One of the most common questions we saw from T-Mobile subscribers when AT&T announced its plans to acquire T-Mobile USA for $39 billion was perhaps also the most obvious: what happens to my rate plan? T-Mobile is widely known for its aggressive service pricing while its potential acquirer, AT&T, is not. The question isn’t only on the minds of consumers, either. The United States Department of Justice is suing to block the merger and in its filing, the DOJ states, “AT&T’s elimination of T-Mobile as an independent, low- priced rival would remove a significant competitive force from the market.” According to a purported internal document obtained by TmoNews, T-Mobile customers will be able to keep their service plans indefinitely should AT&T’s acquisition of the carrier proceed. “T-Mobile customers will be able to keep their rate plans,” the internal FAQ reads. “They will be able to do so for as long as they want to, even when their terms end and the service continues on a month-to-moth basis.” The wording suggests that T-Mobile customers will be out of luck if they want to purchase a new subsidized phone under contract, however, though it does not state explicitly that new contracts will require customers to switch to a standard AT&T rate plan.

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Netflix could shed as many as 2.5 million paying customers as a result of its recent move to significantly increase the monthly cost of its DVDs-by-mail rental service. Netflix announced earlier this month that it would be adjusting its monthly rate plans. Whereas subscribers had been able to stream unlimited digital content and receive DVD rentals by mail for as little as $9.99 per month, Netflix’s new combination plans start at $15.98 per month, a 60% increase. Research firm TDG polled 500 Netflix customers who subscribed to DVD and streaming combination plans at the time Netflix announced the price hike. Based on the results of that survey, TDG estimates that Netflix stands to lose between 12% and 15% of combo plan subscribers within the next six months due to the new plan pricing. That would translate to between 2 million and 2.5 million subscribers — or a minimum of nearly $240 million annually. Many subscribers who might stay around also say they intend to switch off of their current combo plans; 34% told TDG they will switch to a streaming-only plan and 44% said they will opt for a DVD-only plan. Netflix warned investors during its earnings call that the rate plan changes could have a negative impact on its business in the near term.

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T-Mobile on Monday introduced several new postpaid and prepaid plans headlined by a variety of throttled unlimited options that cater to a wide range of data-hungry smartphone users. The new individual unlimited plans start at $59.99 for unlimited nationwide voice calling and unlimited text messaging, and then become incrementally more expensive when unlimited data is added. Users can opt for unlimited data with 200MB of “high-speed” data for an extra $10 each month for a total of $69.99, 2GB of high-speed data for a total of $79.99, 5GB of high-speed data for $89.99, or 10GB of high-speed data for $119.99 each month. Once the high-speed data ceiling on one of the aforementioned plans is reached in a single month, data speeds will be reduced significantly — or “throttled” — until a new billing period begins. T-Mobile revamped several other postpaid plans and added two new prepaid options as well, and the details can be found in the press release below or on the carrier’s site.

T-Mobile’s New Unlimited Rate Plans Make Data Even More Affordable for Families on America’s Largest 4G Network

New T-Mobile plans feature unlimited data with no overages

BELLEVUE, Wash. — May 23, 2011 — T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced a new suite of family and individual plans that expand on the exceptional value and consumer choice the company provides to make data affordable for families on America’s Largest 4G Network^™.

The plans, available for new and existing customers, offer single-line and multiline options with a range of price points for talk or unlimited talk, unlimited text and unlimited data — with no data overages —  offering 200 MB, 2 GB, 5 GB or 10 GB of high-speed data. Each of the plans also includes unlimited nationwide T-Mobile to T-Mobile calling, and unlimited nights and weekends. T-Mobile also continues to offer one of the industry’s most affordable entry-level unlimited data plans, starting at just $10 for 200 MB of high-speed data per billing month.

Beating the competition, T-Mobile’s $139.99 unlimited family plan with unlimited talk, unlimited text and unlimited data with 2 GB of high-speed data offers a savings of more than $350 per person, per year on a two-line annual plan, compared with similar smartphones plans from AT&T, Verizon and Sprint.¹

“Our new rate plans powered by America’s Largest 4G Network put us in an excellent position to capitalize on the 80 percent of wireless customers in America who want smartphones,” said Cole Brodman, chief marketing officer, T-Mobile USA. “We’re providing customers with the 4G coverage they need, an exciting portfolio of 4G smartphones, and the value and flexibility to meet the diverse desires of their entire family.”

T-Mobile’s family plans are also more flexible than ever, allowing customers to select different data options and add-a-line features to meet the needs of first-time smartphone consumers, data-hungry young adults and text-centric teens all in one customized package.

The new family and individual plans are available now. To find the T-Mobile plan that best fits their needs, customers can visit http://www.t-mobile.com.

One day after it was announced that WIND Mobile is allowed to launch its network without without delay, Canadians across the country are still giddy with excitement as they anticipate the impending launch of the nation’s fourth major wireless carrier. And while WIND has yet to publicly announce plan pricing (or a specific launch date, for that matter), HowardForums user Windsider has publishing what is claimed to be the official plans and their respective pricing. So without further ado, hit the jump to check out the plans; they’re impressive to say the least.

Thanks to everyone that sent this in!

VOICE PLANS

Chat:

• $15
• 100 Province-wide minutes
  
• Unlimited WIND to WIND calling (Canada-wide)
• Unlimited incoming  SMS / 50 sent

Always Talk:

• $35
• Unlimited province-wide calling
• Unlimited WIND to WIND calling
• Unlimited incoming SMS / 50 sent

Always Shout:

• $45
• Unlimited Canada-wide calling
• Unlimited SMS
• Voicemail

DATA PLANS

Infinite Mobile:

• $35
  
• Unlimited data for phones (includes tethering)

Social BlackBerry:

• $10
  
• Unlimited instant messaging, Facebook and MySpace

Infinite BlackBerry:

• $35
  
• Unlimited data for BlackBerry

Infinite Laptop:

• $45
  
• Unlimited data for USB data sticks

ADD-ONS

Voice:

• 10c Per Minute with the $15 plan

SMS:

• $0.10
  

MMS:

• $0.20

Voicemail:

• $5

Long Distance:

• $20
• Unlimited calls to North America

If WIND’s plans are even half as good as rumored to be, how many of our Canadian friends plan on dropping everything and scrambling to one of their swanky retail stores to sign up as soon as sales commence?

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There has been quite a bit of movement recently as far as T-Mobile’s plans are concerned and if you haven’t been keeping your eye on the ball, you probably missed something. For the most part, T-Mo has added plans and options that are pretty favorable for subscribers but word just came in from one of our ninjas regarding a few more upcoming changes some might not be happy about. The first concerns smartphone users: We know that all you BGR fans out there obviously have data plans but there are plenty of people who enjoy the enhanced functionality of a smartphone who haven’t yet embraced mobile data services. Unfortunately, those people are in for a bit of a disappointment — some time in June T-Mobile will begin requiring that all smartphones (new activations / upgrades) have a data plan. This new requirement will not apply to the BlackBerry Pearl, BlackBerry Pearl Flip, Samsung Behold or Samsung Memoir. Next up, messaging addicts: Also beginning some time in June, T-Mobile’s Unlimited Domestic Messages for Families will jump from $19.95 per month to $24.99 per month. It’s still a pretty sweet deal of course, just not quite as sweet as it used to be.

T-Mobile customers will be happy to learn of some changes the company is rolling out some positive new plan changes. Nothing too crazy, but we’d be hard-pressed to find someone who would turn away free minutes or features. Let’s have a look:

Individual Plans

• We’re adding unlimited mobile to mobile on all single line plans at $49.99 and higher, at no additional cost.

Family Plans

• New promotional myFaves plan for $89.99 that includes 1800 minutes, unlimited nights and weekends, unlimited mobile to mobile and my Faves.
• Adding 500 additional minutes to the $99.99 and $129.99 FamilyTime Plans at no extra cost.
• For the $119.99 and $149.99 myFaves for families plans, we are adding 500 minutes, and we are lowering their prices by $10.

It’s not all sunshine and rainbows however, as there are a few changes T-Mobilers might not be so excited about. The Family Allowances introductory period is now over and the service will run new users $4.99 per month as opposed to $2 (we knew that was coming though so it’s hard to complain). Also, it looks like data plans have been shuffled around for some accounts as we’ve seen two reports of the $20 internet option disappearing in favor of the newer $25 unlimited web + 400 messages option. We can confirm the $20 add on is still available on several types of accounts however, so don’t worry just yet. In the end, the positives certainly outweigh the negatives so good show, T-Mo.

[Via TmoNews]

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So you’re Canadian. You want an iPhone. But, you’re totally unhappy with Rogers’ pricing for the iPhone data plan which pales in comparison to our good friends at AT&T, right? And you’re totally tired of taking it up the bum bum. Well, there’s something you can do. As of post time, the petition to get Rogers to change the newly announced, non-unlimited iPhone plans has had over 11,000 signatures. We wanted to give it some attention so in the end, hopefully all those signatures will make a difference and our Canadian Rogers subscribers can buy an iPhone without taking out a second mortgage on their home. Wait, do they have mortgages in Canada? What you think guys, you going to sign it or what?

Thanks, to everybody that sent this one in!

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