T-Mobile Bringing Out Cheaper Data Plan, New Tethering Plan

T-Mobile, the fourth-largest wireless phone company in the U.S., has just announced that it is adding two more Wireless Data plans. One of these will be an inexpensive plan for light users, while the other will be a tethering plan. 

Under T-Mobile's new set up, users will have a choice between a contract that gets them 200 MB of data or month for $10 a month, or one that gets them an unlimited amount of data for $30 a month.

Those who don't want to sign a contract will be able to get  200 MB of data  from this carrier for $15 a month.

The New Tethering Plan
T-Mobile also took the wraps off its first ever tethering plan, which will allow customers to use their smartphone as a wireless modem for other devices, such as laptops and tablets.  This announcement might confuse some of this carrier's subscribers, who have been tethering their devices for years.

Last month, T-Mobile put a "soft" cap on monthly data usage for its unlimited data plan. Customers who transfer over 5 GB of data in a single month will have their service slowed down. Paying an additional $15 a month will remove this cap.

Very few smartphone users go through 5 GB of data a month, but those who tether their laptop to their phone regularly exceed this cap. Those who sign up for the new "Tethering and Wi-Fi Sharing" plan will get truly unlimited access to T-Mobile's Wireless Data network, which uses the 3G standard HSPA+.

A Race to the Bottom
T-Mobile is the third of the "Big Four" wireless carriers to offer a very inexpensive monthly data plan, but it has the lowest price.

Just last week, Verizon began offering a plan that gets users 150 MB of data transfers for $15 per month.

AT&T's version charges customers $15 for 200 MB per month.

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