T-Mo launching new prepaid "brand" - GoSmart Mobile

[SunnyD]

Link

Pertinent details:

$30/month = Unlimited Talk & Text
$35/month = Unlimited Talk & Text & Web (Throttled/2g speeds)
$45/month = Unlimited Talk & Text & High Speed Web (3g)

Note, they're talking about 3g web speeds, not "4g" speeds.

This isn't a 3rd party company MVNO, this is a new spinoff brand by Deutch Telekom and T-Mo, similar to what Sprint has with Boost and Virgin Mobile.

Website is currently not up, but they're saying that it may go live as early as tonight.

 

[jpeyton]

It's $45 for unlimited everything 3G, not $40.

 

[Red Storm]

Advantages over Straight Talk?

 

[SunnyD]

It's $45 for unlimited everything 3G, not $40.

Thanks for catching that. I was reading 3 different sites at once as well as squinting at the fine print on the image of the brochure while posting that.

Advantages over Straight Talk?

Only advantage I can potentially think of is that given it's a T-Mo brand, you'll probably be able to buy refills for it via 3rd parties like Callingmart, thereby being able buy at a discount. That $45 gets a little cheaper. But at the same rate, for $45 with StraightTalk you can get an AT&T sim, better coverage and LTE coverage (if you're in one of the lucky areas) or at the very least full HSPA+.

 

[Thegonagle]

Advantages over Straight Talk?

Hopefully, one can expect better customer support from a T-Mobile brand... Hopefully.

It would be nice, for example, if you could walk into a T-Mobile (or Metro PCS) retail location and get help. It depends how closely they want to link the GoSmart brand with the T-Mobile brand.

I guess we'll be finding out soon enough.

 

[Thegonagle]

Can you really get LTE service through Straight Talk with an AT&T LTE phone and ST/ATT SIM?

(If so, wow! Verizon doesn't let its MVNO customers near the LTE network, and probably won't anytime soon.)

 

[Chrono]

No, Straight Talk does not allow LTE. Only HSPA+

 

[Dulanic]

You would think being a service provider they could offer a better price than the middle man like straight talk....

 

[pcsavvy]

I like my Boost, right now I am at $45 a month unlimited everything and the usual disclaimer about throttling your 4G speed. Plus for $10 more I can use my phone as a mobile hotspot. Another 6 months I will be at the $40 a month mark.

 

[SunnyD]

No, Straight Talk does not allow LTE. Only HSPA+

From what I understand, all the AT&T MVNO sim cards will hop on LTE if you happen to be in a LTE market. At least this is what I've seen mentioned on other forums.

 

[bearxor]

I need to confirm that. Would make my choice of going to ST instead of TMobile with an iPhone 5 much easier.

According to teh Googles, LTE still doesn't work on Straight Talk.

 

[jpeyton]

I'm on Straight Talk with an AT&T GS3 in a city with LTE coverage; no LTE for me.

Where did you read otherwise?

 

[Gooberlx2]

Advantages over Straight Talk?

I dunno. From what I understand, ST, being a Tracfone property, also has roaming agreements between ATT, Tmo and various other GSM providers...at least for voice/sms.

The coverage map graphic in the OP definitely looks like Tmo's pre-paid coverage, at best (but maybe it represent data only?). Not to mention 3G speeds only.

 

[Muyoso]

What is the difference between 3g and 4g when it comes to Tmobile? Its the same technology. Do they place some artificial limit on HSPA+? Im guessing its full "4g", otherwise it would be worse than other offerings currently available.

 

[amdhunter]

What is the difference between 3g and 4g when it comes to Tmobile? Its the same technology. Do they place some artificial limit on HSPA+? Im guessing its full "4g", otherwise it would be worse than other offerings currently available.

I'm wondering too. I wouldn't mind getting the unlimited service and popping the sim in my Nexus 4.

 

[SunnyD]

I'm on Straight Talk with an AT&T GS3 in a city with LTE coverage; no LTE for me.

Where did you read otherwise?

I didn't think the GS3 was an LTE phone. Then again, I don't follow these things terribly carefully.

I think I saw it mentioned on a couple of the prepaid threads on HowardForums.

Regardless, StraightTalk might limit it... the other MVNO's might not. I don't know.

What is the difference between 3g and 4g when it comes to Tmobile? Its the same technology. Do they place some artificial limit on HSPA+? Im guessing its full "4g", otherwise it would be worse than other offerings currently available.

T-Mo *does* throttle their 3g/4g connections. If they say "3g", then odds are you're looking at 3Mbps down/1Mbps up at best.

And when they say unlimited, you can be fairly certain there's going to be fine print meaning the first 2gb, then you'll be throttled to 2g speeds.

 

[Muyoso]

T-Mo *does* throttle their 3g/4g connections. If they say "3g", then odds are you're looking at 3Mbps down/1Mbps up at best.

And when they say unlimited, you can be fairly certain there's going to be fine print meaning the first 2gb, then you'll be throttled to 2g speeds.

So they are choosing a max speed and throttling the device to that? That seems like more work than its worth. . .

 

[wirednuts]

if you have tmo 4g, you rarely are on 3g at any given time. no its not real 4g but it is real 5Mb/sec down and 2Mb/sec up or more. however, right now, at least in my area, tmobile is having a lot of troubles with subsidiary towers.. trying to roam is a joke. but their internet is indeed very good. its better then sprint, which says nothing but in any case i have noticed over the years that tmobile has always had good data reliability.

 

[SunnyD]

website is now live

www.gosmartmobile.com

 

[bearxor]

Looks like its 5GB of 3G before its reduced.

 

[zerocool84]

Looks like its 5GB of 3G before its reduced.

Definitely a good deal then.

 

[Chiropteran]

Sounds pointless to me, $30 for unlimited data (at FULL speed)/texts and 100 minutes is vastly superior to these options, in my case. But I guess for a customer who cares more about unlimited voice and less about data they might be interesting.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Part of an overall strategy to completely remove phone subsidies in their service?

T-Mobile planning to move entirely to Value Plans in 2013

 

[SunnyD]

Sounds pointless to me, $30 for unlimited data (at FULL speed)/texts and 100 minutes is vastly superior to these options, in my case. But I guess for a customer who cares more about unlimited voice and less about data they might be interesting.

You mean Unlimited* data, right?

But yes, pretty much potato/potato. I personally would be in the same boat as you - I make maybe 10 minutes of calls a month. My wife uses much more than 10 minutes/month, but can get by on a lot less data.

 

[bearxor]

Sounds pointless to me, $30 for unlimited data (at FULL speed)/texts and 100 minutes is vastly superior to these options, in my case. But I guess for a customer who cares more about unlimited voice and less about data they might be interesting.

As I was contemplating switching, I looked at my minute usage and mostly stay under 100 minutes but I always felt like a 300 minute plan with 5GB at $40 would provide me all the cushion I needed. I'm fine with $45/mo for unlimited and 5GB. Price is exact same as straight talk. I think they're using the term 3G because they're about to launch LTE and I'm guessing these plans won't be allowed on the LTE network.