In the past few days, gadget, phone sites and forums have blown up with news about T-Mobile’s new “game changing” Project Dark plans. While we’ve seen comparisons of the new unlimited plans to the competition and all non-unlimited plans appearing to beat the competition in minutes and/or price, has T-Mobile beaten themselves up a little too much on the lower end? Some say yes, some say no. To help out, we’ve created a small chart (look familiar?) to help compare T-Mobile’s old plans versus their new plans, the non-unlimited variety of course. To make things fair, the Even More Plus plans have not been used in the comparison (as they do not have any phone subsidies or contracts) but subtract $10 from the Even More prices and you’ve got your price anyway.
This chart doesn’t cover absolutely every possible combo of plans and add-ons but should give a brief outline to look at for pricing below unlimited… therefore, your mileage may vary. Adjust accordingly. Individual 1000 at the promotional price has been included as that was a very popular promotion that ran three summers in a row. Add $10 if you want to compare with the old standard 1000 minute rate.
For those who do not remember or never had it, the 1000 minute promotion for $39.99 included unlimited nights and weekends. It is completely different than anything that was normally listed on the website. So yes, it compares :)
Important Note on Even More Plus. No contracts required on these plans. Phones must be purchased at full retail price but the payments can be split up over 20 months with no interest. If you decide to leave T-Mobile while on one of these plans, remaining balance for the phone must be paid in full but no ETF exists since you wouldn’t be on contract. Exception: People switching from old plans to EM+ plans still have to remain on the contract they previously agreed to. There is a $35 activation fee to switch from an old plan or Even More plan to Even More Plus.
Remember, if you’re on one of the plan combos where you’re saving money now versus the new plans, you do not have to switch and can stay on your current plan as long as you’d like. A few reps have stated to a person in the comments of this article that add-ons such as data will be available to old plans for as long as you have them. Whether this is true or the reps were confused/misinformed (also understandable) we do not yet know, only time will tell.
More on unlimited plans and myFaves after the break (including a myFaves comparison chart)…
With Project Dark, T-Mobile appears to have really gotten aggressive with unlimited plans, offering multiple price points to choose from and in most cases besting the competition. The calling circles of AT&T and Verizon, starting at $59.99 on both carriers, become things of the past as T-Mobile begins their unlimited plans at the same $59.99. Why pick 5 most called numbers to get your unlimited groove on if you can just pick, umm, every number in the country? Certainly, competition with the top two cellphone providers in the country has brought T-Mobile to the top when it comes to the most minutes for the money… in a way.
If information received/seen so far is correct, myFaves has been eliminated from the new plans. Do you enjoy paying between $39.99 and $49.99 for your base voice plan and getting unlimited minutes to your 5 most called people? After all… “T-Mobile research found that 65% of calls on wireless sets go to five people.” Well, say goodbye to paying anything less than $59.99 if you actually need all of those minutes off-network (free mobile-to-mobile in all of the new plans helps if your friends are all on T-Mobile).
myFaves launched in October 2006 and was quickly followed in 2007 with a statement by David Beigie, a T-Mobile USA spokesman, “It’s had the fastest adoption rate of any service we’ve offered… And it increases calling in general.” Starting at a low, low price point of $39.99, myFaves drew lots of customers to T-Mobile and added to their value reputation. However, with the apparent removal of myFaves, what will the response be now to those who became reliant on the service, or those who knew there would always be a carrier that provided unlimited calls to 5 people for $39.99 or $49.99? Has T-Mobile shot itself in the foot?
Only time will tell for most. If you’re on a low price myFaves plan now though (utilizing those unlimited minutes well) and don’t feel like paying more… hold on to that plan. Until (if?) T-Mobile brings back the service, you’re not going to want to leave that behind.
*Family plan chart may be added at a future date. Until we sort out how pricing works a little better on it :)
**The opinions in this post are based on knowledge of Project Dark at the time of publication and belong solely to the author (Mystictrust). Charts also created by Mystictrust.