T-Mobile

T-Mobile plans to start addressing users who are abusing their unlimited 4G/LTE data plans, according to an alleged internal memo published by TMO News. The memo sent to T-Mobile staff reads:

"T-mobile has identified customers who are heavy data users and are engaged in peer-to-peer file sharing, and tethering outside of T-Mobile’s Terms and Conditions (T&C). This results in a negative data network experience for T-Mobile customers. Beginning August 17, T-Mobile will begin to address customers who are conducting activities outside of T-Mobile’s T&Cs.”

The memo also contains a 4-step plan to handle customers who are violating T-Mobile's terms and conditions.

T-Mobile will first contact the alleged abuser to notify them that they are violating their terms and conditions. The customer's account will be tagged with a "Misuse Warning SOC" until their next billing cycle. If the abuse continues, T-Mobile will then throttle the customer's data speeds. The account will also be marked by a "Misuse Throttle SOC" so customer care and other staff will know why that customer is experiencing slower speeds.

Another merger is getting closer to reality with news of the latest negotiations between Sprint and T-Mobile making headlines at Bloomberg. Sprint looks to acquire T-Mobile in a $32 billion deal that would create the third largest wireless carrier in the US.

The two carriers would boast 99 million subscribers combined, falling in behind AT&T's 108 million and Verizon's 120 million customers. SoftBank, which owns 80 percent of Sprint, is looking to create a more formidable competitor in the market. The news comes as other consolidation deals are being scrutinized in the industry, including AT&T's planned buyout of DirecTV.

Talks of launching a MetroPCS-branded iPhone have resurfaced one year after T-Mobile acquired the pre-paid carrier. Marketing Officer Mike Sievert told Re/code, that the company is very interested in bringing the iPhone to its customers.

Last summer, T-Mobile CEO John Legere told AllThingsD that a MetroPCS iPhone was not out of the question, but also not "imminent". T-Mobile is struggling on how to make Apple's handset "affordable enough for all of MetroPCS’s customers," according to Re/code. Pre-paid iPhones are not a new concept, the AT&T owned Cricket offers the 16GB iPhone 5s for $600, but that may be a stretch for some budget-minded MetroPCS customers.

After changing the way mobile providers dealt with cellphone subsidies, T-Mobile has now decided to "abolish consumer overages". The mobile carrier today announced part three of its new three part Un-carrier movement. Part one involved rolling out the company's Starter Plan which gave "value-conscious Americans" unlimited talk, text and up to 500MB 4G LTE data for only $40. Part two, entitled "Operation Tablet Freedom," allowed tablet owners to save money while upgrading to a 4G LTE model.

Part three challenges AT&T, Verizon and Sprint to eliminate overage penalties. John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile, who says "overage fees are flat out wrong," has created a petition on Change.org asking all wireless carriers to abolish their "greedy, predatory" practices.

T-Mobile today announced the continuation of its "Un-carrier revolution" by rolling out the first of three new data plans geared towards "value-conscious Americans". The company's first offering is the Simple Starter value plan which gives users unlimited talk, text and up to 500MB 4G LTE data for only $40.

Users who exceed their 500MB bandwidth cap will have the opportunity to buy "additional data sessions" instead of being hit with extra charges, according to the official T-Mobile announcement.