Originally Posted by
scubadu
Given your travel/living model you might want to make sure you understand T-Mobiles policy on international data roaming. If they deem your international data usage as "excessive" they will absolutely cancel your account or disable international roaming (this is well documented)
Here are a few links:
"How to Avoid T-Mobile Canceling Data Roaming"
https://community.t-mobile.com/netwo...-roaming-43149
"Service Termination for Excessive Roaming"
https://community.t-mobile.com/netwo...e-roaming-8608
Basically, T-Mobile defines "excessive roaming" as using more than 50% of your monthly data usage off network (meaning not on TMo's own network) for 2 out of 12 months
Regards
I've been looking for something definitive, but it seems like TMO can arbitrarily define what is excessive roaming. So I might not be the best example, but I'm using around 10GB/month since September 2022 as that is when I signed up for Magenta. Since then I've only got one text message about the majority of my usage being abroad. No threats of termination yet. Most of my data usage is abroad. Most of my time is spent outside the US, but I do fly back every month so I am somewhat connecting to TMO's network every so often. I also have a cellphone plan from another country when I need more data as I know if I use TMO heavily aboard, I'll just be terminated.
Originally Posted by
draver
The 5Gb Canada/Mexico high speed data IS separate from the other international 5Gb feature. I recently used it in Mexico and then 3 other countries and it registered separately. The 256k data does kick in when the HS is depleted. It is slow, but useful for texting, email, mapping, navigation, and text based browsing on sites like Flyertalk.
I have 4 free lines and use them in iPads and they receive the 5Gb data services also. I do not know what causes this, and on Reddit-T-Mobile, no one else seems to have a finite answer either. It is NOT prohibited by any of the Terms Of Service from T-Mobile. This issue has been argued probably once a month on Reddit for years. Suffice it to say, try and see what happens if you have a spare line sim to add to an iPad. Be sure your 911 address is current, and you have made calls with that line. Worst case if you have a dual sim phone, each line will get the 5Gb, so you can have two lines @5Gb each for hotspotting to your iPad.
Edited to add: I have been using voice sims in my iPads for over 5 years now, and have not heard a peep from T-Mobile about it. I always keep an unlimited free line in an iPad Mini 5 for use around town without any issues.
While in Canada and Mexico, calls to US numbers remain free, even if they are also roaming.
Netflix is about $5 extra for 4K I think, but I don't pay it and it looks great on my sets.
Can you just upgrade one line for trips, or add a feature instead of paying more always? Seems like it might not be worth it if you have more than a line or two. I have 12, but I am on an older ONE plan with a bunch of free add-ons like ONE Plus Promo, which is discontinued.
Nice! TMO doesn't make it easy to see where I'm using my data. How are you able to tell?
Your free lines are Magenta Max lines or a separate tablet line? I think I read some people were able to get free lines from TMO. How does that work? I'm curious if the tablet lines will get 5GB of roaming data?
How do I upgrade to Netflix 4K and have the TMO offer being a discount?
I have thought about it, but is it quick and easy to g back and forth between Magenta and Magenta Max?