Can you purchase additional AT&T data roaming?

[maxsilver]

This is kind of an odd question.

I'm interested in T-Mobile service, and in the areas of town where they have towers, the service is always great. However, a large portion of town is either EDGE or roaming only (particularly newer parts of town, such as malls and things that didn't exist in 90's.

I'm aware that T-Mobile has a data roaming with AT&T, but that the amount your allowed to use is very small (0-200mb-ish depending on your plan)

My question is : Is it possible to purchase additional data roaming? For example, I would be willing to give T-Mobile an extra $25/month if they could give me an extra 1GB of AT&T 3G/HSPA+ data roaming. (AT&T sells 1GB for $25 standalone, on their prepaid service, T-Mobile must be able to purchase it at either that rate, or lower)

If not, can you somehow get both services to subscribe to the same SIM card? (Can I purchase a normal plan from T-Mobile, and then buy data from AT&T and somehow have them attach it to that SIM card? (I don't think this is possible, but if it is, I'd love to investigate it)

Thanks!

[zowwie85]

No, they don't sell it like that. The closest you could get would be to import a dual-SIM-active phone and convince AT&T to sell you a tablet broadband plan.

I doubt such a phone exists with support for the AWS 3g band T-mobile uses though, or even USA 3g support at all.

[danska]

This is kind of an odd question.

I'm interested in T-Mobile service, and in the areas of town where they have towers, the service is always great. However, a large portion of town is either EDGE or roaming only (particularly newer parts of town, such as malls and things that didn't exist in 90's.

I'm aware that T-Mobile has a data roaming with AT&T, but that the amount your allowed to use is very small (0-200mb-ish depending on your plan)

My question is : Is it possible to purchase additional data roaming? For example, I would be willing to give T-Mobile an extra $25/month if they could give me an extra 1GB of AT&T 3G/HSPA+ data roaming. (AT&T sells 1GB for $25 standalone, on their prepaid service, T-Mobile must be able to purchase it at either that rate, or lower)

If not, can you somehow get both services to subscribe to the same SIM card? (Can I purchase a normal plan from T-Mobile, and then buy data from AT&T and somehow have them attach it to that SIM card? (I don't think this is possible, but if it is, I'd love to investigate it)

Thanks!

Nope, and the only way to get more roaming data is to get a 2nd line and add a data plan, and your NOT going to get anywhere near 1Gb of data. Most is 200mb.

(Oh, and yes, the data is HSPA+ but it's throttled. Expect 64kbps give or take a few. I roam on at&t hspa+ in western virginia a bit.)

[fraydog]

Unlock your phone and get a local SIM card from the country you travel to. That would be my idea.

[maxsilver]

Thanks for the info, I suspected this would be the case,but was holding out the hope that there may be some old feature code in the system for it.

[i0wnj00]

I doubt such a phone exists with support for the AWS 3g band T-mobile uses though, or even USA 3g support at all.

I wouldn't worry too much with AWS 3G devices.
With the way T-Mobile USA is going for 3G/HSPA+, I would simply find (or wait for) a dual SIM device with at least 3G 850/1900 MHz bands and sign up with both providers. It's a cumbersome idea, but that's the only way to enjoy the best of both worlds.

[Wireless Junkie]

If you need AT&T coverage, you can get a Straight Talk SIM on AT&T and they give you 2GB of internet and unlimited talk and text for $45 a month. They also sell a card that runs on T-Mobile and I hear it allows roaming as well, possibly without those limits so you could try it out?

[silentjudge]

To the OP, just look away from T-Mobile. If your going to be roaming a lot, its not worth it.