T-Mobile's New Uncarrier Move: 'Mobile Without Borders' Service in Canada and Mexico No Extra Charge

[dgstorm]

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T-Mobile's next Uncarrier move will likely give AT&T execs a massive migraine. It's called "Mobile Without Borders" and it basically lets T-Mo users use their service in Canada and Mexico at no extra charge. The reason why AT&T won't like it is they have spent billions buying up Mexican telecoms, and promising that AT&T will be "the first seamless network covering Mexico and the U.S.,’ something ‘unique’ that ‘nobody else will be able to do for the consumer."

Obviously, T-Mobile beat them to the punch, although T-Mobile won't have 100% coverage in Canada and Mexico. The fact that T-Mobile will not charge any extra for this service must be especially irksome to AT&T. Under the "Mobile Without Borders" initiative, T-Mobile's coverage and calling area will now extend into both Canada and Mexico for all Simple Choice plan customers. Calls to Canada and Mexico are now included in the standard plan, as is roaming within both countries.

You can watch John Legere explain the new program in the video above, and we have the full press release in the thread below. How many of you folks have friends or family in Canada and/or Mexico to take advantage of this new initiative from T-Mobile?

 

[dgstorm]

Here's the full T-Mobile Press release:

"T-Mobile Introduces ‘Mobile without Borders’: Extends Coverage & Calling Across North America at No Extra Charge

Next in its series of Un-carrier Amped announcements, T-Mobile unveils a massive expansion of Simple Choice — adds calling, texting and 4G LTE data throughout Mexico & Canada

Bellevue, Washington — July 9, 2015 — T-Mobile [NYSE: TMUS] has unveiled the latest in its Un-carrier Amped announcements—and this one’s going to make history. The company today announced a massive expansion of its first industry-rocking Un-carrier™ move, Simple Choice™, extending coverage and calling across the U.S., Mexico & Canada for all Simple Choice customers at no extra charge. Called ‘Mobile without Borders,’ this first-of-its-kind move delivers calling to both land lines and mobile phones − as well as 4G LTE data straight from your plan − across all three countries at no additional cost. The epic upgrade makes Simple Choice the first and only wireless plan to span an entire continent.

The move eliminates a major pain point for U.S. wireless customers. Last year, a full 35% of all international calls and 55% of all international travel from the U.S. was to Mexico & Canada alone. Over 70% of international trips taken by small and mid-sized business travelers were to Mexico & Canada. And, the same year, the carriers raked in nearly $10 billion in global roaming charges at over 90% margins. Meaning the carriers are lining their pockets with billions of dollars in inflated roaming fees—for coverage the Un-carrier now includes at no extra cost.

“After spending billions buying up Mexican telecoms, AT&T’s CEO is promising ‘the first seamless network covering Mexico and the U.S.,’ something ‘unique’ that ‘nobody else will be able to do for the consumer.’ So much for that. They won’t be the first. And they won’t offer Canada for free,” said John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile. “We’ve done this the Un-carrier way − reaching across borders, partnering with leading providers offering the best LTE networks, creating a simple solution right now − then not charging a penny more for it.”

To hear more from Legere about Mobile without Borders, check out his latest video blog.

As with Simple Global, Mobile without Borders takes direct aim at the carrier practice of jacking up the cost and complexity for customers the moment you set foot over a border. The pain is real. AT&T and Verizon’s data rates jump an insane 120x or more when you leave the U.S. For example:

• Call or travel with AT&T to Mexico and Canada, and you have to navigate a maze of international calling and roaming packages that could ratchet up your monthly rate by an additional $30 to an astounding $245 per line per month.
• Even with the $30 “AT&T Passport” plan, add on your usage fees and AT&T could hit you with up to $285 in extra charges every week you use your phone in Mexico & Canada like you do at home.
• If you neglect to buy their costly, confusing add-on packages? You could rack up a ridiculous $10,000 or more in a single week just for using your phone like you normally do.
• And the insane charges aren’t limited to roaming—simply calling to Mexico & Canada can run up a huge bill.
• Last year, US wireless customers’ long-distance calls to Mexico & Canada totaled approximately 25 billion minutes.
  • Assuming even half those minutes were mobile-to-mobile, the total pay-per-use cost could be as much as $7.5 billion. And, even if every customer paid for additional international long-distance (ILD) packages, the cost could still total up to $130 million.

By contrast, with T-Mobile, virtually everywhere you call or travel in Mexico & Canada is now just like home—at no extra cost.

One Big, Happy Continent
Mobile without Borders provides a simpler, saner way to connect—everything’s covered. Using your phone throughout Mexico & Canada is as easy as driving across the border. It’s simple and doesn’t cost you a penny more to talk, text and access your 4G LTE data just like home. Now, we’re all one big, happy continent.

Beginning July 15th, calls to, from and between the U.S., Mexico & Canada − whether mobile or landline − are included in our latest plans at no extra charge. And, when you’re in Mexico & Canada, you’ll use 4G LTE data straight from your Simple Choice 4G LTE data plan. Now, wherever you call, wherever you travel in Mexico & Canada, your phone just works— like at home. It doesn’t matter whether you’re calling Mexico City from Toronto or Tallahassee—it’s now all part of your plan. Get off a plane in Puerto Vallarta, Poughkeepsie or Prince Edward, and you’ll have the same outstanding Un-carrier experience. Zero ridiculous calling rates, zero jacked-up data rates, zero hoops to jump through. And, as always, you get all the other Un-carrier benefits like Music Freedom and Wi-Fi calling and texting. You’ll be even able to tap into your Data Stash in Mexico & Canada starting later this year.

Everyone’s eligible, including Simple Choice postpaid and prepaid customers. Starting next Wednesday, every new Simple Choice customer will automatically get Mexico & Canada included in their plan at no extra charge. Current Simple Choice customers can simply opt-in online, by phone, or in-store by switching to our latest plans for free. Business customers can also add coverage and calling across North America to their Simple Choice plan at no extra cost for the first 10 lines and only $1 a month for each line beyond that.

“We keep giving you more without asking for more from you,” Legere said. “Now, wherever you call or travel in Mexico & Canada is just like home. This is the perfect complement to Simple Global, which led the way with free texting to virtually anywhere in the world and free roaming data in more than 120 countries and destinations worldwide. The Un-carrier goodness keeps on coming.”

For more information about Simple Choice and Mobile without Borders, check out t-mobile.com/3countries. For information about Mobile without Borders for business, check out t-mobile.com/3countries1price4biz.

Qualifying Simple Choice North America service req’d. Credit approval, deposit & $15 SIM starter kit may be req’d. For U.S. residents with primary use on T-Mobile’s U.S. network; not for extended international use. See T-Mobile.com/3countries for details."

 

[johnomaz]

But what towers will you be using?

 

[FoxKat]

Wow, what a way to hand ATT their ass on a silver platter. I love when a simple partnership between two or more companies not only thwarts aggressive competition and expensive build-outs (or buyouts as the case may be), but also results in better customer experience and at a reduced price or better still, free as in this one. Bravo to T-Mobile!

 

[cr6]

I have mixed feelings on this. That's great news for T-Mobile customers who travel to these locations frequently. (which, according to the numbers is a lot more than I would have ever guessed)
On the other end of the spectrum, T-Mobile's network continues to be weak everywhere else. They need to work harder to expand their network here across the lower 48, before expanding to Canada & Mexico.
That said, it's still awesome that T-Mo pulled a fast one on AT&T. Good for them!

S5 tap'n

 

[Jonny Kansas]

I have mixed feelings on this. That's great news for T-Mobile customers who travel to these locations frequently. (which, according to the numbers is a lot more than I would have ever guessed)
On the other end of the spectrum, T-Mobile's network continues to be weak everywhere else. They need to work harder to expand their network here across the lower 48, before expanding to Canada & Mexico.
That said, it's still awesome that T-Mo pulled a fast one on AT&T. Good for them!

S5 tap'n

I'm guessing they didn't "expand" their network, so much as work out roaming contracts with carriers who already have towers in those countries, but I agree.

I loved having t-mo when I lived in their coverage area, but I can't get them here, even though I live pretty darn close to Canada.

 

[akhenax]

T-mobile should buy Verizon, then everyone in the world would be happy and there would be no more war or starving children.

 

[Jonny Kansas]

T-mobile should buy Verizon, then everyone in the world would be happy and there would be no more war or starving children.

Yeah! Then I could get Google fi in my area!

 

[wicked]

I love Tmo

 

[FoxKat]

T-mobile should buy Verizon, then everyone in the world would be happy and there would be no more war or starving children.

Or the other way around...but yeah.

 

[cybertec69]

But what towers will you be using?

They will send you a tower "compliments of T-Mobile" that you can attach to your cranium.

 

[cybertec69]

I think T-Mobile is running out of ideas to attract and keep new customers, sooner or later if they don't upgrade their coverage area they will be toast, I see this nothing but another desperate move by T-Mobile, at least they are trying, but without nationwide coverage, what good is the device in your pocket when you have to worry about leaving your neighborhood. AT&T and Verizon are not sweating it.