Seoul
 

Any recent experiences to share for TMO users in Seoul? Will be visiting end of May for 36 hrs so don't plan on getting local prepaid sim. Just need connection for emails, Uber and maybe google maps. I'll be using either iPhone 5s or SE

I was in transit IAD/ICN/NRT and return on Korean Air back in 1/2014.

Although I was at only ICN at that time I had my SG N4 on the TMO network and it was actually quite fast. It may have only been 3G as I didn't want to get pegged overages for using 4G LTE while 'roaming' but the 3G from what I recall was fast and solid enough for me to surf. Whilst in NRT/Tokyo, I also only had 3G but it was again solid enough for me. May I suggest you bring a good battery pack, say similar to this:


since I recall NOT being on 4G LTE, sucked my battery dry....but with a battery pack, I was able to live a full day atleast 75% charged.........

Happy travels.

The throttled speeds handle those tasks just fine. Korea is all LTE, and even more, so you shouldn't have an issue with dropping onto a slower network. Should also be better for battery life.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions (QuesoDeCan - I do carry spare battery, albeit smaller anker model). ^^^

The iPhone SE US model A1662 for AT&T, TMo, and Verizon doesn't support band 7 LTE.
http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/#iphone-se

Not a huge problem in South Korea where LG U+ is the only one with Band 7, but could be an issue for those who want LTE coverage in Europe. You might want to keep the 5s for travel if you're picking up A1662.

Someone elsewhere posted this tool for checking phone versions against carrier LTE bands. http://willmyphonework.net/

I was in ICN last week (Twice) and as QuesoDeCan said its solid at the airport, I am living in Yokohama and currently I am connected to LTE, In my case I dont have heavy use on my phone but my battery last the whole day! (Iphone 6s)

Enjoy your trip!

No issues for me, I was in ICN last month for 24-hours and didn't want to bother with a local SIM, TMO was fast enough for google maps which I used a few times!

I have not been clear if whatapp avoids the tmobile WiFi charge for calls outside the US For example if I am in Thailand and call the USA using WiFi no charge, but if I call Thailand it still costs 20 cents a minute does whatsapp avoid this?

Yes, WhatsApp works using the phone's data connection and doesn't count as a phone call for billing purposes.

Yup agreed. I used face time audio. LINE calling etc. They all use data and does not count as a call.

I took a look at the T-Mobile roaming page today.

Looked up Hong Kong. It was covered in 3G. Last time I was there, my phone would say 3G but speed was 2G throttled. Did T-Mobile unthrottle their coverage there?

The free international data c:)verage is, indeed, throttled to 2G speeds even when you're connected to 3G or 4G networks. This is not unique to Hong Kong.

Had an odd one, I arrived in Mexico, D.F. and got a text message welcoming me to Mexico and informing of the Voice/Messaging/and DATA Rates Per MB when I was under the impression that Mexico was like many other countries I have visited where DATA was 2G speeds but was free.

I used my phone like I have in many countries and have yet to see any roaming charges for DATA from T-Mobile yet, but had a small fright from the text message from T-Mobile and the fact that the DATA felt much faster than I am accustomed to while roaming with T-Mobile Internationally (like LTE fast).

If you have a 'Simple Choice North America' plan (or the $10/month add-on for older plans) you get un-throttled data roaming in Canada and Mexico and free calls and texts.

As the previous poster Oily- has posted you'll need the "Simple Choice North America" plan instead of the "Simple Choice" for the faster connection. With Simple Choice you get billed for calls while in Canada but not for "Simple Choice North America"