T-Mobile users traveling to Europe this summer won't need to buy a new phone to get high speed internet. The company announced today that starting July 1 and running through August 31, travelers who have T-Mobile's Simple Choice plan while in the US will have access to high-speed 4G LTE networks across the continent.
T-Mobile has offered free international data, known as roaming, since October 2013, though with the exception of Canada and Mexico, internet speeds were slowed down to slow, 2G-like connections overseas.
Calls in European countries will be 20-cents per minute, but users can use apps like Skype, WhatsApp, FaceTime or Snapchat to make calls with friends. You can also use your phone as a wireless hotspot for other devices with unlimited high-speed data for no additional charge. T-Mobile's Simple Choice plans start at $50 a month (plus taxes and fees) for 2GB of data.
T-Mobile users will still be able to get unlimited data when traveling to the other 100+ countries T-Mobile has arrangements with, but they will remain at 2G speeds. Traditional texting (not services like iMessage, WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger) remains unlimited.
According to the U.S. Department of Travel and Trade, nearly 2.8 million Americans travelled to Europe last July and August, creating a large customer base for T-Mobile to tap into. Using the department's data from the past few years T-Mobile estimates at least 2.5 million travelers to Europe this summer.
T-Mobile isn't currently offering free higher-speed data to Rio de Janeiro, home of this summer's Olympics, though in an email with USA TODAY, chief marketing officer Andrew Sherrard noted that "the summer is still young."
Sprint, AT&T, Verizon
Once a taboo of the wireless industry, T-Mobile isn't alone in offering unlimited data and texting to customers traveling abroad. Sprint similarly includes unlimited data and texting with 20-cent per minute calls, though that data is limited slower 2G speeds.
Faster 3G speeds are available, though it will cost you: a day pass to get 100MB of faster internet will run $15, with options going up to 14-days and 500MB for $50.
Verizon allows users to continue using their phones with their existing calling, texting and data plans for $10 per day in over 100 countries, $2 per day in Mexico or Canada. The benefit is simplicity-- everything functions the same as it would if you were using your phone at home, but at $10 per day you'll quickly run up a bill if you're overseas for more than a couple of days.
Verizon offers international monthly plans starting at $25 per month for travel in Europe, but that plan charges $1.79 per minute for calls, $0.50 for every text sent, $0.05 for texts received and includes just 100MB of data, with overage fees of $25 for every additional 100MB you use.
AT&T's plans are slightly better than Verizon's, but still pricier than T-Mobile and Sprint. Starting at $40 per month for unlimited texting, $1.00 per minute calls, AT&T throws in 200MB of data, with each additional MB over costing $0.25 per MB.
For those traveling to Brazil for the Olympics, AT&T does offer a special plan, giving unlimited texting, 30 minutes of calling and 1GB of data for 30 days for $50. Overages are $0.20 per MB for each additional MB used and $0.20 per minute for extra calling. The Brazil plan runs until September 18.
Both Verizon and AT&T's data plans are high-speed, with no slower, unlimited free option available.
T-Mobile European data move is the latest in a string of plays to attract more customers. Earlier this month it announced that it would be giving customers a share in the company, a free one hour of WiFi on flights with Gogo internet, as well as weekly giveaways from companies like Domino's, Vudu, Lyft and Wendy's every Tuesday. In its latest marketing play, the company will be giving all flyers on Gogo flights this weekend access to one hour of internet for free.
Follow Eli Blumenthal on Twitter @eliblumenthal
