T-Mobile Connecting Heroes Now Live, First Responders Get Free 5G Service (phonedog.com) 18
T-Mobile has launched a new initiative called "Connecting Heroes" that gives free wireless service to first responders for 10 years, which T-Mobile estimates could save $7.7 billion if all first responder agencies sign up. PhoneDog reports: Connecting Heroes will give unlimited talk, text, and smartphone data to first responders. That includes 5G access at no extra charge as well as 1GB of 4G LTE mobile hotspot data plus 3G speeds after that. Streaming video at 480p is included, as is Mobile Without Borders which offers unlimited calling and texting between the US, Canada, and Mexico. First responders can choose to upgrade their plan for $15 per month and get 20GB of mobile hotspot usage, unlimited texting and up to 256Kbps data in 210+ countries and destinations, plus free texting and in-flight Wi-Fi through Gogo. T-Mobile's Connecting Heroes initiative is open to every public and non-profit, state and local police, fire, and EMS first responders. If you feel that you qualify, you can learn more and begin the signup process right here.
Free saves money? (Score:2)
Giving away free stuff saves money for a business like T-Mobile, but UBI is an impossible pipe dream for governments. Something's not right here.
Re: (Score:1)
They're not giving away free stuff. They are proposing organizations to sign up for a free tier that can be consumed in a day and subsequently for any useful stuff (slightly more useful data limits) charging $15.
UBI has nothing to do with this unless you're okay with the government giving you free money and then telling you you have to pay above and beyond what they give you at a particular place.
Re: Free saves money? (Score:2)
How does "offering free stuff" save T-Mobile money?
They are literally giving it away for no money, that means that while they take in no revenue, they are providing a service... Sounds like that would cost them money, not save money.
Re: Free saves money? (Score:2)
T-Mobile estimates could save $7.7 billion if all first responder agencies sign up.
The cash value of every first responder x monthly value of service offered x 12 months/year x 10 years = $7.7 Billion.
Every first responder won't sign up, everyone that does sign up won't keep the deal for all 10 years, it's just a made-up number completely uncoupled from reality
Re: Free saves money? (Score:2)
To be fair, "if all first responder agencies signed up" is pretty clear. I immediately understood that to be an absolute ceiling which nobody expects T-Mobile to reach. Similar offers have been described in much more misleading terms than that.
Re: (Score:2)
To be clear, the only reason the mobile companies get in trouble its because the agencies are too cheap to supply equipment and cover accidents. There has been cases where wildfire fighter
Heroes (Score:1)
Guessing the grocery store workers, nurses, amazon people and instacart delivery people are not heroes anymore in this definition?
Re: Heroes (Score:2)
This is a "First Responder" benefit, under what definition of "First Responder" are grocery store clerks and Amazon warehouse workers considered "First Responders"?
Re: (Score:2)
When anyone gets hit by an instacart delivery driver, they are the first one on the scene. Except for the drive-offs. Those guys don't get free mobile service.
Great, just great (Score:2)
So how long before the crazies start attacking first responders because of rumors that the first responders are actually deep state agents spreading coronavirus?
Re: Great, just great (Score:2)
We are safe, they aren't offering them 5G service.
What about (Score:2)
Slashdot first responders?
Re: (Score:2)
Re: cold water on the mareting parade (Score:2)
Your rant literally has nothing to do with offering First Responders free cellphone service.
Squeeze a little harder. (Score:3)
1GB of 4G LTE mobile hotspot data plus 3G speeds after that. Streaming video at 480p is included, as is Mobile Without Borders which offers unlimited calling and texting between the US, Canada, and Mexico. First responders can choose to upgrade their plan for $15 per month and get 20GB of mobile hotspot usage
I really dislike the arbitrary separation of hotspot and phone data in the US. It's just a handy way to charge more for data that's still just sent to the one device on their network.
I have a plan here in Australia that is 60GB (and unlimited calls, etc) for AUD45. That 60GB can be to anything, my phone, my laptop, my entire house, whatever. Deliver the data to me, I'll decide what to do with it after that. And currently that 60GB plan is unlimited due to "these uncertain times" - although I just barely use 10GB of it a month. Maybe they figured that 50GB+ usage caps are rarely reached for most users anyway, and it's better PR just to let it be wide open.
Free 5G (Score:1)
The free 5G will be handy because these are emergency responders and should be tracked vigilantly. The whole point in the 5G rollout is more, faster, and higher density telemetry. Big Data needs it.