Mobile’s no-extra-charge ‘Mobile without Borders’ service to begin July 15

As part of their Uncarrier Amped announcement today, T-Mobile is redoing on of their popular Uncarrier announcements which was Simply Global. As always, however, beware the fine print in any wireless plan, especially when choosing primarily on the basis of global travel. The wireless carrier said it added 2.1 million new customers in Q2 of this year, a 41% increase year-over-year. If you’ve got a legacy plan that you don’t want to switch away from, you’ll be able to add Mobile Without Borders to it for $10 per month. T-Mobile’s expanded North America coverage will start on July 15. Once it’s set up, T-Mobile’s plan roams across those borders with you. Around 55 percent of all worldwide travel and 35 percent of worldwide calls from the United States involved Canada and Mexico.

Many European Union representatives considered the roaming charges a “Cash Cow” for carrier companies and favored a one continent solution to the sometimes excessive roaming taxes. Coverage in Mexico includes 117 markets.

In a video introducing “Mobile without Borders”, Legere explained the rationale behind the new promotion.

It tackles a big annoyance in the cell phone world: varying fees whenever you make calls (to or from) across the border. The pain is real. No prepaid packages and no buying the extra SIM card. Your service just works.

And the insane charges aren’t limited to roaming-simply calling to Mexico & Canada can run up a huge bill.

On the call, Legere gloated about beating a larger rival, AT&T, to allow Americans to easily make calls from Mexico. Wholesale net customer additions in 2Q 2015 were 886,000; apparently up 93% YOY; whereas M2M customers declined slightly, which is interesting when we consider the clamour for M2M and IoT at the moment.

Corporate maneuvers aside, consumers and businesspeople will find much to like in Mobile Without Borders. Using your phone throughout Mexico & Canada is as easy as driving across the border. Texting was already cost-free. “And they won’t offer Canada for free”. It is available to all users, including those who have a pre-paid or pay as you go plan. Starting next Wednesday, every new Simple Choice customer will automatically get Mexico & Canada included in their plan at no extra charge.

Shoppers have to sign up on the internet or at a store to take benefit of the deal.

Legere during the promotions said, “I hate limits”. Legere said that they beat AT&T to the punch and, are doing so in the better way because they are providing these services to and from Canada as well without charging customers more money for them. These include the most populated regions in each country. The other three major carriers report over the coming weeks.