T-Mobile’s UnCarrier Phase 3 is kicking off into global gear with the announcement of “Simple Global” as T-Mobile looks to bring the world a little closer together. T-Mobile is making it simple and easy in the global arena by introducing unlimited global data at no extra charge in 100+ countries.
“The cost of staying connected across borders is completely crazy,” said John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile US, Inc. “Today’s phones are designed to work around the world, but we’re forced to pay insanely inflated international connectivity fees to actually use them. You can’t leave the country without coming home to bill-shock. So we’re making the world your network – at no extra cost.”
T-Mobile highlights that Americans take around 55 million trips abroad from the US every year offering introducing $1000+ global roaming bills.
“It doesn’t have to be this way,” said Legere. “The truth is that the industry’s been charging huge fees for data roaming. But what’s most surprising is that no one’s called them out – until now.”
T-Mobile’s announcement this evening allows Simple Choice customers to include more than 100 countries for global roaming at no charge. The global roaming plan, which begins October 31st will also receive unlimited texting in these same 100 Simple Global countries worldwide. Customers will pay a global flat rate of 20 cents per minute for void calls when roaming in the same Simple Global countries. Simple Choice customers won’t have to change or add anything and especially won’t have to pay anything extra, T-Mobile will add this feature to your account automatically.
Wait, stop there’s more!
For customers in the US wanting am easier way to connect with friends, family and colleagues the world over, T-Mobile has you covered as well. T-Mobile is announcing its new Stateside International Talk & Text feature for discounted calling and texting from inside the US to all Simple Global countries. Customers will never pay more than 20 cents a minute to any Simple Global country, including mobile-to-mobile calls. Throw in unlimited talk to landlines in more than 70 countries and unlimited text for all Stateside users and you’ve got yourself T-Mobile UnCarrier Phase 3.
Hello UnCarrier, goodbye competition.
Recapping:
- Starting October 31st, eligible Simple Choice individual and business customers automatically get unlimited data and texting in more than 100 Simple Global countries worldwide, and will only pay an industry-low flat rate of 20 cents per minute for voice calls when roaming in the same countries.
- And, for customers in the US wanting a saner, more affordable way to stay connected with friends, family and colleagues worldwide, T-Mobile’s announced a postpaid industry-low feature for discounted calling and texting from the US to all Simple Global countries – called Stateside International Talk & Text.
- Customers never pay more than 20 cents a minute to any number in any Simple Global country, including mobile-to-mobile calls.
- Unlimited calls to landlines in over 70 of these countries at no extra charge. Unlimited texting is also included. Stateside International Talk & Text is available to customers for just $10 a month.
Now for some caveats:
Press Release:
T-Mobile Makes the World Your Network
– at No Extra Charge
And Now Delivers Nationwide 4G LTE
T-Mobile customers to enjoy unlimited data and texting worldwide – at no extra charge
Also slashes calling rates from US – now never more than 20¢/min. with Stateside International Talk & Text feature
Announces multi-year partnership with international superstar Shakira
NEW YORK — Oct. 9, 2013 — T-Mobile (NYSE: TMUS), America’s new number one choice in wireless, is again upending and innovating the wireless industry, delivering unlimited global data at no extra charge in 100+ countries – making the company’s home data coverage area larger than AT&T’s and Verizon’s combined.
Tonight, at a concert event for thousands of its customers at New York’s Bryant Park, featuring international superstar and new T-Mobile collaborator Shakira, the Un-carrier announced that it is tearing down borders and walking away from the US wireless industry practice of charging exorbitant international roaming rates.
“The cost of staying connected across borders is completely crazy,” said John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile US, Inc. “Today’s phones are designed to work around the world, but we’re forced to pay insanely inflated international connectivity fees to actually use them. You can’t leave the country without coming home to bill-shock. So we’re making the world your network – at no extra cost.”
Americans take about 55 million trips to destinations outside the US every year. When US customers use their phones abroad the way they normally do at home, their costs often total $1,000 a day or more. So more than 40 percent of customers turn off data roaming completely. Another 20 percent more say they would if they knew how. The toll these roaming fees takes on individuals and businesses is huge. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, every wireless customer faces a hard choice – use their phone when they need it and pay through the nose, or cut off communications to contain costs.
“It doesn’t have to be this way,” said Legere. “The truth is that the industry’s been charging huge fees for data roaming. But what’s most surprising is that no one’s called them out – until now.”
T-Mobile tonight announced that it’s expanding the home data coverage for most Simple Choice customers to include more than 100 countries, at no extra charge. Starting October 31, these Simple Choice individual and business customers automatically get unlimited data and texting in more than 100 Simple Global countries worldwide, and will only pay a global flat rate of 20 cents per minute for voice calls when roaming in the same countries. Eligible customers on T-Mobile’s popular Simple Choice plan won’t have to activate anything, or pay an extra monthly fee.
And, for customers in the US wanting a saner, more affordable way to stay connected with friends, family and colleagues worldwide, T-Mobile’s got them covered, too. The company announced tonight its new Stateside International Talk & Text feature for discounted calling and texting from the US to all Simple Global countries. Customers never pay more than 20 cents a minute to any number in any Simple Global country, including mobile-to-mobile. Calls to landlines in over 70 of these countries are unlimited and included at no extra cost. Unlimited texting is also included to all countries. Stateside International Talk & Text is available to most Simple Choice customers for just $10 a month.
In network news, T-Mobile tonight also announced that its latest-generation 4G LTE network is now nationwide, reaching more than 200 million people in 233 metros across the United States.
“We’ve not only delivered nationwide 4G LTE months ahead of schedule,” said Neville Ray, Chief Technology Officer for T-Mobile. “Our nationwide 4G LTE is right on top of our already nationwide 4G HSPA+ network – which translates to one wicked fast combined 4G network experience.”
In recent third party tests involving millions of results from real customers nationwide, T-Mobile’s 4G LTE nationwide network delivered faster speeds than the 4G LTE networks of Verizon and Sprint. Additionally, T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network already has faster median speeds than AT&T’s 4G LTE network in 10 of the top 20 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). In fact, T-Mobile’s new nationwide LTE network delivers 4G LTE speeds more consistently than any of the national providers.
Making global connections and bringing the world closer together is also a key value for global artist, songwriter and Grammy Award-winning music icon, Shakira. T-Mobile is working with the musical powerhouse to bring that message to people everywhere, and announced their collaboration through a new multi-year partnership agreement to include the creation of unique content, fan engagement, and exclusive access to her new music.
“Today is all about bringing the world closer together,” said Shakira. “I’m excited to partner with T-Mobile and look forward to being able to share my music in new and innovative ways.”
As part of the relationship, T-Mobile will support Shakira’s upcoming single and album releases, and create unique T-Mobile customer experiences. T-Mobile is breaking the traditional sponsorship mold and creating a unique partnership where the company and the artist will work together to help amplify key messages and initiatives for each other, which will also include a select number of special events for the public and exclusive fan engagement activities.
These announcements build on months of momentum since T-Mobile kicked off its Un-carrier consumer movement earlier this year. Since then, the company has enjoyed a groundswell of support from US consumers signing on in record numbers, making T-Mobile America’s number one choice in wireless since its Un-carrier launch in late March – with more net new postpaid customers than AT&T, Verizon and Sprint combined.