Definitive T-Zones, Mobile Internet thread for the US

**sempai** · 05-09-2003, 10:41 PM

Personally I found the whole T-Zones and Mobile Internet plans a bit confusing. Which does what? Which one do you want? Which one do you need? What is a hotspot? What is VPN?

The plans available on http://www.t-mobile.com/ for US customers are currently as follows:

T-Mobile Internet 2 MB 2 MB $10 per additional MB $9.99

t-zones Service 1 MB (Entertainment on your phone) 1 MB $3 per additional MB $2.99

t-zones Pro (E-mail and news on your phone) 10 MB $10 per additional MB $9.99

T-Mobile Internet 10 MB 10 MB $5 per additional MB $19.99

T-Mobile Internet 20 MB 20 MB $3.5 per additional MB $34.99

T-Mobile Internet 50 MB 50 MB $3 per additional MB $49.99

What do these T-things mean?

T-Zones -> You can use your handset as a device to access WAP websites, the t-zones homepage, and services that T-Mobile provides users of mobile phones.

These include news updates, email and IM services, weather, sports scores, new ringtones, Club T-Zones, and online games.

T-Zones Pro -> This lets you access your Lotus Notes or Exchange server on your phone in addition to the above. I haven't tested this but I was told by a T-Mobile rep (didn't take the name) in the case of Exchange it uses your OWA (Outlook WebAccess) connectoid at your office to let you read mail.

Personally I thought that was pretty lame, but it was their answer. You may want to opt for the T-Mobile Internet plan with VPN support.

T-Mobile Internet -> If you have a laptop or a handheld computer or PDA (Palm OS device, PocketPC, what-have-you) then you may want T-Mobile Internet! This is part of the GPRS service designed to work with devices other than just the handset itself. This lets users run various programs that don't have to be installed on the phone, such as your PC's version of Mozilla or Internet Explorer, your normal IM program or Email client.

Each of these plans has an "MB" value yes? That's how many megabytes of data you can transfer to your handset (and laptop/pda) in that plan.

These data plans use GPRS for the data service, it will be faster than using your mobile phone as a modem, but not billed from your airtime - it requires this secondary plan so you can access Internet services at higher speed.

How fast? That depends. Usually it's comparable to a 56k modem - not exactly blazing fast but very reliable once it's setup properly and useable anywhere you have a T-Mobile Signal. You will not want to use this as a replacement for your home cable modem/dsl service and you will want to even stick to dialup unless you only rarely need internet access.

If that isn't fast enough and you often spend time in major metro markets..

T-Mobile Hotspots -> for US$20 you can access 802.11b hotspots with your laptop or PDA for data up to 11mbit/second and access the internet via the local T1 or DSL connection in use at the hotspot.

It's ideal if you spend a lot of time at Starbucks or in airports!

There are new T-Mobile hotspots opening up all the time there may be one near you!

VPN support -> This is something the T-Mobile rep may ask you. Usually if you don't know what it is, you don't need it.

The explanation however follows: Many people (myself included) use software on their computer to connect to their corporate or even fancy-pants home networks using a VPN or Virtual Private Network. This is an encrypted and securely (usually) authenticated link from you to a remote network so that the data going across the Internet to that remote site is protected against eavesdropping.

Adding VPN support to your T-Mobile Internet plan allows you to use, say, the Cisco VPN client to connect to your office network and run whatever email program you want.

I have used a Windows PC and an Apple Powerbook G4 to connect to the Internet via T-Mobile service and connect to my office network using the Cisco VPN client.

It works.

T-Mobile may not be able to assist you all the time with troubleshooting of this service because it can be a little tricky at times but there are plenty of resources to help those who help themselves!

Any corrections posted to this thread will be Edit'ed in by myself and hopefully it will prove to be useful. Dare I say "sticky"!

**sempai** · 05-10-2003, 07:10 PM

Find out how many hotspots are in your neck of the woods on the T-Mobile website:

http://locations.hotspot.t-mobile.com/

**tyronewheatley** · 10-07-2003, 12:31 AM

i was told tzones pro was unlimited wap!!!!!

I called and verified this with the CS and she yes that is correct... I hope it is correct. 9.99 for un limited wap.

**phearz** · 10-07-2003, 06:52 AM

Originally posted by tyronewheatley
i was told tzones pro was unlimited wap!!!!!

I called and verified this with the CS and she yes that is correct... I hope it is correct. 9.99 for un limited wap.

It is now. It wasn't back when that post was made.

**ScottE22** · 11-01-2003, 12:06 PM

The T-Mo Dude in the (corporate-owned) store near me told me that the $9.99 T-Zones plan would allow me to connect my laptop or Palm to the Internet via the phone using infrared or Bluetooth...

That doesn't seem right... Seems to me like you'd need the T-Zones Internet plan ($19.99?) for that...

Any thoughts or experiences?? I am ready to jump the SPCS ship in three weeks (not that I'm counting), but I'd like to make sure I understand what I'm getting myself into...

Thanks in advance!

-- Scott

**milli** · 12-23-2003, 06:37 PM

Originally posted by sempai
T-Zones Pro -> This lets you access your Lotus Notes or Exchange server on your phone in addition to the above. I haven't tested this but I was told by a T-Mobile rep (didn't take the name) in the case of Exchange it uses your OWA (Outlook WebAccess) connectoid at your office to let you read mail.

Personally I thought that was pretty lame, but it was their answer. You may want to opt for the T-Mobile Internet plan with VPN support.

I would like to clarify accessing corporate mails as a service provided by T-Zones pro.

Even with T-zones you can access your corporate mails if you are allowed to check your mailbox(POP3 & OWA) from outside your corporate network. To put it simple, if you are accessing your corporate mailbox from home without having a VPN connection, most likely you could also access it using T-Zones itself. You don't need T-zones pro service.

What T-Zones Pro let you do is to access your mailbox from within your corporate network by running "Secured mail connector" on your work machine. So basically if you are not allowed to check your mailbox from outside your corporate network, you could install and run this connector on your work machine and control your mailbox from your mobile device. But you have to let your work machine running always.

**MasterpJZ9** · 12-28-2003, 01:47 AM

Isn't WAP and GPRS offered as unlimited with all voice plans now?

**sempai** · 12-28-2003, 03:07 AM

didn't i write that months ago?

it's from May! sheesh

**Extraordinary** · 02-03-2004, 08:26 PM

Just get a mod to update it

**dmao** · 02-14-2004, 12:50 PM

I'm a little confused by earlier posting. I called CS to get settings for my new Nokia 6820 set up for WAP and to find out the difference between WAP (free w/ my plan), t-zones, and internet access

Interesting enough, he told me T-mobile for WAP is free with my $39.99/month plan but that T-zones was extra $4.99/month and unlimited internet access was exxtra $19.99/month.

I was told in order to surf the internet on my powerbook using the nokia and bluetooth connection i had to subscribe to the unlimited access. WAP only limited to sites that have WAP sites.

Also, for popmail, I would have to set up my yahoo or hotmail account to access my popmail emails and then go through wap.hotmail.com site....

In other postings, it appears you can access internet for free and w/out limit. I can't verify personally because CS wasn't able to send to my phone set my Nokia 6820 for WAP access - I had to call back wireless tech support ...had to rush out for errands so haven't set up yet.

Be interested to hear what others have to say?

**Gaunt911** · 02-15-2004, 07:17 PM

West DNS-
Primary: 216.155.175.40
Alternate: 216.155.175.41

East DNS-
Primary: 216.155.175.170
Alternate: 216.155.175.171

Central DNS-
Primary: 216.155.175.105
Alternate: 216.155.175.106

**newtypeal** · 03-11-2004, 07:45 AM

Does anyone know specific [maximum] bandwidth of Hotspot? Like in kilobytes/kilobits per seconds.

**Gaunt911** · 04-19-2004, 09:09 PM

it is similar to an ISDN line.
it is dependant on the speed of the local LAN. (Wi Fi 802.11b or 802.11g)

e.g. my ISP's ADSL is 3MBps because it is a 3MB Siemens modem.

cable modems may be 512kbps up to a theoretical 8MBps?

functionally cable and ADSL offer similar speeds depending on your service provider and local area equipment.

so if the local provider is offering a T3 it is of course faster than a T1.. (144kbps I believe)

**john_smith** · 05-07-2004, 11:17 AM

I have $39.99 plan and unlimited internet for $4.99. That is it. Everything works as promised - I was able to download Mbs of my mp3 from my site and listen to them.

**NL4J** · 05-16-2004, 01:47 AM

So for those with Siemens SX1 *myself

love this thing

* Nokia 6600 signing up for the 19.99 will allow http, web browsing and use of msn messenger, aim and all other programs that require dedicated connection to the internet correct?

Well I had to sign up for the 19.99 when I had the smart phone, so is there any other way to still use WAP to access websites knowing the sx1, 6600 have browsers inside .... using wap 2.0 maybe? no?

clarify things for me please because I am about to call tmobile to add data plan, but im not sure which one, but looks like the 19.99

a little too much