Smart phone 1gb allowance however TMobile state I have ^unlimited^access to internet - confused

[FiaGrace]

Can someone please explain as I don't understand.

I have 'unlimited' access to the internet via my mobile phone but only have a 1gb per month allowance. Surely one contradicts the other?

I don't intend to download music and films but will look at FB, BBC news etc. Is this going to count towards my allowance.

Sorry for being dim.

unlimited is never usually unlimited - it's subject to fair usage, normally about 1gb

i think the unlimited refers to using hotspots and wifi, the allowance is for 3g. So, it depends when you are when you connect.

Thank you

So if I'm only 'browsing' and not downloading music and films, I'm still unlikely to exceed it?

Guess I'll learn as I go along.

1gb is alot - I had 1gb for my netbook a while ago and browsed MN all day and didn't reach it :) - sign into wifi as much as poss. though

ghostie can you explain a little more please.

Thank you secret.

I know I'm being thick but when you say 'sign into wifi' what do you mean ie use wifi as against what?

If you're in the house, get it to connect to your home router rather than using up your tmobile connection :)

Ah okay, I see. So, when I go to connet, I'll be given a choice then?

I can't believe how little I know about this.

A lot of mobiles say unlimited allowance but in very small print the sneaky bastards say subject to fair usage policy of xxx [bitter voice of experience from allowing DC to play on phone]

maud that's what I'd heard and didn't want to learn from a bad experience like you.

Must say I agree with your struck-through description, Maud.

Until the iPhone 4 came out, O2 used to offer 'unlimited' for users (but if someone exceeded 3-4 GB a month, I think they got a warning), but remember many customers were also paying up to 70 quid a month.

Now it looks like the iPhone users are generally limited to something between 500 MB and 1 GB, depending on which network and what they are paying.

I think they're all misleading, even if they suggest a 'Fair Usage Policy', because they don't seem to want to be open about having some limit, and thus permit proper comparison of what one gets from different contracts.

Last thing you want if signing up to 18 or 24 month contract is a clause allowing them to 'move the goal posts' whenever they want.

I know Three say "unlimited" on some of their ads, and I am unsure whether they really would allow someone to use Skype and so on for lots of hours a day, on a PAYG...

I can imagine some enterprising drug dealer user happy to make/ receive calls all day long without either end paying a bean for them as they are both on Skype...

Make sure wifi is switched on and when out and about do a wifi scan to find any avaikable network. You can download an app for this. Make sure you know what the "wifi connected" symbol on the top of your homescreen looks like. If you're on the internet and wifi isn't connected you'll be on 3g and using some of your 1gb data allowance.

However I've never got anywhere near my 1gb allowance. Think you'll be fine. Plus if they go over they don't bill you, they text you and warn you. If you carry on then they may slow down the speed of your access.

I'm using Three for my computer access - they charge 7.50 a month and I get 15 GB allowance, which makes the regular costs of 5 quid a GB (sometimes more - have seen someone paying 10 quid a month with a 1 GB allowance for her iPad) seem outrageous.

I don't know whether 50p per GB is realistic as a charge - on my landline I'm just about hitting 90 GB in a month and my ISP only charges a little over a tenner (I'm paying about 8.50 for that as I recommended the ISP and get a discount while other people are customers as a 'thank you').

Yes, that point about T-Mobile only slowing your connection and not billing excessive amounts is a good point. One of their major "plus" points.

I hope they manage to keep that option once the merger with Orange (and rebranding?) has been completed, or it will be a bit of a bummer for T-Mob customers who have had this benefit in the past.