Re: How well tmobile penitrates buildings?
When I first got Tmobile for two other lines, I brought one to work to test it out. I was getting good 4G speeds and a signal mostly throughout the building. There are a few deadspots that just about no one gets a signal, regardless of what service they use. Also, I found that, if needed, I could put my phone on Edge and I would still be able to make/recieve calls and send texts, thought Data would be slow a F***.
So, I go ahead and switch my main line to Tmobile, and bring my phone to work the next week. All of a sudden, I am at my desk, and even with a constant 2 bars 4G, I could not use the internet. I was a little annoyed, of course. So I call TMobile up, do the usual run around trouble shooting, nothing really worked. Next couple of days, signal would get better, but Data would still not work, or work very randomly. Basically unreliable. Spoke with Tmobile agin, did the same tests, and was told they were updating the towers in my area. First thought was, "Sure they are." A week later, at home, one morning, I notice LTE. So, I think GREAT. Hopefully this should help with me getting a better signal at work. I go to work, I see LTE outside, but inside, again, no data. Got annoyed, started looking at my options and leaving the service.
Then, one day I'm at work, at I notice a 2-3 bars of LTE. I was suprised, and quicly tried to use the internet. It worked. I then went to a part of the office floor that had abslutely NO data, even on Edge, and I had LTE there too. So, naturally, I was relieved. Phone was working, and working pretty good with LTE. Fast and it was actually reliable.
Now, still, on the first floor, my signal is weak. It's stronger, but still weak. Asking around and thinking back, just about everyone's phone is weak in these areas. The first floor is basically a warehouse and garage. BUT, I can still get data in some spots, and I can still put my phone on Edge to use phone a text.
Also, I've been testing my phone a lot indoors at stores like Costco, Target, Best Buy, etc... And all around these stores, indoors, I was getting LTE, and sometimes 4G, but still reliable Data. Only place that I didn't get data and I got a very weak signal was in the theater when I went to see Man Of Steel and World War Z. But, again, I put my phone on Edge, and I could make a call and text, and was getting 2-3 bars, even while watching the movie(previews).
So, point is, different factors need to be looked at, of course. Your area may get a great signal indoors, someone else's phone may be useless indoor. And if you have Wifi at home, that's aplus, but not something I'd want to rely on. Incase my internet goes out. The only way to really know is to test the service where YOU need it to work. Also, I am in Chicago, so I know that's a big part of it. But I was out in a few burbs and had either LTE or 4g and it worked. This was outside though.
Good Luck. And remember to test the phone with a Data/Smart phone. When I tested using a prepaid flip phone, I was getting a good signal almost everywhere I went. But then I found out, that it was strickly on Edge and not showing the 4G/LTE signal bars.