T-Mobile Makes Unlimited International Data Official, Also Takes LTE Network Nationwide to 233 Markets

After letting word slip through a Shakira fansite earlier today, T-Mobile has gone ahead and made their new UnCarrier announcement official. As expected, international unlimited data (2G speeds) and text are now free to “most” Simple Choice plans in more than 100 “Simple Global” countries across this vast Earth. Canada and Mexico are included, in case you were wondering, but you’ll also find countries like China and the United Kingdom as well. 

Customers on Simple Choice plans will automatically see these benefits, meaning they do not actually have to sign-up for anything and will see the global feature added to their plan on October 31. The only global fees you will see going forward will be from voice calls, which run 20 cents per minute.

Outside of this major international news, T-Mobile announced that their 4G LTE network is now nationwide and in 233 metropolitan areas, which covers more than 200 million people. They are three full months ahead of their schedule and claim that they have faster speeds than AT&T in 10 of the top 20 metro areas. They also pointed out in a press release that their LTE network covers 91 of the top 100 largest markets by population. Here is a list of T-Mobile’s LTE networks.

Oh, Shakira too. Multi-year deal.

Simple Global dirty details.

• Starting October 31st, eligible Simple Choice individual and business customers automatically get unlimited data and texting in more than 100 Simple Global countries worldwide, and will only pay an industry-low flat rate of 20 cents per minute for voice calls when roaming in the same countries.
• And, for customers in the US wanting a saner, more affordable way to stay connected with friends, family and colleagues worldwide, T-Mobile’s announced a postpaid industry-low feature for discounted calling and texting from the US to all Simple Global countries – called Stateside International Talk & Text.
• Customers never pay more than 20 cents a minute to any number in any Simple Global country, including mobile-to-mobile calls.
• Unlimited calls to landlines in over 70 of these countries at no extra charge. Unlimited texting is also included. Stateside International Talk & Text is available to customers for just $10 a month. 

How it works.

• Existing Simple Choice customers with qualifying plan option will have global coverage automatically added to their plan by October 31st.
• There is no need to add a separate feature or service to your account or call Customer Care before you travel. International roaming with unlimited data and text is now included in qualifying plans at no extra charge.
• Global data coverage with capable device; not for extended international travel. Data at up to 2G speeds.

The 100 countries.

Promo video.

T-Mobile Makes the World Your Network – at No Extra Charge 
and Now Delivers Nationwide 4G LTE

T-Mobile customers to enjoy unlimited data and texting worldwide – at no extra charge

Also slashes calling rates from U.S. – now never more than 20 cents per minute with Stateside International Talk & Text feature

Announces multiyear partnership with international superstar Shakira

NEW YORK – Oct. 9, 2013 – T-Mobile US, Inc. (NYSE: TMUS), America’s new No. 1 choice in wireless, is again upending and innovating the wireless industry, delivering unlimited global data at no extra charge in 100+ countries – making the company’s home data coverage area larger than AT&T’s and Verizon’s combined.

Tonight, at a concert event for thousands of its customers at New York’s Bryant Park, featuring international superstar and new T-Mobile collaborator Shakira, the Un-carrier announced that it is tearing down borders and walking away from the U.S. wireless industry practice of charging exorbitant international roaming rates.

“The cost of staying connected across borders is completely crazy,” said John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile US, Inc. “Today’s phones are designed to work around the world, but we’re forced to pay insanely inflated international connectivity fees to actually use them. You can’t leave the country without coming home to bill shock. So we’re making the world your network – at no extra cost.”

Americans take about 55 million trips to destinations outside the U.S. every year. When U.S. customers use their phones abroad the way they normally do at home, their costs often total $1,000 a day or more. So more than 40 percent of customers turn off data roaming completely. Another 20 percent more say they would if they knew how. The toll these roaming fees take on individuals and businesses is huge. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, wireless customers face a hard choice – use their phone when they need it and pay through the nose, or cut off communications to contain costs.

“It doesn’t have to be this way,” Legere said. “The truth is that the industry’s been charging huge fees for data roaming. But what’s most surprising is that no one’s called them out – until now.”

T-Mobile tonight announced that it’s expanding the home data coverage for most Simple Choice customers to include more than 100 countries, at no extra charge. Starting Oct. 31, these Simple Choice individual and business customers automatically get unlimited data and texting in more than 100 Simple Global countries worldwide, and they will only pay a global flat rate of 20 cents per minute for voice calls when roaming in the same countries. Eligible customers on T-Mobile’s popular Simple Choice plan won’t have to activate anything or pay an extra monthly fee.

And, for customers in the U.S. wanting a saner, more affordable way to stay connected with friends, family and colleagues worldwide, T-Mobile’s got them covered, too. The company announced tonight its new Stateside International Talk & Text feature for discounted calling and texting from the U.S. to all Simple Global countries. Customers never pay more than 20 cents a minute to any number in any Simple Global country, including mobile to mobile. Calls to landlines in more than 70 of these countries are unlimited and included at no extra cost. Unlimited texting is also included to all countries. Stateside International Talk & Text is available to most Simple Choice customers for just $10 a month.

In network news, T-Mobile tonight also announced that its latest-generation 4G LTE network is now nationwide, reaching more than 200 million people in 233 metros across the United States.

“We’ve not only delivered nationwide 4G LTE months ahead of schedule,” said Neville Ray, chief technology officer for T-Mobile. “Our nationwide 4G LTE is right on top of our already nationwide 4G HSPA+ network – which translates to one wicked-fast combined 4G network experience.”

In recent third-party tests involving millions of results from real customers nationwide, T-Mobile’s 4G LTE nationwide network delivered faster speeds than the 4G LTE networks of Verizon and Sprint. In addition, T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network already has faster median speeds than AT&T’s 4G LTE network in 10 of the top 20 metropolitan statistical areas. In fact, T-Mobile’s new nationwide LTE network delivers 4G LTE speeds more consistently than any of the national providers.

Making global connections and bringing the world closer together is also a key value for global artist, songwriter and Grammy Award-winning music icon, Shakira. T-Mobile is working with the musical powerhouse to bring that message to people everywhere and announced the collaboration through a new multiyear partnership agreement to include the creation of unique content, fan engagement and exclusive access to her new music.

“Today is all about bringing the world closer together,” Shakira said. “I’m excited to partner with T-Mobile and look forward to being able to share my music in new and innovative ways.”

As part of the relationship, T-Mobile will support Shakira’s upcoming single and album releases to create unique T-Mobile customer experiences. T-Mobile is breaking the traditional sponsorship mold and creating a unique partnership where the company and the artist will work together to help amplify key messages and initiatives for each other, which will also include a select number of special events for the public and exclusive fan engagement activities.

These announcements build on months of momentum since T-Mobile kicked off its Un-carrier consumer movement earlier this year. Since then, the company has enjoyed a groundswell of support from U.S. consumers signing on in record numbers, making T-Mobile America’s No. 1 choice in wireless since its Un-carrier launch in late March – with more net new postpaid customers than AT&T, Verizon and Sprint combined.

No. 1 choice in wireless based on T-Mobile’s net postpaid subscriber additions vs. those of the other major national carriers in Q2 2013. 4G LTE speed claims based on third-party speed testing data.

Taxes & fees are additional for services and features. Home data coverage is the area where customers receive data services included in their plan. Global data coverage with capable device; not for extended international travel. See details & included countries at http://www.T-Mobile.com.

About T-Mobile US, Inc.:
As America’s Un-carrier, T-Mobile US, Inc. (NYSE: “TMUS”) is redefining the way consumers and businesses buy wireless services through leading product and service innovation. The company’s advanced nationwide 4G and 4G LTE network delivers outstanding wireless experiences for customers who are unwilling to compromise on quality and value. Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile US provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile and MetroPCS. It currently serves approximately 44 million wireless subscribers and provides products and services through 70,000 points of distribution. For more information, please visit http://www.t-mobile.com.