T-Mobile's new "uncarrier" strategy/plans

[Guest 503ducati]

And the confusion/explanation process begins for T-Mobile.

 

http://www.thestreet.com/story/11880416/1/the-math-on-the-t-mobileapple-iphone-5-monthly-plan.html

[supert0nes]

Can people still get the $30 online only plan?

[ChadBroChillz]

Yea you can still get the 30 dollar plan.

 

http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-plans

 

Bottom of the page on the left side.

[supert0nes]

That's good to hear, never know if the next nexus could make it worth it.

 

Sent from phone

[Fraydog]

And the confusion/explanation process begins for T-Mobile.

 

http://www.thestreet.com/story/11880416/1/the-math-on-the-t-mobileapple-iphone-5-monthly-plan.html

 

Problem is the whole subsidy model is based on AT&T and Verizon subsidizing phones and hooking people with ETF schemes. I would expect a writer from the Street to screw up the basic math.

[JeffDTD]

Problem is the whole subsidy model is based on AT&T and Verizon subsidizing phones and hooking people with ETF schemes. I would expect a writer from the Street to screw up the basic math.

 

I wouldn't call it a screw up. ..... If the other carriers are willing to reduce your ETF based on the remaining months in your contract, is there much difference between that and Tmobile requiring you pay the remainder of a device subsidy on , say, an iphone? Example: Tmobile customer with Iphone 5 decides he wants to leave after 12 months. Customer has 12 months of a $20 subsidy remaining, meaning the customer has to pay $240 to leave Tmobile. Its a little lower, but it still functions exactly like an ETF.

 

Again, the benefit is with customers who use cheaper devices, use devices long term, or bring their own device purchased at a discount. Regardless whether you agree with the article..... I predict that much of the public is going to see this strategy as a gimmick

 

This is also, ABSOLUTELY, the end of anyone using a backdoor strategy to get out of a any contract at Tmobile. While customers of Sprint can roam to get out or wait for the next change in the T&C's to get out, Tmobile's approach is simple. Nothing is going to change the money you owe for financing the device... and they are free to change their charges AT ANY TIME. The device financing is like a credit card... you pay. It also makes clear this: Should you refuse to pay for the device, its their prerogative to demand it back. While that is a point of contention with the other carriers, Tmo's ability to demand the device from a non paying customer is clear. In light of this, I think the approach is smart. Tmo gets to tell its customers "You have more freedom, yay!" and in the meantime, eliminate a source of hemmorage.

[Guest 503ducati]

This is also, ABSOLUTELY, the end of anyone using a backdoor strategy to get out of a any contract at Tmobile. While customers of Sprint can roam to get out or wait for the next change in the T&C's to get out, Tmobile's approach is simple. Nothing is going to change the money you owe for financing the device... and they are free to change their charges AT ANY TIME. The device financing is like a credit card... you pay. It also makes clear this: Should you refuse to pay for the device, its their prerogative to demand it back. While that is a point of contention with the other carriers, Tmo's ability to demand the device from a non paying customer is clear. In light of this, I think the approach is smart. Tmo gets to tell its customers "You have more freedom, yay!" and in the meantime, eliminate a source of hemmorage.

It sounds like payday loans and this could become their demographic, those looking to "bail" from whatever financially negative situation they are in with their current wireless carrier and jump into this(if this is an option). How many "bad ESN" phones are on Craigslist? They come from somewhere.

 

I do not see T-Mobile luring away any "Big 3" competitor's subscribers in any significant numbers. This is another re branding from Catherine Zeta-Jones to ending "MyFaves" to Carly in a pink dress then a motorcycle then a helicopter and now "No Contracts".

 

Once they become a publicly traded NewCo, will they be able to spend capex as before? I'm curious to see if T-Mobile will be able to phase out EDGE. T-Mobile will ultimately need a Softbank since AT&T didn't work out and DT can eventually slowly sell off their stakes.

Edited March 27, 2013 by 503ducati

[Fraydog]

It sounds like payday loans and this could become their demographic, those looking to "bail" from whatever financially negative situation they are in with their current wireless carrier and jump into this(if this is an option). How many "bad ESN" phones are on Craigslist? They come from somewhere.

 

T-Mobile will not activate bad ESN/MEID/IMSI devices. They feed in the same database as Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon. So if people think they'll be able to activate bad ESN devices on T-Mobile, they need to rethink their strategy.

[Guest 503ducati]

T-Mobile will not activate bad ESN/MEID/IMSI devices. They feed in the same database as Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon. So if people think they'll be able to activate bad ESN devices on T-Mobile, they need to rethink their strategy.

I understand that but there is a demographic out there that is either on prepaid or about to become booted off of a tier 1 operator. I believe this is where a good number of these bad ESN phones come from.

[Fraydog]

I understand that but there is a demographic out there that is either on prepaid or about to become booted off of a tier 1 operator. I believe this is where a good number of these bad ESN phones come from.

 

Yes, but that demographic is going to have to find another option. Plenty of LifeLine programs exist. If they need service beyond that, get jobs and fix their credit. I don't want to get started on LifeLine as to not get my blood boiling.

[Guest 503ducati]

T-Mobile doesn't wield the power to influence the market to contract free.

 

 

If Verizon or AT&T or even a combo of the "Big Three" where to change course they could make it happen. But why? All three have had excellent metrics each quarter including outstanding churn rates, Sprint recently with company record postpaid churn.

 

 

Sprint iPhone Commitment

 

Sprint has committed to buy at least 30.5 million iPhones, Sprint Chief Executive Dan Hesse told Sprint's board in August(2011) that the carrier would have to agree to purchase the iPhones over the next four years

 

 

Sprint iPhone sales

 

2012 - 6.6 million

 

 

2011 - 1.8 million

 

 

Total Subscriber Growth

 

January 1st 2011 - present

 

 

 

 

AT&T

 

 

January 1st 2011 - 95.5 million total subscribers

 

January 1st 2013 - 107 million total subscribers

 

 

+11,500,000

 

 

 

 

Verizon

 

 

January 1st 2011 - 87.5 million total subscribers

 

January 1st 2013 - 98.2 million total subscribers

 

 

+10,700,000

 

 

 

 

Sprint

 

 

January 1st 2011 - 49.9 million total subscribers

 

January 1st 2013 - 55.6 million total subscribers

 

 

+5,700,000

 

 

 

 

T-Mobile

 

January 1st 2011 - 33.7 million total subscribers

 

January 1st 2013 - 33.3 million total subscribers

 

 

-400,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

 

 

So again why? who is going to make that call to Contract Free? The fear of churn will keep most if not all of the "Big Three" in check for the foreseeable future.

 

 

 

 

.

[Guest 503ducati]

Could T-Mobile's attempt to become Contract Free spur price war with the manufactures to the benefit of the "Big Three" ?

[bigsnake49]

Could T-Mobile's attempt to become Contract Free spur price war with the manufactures to the benefit of the "Big Three" ?

 

I think eventually, yes, it will, but only if all carriers went to contract free, un-subsidized devices. But then The same manufactureres might become MVNOs and sell device and service as a bundle

[Guest 503ducati]

Yet another re branding from Catherine Zeta-Jones to ending "MyFaves" to Carly in a pink dress then a motorcycle then a helicopter and now "No Contracts".

 

Now Carly has been fired? good grief.

 

http://www.huffingto..._ref=technology

Edited March 28, 2013 by 503ducati

[Yuhfhrh]

http://www.businessinsider.com/t-mobile-does-have-a-montjact-2013-3?utm_source=mobilesrepublic&utm_medium=referral&utm_term=mobilesrepublic

 

If you get the Equipment plan to pay off your phone, you still have to sign a contract- and the contract even requires having service with T-Mobile. So this really is the same as before. Bring your own device and you can pay prepaid without a contract, or get a "subsidy" and be locked in for two years with the option of paying an "etf" to leave.

[WiWavelength]

Yet another re branding from Catherine Zeta-Jones to ending "MyFaves" to Carly in a pink dress then a motorcycle then a helicopter and now "No Contracts".

 

Now Carly has been fired? good grief.

 

http://www.huffingto..._ref=technology

 

I guess T-Mobile wanted to go non contract with Carly.

 

 

AJ

[WiWavelength]

Yet another re branding from Catherine Zeta-Jones to ending "MyFaves" to Carly in a pink dress then a motorcycle then a helicopter and now "No Contracts".

 

Now Carly has been fired? good grief.

 

http://www.huffingto..._ref=technology

 

To promote its new strategy, T-Mobile told Carly to BYOD (Bring Your Own Dress), and, well, she wore an orange and blue dress.

 

 

AJ

[supert0nes]

 

To promote its new strategy' date=' T-Mobile told Carly to BYOD (Bring Your Own Dress), and, well, she wore an orange and blue dress.

 

 

AJ[/quote']

 

She's just roaming.

 

Sent from phone

[WiWavelength]

She's just roaming.

 

Yeah, I bet you would like her to "roam" over to your place. You would probably erect a monopole in her honor.

 

AJ

[supert0nes]

Yeah, I bet you would like her to "roam" over to your place. You would probably erect a monopole in her honor.

 

AJ

 

I prefer Miss Sprint cup. The one before this one to be precise.

[dedub]

http://www.fiercewir...l-21/2013-04-15

 

 

Verizon's financing plan would let customers upgrade and pay for devices without having to sign up for a new contract or pay the full cost up-front. However, the payment plan will not reduce a customer's monthly rate plan bill.

 

This is exactly what I referred to previously. Carriers will stop subsidizing, yet your phone bill will not decrease... it will only increase due to the new 'financing' of the devices.

 

Again, the only people who will benefit from the dropping of subsidization will be the folks who never upgrade or buy used/old devices.

[WiWavelength]

I prefer Miss Sprint cup. The one before this one to be precise.

 

Miss Sprint Cup, eh? What do you think of her "cup"? A, B, C, or D?

 

 

AJ

[Mobilesolutions]

T-Mobile doesn't wield the power to influence the market to contract free.

 

 

If Verizon or AT&T or even a combo of the "Big Three" where to change course they could make it happen. But why? All three have had excellent metrics each quarter including outstanding churn rates, Sprint recently with company record postpaid churn.

 

 

Sprint iPhone Commitment

 

 

 

 

Sprint iPhone sales

 

2012 - 6.6 million

 

 

2011 - 1.8 million

 

 

Total Subscriber Growth

 

January 1st 2011 - present

 

 

 

 

AT&T

 

 

January 1st 2011 - 95.5 million total subscribers

 

January 1st 2013 - 107 million total subscribers

 

 

+11,500,000

 

 

 

 

Verizon

 

 

January 1st 2011 - 87.5 million total subscribers

 

January 1st 2013 - 98.2 million total subscribers

 

 

+10,700,000

 

 

 

 

Sprint

 

 

January 1st 2011 - 49.9 million total subscribers

 

January 1st 2013 - 55.6 million total subscribers

 

 

+5,700,000

 

 

 

 

T-Mobile

 

January 1st 2011 - 33.7 million total subscribers

 

January 1st 2013 - 33.3 million total subscribers

 

 

-400,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

 

 

So again why? who is going to make that call to Contract Free? The fear of churn will keep most if not all of the "Big Three" in check for the foreseeable future.

 

 

 

 

.

 

T-mobile is in a transition, it may lose many of its customers but in turn it will pull from all the other carriers. I wouldn't be so quick to count them out, they appeal to select groups.

[Deval]

Unfortunat

T-mobile is in a transition, it may lose many of its customers but in turn it will pull from all the other carriers. I wouldn't be so quick to count them out, they appeal to select groups.

 

Yep, they appeal to the same groups who would otherwise use prepaid, since they are the high risk, high churn customer base. The groups who would also have minority appeal would be those BYOD folks, or those who change phones frequently, often purchased on their own.

[maximus1987/lou99]

Besides not having the iPhone (until now), the other reason why T-Mobile was drowning: no low-frequency spectrum for coverage; it is the ONLY one of the Big 4 with none.

In articles on Tmonews, there is a consistent theme in the comments regarding T-Mobile: their speeds are really fast but outside of suburban areas, you're left with EDGE or roaming.

 

Sure they're upgrading to LTE but even there, they're going to cover 200 million . . . but their HSPA+ reaches 225 million

http://newsroom.t-mo...news&id=1802242

 

So they're (probably) not even going to upgrade their entire network to LTE.

 

Sure they might've had a chance with their new plans but then AT&T went and did this:

http://www.fiercewir...rand/2013-05-09

 

unlimited talk, text

HSPA+, throttled after limit reached:

2 GB = $55

7GB = $70

 

"But it doesn't include LTE!"

So what? 4Mbps is fast enough for anything.

Also, you'll get AT&T's HSPA+ coverage of 290million

 

I'll take 290million + 4Mbps vs 225million and 25Mbps

 

I really do want T-Mobile to succeed but is that possible?

They're trying to be a national carrier without the solid coverage and they're trying to be a prepaid carrier without the MetroPCS low prices.

 

They're like an oversized MetroPCS which is actually what their strategy may be.

Listening to John Legere, having gobs of AWS spectrum in 90% of top 25 metro areas is going to save T-Mobile.

Edited May 9, 2013 by maximus1987