Allowance axed
T-Mobile will slash its data allowance for smartphones from February, helpfully suggesting that customers should watch videos and download software updates using their home broadband.
T-Mobile has set the new data cap at 500MB. A lot of T-Mobile contracts had previously set the data bar at 1GB so users will see their allowance halved but it is not yet known what T-Mobile plans to do with the 3GB contracts.
A message on T-Mobile's website, thought to have quietly appeared over the weekend, promised its customers will "always be able to browse the internet" but its definition of browsing is: "looking at websites and checking email, but not watching videos, downloading files or playing games."
Despite selling heavyweight smartphones more than capable of playing videos, T-Mobile said: "If you want to download, stream and watch video clips, save that stuff for your home broadband."
The network will generously still let users browse the web using its network and said: "So remember our Mobile Broadband and internet on your phone service is best used for browsing which means looking at your favorite websites like Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, BBC News and more, checking your email and looking for information."
The Metro noted that the T-Mobile page with the new information is tucked away from the network's home page, main support page and its fair use policy still shows the old 1GB data figure, perhaps hinting that T-Mobile has been a bit stealthy with its changes.
According to Bitterwallet, some T-Mobile customers have received texts telling them about the changes (but this HEXUS writer hasn't yet).
It reportedly read: "We wanted to let you know that from 2nd Feb the fair use policy amount for internet on your phone will be 500MB a month. For details see t-mobile.co.uk/datachanges. If you do reach your limit don't worry, you'll still be able to browse and use email."
Interestingly, the website's forum shows posts from various customers who seem to have received conflicting advice as to whether their contracts will change. Some suggest that current customers will not be affected by the changes but then a handful of other forum users said otherwise. One user, Matt Jones, said: "When I called I was told that even as an existing customer my allowance would drop to 500MB."
It seems a lot of people are unhappy with the change and chose the network because of its slightly higher data allowance than other networks. One Bitterwallet forum user said he got a text message from T-Mobile telling him his data allowance will be slashed from 3GB to 500MB and has been told by the company that internet is ‘an additional service'. He apparently thinks the company is in breach of contract and is not alone in his anger.
It will be interesting to see how T-Mobile respond and whether customers will vote on the change with their feet.
