T-Mobile Connects with CCA Data Service Hub for Added Roaming Partnership

T-Mobile is getting connected with Competitive Carriers Association’s LTE data roaming hub, giving way to smaller carriers and is in a process to expand its network coverage by providing them another partner to work with.

Sprint has already been dominating the hub by allowing CCA members to join in order to roam in the network for all players. Data roaming hub is sponsored by Transition Network Services that presents a platform subscriber to build up reciprocal roaming agreements. For next generation as well as LTE data services, CCA stated that the hub offers a single point of international interconnection.

In 2013, the hub was released and Sprint got connected with it in March 2014. The T-Mobile LTE network will now allowed comparatively smaller carriers to access roaming. In addition, it has enhanced the roaming partnership with incompatible network members.

T-Mobile is constantly making an extra effort to expand its LTE network. CCA President Steve Berry stated "I am delighted that T-Mobile has committed to working alongside many of CCA's other carrier members to ensure a pathway to robust nationwide 4G LTE coverage”. The Data Services Hub is quickly becoming a phenomenal resource that provides invaluable benefits to every CCA member, especially those operating in rural and regional areas. I am extremely pleased that T-Mobile has taken a leadership position in ensuring the future of a competitive mobile ecosystem, and its decision is proof-positive that the idea of a one-to-many connection will bring enormous benefits to all competitive carriers."

T-Mobile’s senior vice president for corporate development and roaming announced “the hub enables better collaboration with smaller capabilities even further.”

AT&T Took Certain Steps to Battle T-Mobile

Lately, T-Mobile has been declared the third largest carrier, based on their total number of subscribers. The company is behind AT&T who holds the second spot. AT&T knows how to become more competitive. 

Changes made by AT&T

AT&T is becoming more popular each passing day as it is providing its subscribers with more data in the same price range or reducing the monthly cost and cropping a little amount of data. For instance, users who previously paid $100 per month for the 10GB plan will now be offered 15GB of data for the same rate. Those who earlier paid $70 per month for the 6GB plan will be now be paying $50 every month for 5GB data. The carrier is also compiling its 1GB and 3G data plans into a single 2GB plan.

Customers are benefited by the overall advancements made because of the competition. Another major change has been made in the top tier plan that includes unlimited free calling and texting available for subscribers to Canada and Mexico.

Why was there a need to make such changes?

AT&T is unable to ignore T-Mobile’s subscriber expansion. T-Mobile has recently overpowered Sprint in total users. In the past nine successive quarters, T-Mobile has managed to add 1 million internet users each quarter. T-Mobile offers cheap plans to its customers and this fact worries AT&T.  Users switch from AT&T to some other carrier due to their high priced pans. So to retain their customers, AT&T has to bring about the same drastic changes and it has done so quite wisely. Adding the option of unlimited calls and text to Canada and Mexico is a major move against T-Mobile’s ”Mobile Without Borders” plan.

What is worrying AT&T?

AT&T isn’t in massive danger of being defeated by T-Mobile as it has been in the number two spot for quite some time now. AT&T incorporates a superior network when compared to other carriers and this is the reason why it is leading T-Mobile in the list. If T-Mobile is to catch up, it undoubtedly has to make remarkable changes in most of its plans.

With ‘Open World’, Sprint Challenges T-Mobile’s International Plans

Sprint recently announced its new international plan termed as ‘Open World’ that reminds of T-Mobile’s ‘Mobile without Borders’. As the competitive spirit of big telecom companies gets fierce, the customers benefit by getting the maximum benefit in different corners of the world.

Open World provides free unlimited voice calls and text to users in Mexico, Canada, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Argentina, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Chile, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras and Paraguay. You can also have 1GB of 3G data but once you do so, you will be billed $30 per GB.

‘Open World’ offers free calling as well as texting to its Mexico and Canada users but only if they are in the U.S. Calling outside of Canada and Mexico will be chargeable at $0.05 per minute to Latin America, the Dominican Republic and 180 other countries.

Luckily, Sprint’s Open World delivers free texting, $0.20 per minute calls and $30 per GB of data in countries such as Australia, England, Germany, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Israel, Scotland, Spain, South Korea, Wales, Sweden, Vatican City, Italy, Palestinian Territories, Denmark, Northern Ireland, Canary Islands and United Kingdom.

If you compare ‘Open World’ and ‘Mobile without Borders’ then T-Mobile’s plan lets you use your normal minutes as well as 4G LTE data in Mexico and Canada, whereas Sprint offers for free a single gig of 3G data. 

T-Mobile has the same regular plan for other countries as well where it costs $0.20 per minute and offers free unlimited 2G data.

Verizon Offers Simplified Data Plans and Cut Smartphone Access Charges

Verizon Wireless is cutting prices as well as access line charges for devices while abolishing a few data tiers. According to the carrier, the new rate plan structure will be simplified and, therefore, will appeal to the majority of customers.

From August 13, Verizon will shift to the new plans that include unlimited voice and texting and the capability of sharing data on up to 10 devices.

Verizon is removing other data buckets to enhance its More Everything shared data plan that includes 2GB for $40 per month or 4GB for $60, but customers get 1GB extra for $15. Those who require more than 12GB per month can consult other relevant plans with a Verizon Wireless customer representative.

In addition, Verizon is curtailing access charges in order to add devices. According to the new plan, each smartphone line will cost $20 per month that has been cut from $40, but only when the user has a two-year contract. If the customer has bought a phone through Verizon’s Edge equipment installment plan, this will cost around $15, or up to $50.

The vice president of pricing and promotion for Verizon, Rob Miller, said that the carrier conducted the comprehensive research with the customers, competitors, sales representatives and also with customer care representatives in devising the new plans. In an interview with Fierce Wireless, Miller announced that according to research on customer usage, four data buckets that have been chosen by Verizon “meet the demands of the vast majority of our customers.” Miller added, Verizon has simplified and cut down its access phone charges because the customers demanded so in the feedback. He said, “We think we delivered on that.” However, this is slightly complicated. Customers who are on a two-year contract and require the new pricing may adopt the plan, but the plan will cost them $40 per smartphone per month access charge and after the contract is over, Verizon will drop the access charge on its own to $20.