T-Mobile Support is Awful - and there is basically no Data Roaming.

[fuzzybabybunny]

Some tidbits from the chat support:

Me: Does T-Mobile partner up with AT&T at all for roaming? I drove from California to Colorado and I hardly had any internet signal the entire way on the highway.

CSR: Both your current rate plan and the $70 per month rate plan has International Roaming as opional features.

Me: Not international roaming. Domestic roaming in the United States.

CSR: Upon checking, the Domestic Roaming option is only available with selected carriers. However, the reason why you are unable to connect with AT&T is because data services are not available while roaming domestically or internationally.

Me: So there is no data roaming on the $30 a month plan or the $50 + $20 unlimited 4G data plan either?

CSR: Yes, actually all prepaid rate plans have this restriction.

Me: What about your Post-Paid plans?

CSR: The postpaid plans do not have this restriction. (links me to the $50 + $20 unlimited 4G data a month plan that I just asked about) T-Mobile currently offers that rate plan that will give you unlimited talk, text and 500MB of unlimited data.

Me: Right.

I later found this:

http://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-3299

So... for unlimited Nationwide 4G plans, there's only 50MB of roaming. So basically non-existent.

 

[jidery]

Their support isn't half bad. Just dial 611, you get a call center from America with people who know their stuff for the most part.

If your going to do a lot of roaming, tmobile might not be for you. Don't complain about a companies policy when you made the mistake of not reading the fine print.

 

[bonkers325]

you want low-bidder pricing with high-quality service. sorry, it isn't going to happen. stop being unrealistic.

fyi, i took a 400 mile trip two weeks ago in the Northeast corridor and had 4G signal most of the way (had to use 3G signal for some parts). I'm on t-mobile.

 

[Oyeve]

Their support isn't half bad. Just dial 611, you get a call center from America with people who know their stuff for the most part.

If your going to do a lot of roaming, tmobile might not be for you. Don't complain about a companies policy when you made the mistake of not reading the fine print.

This ^ User error.

 

[Thegonagle]

Their support isn't half bad. Just dial 611, you get a call center from America with people who know their stuff for the most part.

If your going to do a lot of roaming, tmobile might not be for you. Don't complain about a companies policy when you made the mistake of not reading the fine print.

I get the feeling that pre-paid customer service is still of the low-bid overseas variety. $30 a month doesn't buy you USA-based customer service.

 

[jidery]

I get the feeling that pre-paid customer service is still of the low-bid overseas variety. $30 a month doesn't buy you USA-based customer service.

I'm on the unlimited everything plan, so i can't comment on the support of the cheaper plans, though I have my doubts that they would be any different.

 

[ImDonly1]

You already posted this and everyone told you their roaming restrictions.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2311403

FYI, other carriers have similar restrictions.
Sprint postpaid has 300MB of data roaming per month. It can be exceeded (there is no card cap), but if exceeded frequently they will cancel your account.

And ATT's terms
http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/articles-resources/wireless-terms.jsp

4.5.2 Data

If your use of the Data Services on other carriers' wireless networks ("offnet data usage") during any month exceeds your offnet data usage allowance, AT&T may at its option terminate your access to Data Services, deny your continued use of other carriers' coverage, or change your plan to one imposing usage charges for offnet data usage. Your offnet data usage allowance is equal to the lesser of 24 megabytes or 20% of the kilobytes included with your plan. You may be required to use a Device programmed with AT&T's preferred roaming database.

So which carrier do you plan on switching to that has unlimited data roaming? Data roaming is expensive for the carriers and they have limits on it. Sounds like you need to sign up for ATTs of VZWs expensive plans to get the coverage you want.

 

[poofyhairguy]

This is why despite all the bad crap I am sticking with AT&T.

 

[jidery]

You already posted this and everyone told you their roaming restrictions.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2311403

FYI, other carriers have similar restrictions.
Sprint postpaid has 300MB of data roaming per month. It can be exceeded (there is no card cap), but if exceeded frequently they will cancel your account.

And ATT's terms
http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/articles-resources/wireless-terms.jsp


So which carrier do you plan on switching to that has unlimited data roaming? Data roaming is expensive for the carriers and they have limits on it. Sounds like you need to sign up for ATTs of VZWs expensive plans to get the coverage you want.

He posted this exact post before? SOMEONE clearly doesn't like t-mobile!

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

You already posted this and everyone told you their roaming restrictions.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2311403

FYI, other carriers have similar restrictions.
Sprint postpaid has 300MB of data roaming per month. It can be exceeded (there is no card cap), but if exceeded frequently they will cancel your account.

And ATT's terms
http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/articles-resources/wireless-terms.jsp


So which carrier do you plan on switching to that has unlimited data roaming? Data roaming is expensive for the carriers and they have limits on it. Sounds like you need to sign up for ATTs of VZWs expensive plans to get the coverage you want.

I'm not. Both Verizon and Sprint use network standards that don't work anywhere else in the world, so that's out. Not to mention Sprint data speeds blow.

AT&T plans are ridiculous.

http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/plans/mobileshare.html

So.... unlimited talk and text and 6GB of data is $90 + $35 for the single phone that I'll be using on it. So $125 a month. Compared to T-Mobile unlimited voice, text, and un-throttled unlimited data for $70. I'll be sticking with T-Mobile.

I just wish their chat CSRs would actually read what I type and understand their own service offerings.

 

[ImDonly1]

I just wish their chat CSRs would actually read what I type and understand their own service offerings.

In my experience, the prepaid reps are actually in the Philippines. The postpaid reps are in the US (maybe).

 

[shortylickens]

I roam.
I never needed support.

 

[s44]

I'm not. Both Verizon and Sprint use network standards that don't work anywhere else in the world, so that's out.

Verizon SGS3, Note 2, iPhone 5, and DNA -- that is, every phone you should consider using -- as well as, I'm sure, the (end of May) SGS4 and (if it ever appears) the One all have GSM/HSPA enabled on the Qualcomm radio along with CDMA/EVDO/LTE. Using foreign SIM cards instead of Verizon inflated roaming rates may take some APN futzing that's easier with root/jailbreak, but lots of people do it.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Verizon SGS3, Note 2, iPhone 5, and DNA -- that is, every phone you should consider using -- as well as, I'm sure, the (end of May) SGS4 and (if it ever appears) the One all have GSM/HSPA enabled on the Qualcomm radio along with CDMA/EVDO/LTE. Using foreign SIM cards instead of Verizon inflated roaming rates may take some APN futzing that's easier with root/jailbreak, but lots of people do it.

Wait, those CDMA phones all take SIM cards as well?

 

[ImDonly1]

Wait, those CDMA phones all take SIM cards as well?

They are world phones and have CDMA, LTE, and HSPA radios. Not all of VZW's phones are like this.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

They are world phones and have CDMA, LTE, and HSPA radios. Not all of VZW's phones are like this.

I see. I read reports that even though they're world phones, Verizon disables the ability to use data on other carriers, even global ones. I assume there are definite, reliable workarounds to this?

 

[wirednuts]

i get terrible (talking) roaming performance. im lucky if i am outside of a major town and i can still make a call. it doesnt bother me too much, because i can use wifi to get everything (calls too), but if im outside the city it usually means no calls when im driving- and no internet either of course.

i wish verizon would just sell 5gb of data for $30 a month, nothing else. u would think they would kill on that sort of plan... oh well..

 

[ImDonly1]

I see. I read reports that even though they're world phones, Verizon disables the ability to use data on other carriers, even global ones. I assume there are definite, reliable workarounds to this?

Depends on the phone, they used to always have them locked.
Lately, phones have had the HSPA radios unlocked out of the box (iPhone 5 and the DNA, not sure about others). You can take a verizon iPhone 5 and put an ATT sim in no problem.
Video of DNA on ATT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztTK1aMp1RU

I think it has to do with agreements they made when they bought the 700Mhz spectrum. They are required to have all new phones that use the band unlocked?

 

[s44]

You can take a verizon iPhone 5 and put an ATT sim in no problem.

The radios are all unlocked, but the i5, S3, and Note 2 are fake-locked by hiding the APN settings. There are straightforward and much-tested workarounds for this on all these devices. The DNA is just plain unlocked.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

The radios are all unlocked, but the i5, S3, and Note 2 are fake-locked by hiding the APN settings. There are straightforward and much-tested workarounds for this on all these devices. The DNA is just plain unlocked.

Lol, I wonder why the HTC is unlocked. Were they just like, "Screw you, we're not locking this. Request denied."

 

[SunnyD]

Repost...

And it looks like their support answered your questions in a timely and accurate manner. I fail to see the suck you try so hardly but fail to show.

 

[quest55720]

This is why despite all the bad crap I am sticking with AT&T.

Same here they bought out the company that built out the cell network in the area. I wish T-mobile had good coverage in the area but they have only a few towers in the city and none outside the city. One of the prices to pay for living in a rural area. Verison has ok coverage but would be about the same price.

 

[dagamer34]

For $30/month, you were definitely giving up something. There's a reason why not everyone switches to that plan.

 

[Red Storm]

There's a reason why they're cheaper...

 

[lothar]

Why the hell would anyone expect data roaming on a prepaid plan in the first place?