T-Mobile weighs in on 1 GB bandwidth cap! (good news)

[DesignDawg]

Hey all,

Over at another site, I saw a news story that pretty much confirms what we've been saying about this bandwidth cap issue: It's a non-issue. That is, unless you plan on doing something to seriously abuse the system, in which case they reserve the right to make it less enjoyable for you. Text of the article is below:

Apparently you guys out there caused a big enough stink. Either that, or T-Mobile’s customer care was inundated with calls today. No longer putting a soft cap on the 3G data transfer amounts at 1GB, T-Mobile is doing what most of the other players are. They will address transfer usage as it happens on an almost case-by-case basis. Good for them!



The new fine print: “To provide the best network experience for all of our customers we may temporarily reduce data throughput for a small fraction of customers who use a disproportionate amount of bandwidth. Your data session, plan, or service may be suspended, terminated, or restricted for significant roaming or if you use your service in a way that interferes with our network or ability to provide quality service to other users.”

It’s one thing to call it unlimited. It’s another thing to cap it. It’s an entirely different thing to cap it at 1GB when the rest of the industry allows 3-5 times as much. Repsect knuckles to T-Mobile for making things right so quickly.

This new text regarding the cap is directly from www.t-mobileg1.com
so we can consider this one confirmed. I think we should make a sticky and/or a front page news item about this story, guys. Too many people are making too much noise over this little legal wording gaff by Tmobile.

[Driguez]

Found some more info about it.

New Data Rules:

Yesterday the blogosphere blew up with some concerns over the 1GB limitation on data. Turns out T-mobile took heed and re-worded their data policy today to allow for a looser interpretation. The important thing is they got rid of the 1GB specific rule. This is why we love our magenta.

“3G coverage is available only in certain markets. See coverage map. To provide the best network experience for all of our customers we may temporarily reduce data throughput for a small fraction of customers who use a disproportionate amount of bandwidth. Your data session, plan, or service may be suspended, terminated, or restricted for significant roaming or if you use your service in a way that interferes with our network or ability to provide quality service to other users. Some devices require specific data plans; if you do not have the right plan for your device, you may not be able to use data services. Additional charges may apply. Domestic use only.”

[Chris Davies]

After some unfavorable press and caution from would-be buyers over the threatened 1GB data cap, T-Mobile have backtracked on their throttling policy. In a statement just issued by the carrier, they describe their intention as to “provide the best network experience for all our customers”; however they also remove the 1GB soft-cap, pending further review of the data plan terms & conditions.

“Our goal, when the T-Mobile G1 becomes available in October, is to provide affordable, high-speed data service allowing customers to experience the full data capabilities of the device and our 3G network. At the same time, we have a responsibility to provide the best network experience for all of our customers so we reserve the right to temporarily reduce data throughput for a small fraction of our customers who have excessive or disproportionate usage that interferes with our network performance or our ability to provide quality service to all of our customers.

We removed the 1GB soft limit from our policy statement, and we are confident that T-Mobile G1 customers will enjoy the high speed of data access over our 3G network. The specific terms for our new data plans are still being reviewed and once they are final we will be certain to share this broadly with current customers and potential new customers” T-Mobile statement

Instead, it appears T-Mobile will move to throttle back only those customers deemed to be abusing their data connection. The previously mentioned threat was a reduction to 50 kbps or less.

Of course, an unknown data limit can be just as frustrating as a known, low limit, as it gives no way to gauge how close your usage is to what the carrier would deem “excessive or disproportionate”. Hopefully T-Mobile’s “specific terms” will be finalized sooner rather than later, so that buyers can decide if the $25 “unlimited” data plan is really worth it.

[Chris Davies]

T-Mobile have issued a statement regarding the cap removal:

http://androidcommunity.com/t-mobile...ewed-20080924/

[DesignDawg]

Awesome Chris. You da man.

[sushi420]

nice im impressed

T-Mobile has given its data usage cap proposed for the G1 Android phone a second thought.
The company distributed a statement Wednesday saying that it has removed the 1GB "soft cap" that it planned to impose on the data usage of G1 owners starting next month when the device is released. The carrier had planned to throttle the data connection speed to a paltry 50Kbps for those who exceeded 1GB of data usage in a month, which isn't that far-fetched for the early-adopter crowd.
Here's the full statement:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-...ag=mncol;posts

[DesignDawg]

I had a hunch it was just a miscalculation on how hard people would latch on to some legalese and how much bad word of mouth it would generate. I fully expected them to clarify it. Kudos to them for doing it! I do, however, think that the 1 GB was probably a little low, even for legalese. If they're talking serious abuse here (someone figures out a way to provide his entire neighborhood with free internet access via his phone), it seems they could have used a higher number for a starting point. But again, they NEVER said they WOULD throttle customers. --Just that they COULD.

Thanks for the article!

[New World]

[Jorsher]

I didn't need a reminder to why I've stuck it out with T-Mobile the last 6 years despite their slow adoption of better technologies, but I'm glad to hear it

Thanks T-Mobile!

[New World]

I didn't need a reminder to why I've stuck it out with T-Mobile the last 6 years despite their slow adoption of better technologies, but I'm glad to hear it

Thanks T-Mobile!

Same here they've always rocked with customer service

Been with them now for 6 years as well.