Official Even More / Even More + Plans Discussion

**justin.tyler** · 10-17-2009, 08:01 PM

Since the other thread got pretty derailed I figured I'd start this one to discuss what BGR just posted about Project Dark and it's implications. Again, this thread is to discuss what we KNOW, not speculate about the other elements of Project Dark.

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/...plans-flexpay/

I'm a little concerned because it appears that the contract-free options are going to include the customer paying full price for a device in the form of payments, but not paying less per month, which seems kinda outrageous. Admittedly, I haven't gone over what I've seen with a fine tooth comb yet.

Edit: If the mods think this should be merged/not exist, my bad.

**money69** · 10-17-2009, 08:14 PM

Well, the pricing is not visible in those slides so how do you know what the pricing is with or without a subsidy on a phone?

**AppleMac** · 10-17-2009, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by money69

Well, the pricing is not visible in those slides so how do you know what the pricing is with or without a subsidy on a phone?

There is only 1 personal plans matrix and 1 family plans matrix. Based on these images it appears that there is not separate pricing for no contract. If there is a discount for non contract customers, perhaps it is just a discount and not a separate rate plan. I would be surprised if there is a discount though, because the company is taking a pretty big risk to loan you the cost of the phone and ask you to pay it back over however many months.

Any one else see that pricing behind the pop up box in the 6th photo down? It says
Total Price Plan Recurring Charges $69.99
Total Feature Recurring Charges $11.99
Total Monthly Recurring Charges $81.98
Total Included Minutes 20,000,998

Notice how the minutes end in an 8 instead of a 9? Also to the right in the features list it lists FAMUNLMSG(Family Unlimited Messaging?). That looks like a family plan. So that's two lines with 20 Million minutes and Unlimited Messaging for 81.98 per month. So is that 10,000,499 minutes for each family line? Are the Features the cost of features or the cost of a device over time? Do these pictures raise more questions than answers?

**Danny4G** · 10-17-2009, 08:48 PM

Please stick only to the facts.

All off topic posts will be removed without notice.

What's considered off topic?

1) Billing rants
2) Coverage rants
3) Phone recommendation questions
4) Carrier flaming or trolling
5) Off topic carrier promoting or evangelizing
6) Unicorns and ponies

.... plus much more at the discretion of the local mods. Please advise. If you want to discuss Page Plus, Straight Talk, Metro PCS or talk about coverage, please use the appropriate forums

**justin.tyler** · 10-17-2009, 08:20 PM

The last slide where it APPEARS the "Even More Plus" is more expensive than the 2 year contract for the first month's bill. (At least the way it looks to me, and I could easily be wrong, the EMP is $170.09 and the 2yr is $11x.xx) That really shouldn't be considering the phone payment is more in the 2yr price.

And removing the rebates, etc. is pretty uncool too. I think EMP customers should get the rebates as well, just not the instant discounts, especially because they bet on customers not mailing those in.

**tmobiley** · 10-17-2009, 08:58 PM

I wonder if the MyFaves and the Hotspot@Home/UMA calling features will still be add-on options with these new plans (I would think they would be.)

Especially for the non-unlimited plans.

**pastorfarley** · 10-17-2009, 09:17 PM

The @Home is listed for a family plan in the Y/N matrix at the bottom. Wonder what the ** is for?

**pastorfarley** · 10-17-2009, 09:52 PM

It looks like there is no finance charge on the phones, but about 40% down on the 20 pay Plus and 4 pay contract, payable on the first bill. Although the upgrade fee is part of that on a contract and the $21 (not $35?) activation fee is not part of that on the Plus (N)

Guess that is why they need all the training

**AlexKidd1977** · 10-17-2009, 09:34 PM

I'm wondering what the "Data Service Policy" line item is...

And also, I see that the "Even More" plan shows access to a "Data Only Plan". Wonder if that plan will be eligible for purchase verbatim with a data-only aircard type device, or does this mean that a Data Only plan (separate price) is available as an "add-on"...

--Kidd

**Puck01** · 10-17-2009, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by AlexKidd1977

I'm wondering what the "Data Service Policy" line item is...

And also, I see that the "Even More" plan shows access to a "Data Only Plan". Wonder if that plan will be eligible for purchase verbatim with a data-only aircard type device, or does this mean that a Data Only plan (separate price) is available as an "add-on"...

--Kidd

The data service policy refers to the forced data package that cannot be removed until the end of the contract. Currently, if you buy a phone outright, you are not bound to get the data package, only if you receive a discount on it so this doesn't look like a change.

**AlexKidd1977** · 10-17-2009, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by Puck01

The data service policy refers to the forced data package that cannot be removed until the end of the contract. Currently, if you buy a phone outright, you are not bound to get the data package, only if you receive a discount on it so this doesn't look like a change.

Cool. I was wondering if it didn't mean they would enforce a strict policy on data plans. For example, I have a BlackBerry plan - and still have my BlackBerry, but I like to swap my SIM between it and my TPro2 and want to keep it that way. If I was forced over to a standard Total Internet package then I'd lose the ability to use my BlackBerry correctly.

--Kidd

**FL1134** · 10-17-2009, 09:35 PM

Considering that prices were omitted from printed documents, I would venture a guess that they are well below the current rates. Also looking at the pricing matrix, there is only one (unlimited?) option for txt and data (vs 250txt/500txt/etc). You either have txt or don't.

"unlimited web for smartphones"
"unlimited web for other phones"

I would assume that all non-Tmobile phones are blacklisted from using the dumbphone option.

**CoolPhone** · 10-17-2009, 10:09 PM

they wants "activation" fee.

**MagicKnight** · 10-17-2009, 11:16 PM

So there are activation fees for existing customers to migrate to the new plans? And I don't see any 12 month contract options? If so that's a sad strategy change for T-Mobile, because the gap between none and 24 is too great. Of course this is preliminary until we know for sure, but the 24 months could deem this DOA for me.

**gregsmith59** · 10-17-2009, 11:26 PM

Originally Posted by MagicKnight

So there are activation fees for existing customers to migrate to the new plans? And I don't see any 12 month contract options? If so that's a sad strategy change for T-Mobile, because the gap between none and 24 is too great. Of course this is preliminary until we know for sure, but the 24 months could deem this DOA for me.

Activation fees for existing customers might be reasonable for customers who are under contract, to recoup some of the projected revenue lost when the customer leaves the less favorable plan. But it is pretty inexcusable for non-contract customers - I mean it makes economic sense, but like the retarded statement fee it will probably just piss customers off out of proportion to the benefit T-Mobile would receive.

24 months commitment is way too long in today's competitive marketplace, with carriers like Straight Talk and Page Plus coming out with great offerings. There's no way I would go for 24 months commitment with what T-Mobile is likely to offer.

I think they are going for 24 months because they believe it will reduce their horrible churn rate. It may help a little, but for folks like us we will just sit around on no-contract status and be vulnerable to any good deal which comes along. So I don't think it will help much, although I hope it does help because everyone benefits from more competition.

It's probably a case of a few executives sitting around in conference rooms for too long convincing each other this is a "game changer".