We know mobile bandwidth is limited, so when a carrier moves from unlimited data plans to tiered, metered ones, we can understand. You may even find that your data needs allow you to switch to a lower-tier plan and save some money each month. When this doesn’t work is when the network cuts back on its data allowance without offering any other options, as looks to be the case with T-Mobile in the UK. Starting February 1, the carrier will lower its “fair use” smartphone data ceiling from 3GB per month down to 500MB.

Unlike many US carriers, T-Mobile UK only has flat-rate data. Everyone who wants to access the internet from their smartphone pays the same each month, which so far means a 3GB allowance. Past that, you aren’t even charged more, but the carrier degrades the speed of your service. Beginning next month, it intends to slash that monthly limit to 500MB.

T-Mobile’s announcement of this cutback is nothing less than condescending. The company advises its users to only use their expensive smartphones for simple tasks like surfing the web, adding “If you want to download, stream and watch video clips, save that stuff for your home broadband”.

The company’s attitude aside, do you think this is a big deal? 500MB is still more than enough for many phone users. Is T-Mobile just making sure network resources are available for the majority of its subscribers, or is it going too far in trying to limit what its users do with their phones?

Source: T-Mobile UK

Via: Electronista