T-Mobile MVNO Ultra Mobile today increased the amount of high speed data included with most of its plans and made a number of other plan tweaks. There is a catch however. Most of the extra high speed data is delivered at "3G" speeds, which Ultra calls "DATAXTRA". Ultra doesn't specify how fast those 3G speeds are but I'm guessing the will be at the same 512 Kbps "3G speeds" that T-Mobile serves to its postpaid T-Mobile One customers when they tether or hotspot.
With this latest change data on most of Ultra's plans are served at three different speeds. For example, on Ultra's $29 unlimited everything plan, the first 1 GB of data is delivered at up to full LTE speeds, the second 1 GB at 3G speeds and everything else at 2G speeds of about 128 Kbps.
The above is simplified a bit for clarity. The data speed story at Ultra Mobile is a little more complicated. That's because of the "Data My Way" feature that Ultra added last month. Data My Way throttles 4G data speeds to 1.5 Mbps by default, but users can switch to full speed data or choose 1Mbps throttling. Lower data rates force streaming video services to deliver lower quality video resulting in lower data use.
Here are all of Ultra Mobile's plans marked up with strike out and bold fonts to show the differences between the old and new plans:
- $19* 100 MB (hard capped) data, unlimited calls to
3060 international destinations, $1.25 int'l call credit, $10 int'l roaming credit - $24*
100500 MB (hard capped) 4G data, unlimited calls to 30 international destinations, $7 int'l call credit, $10 int'l roaming credit - $29*
1 GB 4G + unlimited 2G1 GB 4G + 1 GB 3G + unlimited 2G data, unlimited calls to 60 international destinations, $2.50 int'l call credit, $10 int'l roaming credit - $34*
2 GB 4G + unlimited 2G2 GB 4G + 2 GB 3G + unlimited 2G data, unlimited calls to3060 international destinations, 0 int'l call credit, $10 int'l roaming credit - $39*
2 GB 4G + unlimited 2G2 GB 4G + 2 GB 3G + unlimited 2G data, unlimited calls to 60 international destinations, $2.50 int'l call credit, $10 int'l roaming credit - $39*
2 GB 4G + unlimited 2G2 GB 4G + 2 GB 3G + unlimited 2G data, unlimited calls to 60 international destinations, $2.50 int'l call credit, $10 int'l roaming credit $44$45*1 GB + unlimited 2G5 GB 4G + 2 GB 3G + unlimited 2G data, unlimited calls to3060 international destinations,$200 int'l call credit, $15 int'l roaming credit$54$49*2 GB 4G + unlimited 2G2 GB 4G + 2 GB 3G + unlimited 2G data, unlimited calls to 30 international destinations,$20 int'l call credit, $15 int'l roaming credit
There appear to be no changes to Ultra's multi-line plan which includes 1 GB of 4G data, 60 international destinations, $2.50 int'l call credit plus 1,000 Minutes to 10+ countries and a $10 int'l roaming credit. Pricing for the multi-line plan is three months for $79 ($26.33/month), six months for $129 ($21.50/month) and 12 months for $228 ($19/month).
- $19 100 MB (hard capped) data, unlimited calls to14 international destinations, $1.25 int'l call credit, $5 int'l roaming credit
- $24 500 MB (hard capped) data, unlimited calls to 7 international destinations, $7 int'l call credit, $10 int'l roaming credit
- $29 1 GB 4G + 1 GB 3G + unlimited 2G data, unlimited calls to 14 international destinations, $2.50 int'l call credit, $10 int'l roaming credit
- $34 2 GB 4G + 2 GB 3G + unlimited 2G data, unlimited calls to 14 international destinations, no int'l call credit, $10 int'l roaming credit
- $39 2 GB 4G + 2 GB 3G + unlimited 2G data, unlimited calls to 14 international destinations, $2.50 int'l call credit, $10 int'l roaming credit
- $45 5 GB 4G + 2 GB 3G + unlimited 2G data, unlimited calls to 14 international destinations, no int'l call credit, $15 int'l roaming credit
- $49 2 GB 4G + 2 GB 3G + unlimited 2G data, unlimited calls to 7 international destinations, $20 int'l call credit, $15 int'l roaming credit

Can't wait until the unlimited "2g" becomes "3g".
ReplyDeleteInteresting, its all 4g tech but just trottled at different rates.
Yep. On T-Mobile (postpaid,) when they slow you down to 128k after your limited HS data is used up, the network icon still shows 4G LTE.
DeleteMore data for the same price is a step in the right direction. I would be happy if they lowered the price and kept the data the same.
ReplyDeleteAre they actually using a different gechnology for the 3g or is it still the 4g but just trottled?
ReplyDeleteIf the later, then what loss will this company incur if they gave us all that data at 4g?
The 2g, which is still 4g but throttled, that is unlimitedx so surely they will not give us unlimited 4g, but the 3g, its not unlimited, so, then, just give the same amount of data of the 3g but at 4g?
I believe that 3G and 2G are throttled but using the most efficient data transport available. LTE is more efficient than 3G or 2G.
DeleteThrottling benefits Ultra and T-Mobile two ways.
1) Throttling reduces video quality so less data is used. The less "use it or lose it" (non-rollover) data you use the less Ultra has to pay T-Mobile and the more of your monthly payment Ultra gets to keep.
2) Throttling decreases the amount of bandwidth you use allowing the network to serve more users or serve faster data to un-throttled users. T-Mobile may be selling throttled data to Ultra at a lower cost per MB than un-throttled data.
This is why with 5g, I will not we can get unlimited 512 or even more?
DeleteIf data is what you care about the most, Lyca Mobile still beats them on the 500MB and maybe even the 100MB tier (depending on the taxes/fees.)
ReplyDeleteDoesn't matter Lyca is shit I'm switching rn stupid ass customer service and won't allow my credit cards and dropped calls via international and even Freaking local are you kidding me?!?!
DeleteDid anyone have chance to use the intl' roaming feature? the website didn't say data available while travel internationally, not sure if it will be offered in the future. T-Mobile does have free DATA for selected countries, even it's at 3G speed.
ReplyDeleteUltra Mobile announced the launch of “The New $19,” a new plan that includes unlimited nationwide talk, text, and 100 MB of high-speed data across more than 60 countries.
ReplyDeleteUltra put out a very misleading press release today. It implies that you can roam in 60 countries. But if you go to the Utra website you will see that it's actually unlimited calls and text TO 60 countries not IN 60 countries. The "New $19" seems to be the same as the old $19 except that the international roaming credit has been reduced from $10 to $5.
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