T-Mobile Network Coverage

Part of picking a service provider is checking the coverage areas. After all, you do not want to end up with a provider that offers little to no coverage in your area and some places are sneaky about giving you a direct answer. Thankfully, T-Mobile has a broad coverage area with few roaming areas to worry about. This means you can travel most anywhere in the United States and Hawaii without worry.

Not too long ago, cell phones didn't come with a roaming indicator on the phones so if you were out of the service area, it was hard to know if you were being charged roaming rates or not. I remember this being an issue for me just 15 years ago. Today, most phones tell you when you are roaming so you know better than to answer that call unless it is absolutely necessary.

If you are planning to travel, there are some things to consider about using your T-Mobile phone. You do need a special data device that enables you to pick up a signal in the destination you are traveling to.

Essentially, the device redirects your service providers access through another tower in the area. So if you are traveling to the U.K, you will want to call T-Mobile and ask what the roaming rates are in that area because roaming rates vary depending on where you are going so I cannot give you an exact quote.

T-Mobile, will however, offer you an International Roaming plan that is free to activate, so you can get discounted rates on call away from home. Most phones come with multi-band frequency transmitters which should allow you to pick up more than one radio wave. I do not know if anyone carries single-band phones anymore, but if you do; it is probably a cheap go phone you picked up at Walmart or a phone from a service provider like Cricket or Sprint.

If you are planning on doing a lot of traveling, it is recommended that you have a quad-band phone or device like a so you can pick up a signal nearly everywhere there is one. If your phone does not have one, no worries you can buy them separately through your service provider.

You an also get pretty fair rates when roaming on a T-Mobile prepaid plan.

• Mexico: $1.49 a minute
• Canada: $0.69 a minute

International Calling:

• Mexico/Canada: $0.50 per minute
  
• Peurto Rico: $0.40 per minute
  
• Guam/Jamaica/Island countries: $0.90 a minute
• Everywhere else: $1.60

Looking at the rates whether on T-Mobiles International calling plan or a prepaid plan, the best option is to buy a prepaid phone when you get to where you are going. If T-Mobile is offered in destination you are going to, it would be cheaper to just buy one there and make one International call for $1.60 leaving them your temporary number and they can call you on their dime...