T-Mobile $30 4G plan

[Andrew Martonik]

I did this two years ago and it is awesome. The only kink was that I couldn't get or send MMS texts via Google Voice, but Google appears to have that GMail workaround up and running for receiving them (pics get delivered to your GMail).

Google Voice has yet to implement any "fix" for GMail. The only time a message will come into your GMail is if it is sent from GV # to GV #, and the sender is using GV integration on Sprint. Otherwise, no support of MMS is included in Google Voice.

I was having trouble finding a way to get a micro SIM from T-Mo's site without signing up for a full plan. I couldn't check out once it was in the cart. Out of desperation, I got one from Best Buy's site for $14. Sucks but at least it shipped and it's on the way.

Tried here? Prepaid Cell Phone Plans, No Annual Contract | Monthly4G | T-Mobile

Both Mini and Micro right there for you. Gotta remember that T-Mobile's postpaid and prepaid options are different. You go to a different site portal for prepaid stuff.

Also, could've just bought a Mini SIM from T-Mobile for $0.99 and a Micro SIM cutter for like ~$5. But its already been done now...

 

[Fleury14]

I thought that you could forward a copy ALL texts to Gmail if you wanted. Sure you double up but at least you get your pics... Am i incorrect?

 

[gone down south]

I thought that you could forward a copy ALL texts to Gmail if you wanted. Sure you double up but at least you get your pics... Am i incorrect?

SMS yes. MMS no.

 

[Nuevo]

Has anyone successfully switched phones on the T-Mobile $30 100-minute plan? It seems obvious that you should be able to do this, but I'm apprehensive about the requirement for this plan that it's only for "new customers."

My situation is that I was all ready to say adios to Sprint and replace my out-of-contract EVO 4G with a shiny new Nexus 4 last week, but now there's a wait of at least 3 weeks and that means another exorbitant Sprint bill. It occurred to me that I could avoid paying the current Sprint bill by buying an ultra-basic Samsung T-139 flip phone for $30 at WalMart and pop in the 99-cent SIM card mailed to me by T-Mobile with my Activation Kit. I could get started on the $30 plan today and later just trim up the SIM card, transfer it into the Nexus 4, and ebay the T-139. This plan has the added benefit of permitting a first-hand check of T-Mobile's local voice service.

Am I overlooking something, such as T-Mobile telling me that I would no longer meet the plan's requirements with a different phone?

BTW, I would request a new phone number (old one is a foreign Area Code) which I would divulge to no one because I am "full bore" into Google Voice. Also, for anyone considering it, I have used the $39 Obihai box for the past month to achieve a "virtual landline" through wifi here at the house. Can't say enough good things about it: great call quality, no dropped words, syllables, calls...it just works!

 

[qreepii]

I previously had a data hot spot through tmo which was prepaid. I ordered the simple activation kit from the site and activated the $30 plan on my Nexus 4 without issue once I had the sim and phone together. I took the number they gave me and am still using gvoice without issue. I don't even know the carrier number without looking it up. But everything has been working fine so far.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

 

[Fleury14]

My port into Google voice is still sitting there. Apparently a lot of people are having the same issue. No number to call either just a Google group.
I'm so punch drunk over the whole phone order / shipping ordeal I can only shake my head with a look of haute derision.

 

[KitN]

I'm on the $30 plan too. I had a few problems setting it up bit finally got everything going.

I'm using Google Voice with it as well. So far it's okay, bit tmo prepaid doesn't support conditional call forwarding. Meh.

Sent from my Nexus 7

 

[2defmouze]

I'm on the $30 plan too. I had a few problems setting it up bit finally got everything going.

I'm using Google Voice with it as well. So far it's okay, bit tmo prepaid doesn't support conditional call forwarding. Meh.

Sent from my Nexus 7

Unless I'm mistaken.. all this means is you have to call Tmobile and instruct them to deactivate the voicemail on your account. That way Google Voice can intercept your voicemails properly. It's all there in the guide I've linked to..

 

[Andrew Martonik]

My port into Google voice is still sitting there. Apparently a lot of people are having the same issue. No number to call either just a Google group.
I'm so punch drunk over the whole phone order / shipping ordeal I can only shake my head with a look of haute derision.

And this is business day 1 of 2-4. Chill.

- - - Updated - - -

Has anyone successfully switched phones on the T-Mobile $30 100-minute plan? It seems obvious that you should be able to do this, but I'm apprehensive about the requirement for this plan that it's only for "new customers."

My situation is that I was all ready to say adios to Sprint and replace my out-of-contract EVO 4G with a shiny new Nexus 4 last week, but now there's a wait of at least 3 weeks and that means another exorbitant Sprint bill. It occurred to me that I could avoid paying the current Sprint bill by buying an ultra-basic Samsung T-139 flip phone for $30 at WalMart and pop in the 99-cent SIM card mailed to me by T-Mobile with my Activation Kit. I could get started on the $30 plan today and later just trim up the SIM card, transfer it into the Nexus 4, and ebay the T-139. This plan has the added benefit of permitting a first-hand check of T-Mobile's local voice service.

Am I overlooking something, such as T-Mobile telling me that I would no longer meet the plan's requirements with a different phone?

Just take the SIM out and put it in your new phone when it arrives. SIMs are not device-specific (other than if they have different size SIM trays).

 

[Fleury14]

And this is business day 1 of 2-4. Chill.

According to their help forums there has been a freeze since last week.

 

[Andrew Martonik]

According to their help forums there has been a freeze since last week.

I wouldn't begin to "worry" for a few more days.

 

[Fleury14]

I wouldn't begin to "worry" for a few more days.

Nah I'm not worried so much as annoyed. I was following the time table on their own site to avoid any service disruption. Now I have 2 different accounts and the one I'm trying to cancel statts a new billing cycle Wednesday.

 

[ndrd_ct]

Ive successfully switched to T-mo 30$/5gb plan back in June . Bought Gnex outright , ported my sprint # to Gvoice ( took 24hrs ) then ordered Tmo sim over the phone . When Gnex and Sim arrived went online and activated the plan . Works like a charm .
Now for the details . I use apps to make calls over IP . This way you dont use 100min and have unlimited minutes ( unlim data ) . Only thing is , calls take longer to connect over 3g/4g , you may get echo or delays . In cases where i need to make a call quick and 100% i use regular phone app which uses 100 min . I barely make any calls so 100 min is more than enough for me ( i just make sure i dont call any girl friends = 30 min gone in a blink of an eye ) . Data coverage is good . Seemed a little spotty but for the most part is good .
Ive tethered through my Gnex and even watched a few movies . But lately when tethering in a few minutes id get a hotspot page . Means they are filtering traffic . Another thing is MMS . They are unlimited on that plan , but you can only send them from the stock MSG app ( uses your new sims number ) and IP calling app ( uses Gvoice aka your old number but is slow and unreliable ) . Gvoice cant send them . So prepare to tell people you have 2 phone numbers .

 

[Fleury14]

My port went through just in time to avoid being charged another month from Sprint. Apparently texts take a few extra days.

 

[jamesey10]

If I have the Tmobile $50 prepaid plan with my preferred phone number, and sign up for the $30 prepaid plan at walmart with a dumb phone and a temporary phone number, can I have Tmobile switch the phone numbers on the plans i have, then I just stop having the $50 prepaid plan?

 

[Andrew Martonik]

If I have the Tmobile $50 prepaid plan with my preferred phone number, and sign up for the $30 prepaid plan at walmart with a dumb phone and a temporary phone number, can I have Tmobile switch the phone numbers on the plans i have, then I just stop having the $50 prepaid plan?

Yes, as soon as you set up the new plan with a new number, and request to port your current number to that account, your original account will be closed.

I wouldn't buy a phone from Walmart though, just buy the SIM activation kit online for $0.99 and start the plan online. Prepaid Cell Phone Plans, No Annual Contract | Monthly4G | T-Mobile

 

[Small_law]

Google Voice has yet to implement any "fix" for GMail. The only time a message will come into your GMail is if it is sent from GV # to GV #, and the sender is using GV integration on Sprint. Otherwise, no support of MMS is included in Google Voice.



Tried here? Prepaid Cell Phone Plans, No Annual Contract | Monthly4G | T-Mobile

Both Mini and Micro right there for you. Gotta remember that T-Mobile's postpaid and prepaid options are different. You go to a different site portal for prepaid stuff.

Also, could've just bought a Mini SIM from T-Mobile for $0.99 and a Micro SIM cutter for like ~$5. But its already been done now...

I must disagree. I absolutely do get MMS from non-GV numbers. A text shows up in GV saying something like "MMS received" and the picture that was sent to my GV number shows up as an email in GMail. A friend that does not have GV sent me a pic via text to my GV number the other day. I got it in GMail.

Edit: my friend was on Sprint and it appears this works only for people on Sprint sending you MMS. They do not also have to be GV users. I could swear I got one from another friend on T-Mo though.

Note that you can't send MMS using GV, but you can receive them. And this is not enabled by default; it is something you have to enable in GV or GMail settings. I don't remember how to go about it off the top of my head.

And yes, there was that option on T-Mo's site, but some kind of error wouldn't let me check out. T-Mo also sold out of micro sims online for a while recently. I was willing to pay to nail down a sim and now I have it in hand.

All I need is the phone.

 

[Andrew Martonik]

I must disagree. I absolutely do get MMS from non-GV numbers. A text shows up in GV saying something like "MMS received" and the picture that was sent to my GV number shows up as an email in GMail. A friend that does not have GV sent me a pic via text to my GV number the other day. I got it in GMail.

Note that you can't send MMS using GV, but you can receive them. And this is not enabled by default; it is something you have to enable in GV or GMail settings. I don't remember how to go about it off the top of my head.

Are your friends on Sprint? I'm 99.9% sure that Google has no official MMS support on GV for anyone other than Sprint customers.

 

[Small_law]

Are your friends on Sprint? I'm 99.9% sure that Google has no official MMS support on GV for anyone other than Sprint customers.

Just edited my post. You are correct. The sender needs to be on Sprint. But again, I can swear I got an MMS from a friend on T-Mo. Let me test it.

Edit: MMS sent from a T-Mo phone didn't work.

 

[runningman3433]

Yes, with a Nexus you get to tether without anything special on your plan's end.



Don't have to root on a Nexus. There's no carrier firmware to remove.


T-Mobile "detects" tethering by seeing if you're using a desktop or mobile browser UAstring. It seems to be relatively random whether or not they try to check in on your usage, but if they decide to, you'll see your browser redirect to a hotspot information page if you're on a desktop browser.

Problem is that the Chrome for Android browser also shows up as a desktop UAstring when visiting sites, so they've started to shy away from this method because they're selling their own devices that are either compatible or preloaded with Chrome.

Long story short is they can detect browser UAstring whether you're using the built in tethering or some root app or anything else, so it doesn't matter what you do. Just tether away and if they redirect you, that's something you can manage when (or if) you get there. One quick fix is a browser UAstring switcher you can apply to Firefox/Chrome that'll mask it. Works.

i'm on the monthyly 4g $30 plan.

I was at the airport with my unlocked (not rooted though) samsung galaxy nexus on my macbook streaming video from amazon prime with tethering. AFter a while the video stopped and I got a notice that redirected me to tmobile's site to purchase tethering.