T-Mobile today announced that its smartphone customers can save money on monthly rates by purchasing new phones at full price or bringing in their own phones from elsewhere. But for now, the company isn’t providing full details on exactly how much these new “Value” plans cost.
So while I’d love to break down the prices and tell you, for example, how much it costs for an individual subscriber to get 500 voice minutes, unlimited text messages and 5 GB of unthrottled data, that information isn’t available yet. You’ll just have to take T-Mobile’s word that it’ll be cheaper than getting a plan with a subsidized phone — at least until Sunday when the new plans become available.
(PHOTOS: A Photographic History of the Cell Phone)
Here’s what we do know, based on what T-Mobile has disclosed in a press release: A family of two can pay $50 per month each for unlimited voice, unlimited text and 2 GB of unthrottled data. An individual can get 2 GB of mobile broadband (USB sticks, Wi-fi hotspots, tablets and so on) for $20 per month.
Subscribers can also pay a reduced up front price for new phones and pay off the balance in monthly installments while still getting the cheaper monthly plans. For example, a T-Mobile MyTouch Slide 4G is available for $250 up front plus 20 monthly payments of $15. Of course, it’s impossible to know how good of a deal that is without knowing how much you’d save on your monthly coverage plans.
Oh, and there’s one more catch: These new Value plans are only good with a two-year contract. No-contract plans are still a separate thing.
I don’t want sound too grumpy here. It’s good to see at least one carrier providing an incentive to pay full price or bring in a phone from elsewhere, even if you’re still bound to a two-year commitment. The lack of full pricing details is just a communication snafu that will resolve itself over the weekend. In any case, I’ve reached out to T-Mobile to get more details on the new Value plans, and will update if I hear back.
(MORE: T-Mobile ‘MyTouch 4G Slide’ Smartphone: Made for Mom?)
UPDATE: Got the full story from T-Mobile in a neatly-organized list. I’ll paste it below. Keep in mind that “unlimited data” means “speeds throttled after hitting your usage cap.”
T-Mobile Value Plans for Individuals
Unlimited Plus – with 2 GB of high-speed data
- $49.99 – 500 Whenever Minutes, Unlimited Text and Unlimited Data
- $59.99 – Unlimited Talk, Unlimited Text and Unlimited Data
Unlimited Premium – with 5 GB of high-speed data
- $64.99 – 500 Whenever Minutes, Unlimited Text and Unlimited Data
- $74.99 – Unlimited Talk, Unlimited Text and Unlimited Data
Unlimited Ultra – with 10 GB of high-speed data
- $94.99 – 500 Whenever Minutes, Unlimited Text and Unlimited Data
- $104.99 – Unlimited Talk, Unlimited Text and Unlimited Data
T-Mobile Value Plans for Families
Unlimited Plus – with 2 GB of high-speed data
- $39.99 per line for two lines – 1000 Whenever Minutes, Unlimited Text and Unlimited Data
- $49.99 per line for two lines – Unlimited Talk, Unlimited Text and Unlimited Data
Unlimited Premium – with 5 GB of high-speed data
- $54.99 per line for two lines – 1000 Whenever Minutes, Unlimited Text and Unlimited Data
- $64.99 per line for two lines – Unlimited Talk, Unlimited Text and Unlimited Data
Unlimited Ultra – with 10 GB of high-speed data
- $84.99 per line for two lines – 1000 Whenever Minutes, Unlimited Text and Unlimited Data
- $94.99 per line for two lines – Unlimited Talk, Unlimited Text and Unlimited Data