Earlier this month, T-Mobile announced that it would be eliminating data buckets by moving to a T-Mobile One plan that offers unlimited data, text, and calls starting at $70 per month for the first line, $50 for the second line, and $20 for the third up to eight lines.
The plan also offered unlimited video streaming as long as it's in SD, and Wi-Fi hotspot support at 2G speeds. The latter part has been a point of contention for customers, and T-Mobile is now making amends by quadrupling tethering speeds to 3G (512kbps). The carrier is also launching the T-Mobile One Plus plan for an additional $25 per line per month, offering unlimited video streaming in HD along with unlimited LTE tethering.
With T-Mobile One Plus, you get "unlimited high-speed 4G LTE mobile hotspot data", which gives you LTE speeds when using your phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot. That said, should you use up more than 26GB of data while tethering and are connected to a congested tower, T-Mobile will prioritize other users. T-Mobile One Plus subscribers also have the ability to stream unlimited HD content on T-Mobile's network, and get double the data speeds (up to 256kbps) when roaming internationally in over 140 countries.
If you're not interested in using your data plan to connect to other devices, T-Mobile is breaking out the HD streaming option as an add-on. The carrier is offering one-day passes that allow you to stream unlimited HD content for $3 per day.
T-Mobile One Plus plans will be available from September 1, and the HD passes will be rolling out in October. While the new plans are beneficial to those that consume a lot of data, the pricing will adversely affect customers with limited data requirements. Existing customers will be able to retain their current plans, but those taking a new line after September 1 will have to opt for the pricier T-Mobile One or One Plus plans.
