News - T-Mobile UK launches The Full Monty contract

[HEXUS]

Unlimited internet, WiFi, texts and calls, what more could one ask for?

Read more.

[Raz316]

Here at T-Mobile we believe it's good to share and talk and share and tweet and talk and text and share and make pretend bands, that's why we've created this limitless tariff just for you.

Limited to 2000 cross networks call minutes
Unlimited internet is unlimited right up until we decide you're using too much and then it will be limited.

[crossy]

The plan features unlimited internet, BT Openzone WiFi, calls and texts. ... The new plan looks to compete with Three's 'All You can Eat' offering, which also serves up unlimited internet.

Three's AYCE plan is unlimited on their network and allows tethering. On the other hand if the new T-Mobile plan also allows tethering and is available in SIM Free then I'd be very interested. The provision of Openzone sounds great for those times that you're in a coffee shop and can't get a decent mobile signal.

For those who can't wait for February 1st, head on over to http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/thefullmonty/ for more details

Precious little in the way of details - I'll just have to contain my enthusiasm and wait...

Frankly, we're just happy to see the UK mobile market push forwards with new, competitive offerings, however this writer has been impressed; he may have to give up the dreams of a yearly upgrade, but the prospects of unlimited usage and perhaps a Samsung Galaxy S III come April are rather appealing

+1 on this lot - although I've got to wait until July. Sounds like I'm going be asking Three for a PAC at that point to give to T-Mobile.

Unlimited internet is unlimited right up until we decide you're using too much and then it will be limited.

So it's got the same Fare Usage Provisions as the normal contracts then? That said, a 500MB provision that excludes email and web usage would suit me fine - heck, I could probably "slum it" on half that if needs be. Don't think T-Mobile are any worse than others in this respect, (Three might be the only one that's better - although Three have restrictions on text usage), and arguably better than O2 and Voda.

[miniyazz]

This could be interesting. Slightly different from The One Plan but retains the core features. There will undoubtedly be a FUP of some sort on the internet - I believe Three's is something in the region of 80GB, which I haven't managed to hit yet

How much are they taking the wee with the £61/month contract though? Presumably it offers exactly the same as the £41/month contract, except you're paying an extra £480 to upgrade the phone from an iPhone 16Gb 4S to the 64GB version

This should hopefully see more providers offering similar deals and more competitive pricing

[cheesemp]

I'm just hoping to see o2 shift their pricing a bit following this. I really need a 1Gb next time as I keep hitting the 750Mb limit a day or two before the month ends. I'd switch providers but I get a very nice 30% friends and family discount...

I really like the idea of a shiny new S3 in April too (assuming its out by then).

[crossy]

Three's AYCE plan is unlimited on their network and allows tethering. On the other hand if the new T-Mobile plan also allows tethering and is available in SIM Free then I'd be very interested.

So it's got the same Fare Usage Provisions as the normal contracts then?

Just saw this on Engadget (http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/30/t...tract-wants-t/):

London, UK: 30 January 2012 - T-Mobile today announces the launch of The Full Monty, a ground-breaking new mobile phone plan that offers consumers the freedom to make unlimited calls, send unlimited texts, and use as much mobile internet as they want – with no fair use restrictions.
Customers signing up to The Full Monty 24 month plan will not only have the reassurance that there are no caps on their calls1, texts and internet, they will also have access to unlimited WiFi2, and can use their mobile internet for whatever they like - including tethering (using a smartphone as an internet connection for a laptop or tablet), streaming and downloading.

Tethering and no FUP - yay.

The deal isn't available SIM-only, although T-Mobile UK's Head of Propositions, Ben Fritsch, told us that the new deal is pitched at users looking to take the smartphone plunge.

Daaarrrrrnnnnnnnnnnn! Hopefully it might be by the time that I come to change. I was looking at the dirt-cheap SIM-only plans, but the advantages of this one could persuade me if it was £25-30 (or less?).

[kingpotnoodle]

Personally I actually agree with fair-use agreements so long as they are clearly sold as such and don't like to see this unlimited type of contract at prices barely more than the "fair use" versions.

If you give people "unlimited" there are some (a minority) who will just take the piss and use thousands of minutes/texts and spend the entire day on Youtube and Bittorrent. These people use way more than they are fairly paying for in comparison to other users, clog up the networks and push up the contract costs for those who have more normal usage patterns. The top few % of data consumers are consuming the large majority of data.

It's the same principal as roads, if you made motorways no speed limit most people would still travel at 60-90 mph as it's more economical and safer, however a small % would go flat out all the time, they'd cause the most accidents and consequent hold ups that affect the sane people going at a sensible speed.

Everything needs limits, they just have to be judged right and advertised clearly.

[HSK]

This sounds like a progression / development of a t-mobile sim only plan I was on a few years back - 35 quid a month i was paying (up until last month!) for unlimited text, unlimited net, and 1800 mins a month. I think it was called Fixed Solo 35. I like the idea for the hotspots though.

[crossy]

Personally I actually agree with fair-use agreements so long as they are clearly sold as such and don't like to see this unlimited type of contract at prices barely more than the "fair use" versions.

If you give people "unlimited" there are some (a minority) who will just take the piss and use thousands of minutes/texts and spend the entire day on Youtube and Bittorrent. These people use way more than they are fairly paying for in comparison to other users, clog up the networks and push up the contract costs for those who have more normal usage patterns. The top few % of data consumers are consuming the large majority of data.

Totally agree - from the (totally unscientific) survey of the posts on this thread it would seem that a FUP of 1GB would suit "100% of the survey respondents" (just as valid as those cosmetic adverts that claim 80% of 34 people surveyed). Personally I could quite happily live with the current 500MB FUP.

I'm sure that there's others who'd prefer 5GB - and some "minority" who'd want 10GB or more. However, breaking a 10GB cap screams that the person concerned is tethering (and doing some major downloads to boot) as far as I'm concerned. Remember this is a mobile phone we're talking about.

Wonder if the BT OpenZone access is limited - FUP etc?

[miniyazz]

Just saw this on Engadget (http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/30/t...tract-wants-t/):

Tethering and no FUP - yay.

Three also allows tethering and is described as no FUP, though in practise I understand there is one (at around 80GB is often the quoted figure). I doubt this will be much different.

If you give people "unlimited" there are some (a minority) who will just take the piss and use thousands of minutes/texts and spend the entire day on Youtube and Bittorrent. These people use way more than they are fairly paying for in comparison to other users, clog up the networks and push up the contract costs for those who have more normal usage patterns. The top few % of data consumers are consuming the large majority of data.

Torrenting is against the T&Cs of Three's mobile internet and I expect they also are (or soon will be) for T-mobile's

Totally agree - from the (totally unscientific) survey of the posts on this thread it would seem that a FUP of 1GB would suit "100% of the survey respondents" (just as valid as those cosmetic adverts that claim 80% of 34 people surveyed). Personally I could quite happily live with the current 500MB FUP.

I'm sure that there's others who'd prefer 5GB - and some "minority" who'd want 10GB or more. However, breaking a 10GB cap screams that the person concerned is tethering (and doing some major downloads to boot) as far as I'm concerned. Remember this is a mobile phone we're talking about.

Wonder if the BT OpenZone access is limited - FUP etc?

1GB wouldn't suit me

My normal usage is between 2 and 5GB/month. I take full advantage of the tethering provisions in my contract since using mobile internet is generally faster than using the abysmal WiFi here. This is keeping within the T&Cs, which also happens to mean no legal torrent downloads, and without any significant usage of YouTube and no 'downloading' - referring to morally/legally questionable material. I've yet to pass 10GB in a month, but if one month I decided to upload my photo collection to an online backup site, it wouldn't be too difficult.

[Brewster0101]

Lets not forget what this company does...

In January 2011 T-mobile tried to reduce all its customers data usage by changing everyones contract. Within days they had to do a U turn due to massive negative press and people threatening to cancel.
Now they restrict data use to most users to 3G speeds, this means no more than 55Kb/s - you have to pay a fairly high amount extra to be able to use the 3.5G / HSPA side of T-mobile. This is all in small print in their terms and conditions.

There will be a catch or T-mobile have every intention to change this once enough people have signed up to it. It wouldn't surprise me if their new contract state they have the right to change this offer....

[miniyazz]

I'll be sure to check the small print

I'd just like to take the opportunity to recommend to anyone that they a) require written confirmation of anything said to them over the phone or instore, and b) check the parts of their contract that matter to them.

Some representatives will plain lie to you in order to sell a contract, and you have absolutely no chance of proving this unless you have a record of what was said to you, and your own personal notes will be of no use. I speak from experience

[Noli]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the likes of giffgaff yet. SIMs are available contract free. £10 a month gets you 250 mins and *unlimited* internet and text. £15/mth get you 400 mins, £20/mth 800mins and £25/mth 1500mins all with unlimited internet and text. And people have reported no fair use policy i.e. torrent away. And giffgaff to giffgaff is limitless. Only downer is no tethering allowed (having said that, unless you're taking the p1ss, I think they turn a blind eye to it...). Obviously there's 3's offerings as well.

"... also knowing that they're getting value for money." stated T-Mobile head of propositions, Ben Fritsch.

£61/mth is insane. This man has no idea what 'value for money' even means. That's £1,464 over the contract. This is for a phone. And the value won't seem so good when the phone is 2 generations old by the time you're finishing.

Article opening: "Finally the day has arrived, the future, the day where limits become limitless."
Do you work for T-Mobile Alistair Lowe or get commission or something?! I don't mind a bit of opinion but this is sad when a journalist's writing sounds even more excited then the company's press release. Really disappointed Hexus. You write about this like unlimited data plans didn't exist before and as if they're doing you a frickin' favour.

[crossy]

Three also allows tethering and is described as no FUP, though in practise I understand there is one (at around 80GB is often the quoted figure). I doubt this will be much different.

Quite true - although the tethering provision is specific to The One Plan (TOP). Much as I dislike Three, (patchy support experience, patchy shops, poor/patchy signal coverage, diabolical billing; weird restrictions), it's pretty evident to me that this T-Mobile plan is a match-you play for TOP - Three are darned good at these kind of "innovations".

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the likes of giffgaff yet. SIMs are available contract free. £10 a month gets you 250 mins and *unlimited* internet and text. £15/mth get you 400 mins, £20/mth 800mins and £25/mth 1500mins all with unlimited internet and text.

Interesting to know, but afaik giffgaff, like TescoMobile, buys services from O2 -> instafail in my book.

In January 2011 T-mobile tried to reduce all its customers data usage by changing everyones contract. Within days they had to do a U turn due to massive negative press and people threatening to cancel. There will be a catch or T-mobile have every intention to change this once enough people have signed up to it. It wouldn't surprise me if their new contract state they have the right to change this offer....

Every mobile phone contract I've seen has this "we reserve the right to change the terms and conditions" clause in it. However, (barrack-room lawyer mode on), I was under the impression that there's a UK law provision which means that they can't change the T&C's without giving you the opportunity to cancel the contract at that time with no penalty. As you said above, the threat of hundreds of cancellations (= very bad press) at one time does tend to make executives steer clear of such "courageous" decisions.

Now they restrict data use to most users to 3G speeds, this means no more than 55Kb/s - you have to pay a fairly high amount extra to be able to use the 3.5G / HSPA side of T-mobile. This is all in small print in their terms and conditions.

This might be the case for phones*, but not for mobile broadband. I've got one as my fallback for my cable connection and it's fine - even did a dozen or so Ubuntu patches on one machine while downloading emails on the other at the same time. (* I'll check with someone who's on T-Mobile for their phone - because this would be a worry for me).

[miniyazz]

Interesting to know, but afaik giffgaff, like TescoMobile, buys services from O2 -> instafail in my book.

Why does this mean instafail?

Every mobile phone contract I've seen has this "we reserve the right to change the terms and conditions" clause in it. However, (barrack-room lawyer mode on), I was under the impression that there's a UK law provision which means that they can't change the T&C's without giving you the opportunity to cancel the contract at that time with no penalty. As you said above, the threat of hundreds of cancellations (= very bad press) at one time does tend to make executives steer clear of such "courageous" decisions.

Generally for you to be able to cancel, any change has to be causing significant detriment to you (e.g. >10/15% increase in bill)

[Funkstar]

Why does this mean instafail?

Would be for me too, you loose O2 as soon as you drive into the village. It's only Orange or T-Mobile for me. For a long time O2 had by far the worst 3G network in the UK, so much so that Offcom were threatening to fine them over it.