Experience in Argentina
 

I switched to this t-mobile plan specifically for the international roaming after 10+ years with AT&T. I can report back that after my first experience using it in Argentina I am very happy with it. The 128k I got was fine for: email, translation apps (including voice translation), whatsapp, maps. Total cost for the week after heavy use: 20 cents, because I answered one phone call.

It wasn't immediately clear that I had to pick a certain carrier. In Buenos Aires, data roaming only worked on Claro of the 3 choices I had, and initially my iphone picked to roam with Movistar. There were brief periods of about 10 minutes where while I was in one location (not moving) with a strong signal that it would suddenly drop to "No Service" and then tell me that I'd have to pick another carrier. That happened about 3 times during the week.

Someone posted this helpful link further up thread to determine which carrier you need to select in each country: http://www.t-mobile.com/Internationa..._RoamWorldwide

No. You have to be a paying subscriber to get international roaming.

I bought the Samsung Hotspot Pro for this (I'm in the early stages of a contract with Sprint) on the cheapest plan ($20/month). I've used it in Turkey, UAE, Singapore, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, and Germany and it has worked great. Haven't had to do any setup or change networks - I simply turn it on and wait for it to find a network. Speed is fine for Web, messaging, Google Maps. I even got a VOIP phone call and that worked fine too. Haven't done any speed tests, but I don't have any complaints.

The hotspot is a little large for what it is, but I do like that it can be used as a backup battery. Battery life has generally been good (good to me = lasts a whole day without being recharged) - most days I can turn it on in the morning and when I get back to the hotel I still have half the battery left, so I could also charge something else if necessary. Other days it seems to drain very quickly (I presume it must be searching for service a lot) and only makes it a few hours.

Overall this is an amazing deal!

One problem with speedtest is it will try to do a test where you are. Since all data is tunneled back to T-Mobile US (via T-Mobile APN's) your terminating point for internet data is actually the US (hence why you avoid the China great firewall and Google defaults to US location). The test will also have nasty high latency as all packets go local network -> T-Mobile US IP network -> Back to local region you are in.

If you turn off ALL location services Speedtest then does IP based location for finding closest server that then gives you a more accurate speed test and general latency info

You are using the free data at 128Kb?? Beware that TMO may cut you off once the IMEI on your device is recognized as a hotspot. The free data service is PURELY for Phones and Tablets NOT hotspots. Though you can use the paid per day/week/2 week plans which are LOW priced for using a US SIM (still cheaper to use a local prepaid in some markets) - those same plans when added to a phone DO also allow tethering from the phone

Softbank isn't working with TMO for me; have to roam on NTT.

Though I had a Vodaphone Germany SIM that I used on Softbank last month (flat rate) and it was allowing Skype to work as APN was back to Vodafone Germany NOT filtered on Softbank side. Softbank indeed filters their APNs'

I had the reverse carrier situation when I landed at KIX in mid-Nov similar to your earlier post http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...l#post21758290. TMO Simple Choice tablet sim - NTT Docomo wouldn't register but Softbank would. This was on Android 4.2.X

A friend and I will be going to Paris this week, so we just called T-Mo to make sure that we are good to go with data, etc, etc. During the conversation the rep said that since my friend and I are on the same account, that any texts or calls between us while in France will be free. Has anyone else heard this?

I wouldn't believe that. Call back and ask again.

At the very least wouldn't the texts be free?

I haven't seen anything that indicates hotspots are not allowed. The eligibility section of the FAQ doesn't have device restrictions, only plan restrictions, and Simple Choice Mobile Internet is specifically listed. Also, if you go to purchase a new hotspot with Simple Choice Mobile Internet it specifically mentions unlimited international data as part of the plan.

The only thing I see as being tablet only is the 200MB free domestic data.

Good to know - I was there a week or so prior to you and it wouldn't reject the connect to Softbank would just keep trying ; I reported it to T-Mobile and they said "it was being looked at" - so hopefully it was fixed. I'm back in Japan Tuesday and will see if your results jive for all (thanks for the update)

Texts will be free; calls will be 20c a min

Doppy thanks for the update.... I've just also switched my Hotspot to the 500MB plan to see what it does on my trip next week without a package. Good to hear hear it works. The one issue in T&C's was "no tethering" - if you read into that a hotspot is in fact "tethering"..

Any reports of data use in China on China Mobile with phone type and location? I've read China Mobile supports 3G TD-SCDMA which I don't believe is supported by the Google Nexus 7 3G (not LTE).

Would I need to change Nexus 7 settings to choose 2G support for EDGE only? Is there EDGE coverage outside of major cities?