Would be nice, but truth be told I think this is really an amazing offering. I mean to be able to turn in the phone, check email and have text (SMS, what's apps, iMessage etc) for free and other basic uses for apps such as maps for free is huge. Sure we would all love high speed but if the email and text functions well at no cost and very low price calls without hassle, how can anyone complain. Really makes it easy and global and great value. I am looking forward to using it and seeing for myself.

Experience in Canada
 

I had a good experience in Canada with an iPhone 5. It roamed on Rogers most of the time. Very reliable 3G connection throttled to almost exactly the stated 128 Kbps. I was able to make Voip calls using Bria (low bandwidth G729 codec), stream via TuneIn Radio Pro, check e-mail, use Maps/navigation. I did find Google Maps too slow, but the built-in iOS Maps app worked great.

I have been having similarly excellent experiences in Canada, on a Galaxy S4. On my phone, Google Maps works extremely well, for likely obvious reasons. Gmail comes through like a snap.

My experience so far with data in several countries:

UK, Belgium, Estonia, Finland
Consistent 128k data rates (using the SpeedTest app)...there were only a few times when I had no data coverage...but they were very brief in duration...i.e. minutes

Costa Rica - just arrived - SJO airport vicinity - no data but no problems making phone calls

In the last 2 weeks, I have tested it in Frankfurt, Doha, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Brisbane. No issues connecting in those cities with 2G speed.

My conclusion is that it is good for e-mails, text apps (whatsapp, viber, wechat, etc).

As for the browser or other apps, I find it painfully slow to load most pages and apps.

Hi, is the consensus that the 128k speed fast enough to skype while on the go? I assume you can use skype or tango with the "unlimited international roaming"? If you buy a speed boost how much does it cost and how long is it good for? Let's say I'm traveling to Peru in Jan and Spain in Feb will I be able to buy one speed boost for both location and have 500mbs total to use over the two trips?

Thanks!

No chance with Skype I would think. I tried Skype in the US using T-mobiles throttled $2/day service and it's impossible. In Japan you cannot use Skype on 3G Softbank.

If I find a house in the US next year in the neighborhood that I am targeting then mobile coverage is likely to be rotten.

My understanding is that to use T-Mobile's wifi calling then the handset like a HTC One has to be purchased from T-Mob, so that it has been modified?

Otherwise I could use Google Voice with forwarding, I suppose. Does Google Voice allow you to customize a caller ID number like Skype? I guess one option is to port the T-Mobile number to Google Voice.

That is correct. T-Mobile's wifi calling feature is embedded within the Android framework. You have to buy a T-Mobile-branded phone to use it (available on almost all Android and most Windows phones).

You can find the Nokia Lumia 521 for around $80.

Make sure the networks you pick in Costa Rica has a data roaming agreement with T-Mobile - e.g is one of the networks listed here; also ensure you didn't turn off data roaming by mistake (all else fails reboot the device as a timed out APN connect may have occurred)

MOD: Please update sticky - new info from T-Mobile
 

Had a chat with Customer escalation side:

1. 200MB high speed int data pass is NOW CORRECTLY listed as 200MB and NOT 300MB. If you did purchase this based on it showing you it as a 300MB contact customer care and advise them - I'm sure they will take care of you

2. If you have a NON T-Mobile purchased handset (e.g. purchased from Google/Nexus device store or ported in from another carrier on an unlocked device) you CANNOT select international data packages from my.t-mobile.com under plans section, select device and "Add a data pass". This is due to T-Mobile systems not knowing device type. I've been told by 12/3 (Dec 3rd) their systems WILL correct this and show paid data pass options. Workaround for now is to go to old system once logged in to My T-Mobile: https://my.t-mobile.com/Plan/Plans.a...vid=changeplan Likely when this is fixed on 12/3 or so it will also fix those following the link that is sent on a text message when landing in a new country and looking at Paid data pass options [ link is http://t-mo.co/4G-Data ]

So, I am in Paris, connected two days ago when we arrived. Speed test show .10 on average but it works well. I am very impressed. Connected to Orange 3G and email works perfectly, so does text and what's app, and most apps on phone including news apps load fairly quickly. Web browsing is slow but no unusable and maps and google maps works great. Frankly I am very surprised in a great way about how good it really works. I have an iphone 5s. Sure, not steaming videos or heavy downloads etc but I never expected to do that. Hotel wifi or any wifi for anything large. But to stay connected and have usability this is phenomenal and a great value added. Very happy. I find no need at all to buy the speed pack, for what I do this is terrific

T Mobile Global data coverage
 

In Cambodia, I've had consistent data speeds of 110-130 on Nexus 4 and Samsung Galaxy 4. I find it helps to restart the phones each day, which might be a data roaming thing about the Nexus.

After spending years and years avoiding high roaming charges with local SIMs, this feature of T-Mobile is awesome. I've used 550 MB data traffic in 2 weeks and speed has been acceptable for most things, when I need something faster (big downloads, etc.), I can go to wifi or tether off a local Cambodian SIM at speeds of 3Mbs.

T Mobile Global data coverage
 

The only issue I have found is that long text messages I sent *sometimes* did not go through. Long as in more than about 180 characters. But it might have been the spotty coverage I had on the wrong side of one Cambodian island.

I just saw that T-mobile is offering free 4G data for life when you buy a new ipad Mini (with limits per month). Does anyone know if this will also work on the 2G overseas plans mentioned here? If so, I'm buying one tomorrow.