrier? It's an ETF with a different name.
10 May 2013 ~ 4:07pm Thrax Sprint unlimited: $100 phone + (($109.99/mo)*24)) = $2739 for two years.

T-Mobile unlimited: $600 phone + (($70/mo)*25)) = $2280 for two years.

Closest AT&T plan (only 5GB/mo data): $100 phone + (($139.99/mo)*24)) = $3459.76 for two years.

That's the point. You buy the phone outright.
10 May 2013 ~ 4:11pm ardichoke Also, even if you don't buy the phone outright, if you keep the phone more than 2 years, you don't have to keep paying the monthly hardware installment after 2 years thus your monthly bill drops. Other cell carriers, if you keep the same phone past 2 years, they don't drop your monthly fee at all.
16 Jun 2013 ~ 11:15pm JBoogaloo Wife and I checked into this today...By the end of this coming week it'll be bye bye Verizon, hello $100 dollar a month cheaper bill!
16 Jun 2013 ~ 11:53pm QCH AWESOME!!!
16 Jun 2013 ~ 11:54pm Linc I made the switch cleanly at the end of my Verizon contract last month. I'd say my reception is noticeably worse, but overall a fine tradeoff.
17 Jun 2013 ~ 12:06am RyanMM I'm in between a rock and a hard place with AT&T where I am actually happy with the service, but it's because I'm grandfathered on an unlimited data plan that keeps on keeping on as long as I use a phone they don't have the IMEI for.

Unfortunately, my current phone sucks balls, and all the new hotness phones are ones they've flagged in their database, so I can either keep my current service and end up paying more per month for a non-unlimited plan after buying a new phone, or I can switch to T-Mo and then take the risk that the service is shittier than I can tolerate.

I had really hoped my existing phone would hold out until the next refresh where quad-core started to take over but I don't know if I can tolerate this thing a few more months.
17 Jun 2013 ~ 1:39am Tushon Well, either way you are changing phones. If T-mobile's service sucks for you, at worst you are out $35 and still have to go to a new plan on AT&T.
17 Jun 2013 ~ 2:02am bright RyanMM, I recently switched from my broken first generation iphone to a nexus 4 and everything went fine. Still grandfathered unlimited plan, just had get a new micro sim, and then I updated the hardware to run HSPA+ speeds etc.
17 Jun 2013 ~ 9:04am JBoogaloo
I'm in between a rock and a hard place with AT&T where I am actually happy with the service, but it's because I'm grandfathered on an unlimited data plan that keeps on keeping on as long as I use a phone they don't have the IMEI for.

Unfortunately, my current phone sucks balls, and all the new hotness phones are ones they've flagged in their database, so I can either keep my current service and end up paying more per month for a non-unlimited plan after buying a new phone, or I can switch to T-Mo and then take the risk that the service is shittier than I can tolerate.

I had really hoped my existing phone would hold out until the next refresh where quad-core started to take over but I don't know if I can tolerate this thing a few more months.
fwiw, me and the wife are somewhat where you are. We've been with Verizon since 2005 (I longer), grandfathered into the whole unlimited data, blah blah...But, the main reason we've stayed is because the service is damn good and we were getting a corporate discount. This weekend we found out they want to verify her employment for continuing the discount (which she can no longer do). Because of our current situation (and realizing the stupid amount of money we've been wasting for a cell phone bill), I brought up this thread (problem solving made easy in IC land . We looked at T-Mobile coverage and pricing. For us, it's worth it to drop a bit in service (metro area dwellers, not too bad), gain an excellent plan and pay a hundred dollars less per month than before. The only downside is that we'd be breaking contracts and have to get new phones (iphone...Verizon...ugh). But, with the money saved I'll be breaking even in 6-8mos
17 Jun 2013 ~ 11:25am RyanMM
RyanMM, I recently switched from my broken first generation iphone to a nexus 4 and everything went fine. Still grandfathered unlimited plan, just had get a new micro sim, and then I updated the hardware to run HSPA+ speeds etc.
Unfortunately, it's a pre-iPhone data plan that is technically not supposed to be used on smartphones. As a result, if my phone gets detected in their system as a smartphone, I automatically get "upgraded" to the non-unlimited, more expensive data plan.

I've been able to use 7Mbps 3.5G data on a Nokia E51, Motorola Milestone, and HTC Incredible S because they were all phones that AT&T has no information on. Unfortunately, the Nexus 4 has been flagged in their system and isn't a viable option.

All the 'good' phones, for the most part, are currently flagged. It's a really short list of phones that are objectively better than my Incredible S that can still fly under AT&T's radar.
17 Jun 2013 ~ 12:23pm ardichoke @RyanMM - Why not just buy a Nexus 4 from Google Play and go to T-Mobile. Since they don't do contracts anymore, and you bought your phone outright, if you decide you don't like it you can just take your unlocked Nexus 4 (which works on AT&T) and go back to AT&T without any penalty. Sure you'll no longer have your grandfathered in unlimited data, but as you mentioned, you'll lose that in your next upgrade anyway.
17 Jun 2013 ~ 9:32pm QCH T-Mobile, for the first time in a very long time, is having network issues.
20 Jun 2013 ~ 8:21am JBoogaloo Well, done and done. Verizon is gone (though they'll get in that one last bone with their final bill and all) and we're saving money. Of course, getting sexy phones doesn't hurt either I'm so glad @primesuspect decided to publish this. Thanks, dude. You just saved me and the wife about $1500 over the next year
21 Jun 2013 ~ 1:55am CrazyJoe T-Mobile is currently offering the Nexus 4 for $0 down on their no contract plan, plus they are offering a free wireless charger if you order online.
21 Jun 2013 ~ 6:00pm QCH
T-Mobile, for the first time in a very long time, is having network issues.
FYI, the T-Mobile outage lasted 1 hour and then was back with LTE! :-D
19 Sep 2013 ~ 10:54am primesuspect Six month checkup: I am absolutely contract-free now, four of us have top-end smartphones, and my bill $80 LESS than it was before all this.

I am extraordinarily pleased with all of this.
19 Sep 2013 ~ 3:04pm Tushon I also got my family to switch to this. It didn't actually change "my" bill, but I went from 2GB capped data on really low speeds because AT&T sucks at getting anything right to HSPA+ and/or LTE (Nexus 4 hybrid radio so you get LTE and the enhancements of newer radios woooot! ) with 5GBs high speed then potential speed caps after that, but otherwise totally unlimited for $45. My family's overall bill when from ~$230 to ~$150, so a near identical drop. The only downside so far is that my parents travel frequently, so they lose data connectivity where they would have had it before due to AT&T's overall coverage being better, even if slow and shit everywhere for actual data speeds. I have no regrets.
19 Sep 2013 ~ 3:16pm ardichoke I switched to this also and added an additional line for my fiancee. I'm really not saving money, since I was a no phone subsidy customer already, but now I have unlimited minutes (which I don't use, but the fiancee definitely does). Still, having two smart phones for 94/mo is pretty good, right?

I'd really like to move my phone to Ting, but their pricing model would not work for my better half since she uses a LOT of minutes every month. Also, not a fan of the fact that I wouldn't be able to have a Nexus 4. I am considering getting a cheap used/refurb device on Ting just to use as a mobile hotspot in places T-Mo lacks service...
20 Sep 2013 ~ 3:53am GHoosdum
T-Mobile is currently offering the Nexus 4 for $0 down on their no contract plan, plus they are offering a free wireless charger if you order online.
From what I've seen, T-Mobile charges more overall for the Nexus 4 on the installment plan than Google charges if you buy the phone outright.
20 Sep 2013 ~ 4:00am Tushon
T-Mobile is currently offering the Nexus 4 for $0 down on their no contract plan, plus they are offering a free wireless charger if you order online.
From what I've seen, T-Mobile charges more overall for the Nexus 4 on the installment plan than Google charges if you buy the phone outright.
As do most carriers with most phones, unless my memory fails me. It's like layaway with interest.
20 Sep 2013 ~ 4:27am Thrax
T-Mobile is currently offering the Nexus 4 for $0 down on their no contract plan, plus they are offering a free wireless charger if you order online.
From what I've seen, T-Mobile charges more overall for the Nexus 4 on the installment plan than Google charges if you buy the phone outright.
Correct. You're better off buying any phone outright for any carrier if at all possible. Never in the history of phones has it been cheaper to buy through carriers. Maybe one day.
20 Sep 2013 ~ 1:09pm JBoogaloo 3mons in, a Samsung GS4 and Iphone 5 are paid off, unlimited 4g plan, and STILL just about 100 bucks less than our old Verizon plan. Yeah, I'm pretty effin pleased
20 Sep 2013 ~ 2:28pm Tushon
3mons in, a Samsung GS4 and Iphone 5 are paid off, unlimited 4g plan, and STILL just about 100 bucks less than our old Verizon plan. Yeah, I'm pretty effin pleased
Sounds like snow trip money :P
20 Sep 2013 ~ 7:25pm _k @mas0n and I are both are tmobile for life.
23 Sep 2013 ~ 5:47am Mt_Goat As I travel ALOT for work, I can say that t-mo has expanded service both through new towers and contracts with other carriers. I have now seen an improvement in the more rural parts of Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma. The picture in the west where Verizon has dominated is a whole new map now! Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico have gone from very little bad coverage to vast stretches of full bars of 4G where I never thought I would see any service. The Pac NW is also very good now except for some bad spots here and there. Wisconsin has far better coverage than I saw 2 years ago on ATT. Most metros have LTE that work quite well where it didn't even exist at all less than a year ago. On another note, Ohio still sucks in most places.
23 Sep 2013 ~ 2:59pm mertesn
As I travel ALOT for work, I can say that t-mo has expanded service both through new towers and contracts with other carriers. I have now seen an improvement in the more rural parts of Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Mrs @BuddyJ was on T-Mobile for quite some time, and she had terrible reception at the in-laws' house (and at home). Not sure if it was the service or the phone, but the coverage map shows a bit of a dead spot right over the house.
23 Sep 2013 ~ 6:05pm UPSLynx I've been on T-mo's simple choice on my Gnex for about five months now after being on contract with them since 2008. I love it so much. My bill is almost $20 cheaper than it used to be, and I have unlimited text and voice, because why not?

Get T-mo.
23 Sep 2013 ~ 6:22pm JBoogaloo

Get T-mo.
GTMO? That works, right?
10 Oct 2013 ~ 12:57pm mertesn T-Mobile just won it for me. International all the things included with your plan for no additional charge.
15 Oct 2013 ~ 11:49am Zanthian http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/15/t-mobile-grandfathered-plans-transition/

I am undecided if this is a good thing, the rate seems pretty decent.
26 Oct 2013 ~ 11:09am mertesn Tried T-Mo's service last weekend. Pretty sure I hold the record for the shortest duration as a customer (3 hours). Anything west of my gets a weak voice signal and absolutely no data signal of any kind on a Galaxy S4 - not even Edge. I'm west of my house quite frequently...almost daily, so T-Mo is out for me.

Apparently Sprint is the same way. When in semi-rural areas, the best bets appear to be AT&T and Verizon.