T-Mobile will launch an unlimited data plan on Sep.5. "no data caps, speed limits or bill shock," the carrier said. Though the other companies supply unlimited plans, T-Mobile's plan is cheaper. For both unlimited data and unlimited talk, T-Mobile charges $90 a month; Sprint's price is $110.
"Carriers are hoping to attract new customers as data use increases and other providers cut their plan limits." Andrew Eisner, director of content for Retrevo.com said. "All the cool things smartphones do tend to take up a lot of data," he said.
But unlimited data may not be worth pursuing.
"Changing providers is like refinancing your house," technology consultant Alex Goldfayn said. "It's that complex, and not something people take on lightly."
AT&T and Verizon both have cut their unlimited plans for new customers. However, Sprint use the unlimited data plans as key to drawing in new customers, which is the only big carrier offering unlimited data plans.
T-Mobile wants to use the plan to compete with larger rivals AT&T and Verizon Wireless. Which have bigger and faster wireless networks.
"Consumers want the freedom of unlimited 4G data," T-Mobile's VP of marketing, Kevin McLaughlin said. "Our bold move to be the only wireless carrier to offer an Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan reinforces our value leadership and capitalizes on the strength of our nationwide 4G network."
T-Mobile has been losing subscribers as country's fourth-largest carrier because it is the only national carrier not selling iPhone.
T-Mobile wants the new cheaper unlimited plan to reverse subscriber losses. The iPhone 5 is expected to be released on Sep.12, which could be a big challenge for T-Mobile. T-Mobile has been losing its market shares recently. It has lost more than 1 million customers in the first half year of 2012. On contrast, Verizon Wireless and AT&T increased 5.6 million and 1.9 million customers in the same period.
