Prepaid

[Daryl]

Hey everyone,

As I mentioned, we need your feedback and suggestions on how we can improve our prepaid services. Use this thread to post any device you may want to use with prepaid and your feedback. 

As a reminder, please keep all posts on topic and constructive as we will be using these posts to forward to the appropriate folks. 

Thanks!  

Message Edited by Daryl on 08-10-2009 02:38 PM

[redcti]

If there's anything that I'd like, I'd like some prepaid plan that's similar to what you used to be able to do on the now-defunct Sidekick plan.

Really want: 

* Use any T-Mobile/unlocked smartphone

* Flat daily fee for data usage (i.e. $1/day)

* GPRS/EDGE/3G on supported devices

* Support for iPhones (2G, 3G/3GS on EDGE)! We came over to T-Mobile because of your non-crappy network and the fact that you aren't AT&T  

It'd be nice:

* Unlimited (or maybe x number of) texts

* Tethering 

If any of the above happens, I'm coming back to T-Mobile in the blink of an eye.  I was on the Sidekick plan, but I can't use that now obviously.  I'm most likely going to use another phone or possibly temporarily go back to AT&T goPhone (yuck) until this is resolved.

Thanks for listening to your customer base, guys.  This is why we love you.  

[melo]

The PrePaid Sidekick plan was great. Please bring it back or offer something similar for us iPhone users. $1 day ($30-$31 a month) for data and text is what I'm looking for.

As the post above me stated. We came to t-mobile with our iPhones because we didn't want to use the other crappy network. but I may have to go to the other network until you bring the sidekick plan back or offer something similar.

[uiucryan]

I am on board for what redcti said, though believe that asking for tethering and actual "support" for the iPhone is asking a too much.

It would be nice to be able to get something like the Sidekick plan for unlocked phones. I was actually going to pick up a T-Mobile SIM today to use the Sidekick plan, only to learn it has been changed to lock-out non Sidekick devices (was going to use an unlocked Nokia) so my plans have changed. In the meantime, I will continue to play around with Boost Unlimited.

BTW - if you do provide a plan like the Sidekick plan for unlocked phones promote the heck out it - it will be a big winner.

Thanks for listening to us!

--uiucryan

[sexcho]

I think some type of 30 day data/messaging access plan for prepaid phones would be nice. $35 every 30 days seems resonable + 20 cents a minute.

[vadindot]

I'm a WinMo user (I have the T-Mobile Wing) and I would just like the same data plan as the Sidekick.

Nothing special, don't need to redesign it, and you can just copy and paste the rules and change the word "Sidekick"

I too will most likely go back to a GoPhone until TMobile comes up with a prepaid data plan OR a flexpay data plan.

[indie360]

Ive been using my Blackberry 8900 on the t-mobile prepaid plan and Im very pleased with the prepaid calling service. However, it would be great to see wireless data ($1/day) access for blackberry devices similar to the prepaid sidekick plan. Currently, I am limited to wifi access. I love t-mobile, but lack of prepaid data access has forced me shop around for a new carrier.

[sexcho]

Flexpay (I assume you can use it with Flexpay) has a data plan, it's called "Total Internet" and it's 39.99 a month.

[balazer]

I'd really like to see some kind of pay-per-use data service on prepaid, for use with any device.

That could mean, for example, a prepaid data add-on that allows daily access using a tiered pricing structure:

Daily charge:

• $0.50 for up to 1 MB: deducted when the first data is transferred in a day, or deducted automatically each day while the add-on is enabled
• $1.50 for 1 - 25 MB: deducted as an additional $1.00 when you reach 1 MB in a day
• $3.00 for 25 MB and up: deducted as an additional $1.50 when you reach 25 MB in a day
• bandwidth throttle when you reach 100 MB in a day

Such tiered pricing would mean the plan could be used with *any* device, even tethered to a laptop.  If you only check email or do WAP browsing, you'll stay within the first tier.  If you do smartphone web browsing, you'll reach the second tier.  If you do heavy web browsing, or watch videos, or tether to a laptop, you'll reach the third tier.

The price points I've suggested here would mean that a daily user of these services would pay more for prepaid data than for a comparable monthly add-on or stand-alone plan.  That's by design:  I'm sure T-Mobile doesn't want to draw too many customers away from its monthly plans.  But it gives prepaid users the flexibility to use the service when they want, as much as they want, with any kind of device.

I strongly believe that any pricing based on the kind of device you use is doomed to be exploited.  There are just too many ways to hack and tether devices.  It's pointless to to try to stop people.  So let them do it, and charge them for it!

Separately, you could offer messaging bundles or plans, that could be combined with data service.

[rupert]

First, I applaud you for at least asking for input on prepaid data plans.

Secondly however, I have to chastise the company for changing the rules (official or not) on a prepaid account and not offering any means of refunding/re-purposing the remaining balance. The only reason I signed up to t-mobile in the first place was for the prepaid data plan, and now I've effectively paid for 30+ days service that isn't going to be delivered and no refund or remittance seems to be available.

as to the question at hand:

What's wrong with simply keeping the plan as it is, without the word 'sidekick' in there? Unlimited SMS and data (within reason, tethering could get costly) for $1/day. And then the 0.15 or 0.20 /min to talk. You're obviously able to make a profit on such a plan with sidekick users, and I would be shocked if danger where subsidizing the costs of your network. Please realize, as a customer, I feel I'm beeing treated unfairly if someone with one type of phone gets a cheaper rate for the same data access I get, but because I have a different phone I'm expected to pay substantially more. This feeling of being cheated does not lead to brand loyalty. I assume your trying to increase revenue by reaching a lower income customer, but in the end it looks to everyone else like we're simply getting screwed.

I've always subscribed to the basic idea of Keep It Simple Stupid: offer each service, at a reasonable rate, a la cart. Maybe I just want voice & sms, maybe I just want data & nothing more. Maybe, like me, data & SMS are the keys and voice is just a nice perk once in a while.

I realize this post comes off as rather negative in tone, for that I apologize. Not all of my frustration is aimed at t-mobile, but the industry in general. Until this weekend I had a very high opinion of t-mobile as they where only GSM provider in my area to provide a reasonable prepaid data plan. I hope my opinion of the company can be restored by swift action to make this right. One way to do that would be to create a comparable prepaid data plan in time for me to use the remaining balance in my account.

-Rupert

[chlorox]

Ok, I would seriously like to know the logic behind locking down the prepaid sidekick plan to ONLY sidekick branded devices. If it's an issue of bandwidth used, I'd truly like to see the amount of difference a REAL sidekick web browser uses vs. an iPhone. From a business standpoint, I'd like to see just how much business t-mobile just lost by alienating this (small) customer base. (I'm sure that customers using unlocked iPhones on data prepaid plans accounts for SUCH a negligible amount) I have to believe this decision was made by someone saying. "hey, they're not paying enough.... if they'd pay 30 dollars a month... we're SURE they'd pay 29.99 for voice and 34.99 for messages and internet.

And, here we'll see the users saying "no thanks.... not for EDGE service" "I can pay a bit more to AT&T and get 3G service".

I feel that if one can OFFER unlimited internet, beit the $1 a day plan OR a 9.99 web2go plan, WHY must a company upsell a 24.99 data plan just because a customer spent more on his phone? 

If you truly, TRULY want to listen to your customers, they're flat out saying it to you. AT&T is insanely expensive. T-Mobile has a far more rational pricing scheme. Maybe the dollar a day thing was a bit too cheap. But insisting that a user checking his GMail on a dumb phone has to take the same bandwidth as a user checking the SAME GMail on a blackberry or iPhone. Let the people ride on some sort of hybrid plan.

As far as prepaid, do come up with something. Prepaid data is the way of the future. I'd rather sell 1000 plans at 30 bucks a month than 50 plans at 120 bucks. Talk to your accountants 6 months from now... all I would like to know is, "was this a good move for your company?"

[sexcho]

Chlorox??????? I don't have the inside track on info for T-Mobile but you seem to have the wrong idea. 

I do think iPhone users should be privied to slightly cheaper plans because we don't get to utilize T-Mobiles 3G network, but I doubt they closed the SK hole that allowed other phones to use data services on it to force people onto a data and voice plan. I might be wrong, BUT..

AT&T doesn't even offer a standalone data plan for their iPhone, and the cheapest voice plan is 39.99 for 450mins. Pair that with unlimited messages and data at $50 and what do you get? $90. The closest plan with T-Mobile is $65.. or 55 for just data and 70 over at AT&T.

And they're not trying to upsell you because you spent more on your phone.. that doesn't even make sense. The reason for the extra charge is because you use more data than the regular phone user.

[chlorox]

as in how much more? if I check my email a few times a day, and use the web when I'm not near a computer to say.... get the number for a restaurant, how much more data am I using than a sidekick?

[chlorox]

keep in mind too, that your figures for the 30 dollar voice at tmobile plus 24.99 blackberr/smartphone data is still EDGE service. with NO messages.

[fitek]

I'm also going to chime in for some sort of prepaid data service for any device.  I don't know whether these are compelling business cases but my situation is:

1) I already have a contract plan with data for BlackBerry, but I acquired another smart phone and just want to use it for data

2) My significant other is stuck in a family plan with another carrier and just wants data with T-Mobile's superior phones

Also, regarding tethering: the use cases for smart phones and ultraportable and netbook laptops are quickly converging, but they are still separate (I can't hold my thinkpad up to my ear, and I'm not going to type a whole documnet on my Android phone).  My latest Thinkpad came with a WAN card, and I'd love to go online with it, but the $65 or $75/month like AT&T, etc charge might fly for business users who will expense the cost, but not for a normal user checking Facebook and sending emails.  These cards are starting to be standard equipment, yet no one really provides a reasonably priced service yet.  T-Mobile could be the first.

[vadindot]

Total Internet cannot be used with Flexpay, I;ve asked numerous times

[wanderingaround]

hello t-mobile,

i would like to encourage you to offer the prepaid data plan ($30/month for data & texting within reason) for those who use iphones and other unlocked devices. i've been very impressed with the tmobile network, in both cost (compared to verizon), innovation, and reliability (vs att) ---  the current prepaid model for sidekicks offers a good value, i would love to see it available for use with other phones. thanks for the opportunity for feedback!

best regards, 

bailey

[dougw]

Pease bring back the sidekick plan...it was a great plan and after doing the math t mobile was not losing any money on it. in a thirty day period it would cost the same in min and $1 to be as if you took out a regular paid plan.  If t mobile wants to improve service ... give out something that the other providers don't do.  You always have to have a gimic and this is it.  I think t mobile needs to analize what it has done to its customers and what it has lost in reputation and revenue.  Customer service is everythin, other providers do not have a good reputation why does t mobile be one of them.

D. Wilson  MBA

[Barciur]

What T-Mobile Prepaid should definetely add:
*Worldwide international roaming - T-Mobile all around the world (UK, Germany etc) offers WORLDWIDE roaming internationally. It can be done. I think it'd be great, I would definetely spend more money giving it to the T-Mobile US than my European prepaid if I go somewhere... I would still be roaming so not big deal.

*Data plans: Unlimited and limited, would definetely be great.

*More 3G compatible AND UMA compatible handsets - it'd be great to have a Nokia S60 with 3G on AWS and UMA. that would give T-Mobile a great boost.

[sexcho]

None of the Blackberries on T-Mobile have 3G capability.

Dumbphones don't have apps that have the ability to use heavy data, sync insane amounts of email accounts and don't even have real web browsers, just WAP.

Whatever.. talking about this is pointless.

T-Mobile desperately needs a standalone data/messaging plan either for Flexpay or prepaid with minutes costing extra or having the ability to lock it in with a Voice plan, but not a requirement. Like the old blackberry data plan that I had.

Message Edited by sexcho on 08-10-2009 05:25 PM