T-Mobile plans to force smartphones users into data plans
By Will Park on Tuesday, May 12th, 2009 at 2:36 PM PST In Rumors, T-Mobile
There probably aren’t too many smartphone users out there without some sort of data plan. But, for the few T-Mobile (NYSE: DT) smartphone customers out there still plodding along with a half-used smartphone, thing are about to get more expensive. According to Boy Genius Report, T-Mobile will soon change its policy on smartphone activations and upgrades. Starting sometime in June, T-Mobile will require that all new smartphones have accompanying data plans.
The new smartphone data plan requirement apparently won’t apply to the BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) Pearl, BlackBerry Pearl Flip, Samsung Behold or Samsung Memoir. It’s not clear if customers will be forced into an unlimited smartphone data plan or if they’ll be offered lower-rate data plans with lower data allowances.
Look at it this way, T-Mobile is “forcing” new smartphone customers to actually realize the full potential of their smartphones. Sure, it might be more expensive, but then again, so was that smartphone. Right?
If you’re not a fan of T-Mobile’s upcoming policy, sound off in the comments.
[Via: BGR]
this is ridiculous !
why would they do this ? someone already paid for the smartphone. and also.. what if someone wants the smartphone but doesnt use the data services ?
they are trying to make it look like the smartphone requires a data plan but smartphones are much much more than this.
and also, normal phones have data services too, and sometimes their browser and such can be even better than smartphones. why force a plan to them too then ?
and lastly.. to prove that smartphones are much more than this..
i just use my smartphone for pda !
who said smartphones are just for data things ?
Yeah, what if they’re perfectly happy with their WIFI-sporting smartphone.. using it at Cyber Cafes and other places they can get internet for free…
I have a wing and i have been happy using it to talk and transport my homework and music not too happy if the try to force everyone else into getting the phone.
This is complete bollocks. If I want a smartphone with a keyboard to text, and I’m already paying for a text plan, why the hell should I have to pay for a data plan too. Utter BS.
I am a person who uses word and excel on my treo 650 but have no use for the internet on my phone. I will no longer be able to use my pda phone unless I purchase a plan. This is ridiculous. Now I have to go back to a simple phone and a pda. Totally sucks.
I agree. Lots of people don’t want or need the data plan because they already have access (either paid or free) to a wifi network at home, work, or school. Also T-Mobile’s 3G network isn’t as widespread as AT&T/Verizon’s, and data plan subscribers will fall back onto the Edge network, which is far slower.
I’m tired of people saying those who don’t want a data plan are cheap and are not using their phone to its fullest capacity. So what? What’s it to them? It doesn’t cost them anything if I don’t want a data plan. And don’t tell me how to use my phone; I know what I need it for, and want the choice of paying only for the services I need.
While it’s certainly within T-Mobile’s business rights to demand customers buy a data plan for their subsidized phone rates, the whole thing smacks of corporate greed. There is no reasonable justification for demanding the mandatory purchase of a data plan. I know other carriers do have that policy, and it looks like T-Mobile is going with the crowd.
i fully agree with everyone that is posting comments. People should be able to do what they want with their own phones. I would like a smartphone because they are easier to text on since i am already paying for that.
and also because all the other phones look and perform like pure sh*t. Half the time they break within the first year.
and i think tmobile should also get some sort of family data plan option, instead of having to pay about $40 a line to get unlimited data and messaging.
“While it’s certainly within T-Mobile’s business rights to demand customers buy a data plan for their subsidized phone rates”
Except it is totally not within their business rights – this policy is illegal, in that there is a law against it. Requiring consumers to purchase an unwanted product (unlimited 3G) in order to purchase a wanted product (voice service on their smartphone) is called tying. All of the companies have colluded to enact this tying policy at the same time so they can call it the “industry standard” – it is not their right to make and enforce policies that break United States law. This policy will net them literally billions of dollars per year. If they cared about overages they would send you a text message when you went over on your minutes. Or following this data plan policy’s line of reasoning, they would put everyone on an unlimited voice plan. If they cared about your phone “reaching its full potential” they would require everyone with GPS and TV-capable phones to subscribe to monthly GPS and TV.
This is not for customer satisfaction, this is for major profit and it is a policy that hurts the free market (protection of consumer choice is the reason for the antitrust tying law).
If you do not agree with this policy – regardless of whether it directly affects you, regardless of who your carrier is, or what you are being charged per month – you have the right to voice your opinion by filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, Federal Communications Commission, Department of Justice, Consumers Union, and your elected representatives.
You can file a complaint with the FTC at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/
You can also complain to the FCC at http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm
It’s shameful how little consumers have advocated for themselves and allowed unfair and illegal business practices to prevail. There was a tying case against cable companies in 1960 for making people rent the cable box. The court said that yes it was tying. The cable co. said “but we need to do it for technological reasons”, the court said “ok, you won’t have to desist now then, but eventually this will need to stop”. Cable company said “ok” and here in 2009 they are still renting cable boxes to all their customers and making back the cost of them a billion times over, just through this policy. Honestly people if you don’t do something about it it will stay and you will pay.