T-Mobile UK cuts 'fair use' allowance to 500MB, sends you home to watch online video

[HotelUser]

http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/11/t...ds-you-home-t/

In one of the most insensitive announcements in recent PR history, T-Mobile UK is telling its customers who want to download or stream online video to their mobile devices to "save that stuff for [their] home broadband." The carrier, one half of the UK's biggest operator Everything Everywhere, had up until now offered one of the better monthly allowance deals with a 3GB data consumption limit on Android phones. It still is, in fact, since its new changes aren't coming into effect until February 1st, but come that fateful Tuesday, T-Mo's understanding of "fair use" will shrink down to 500MB each month -- after which point you'll still get to browse the web and email for free, but any video content will presumably be subject to an extra charge. It's not clear how "that stuff" will be handled by T-Mobile once you cross the frugal new threshold, nor is it clear whether customers who signed up for big bodacious 3GB of data will be set free once this new lockdown on mobile video is in effect. Godspeed to you all.

That must be annoying for a lot of people, it's been this way in Canada for awhile and 500mb is too easy to burn through.

[Recursion]

This may be to ease congestion when they turn on the T-Mobile UK <-> Orange UK HSDPA/3G domestic roaming in March.

[jackass]

This is outrageous! I seriously hope it's just temporary, because I was so close to buying a new phone with T-Mobile...

[Agnostic Bear]

It's a good job only 3 people use T-Mobile and orange combined.

[Recursion]

It's a good job only 3 people use T-Mobile and orange combined.

Largest user base in the UK combined Well done

[Casanova]

Hmmn, I think it's unfair on one hand for those who signed up in good faith they can run over tons (considering their contracts would state a fair use policy, ie they can change it at any point) but it's more in line with most networks no and it's pretty fair?

Agnostic, T-mobile have millions of customers!

[dirrty]

This is outrageous! I seriously hope it's just temporary, because I was so close to buying a new phone with T-Mobile...

not really outrageous considering o2 has a limit of 500mb aswell i think.

[jackass]

not really outrageous considering o2 has a limit of 500mb aswell i think.

Hence why i'd never even consider going with them.

[Chippiewill]

Well, they can hardly keep calling 500mb Unlimited, I read somewhere that they can only cap unlimited if only 5% of users notice, I'm fairly certain more than 5% will notice. This is misleading customers and is false advertising.

[Casanova]

but the contracts you sign state "Unlimited internet" and in the small print it'll say subject to a fair use policy. also in your contract, they can terminate your use of said device, or part of your plan. ie, cut your internet, remove text/call function.

You never win.

Vodafone, o2 and orange all have this (except iphone tariff's/stated otherwise/panther tariff on orange).