Latest news with #mobileData
Android Authority
3 days ago
- Business
- Android Authority
T-Mobile's new prepaid plans look great on paper, but is there a catch?
Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR T‑Mobile is shaking up its prepaid offerings with three plans, ranging from $40 to $60 per month for one line. The new plans largely look like an upgrade, but there are a few possible catches around prioritization and family discounts. The new plans look similar to what you'll find from other prepaid plans based on T-Mobile's network, though whether they are better or not remains unseen until we know a bit more. Earlier this year, T-Mobile unveiled its new Experience plans, which largely felt like a step in the wrong direction for its postpaid service. Now, T-Mobile is back with a shakeup to its prepaid plans, and this time, the new offerings might actually be an improvement. Unfortunately, 'might' is the operative word here. What do you think of the new T-Mobile prepaid plans? 0 votes Yes NaN % No NaN % Unsure/Other (tell us more in comments) NaN % There are a few red flags here, but before I get to that, let's start by breaking down the new plans that will go into effect on June 24: Starter Monthly : Priced at the same $40 as the former 10GB plan, this option now provides an upgraded 15GB of data. : Priced at the same $40 as the former 10GB plan, this option now provides an upgraded 15GB of data. Unlimited Monthly: For only $40 per month, customers receive unlimited talk, text, and 50GB of high-speed data, alongside unlimited 3G hotspot access — around $10 cheaper than the previous base unlimited plan. For only $40 per month, customers receive unlimited talk, text, and 50GB of high-speed data, alongside unlimited 3G hotspot access — around $10 cheaper than the previous base unlimited plan. Unlimited Plus Monthly: Includes everything from the Unlimited Monthly plan, plus 5GB of high-speed hotspot access (unlimited 3G afterward), unlimited texting to 215 countries from within the US, and unlimited talk and text roaming in Canada and Mexico. As you can see, the revised plans aren't dramatically different from their predecessors, aside from some incremental improvements. Taxes and fees are separate, but that's consistent with the previous prepaid plans. Notably, the new plans seem slightly cheaper or at least offer enhanced features compared to the options they're replacing. Anything else new? The updated plans all come with the same 5-year guarantee extended to T-Mobile's postpaid and Metro by T-Mobile customers. T-Mobile is even taking a page out of another rival's playbook by offering a way to upgrade to postpaid, similar to the AT&T Level Up prepaid plan. Dubbed Smartphone Equality, the new feature allows T-Mobile prepaid customers to upgrade to the best T-Mobile postpaid deals after 12 months of on-time payments, with no credit check required. None of these things sound bad at all, right? They might not be, but there are a few potential catches worth noting. First, the exact details of the family discounts remain unclear. The provided information suggests you'll pay just $30 per month per line for two or more lines across all three plans, which seems suspiciously good unless it's either a limited-time promotion or there's some other catch that's not easily apparent. Even setting aside the seemingly generous multi-line discounts, the overall pricing appears quite low, which raises questions about potential compromises — particularly regarding data priority levels. Currently, T-Mobile Prepaid plans offer a higher data priority level compared to most other prepaid services on its network. It's plausible that T-Mobile has quietly reduced this priority to align more closely with Metro by T-Mobile and other value-based options. Such a reduction would explain the lowered pricing, and T-Mobile has a history of subtly introducing such changes. After all, the company initially downplayed that its Experience plans did not include taxes. Another possibility is that the initial 50GB of high-speed data maintains a higher priority, after which users experience a lower-tier priority. If true, this approach wouldn't significantly differ from its previous prepaid plans. Bottom line: The updated prepaid plans appear promising, but I'd definitely do my homework before jumping in, as there are still a few unknowns here. I've reached out to T-Mobile for clarification on its prioritization levels, though companies generally remain tight-lipped about QCI levels, so it's very likely I won't get a direct answer here. If priority has indeed been reduced, the value proposition diminishes somewhat, though these plans would still align well with many other T-Mobile-based prepaid competitors. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Cops quiz Pahang MCA Youth chief over video on mobile data sharing
Pahang MCA Youth chief Wong Siew Mun speaking to reporters after being questioned at Bukit Aman today. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : Pahang MCA Youth chief Wong Siew Mun was questioned by police today over a video in which she raised concerns about a request from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to telcos to collect mobile phone data. MCA president Wee Ka Siong said Wong informed him that she had given her statement to Bukit Aman police this afternoon. 'She contacted me at 2pm to inform me that she had just finished giving her statement at Bukit Aman,' he said in a Facebook post. Wee said Wong was accompanied by her lawyer, Kamarudin Ahmad, and was questioned from 11.15am to 1.15pm. 'I was informed that she is being investigated under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. Her mobile phone was also confiscated,' he said. The investigation centres on a video in which Wong referenced a South China Morning Post report and questioned the motive behind MCMC's request to mobile network operators to submit user data. MCMC has since clarified that the data collection initiative did not involve the access, processing or disclosure of any personally identifiable information. Commissioner Derek John Fernandez said the mobile phone data would be used strictly to generate official statistics to support evidence-based policymaking in the information and communications technology sector and the tourism sector.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Virgin Media O2 to continue switch off next month leaving customers with no internet
Virgin Media O2 is set to continue its 3G switch next month, which could leave some customers unable to use mobile data. The UK's major mobile providers, including EE, Vodafone and Three, have gradually been shutting off all 3G services over the past few years. Virgin Media O2 is the latest provider to switch off its 3G network so it can focus on "faster, more reliable and more energy-efficient" 4G and 5G networks. It's 3G network switch off began on April 2, with the city of Durham the first area affected. 📡 Virgin Media O2 begins its 3G switch-off this April in Durham, marking a key milestone in our network evolution. This move allows us to focus on faster, more reliable #4G and #5G services, delivering better connectivity for our customers. 🌐📱 Learn more here:… — Virgin Media O2 News (@VMO2News) January 13, 2025 The switch-off is also set to impact other mobile providers which use Virgin Media O2's network, including: Giffgaff Sky Mobile Tesco Mobile Virgin Media O2's 3G switch off is set to continue next month (July) in the following areas: Norwich (July 16) Telford (July 16) Guildford (July 16) The 3G network in Torquay will also be shut off on August 4, Virgin Media O2 previously revealed. 📡 We're continuing our 3G switch-off programme. Next up: Norwich, Telford, Guildford & Torquay. This move frees up spectrum for faster, more reliable #4G & #5G – keeping our customers better connected. 📱 Read more: — Virgin Media O2 News (@VMO2News) April 22, 2025 The rest of the UK is set to follow by the end of the year, Virgin Media O2's Chief Technology Officer, Jeanie York, said. She added: 'We're switching off our 3G network to focus our attention and investment on upgrading faster and more reliable 4G and 5G networks that will give our customers a better overall experience. 'Following the successful pilot in Durham, we will now be switching off 3G in Norwich, Telford and Guildford in July, and Torquay in early August, with the rest of the UK to follow by the end of the year. 'While we know that the vast majority of our customers already have a 4G or 5G device and will not have to take any action, our priority is to provide support to those who need it. "That is why we are reaching out directly to customers who do not have a 4G or 5G handset, and calling those we know are vulnerable, to provide information about their next steps. "It is important these customers upgrade their handsets in order to continue using mobile data after 3G is switched off.' Any customers who don't upgrade to a 4G or 5G device before 3G is switched off in their area will still be able to make voice calls and send text messages, but will be unable to use mobile data. Martin Lewis' Money Saving Expert (MSE) urged those Virgin Media O2 customers with phones or sims that only support 3G to make the switch to 4G or 5G devices urgently or be left with no internet. MSE explained: "If you have a phone or Sim that only supports 3G, you'll effectively no longer be able to use the internet once it's fully switched off by your provider – you'll still technically be able to connect to the internet, but you'll struggle to do even basic tasks. "You'll still be able to make calls and send text messages over 2G, though the quality of the call will likely be a lot worse than it was on the 3G network." Customers with 3G devices will be unable to use the internet once the network is switched off. (Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire) The 3G switch-off will only impact those customers with older devices and sim cards, ones that are unable to connect to the newer 4G or 5G networks. If you are unsure whether or not your device will lose mobile data access when Virgin Media O2's 3G network is switched off, don't worry, there is a way to check. Visit the Virgin Media O2 website and look at its list of devices that are not compatible with 4G and WiFi Calling. If your phone/sim is on that list, you will be impacted by the switch-off and will need to change devices before it happens. Devices on the list include: Apple iPhone iPhone 1 Generation iPhone 3G iPhone 3GS iPhone 4 iPhone 5S Samsung Samsung ZV60 Samsung Binou Samsung GT-C3592 Samsung BEAT S Samsung Galaxy Fame Samsung SLIDER Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 Sony Sony Ericsson WT13I Sony Ericsson W705 Sony Xperia Z2 Sony Xperia E LG LG Calisto LG Pop LG Prada LG New Chocolate LG G1600 Google Google Galaxy Nexus Google Nexus ONE Motorola Motorola MOTO E Motorola EM30 Motorola Motokey Social Motorola C118V RECOMMENDED READING: What happens when 3G is switched off? The devices affected and how to upgrade Virgin Media O2 issues warning as switch off could leave customers without internet O2 offering more than £1000 for old mobiles and other devices - how to claim Nearly 9 million PlayStation owners could be owed more than £500 - are you one? Nokia Nokia 220 Nokia 106.1 Nokia Lumia 925 Nokia 2330 Classic For the full list of devices affected or further information about Virgin Media O2's 3G network switch off, visit its website (a link to which can be found above).
South China Morning Post
09-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Malaysia assures users their privacy is protected in mobile data grab: ‘truly anonymous'
Malaysia 's communications regulator has assured the public that their privacy remains intact, despite a government move to hoover up data on mobile phone and internet usage as part of widening controls over online activity. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said that the data being compiled under the government's Mobile Phone Data project was all anonymous. There were no markers to indicate the identity of users, such as names or mobile numbers. 'At the point of submission [of data by telecommunications firms] … [the information] is already anonymised,' MCMC Deputy Managing Director Zurkanain Mohd Yasin told a media briefing on Monday. 'The MCMC affirms that the data from [mobile network operators] is anonymous and does not contain personal identifiers.' Industry sources on Friday said they had been instructed to hand over detailed records of phone calls and internet usage, ostensibly to generate statistics under the project. The telecoms companies were told to furnish detailed call and internet logs for the first three months of this year, according to a letter seen by This Week in Asia. If they failed to comply, they could be fined 20,000 ringgit (US$4,700) or jailed for six months, the commission said in the letter. A woman walks past a logo of Maxis at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. The mobile network operator has already submitted a full report with anonymous data. Photo: Reuters The MCMC said data collected would be limited to details like the date of calls made via local networks or mobile internet, the location of transmission towers handling the calls, and the quality of the network used, such as 4G or 5G.
Android Authority
21-05-2025
- Android Authority
Quick Share's mobile data toggle is finally rolling out
Ryan Haines / Android Authority TL;DR Last year, we spotted Google working to bring a mobile data toggle to Quick Share. In February, Google formally announced the feature as part of a Play Services update. Three months later, the toggle is finally rolling out to the public. On one hand, data is data, and whether we're sending our files over USB, by Wi-Fi, or over a carrier's cellular network, it all ends up the same in the end. But there are also lots of practical considerations that belie that kind of blanket statement — we may want to choose to download YouTube Music tracks over Wi-Fi, for instance, rather than running down our cellular data allotment. While limitations on how we move around data can be useful like that, we'd also rather the choice be ours, instead of one made for us. Right now, Google's updating Android Quick Share to address exactly those kind of concerns. When Nearby Share became Quick Share, it lost an occasionally useful option in the process: the ability to send files over cellular networks. Last fall, we got our first hint that Google was working to do something about this, though, as we spotted early progress towards restoring a 'use mobile data' option. And sure enough, a few months later, in February, we saw Google publish a Play Services update that announced this mobile data option was returning. If you've been wondering where that's been ever since, you're probably not a beta tester (as those users got it immediately), but now 9to5Google has noticed that the change is finally starting to hit devices at large. We can confirm that we're now seeing this on Android 15 hardware running Google Play Services 25.18.33. Stephen Schenck / Android Authority Admittedly, needing this feature was probably more of an edge case than most, and many users have been able to get by just fine even with Quick Share's limited data options. At the end of the day, though, this is the kind of choice we still want to have, and we appreciate that Google finally followed through on its work to restore this control to users' hands. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
