T-Mobile is rejiggering its prepaid plans.
Starting January 25, T-Mobile will launch Simply Prepaid, which starts at $40 per month for unlimited data, talk and text. T-Mobile is also offering $50 and $60 plans.
The difference among the plans is the amount of 4G LTE data that comes with each. The $40-per-month option offers 1GB of monthly 4G LTE data. The $50 and $60 plans come with 3GB and 5GB of 4G LTE, respectively.
After you hit your allotment of high-speed data, your connection drops down to a slower 2G level, or 129 Kbps for the rest of the month. So while T-Mobile advertising "unlimited data" plans, it doesn't specify the speed at which that data gets delivered.
T-Mobile's new plan, which will co-exist alongside its other prepaid options, will compete with those from rival carriers as the prepaid market keeps growing in popularity. But T-Mobile is competing with itself as well. T-Mobile's MetroPCS brand already offers similar $40 and $50 monthly plans. However, the MetroPCS $60-per-month plan offers a better option, coming with unlimited 4G LTE data, instead of the 5GB limit on T-Mobile's side.
A T-Mobile spokesperson acknowledged the difference, saying in a statement Thursday that the Simply Prepaid launch is "really just about creating choices for our different customers." MetroPCS runs on the T-Mobile network, so there is difference in service.
With Simply Prepaid, though, T-Mobile has created another avenue to sell prepaid plans directly to consumers through its stores, taking advantage of the increasingly strong T-Mobile brand.
T-Mobile already offers prepaid plans called Simple Choice. Simple Choice starts at $50 per month for unlimited talk, text, and data, including 1GB of 4G LTE data. Unlike Simply Prepaid, Simple Choice does include an unlimited 4G LTE option for $80 per month. Two other plans go for $60 and $70 per month with 3GB and 5GB of 4G LTE data, respectively.
T-Mobile's new plans will not include tethering, and unused data cannot be rolled over to the next month.
Be respectful, keep it clean and stay on topic. We delete comments that violate our policy, which we encourage you to read. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion.