Uncarrier 6: Streaming music doesn't count against your high speed data tier

[dpham00]

This is great news for those who stream music. Very nice perk, perhaps some of you on higher tiers who stream music a lot can drop to a lower tier. Or you can stream more music without worrying about it affecting your tier.


Uncarrier 6: T-Mobile frees music from your data limits | Android Central

dpham00, Android Central Moderator
Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3

 

[Infinity]

According to T-Mobile this is available starting June 18th (yesterday). Well I tried it today as I am over my data cap and still can't stream from Pandora. Anyone else verified if this is actually working yet?

 

[yfan]

According to T-Mobile this is available starting June 18th (yesterday). Well I tried it today as I am over my data cap and still can't stream from Pandora. Anyone else verified if this is actually working yet?

Depends on what service you are using though. At launch it only supports Pandora, Spotify, Slacker, iHeart Radio, iTunes radio, Rhapsody and Milk. Google Play Music isn't included yet, for example.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Infinity]

Depends on what service you are using though. At launch it only supports Pandora, Spotify, Slacker, iHeart Radio, iTunes radio, Rhapsody and Milk. Google Play Music isn't included yet, for example.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

I know, but I was testing it with Pandora.

 

[yfan]

Hmm I'm testing it right now. I'm not over my high speed cap yet but I noted the data usage on tmo's website before I started testing, and I'll check again later on to see if there was any significant increase. In the mean time, did you try restarting your phone?

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[Bigballer]

Not impressed.

Pandora and other streaming music (128 kbps) will work after you hit your data cap anywas... just a marketing move more than aynthing

- - - Updated - - -

Depends on what service you are using though. At launch it only supports Pandora, Spotify, Slacker, iHeart Radio, iTunes radio, Rhapsody and Milk. Google Play Music isn't included yet, for example.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Question is how would they know if I'm streaming google play music or just downloading my music from the cloud

 

[yfan]

Pandora and other streaming music (128 kbps) will work after you hit your data cap anywas... just a marketing move more than aynthing

The point is, streaming music will now never get you over your limit in the first place. That means streamers will go over their high speed limits less often and experience less slowdown in other apps. Not all steaming is 128 kbps. Pandora's premium service has a higher quality setting, as does Spotify, the free version included.

Question is how would they know if I'm streaming google play music or just downloading my music from the cloud

Because streaming and download use different and distinct URLs. Legere said that the way they're doing this is by whitelisting streaming URLs.



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[cgardnervt]

It's not ground breaking but cool for being free.

 

[Bigballer]

The point is, streaming music will now never get you over your limit in the first place. That means streamers will go over their high speed limits less often and experience less slowdown in other apps. Not all steaming is 128 kbps. Pandora's premium service has a higher quality setting, as does Spotify, the free version included.


Because streaming and download use different and distinct URLs. Legere said that the way they're doing this is by whitelisting streaming URLs.



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It's not really "ground breaking" to me. The only way it's impressive is for people who are extreme musicphiles.

Other than that, I store most of my music on Google Play music and stream it from there. Mainstream music is "meh"
I would rather have tmobile help me out with streaming my own music from google play rather than "streaming" companies.

And Google play music has two options: to either download or to stream.

 

[yfan]

It's not really "ground breaking" to me. The only way it's impressive is for people who are extreme musicphiles.

Given the exponential growth of mobile music streaming, that's not a bad demographic to impress. It is also good for people who have the lowest tier data plan (1GB) but want to stream music on the go.

I should note that T-Mobile's uncarrier moves aren't about breaking ground, so to speak. It is about addressing pain points within their capacity. Given that not every pain point affects every single user, not every single un-carrier move has to impress every single individual.

Other than that, I store most of my music on Google Play music and stream it from there. Mainstream music is "meh"
I would rather have tmobile help me out with streaming my own music from google play rather than "streaming" companies.

And Google play music has two options: to either download or to stream.

Which is probably why Play music wasn't included with launch. They need to figure out how to distinguish the downloads from the streaming. And given how in the voting, Google Play Music is leaps and bounds ahead of every other service, they are bound to add it soon.

 

[Almeuit]

It's not really "ground breaking" to me. The only way it's impressive is for people who are extreme musicphiles.

Other than that, I store most of my music on Google Play music and stream it from there. Mainstream music is "meh"
I would rather have tmobile help me out with streaming my own music from google play rather than "streaming" companies.

And Google play music has two options: to either download or to stream.

From the poll they have I guarantee Google Music will be added.

I may try the Rhapsody thing... Since I get it for having unlimited already. Curious how good it is.

Sent from my T-Mobile Note 3 using AC Forums.

 

[yfan]

I may try the Rhapsody thing... Since I get it for having unlimited already. Curious how good it is.

Do you have the new unlimited plan ($30 more per line) or the grandfathered unlimited plan ($20 more per line)? The paid Rhapsody service is only included with the newer plan.

 

[Almeuit]

Do you have the new unlimited plan ($30 more per line) or the grandfathered unlimited plan ($20 more per line)? The paid Rhapsody service is only included with the newer plan.

Oh I know.. I've been on all (the big 4) carriers and know to read the wording to the exact letter .

I have the new one.

Sent from my T-Mobile Note 3 using AC Forums.

 

[wolfman7828]

I received a text from T-Mobile today around 2:30pm estate. Stating that I could stream music without it counting against my data. I'm just on the basic simple plan 1gb. If that helps anyone.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[tonyr6]

I am too on the basic 1 GB plan. Streamed Pandora earlier for 20 minutes while in the waiting room seeing my therapist and according to the bandwidth usage on the phone it said I used about 9 MB but all it shows usage is 4.6 MB and that was because I was browsing a few webpages. Now I can tell Pandora to play at the highest quality on the cell network.

Also this will be great if my internet goes down in my house I can stream Pandora and Slacker at the highest quality which I both subscribe without going over my limit.

 

[chad783]

Just chatted with a specialist. They had no clue what was going on. He told me that the UnCarrier 5.0 wasn't even out yet. Really?

Then when I finally gave him the link to his own website, he figured it out. But he said that it doesn't kick in until 22nd. I told him that is Rhapsody and he swore it was the music streaming. Wow...clueless.

 

[tonyr6]

Just tested it out in my house. Turned WiFi off and streamed SKY.FM if you don't know is a music service from Audio Addict which also includes Digitally Imported for EDM music and Jazz Radio. I subscribe to the premium version which includes all those services. Well I streamed Smooth jazz 24/7 for 15 minutes at 128k and it showed I only used 0.28 MB of data when actually I used about 12 MB of data.

Also earlier using 4 MB was using the Chrome and Mercury browser.

I will try TuneIn and AOL Radio to see if they count.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Bigballer]

Given the exponential growth of mobile music streaming, that's not a bad demographic to impress. It is also good for people who have the lowest tier data plan (1GB) but want to stream music on the go.

I should note that T-Mobile's uncarrier moves aren't about breaking ground, so to speak. It is about addressing pain points within their capacity. Given that not every pain point affects every single user, not every single un-carrier move has to impress every single individual.


Which is probably why Play music wasn't included with launch. They need to figure out how to distinguish the downloads from the streaming. And given how in the voting, Google Play Music is leaps and bounds ahead of every other service, they are bound to add it soon.

If you stream Pandora 128 kbps (which is really the upper end of what pandora can use. Most of the time I feel as if it's 64 kbps) for 12 hours, that's only 0.69 GB. So in the end, it doesn't use that much data. I mean it's free, sure I'll take it, but some of the other uncarrier events were a bit more impressive.

 

[Infinity]

If you stream Pandora 128 kbps (which is really the upper end of what pandora can use. Most of the time I feel as if it's 64 kbps) for 12 hours, that's only 0.69 GB. So in the end, it doesn't use that much data. I mean it's free, sure I'll take it, but some of the other uncarrier events were a bit more impressive.

I'd say it adds up to a sizable amount. Say a user streams an hour a day everyday, that would add up to almost 2gb per month.

 

[Almeuit]

If you stream Pandora 128 kbps (which is really the upper end of what pandora can use. Most of the time I feel as if it's 64 kbps) for 12 hours, that's only 0.69 GB. So in the end, it doesn't use that much data. I mean it's free, sure I'll take it, but some of the other uncarrier events were a bit more impressive.

True but some pay for the higher bandwidth so it may benefit them.. Especially on the other services .

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