Travel Technology - T-Mobile $50/Mo. Data Roaming Plan to Cover 28 Countries

I think the title of this thread says it all but this sounds like a great price for unlimited (albeit throttled) data in Europe.

I'd recommend turning off automatic updates of one's smartphone, however.


T-Mobile Launches Open Europe Business Traveler Plan (http://www.frequentbusinesstraveler.com/2012/07/t-mobile-launches-open-europe-business-traveler-plan/)

T-Mobile USA announced T-Mobile Open Europe, a a flat-rate data plan for intended for business travelers. The new offering will be available starting in August.

T-Mobile Open Europe offers unlimited data for $50 per line, per month, with no roaming fees. The first 500 MB of data are at full speed, after which the service may be throttled.

The service will be available in 28 European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, …

Hmmm... would be nice if they make this available to us folks here in Europe too! :cool:

Could I get the chip and the service by-the-month for my Huawei Mi-Fi, without signing a contract commitment?

This is awesome, but I need it for Asia as well!

This is awesome, but I need it for Asia as well!

No kidding... I just got socked with a $1,600 T-mobile phone bill (primarily data roaming) during my most recent trip to Indonesia. I didn't really use the phone for calls.... the only things I recall doing were using Google Maps a few times and posting some photos to Facebook.

Feel like a real sucker. I've been traveling internationally for 20+ years and should have known better.

Well, that certainly makes my decision process more difficult. I'm headed to Asia in a month and was about to move off my T-Mo Blackberry to ATT to use their (expensive) data roaming plan when I travel. Most of my travel is to Europe, though, and this plan is far better for that purpose.

If I make the ATT move, I want to do so before they hard-push the new plans (like Verizon did)... but was waiting for the new iPhone (needed for a flight-planning program). At the same time, I'd dump the ATT hotspot.

Maybe I spring for a Nexus with pentaband radio, do this TMo plan, and get a no-contract ATT Sim for Asia travel & domestic hotspot & dump separate hotspot. Meaning I'll still have 3 devices.

Decisions, decisions.

No kidding... I just got socked with a $1,600 T-mobile phone bill (primarily data roaming) during my most recent trip to Indonesia. I didn't really use the phone for calls.... the only things I recall doing were using Google Maps a few times and posting some photos to Facebook.

Feel like a real sucker. I've been traveling internationally for 20+ years and should have known better.

Ouch. It is easy to do these days as your phone has lots of things going on in the background that a lot of users do not know about so it may be seem like you arent doing much but in the background a lot of apps are updating etc.

This is pretty good news. However, you would still be charged for roaming phone calls if you turn on your phone and someone calls you. This is frustrating especially when you refuse the call because it gets sent to voicemail and you are charged for a call from Europe to the US for the duration of your caller listening to the welcome message and leaving a message.
I guess I can use this on my data-only device. Though in most cases I buy local SIM card, but if going through many countries, this avoids having to get a SIM card in each country.

Get a Google Voice number and unconditionally forward your phone number to it. Install the app on your Android phoine. You'll get visual voicemail, unlimited texting to the US, and can make VOIP Calls Over 3g with GrooveIP.

I wonder if there is any way they would make this available on their paygo solution.

Get a Google Voice number and unconditionally forward your phone number to it. Install the app on your Android phoine. You'll get visual voicemail, unlimited texting to the US, and can make VOIP Calls Over 3g with GrooveIP.

This is exactly what I do.

Ouch. It is easy to do these days as your phone has lots of things going on in the background that a lot of users do not know about so it may be seem like you arent doing much but in the background a lot of apps are updating etc.

What sort of ...... phone do you have that does not disable data when roaming out of the box? o_O

Ouch. It is easy to do these days as your phone has lots of things going on in the background that a lot of users do not know about so it may be seem like you arent doing much but in the background a lot of apps are updating etc.

Yeah, I'm finally beginning to understand that. I got hit last year with charges for phone calls, so I moved to Skype and thought that had solved the problem.

Eh... not so much. I think what I did that really killed me was using Google Maps to monitor my location in real time a few times when I was in a taxi making road trips to unfamiliar locations.

I think what I did that really killed me was using Google Maps to monitor my location in real time a few times when I was in a taxi making road trips to unfamiliar locations.

At a $15-20 per MB international roaming rate in Asia (according to google) it would only take ~80-100MB to get to $1600. I can do that in a day or two without trying very hard (much less a week.) I can't believe you'd just wing it though. It's not exactly a secret that international roaming rates for data are astronomical. At least the carriers are starting to offer reasonable international data plans for travelers.

At a $15-20 per MB international roaming rate in Asia (according to google) it would only take ~80-100MB to get to $1600. I can do that in a day or two without trying very hard (much less a week.) I can't believe you'd just wing it though. It's not exactly a secret that international roaming rates for data are astronomical. At least the carriers are starting to offer reasonable international data plans for travelers.

Like I said, I was a real idiot. I remember thinking at the time... "hmmm... this is fun (using Google Maps to track my journeys through back streets of Jakarta). I wonder why I've never done this before, hope it doesn't use too much data." Famous last words.

I'm now going to spend some time on the prepaid SIM card w/data thread.

It's strange, I'm usually pretty smart about stuff like that--- just had a momentary lapse in judgement. I think what threw me off was that on prior trips I had not really used much data on my Blackberry-- so I focused on getting rid of the phone roaming charges by using a combination of Skype and UMA. At the same time, I escalated my data usage sharply-- so I got hammered again, just in a different way.

I'll be much, much smarter in the future.

Does anyone know what is going on with TMobile's companion voice plan?

I think what threw me off was that on prior trips I had not really used much data on my Blackberry

Iphones use a lot more data in the background than a Blackberry. There's also no way to limit the file size of e-mails being downloaded. The day after I got my iPhone 4 I went to Canada for a business trip. I kept mobile data roaming off for the trip which was kind of torture not being able to use my new toy (doing booth duty at a convention no less.)

It is too bad that you can't use TMobile's built in VOIP service (on many Android phones) to make calls over HSPA+ only when the phone is outside the US.

Do you have to have a business account for this plan? They keep on stressing "business customers" in all the promo material.

this could be a viable option for those travelling more then 1 to europe; considering a minimum (1 year?) contract would be needed i think;

Just what I suspected. You need to have a business account for this plan. It cannot be added to a personal/individual account. Very disappointing.

What about a small business account, e.g. Dubai Stu, LLC? It cost a $100 to file the paperwork, open up a business checking account with $50 and get a Taxpayer ID number online. TMobile will want your personal guarantee on your company but wouldn't it fly?

Just what I suspected. You need to have a business account for this plan. It cannot be added to a personal/individual account. Very disappointing.

T-Mobile has become VERY disappointing lately. Very. Especially the international data issue. And domestic coverage. Look at the TMo forums on their own web site: Pages and pages of customer service complaints, with a dominant theme of TMo putting people on contracts/renewing contracts without folks requesting/agreeing, and then telling those folks there will be a termination charge.

Much as I despise AT&T and their customer service, I am about to move my primary cell number there from AT&T.

Here's my rationale:
I've had TMo for about 8 years as a "legacy" issue -they had the best international roaming (VZ was a non-player) and a very good Blackberry plan. It's time to dump the BB, and move a recently acquired Galaxy Nexus. I've got an ATT MiFi on an attractive FAN discount (The FAN required a 2 year contract, of which a year is left). I can put the GNexus on ATT, convert the contract over, and burn the last year off on a regular plan. With ATT, I can get an expensive, but much less expensive that TMo, international data as well as much better domestic 3+G coverage.

VZ has my secondary cell line, their customer service is FAR better than either ATT or TMo, and their new global phones meet most of my needs. AND I'm on the grandfathered unlimited data plan, which will transfer to a new phone (as long as I pay "full" price). They also have an international data plan similar to ATT.

Sad to say, the TMo policy on international data is the final straw. The Blackberry has to go.

T-Mobile has become VERY disappointing lately. Very. Especially the international data issue. And domestic coverage. Look at the TMo forums on their own web site: Pages and pages of customer service complaints, with a dominant theme of TMo putting people on contracts/renewing contracts without folks requesting/agreeing, and then telling those folks there will be a termination charge.

Much as I despise AT&T and their customer service, I am about to move my primary cell number there from AT&T.

Here's my rationale:
I've had TMo for about 8 years as a "legacy" issue -they had the best international roaming (VZ was a non-player) and a very good Blackberry plan. It's time to dump the BB, and move a recently acquired Galaxy Nexus. I've got an ATT MiFi on an attractive FAN discount (The FAN required a 2 year contract, of which a year is left). I can put the GNexus on ATT, convert the contract over, and burn the last year off on a regular plan. With ATT, I can get an expensive, but much less expensive that TMo, international data as well as much better domestic 3+G coverage.

VZ has my secondary cell line, their customer service is FAR better than either ATT or TMo, and their new global phones meet most of my needs. AND I'm on the grandfathered unlimited data plan, which will transfer to a new phone (as long as I pay "full" price). They also have an international data plan similar to ATT.

Sad to say, the TMo policy on international data is the final straw. The Blackberry has to go.

I'm in a similar boat. About to jettison the tmo BB for a Galaxy Nexus I have been running as a trial on local SIMs in europe for the last three weeks. Not sure if I am going to move to Tmo prepaid or Straight Talk. Been with Tmo for 11 years and the service, though rarely needed, has got markedly worse lately.

I'm in a similar boat. About to jettison the tmo BB for a Galaxy Nexus I have been running as a trial on local SIMs in europe for the last three weeks. Not sure if I am going to move to Tmo prepaid or Straight Talk. Been with Tmo for 11 years and the service, though rarely needed, has got markedly worse lately.

I like the G Nexus. Especially since it doesn't have the bloatware that Verizon puts on their Android units. Since I've got an int'l trip coming up, I didn't want to dump the BB service until I'm back so I put it on a TMo prepay plan. Works as expected.

Most likely I'll move it (and my BB number) over to ATT to burn off the contract. ANd I'll pick up a VZ global-compatible phone since I can keep the grandfathered rate plan. I end up traveling to places domestically where one or the other doesn't work. Sprint and TMo are far inferior.

What I'd really like to do is move the TMo phone number to Verizon and move the Verizon number to ATT. After talking to Verizon today, it does not appear practical to do that (due to some complexities with the way porting works & the impact on my grandfathered plan). I probably could move the TMo number to GVoice, but I just plain don't trust Google & I'd need to spoof the outgoing number from whatever cellphone I use.

If you do the TMo prepay, the best deal out there is the $30/month 100 minutes/unl text/"unl" data plan. Use a VoIP app for your calls.

I like the G Nexus. Especially since it doesn't have the bloatware that Verizon puts on their Android units. Since I've got an int'l trip coming up, I didn't want to dump the BB service until I'm back so I put it on a TMo prepay plan. Works as expected.

Most likely I'll move it (and my BB number) over to ATT to burn off the contract. ANd I'll pick up a VZ global-compatible phone since I can keep the grandfathered rate plan. I end up traveling to places domestically where one or the other doesn't work. Sprint and TMo are far inferior.

What I'd really like to do is move the TMo phone number to Verizon and move the Verizon number to ATT. After talking to Verizon today, it does not appear practical to do that (due to some complexities with the way porting works & the impact on my grandfathered plan). I probably could move the TMo number to GVoice, but I just plain don't trust Google & I'd need to spoof the outgoing number from whatever cellphone I use.

If you do the TMo prepay, the best deal out there is the $30/month 100 minutes/unl text/"unl" data plan. Use a VoIP app for your calls.

I am in the same boat that you are trying to divorce my phone number from my carrier and I have it working pretty well until someone tries to send me an SMS or something.

RingCentral and Line2 have pay alternatives to GoogleVoice. I've been using Line2 and generally like them but have actually been thinking of going to GoogleVoice and porting the number (via a prepaid SIM to them).

I am in the same boat that you are trying to divorce my phone number from my carrier and I have it working pretty well until someone tries to send me an SMS or something.

RingCentral and Line2 have pay alternatives to GoogleVoice. I've been using Line2 and generally like them but have actually been thinking of going to GoogleVoice and porting the number (via a prepaid SIM to them).

Yeah, SMS is the problem. I have an Ooma box at home that works great but is incapable of handling SMS. And their Android app just plain doesn't work.

Be careful on transferring via prepaid SIM - check it out ahead of time. Some carriers can't/won't transfer from a prepaid account, or requires that the prepaid account be active for a fairly long period of time.

My original plan with Verizon was to port the TMo number to the current account, then port the number on that line to a prepay, eventually moving it to Ooma or some other service (I have texting on that line turned off, so that's not an issue). The Verizon rep looked at it and said that it would be easy if the number on the VZ account were one of theirs originally, but since I had ported it in from the old ATT/Blue that they couldn't control it. Best she could suggest was adding a line to my current account, bringing the TMo number in, then eventually porting the current VZ number elsewhere... but if I did that, I'd lose the unlimited data plan on the account (forcing a move to tiered data) as you can't move the grandfathered data plan to another line even if it's on the same account.

Feh.

Maybe it's time to give up the old Verizon number, though I'd have to try and retrain some elderly family members that still call it.

This could be kind of cool if they open it up to personal travelers and don't require an on going contract.

I hope someone tries it and gets back to us. I'm mostly interested in data for travel. 500mb/Month doesn't seem that much they say after that it's just throttled though, wonder what amount? And at what point do they cut you off. I mean I'm not looking to use tons of space but 1GB a month maybe? Would the second 500mb be that slow? I think I'd pay $50 for the month if it covered my travel for a month and let me tether too.