T-Mobile’s new international plans are so appealing I’m considering a switch back from Verizon…provided the international data service actually works…
Last year, I switched from T-Mobile to Verizon after experiencing 1.) poor data coverage in “free” countries, 2.) dropped calls in Los Angeles, and 3.) generally poor tethering from my iPhone.
Since I switched from T-Mobile to Verizon, all those problems have gone away. And I certainly pay a premium for it…my bill has doubled and when I go overseas, I drop $10/day for 500MB of high speed data.
> Read More: I Just Divorced T-Mobile
But since I left, T-Mobile has introduced or enhanced a number of international data plans:
- $5/day – 512MB of high-seed data and unlimited calling in Simple Global countries
- $35 – 5GB of high-speed data and unlimited calling for 10 days in Simply Global countries
- $50 – 15GB of high-speed data and unlimited calling for 30 days in Simply Global countries
- $50/month – unlimited high-speed data + 5GB of high-speed tethering in Simple Global countries
The 5GB and 15GB plans were just announced last week.
One frustration I had was that I always had trouble activating the $5/day plan, which was the only option available when I left T-Mobile. I’m hearing that has improved.
I was loyal to T-Mobile for a decade and would love to go back. I like their cheaper pricing (and CEO) and for that am willing to put up with outsourced call centers.
But I’m not quite ready to make the move. My wife is still on T-Mobile and the so-called “free” international data plan (limited to 2G/Edge speeds) continues to colossally fail her every time she visits her family in Germany. As in, she cannot load anything or even receive iMessage. And if the problem is her iPhone, that’s a big problem…because neither of us is going to switch phones.
CONCLUSION
I would not hesitate to return to my “first love” under the right circumstances. I’m encouraged by the new international data options offered by T-Mobile. For now, though, I’ll watch and wait…my homecoming will be predicated upon sustained, positive reviews from many T-Mobile users.
Wait for the next-gen iPhone. It will work on t-mobile’s newly-acquired 600 MhZ spectrum – which is lower frequency (like Verizon) which penetrates buildings better. Should be a game-changer for T-mo in the US.
Have you tried GigSky/Truphone? That’s what I’ve been using since I discovered them. With dual SIM they are great.
It’s not about the phone its the coverage. I work for a telecom construction company and we foolishly use Sprint phones and there is something to be said for coverage with a newer iPhone X versus older models but in reality, it’s about the coverage. My personal phone is Verizon and it works in most places at 4g with the exception of US Cellular areas like extreme West Texas. If there is no coverage or slow speed network area it won’t matter what plan you are on. You get what you pay for to a certain degree.
T-Mobile never worked inside my home. ATT works for me.
I’ve had AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. All three were a bit low on the connection bars and I never knew when I’d have a good or poor connection with the exception of my current, T-Mobile, service because they gave me ($0.00) a signal booster. Excellent.
I think the international data is pretty decent. I have no trouble internet surfing.
T-Mobile reception is abysmal if you travel outside big metropolitan areas in the US. I travel to small towns and rural area for business and only ATT and Verizon are reliable. If all your use is on big cities than T-Mobile may do the trick. Also, although it adds an extra step I find getting a local SIM card when I travel abroad pretty easy. I always carry a pay as you go UK SIM card with me and I load money on it before I travel to Europe. It works anywhere in Europe and for £20 for 30 days you get unlimited talk a d 4g data.
Which SIM do you use?
I pay $10/month extra for the One PLUS plan which includes free Gogo internet (although that’s not so useful now) and 3G speeds when traveling internationally.
It’s not crazy fast, but it’s more than adequate for messaging, social media, email and light internet surfing.
I have an iPhone XS and I’m considering getting AT&T service on top of my Verizon service. I switched from AT&T to Verizon in January because I had no useable data service at two of my major clients’ job sites, but Verizon coverage is bad at other clients and at my house, as it turns out.
I will say that on a trip to Germany and Austria late last year, my friend with T-Mobile had effectively no service, even after trying to upgrade to the day pass option. My service on AT&T, which cost $10/day on top of using data from my regular plan, was spectacular, far exceeding what I usually got in even the best AT&T coverage areas here in the US and on par with what Verizon calls “5g”.
I have been with TMobile for the past 15 years and they keep getting better. I admit that the signal compared to AT&T isn’t as good but what keeps me with them as I travel internationally quite a bit and although it’s not been that quick (3G in most countries) it’s good enough for Whataspp, text messages, Uber, emails, Google Maps etc.
But I’m really excited by these unlimited high speed plans while traveling internationally. I”m going to try it here in a few weeks while I’m traveling in Europe for 4 weeks.
I was with T-Mobile since march 2010 . Then last year i came for truck driving job in Texas..alwys having troubles with T-Mobile in west Texas region then i switched to Wal-Mart selling brand Straight Talk.
$50 unlimited Verizon service for 30 days
Where were you able to see that the $50/month plan includes unlimited high-speed data? I was on this plan for the past few months @ 15GB, and if it is in fact Unlimited now, that would be awesome!
The title has a pun.
Is T-Mobile trying to make you die (coming home)?
Google Fi will likely solve your problems. And it uses T-Mobile in the US anyway, so same coverage but added benefits of NOT needing a separate international plan. I’ve had it since 2015 and it’s been a godsend. I’ve used it on every continent save Antarctica (because obviously) and have never had an issue with service coverage and connectivity has always been at least 4G. Only issue is visual voicemail must be done through the Google Fi app and tethering from your iPhone only works in the US. For now. I could go on and on…and I swear I’m not a shill, Google Fi has just been really amazing.
Yeah, in some countries the “free” data works well, but in others it totally fails. For example, Germany and Cambodia come to mind as countries where the “free” data just totally sucks. Ironic, too, given Germany and T-Mobile and all…