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The National Payments Corporation of India (<keyword id="193629" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="npci" source="Orion">NPCI</keyword>), along with telecom major <keyword id="2003276" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="jio" source="Orion">Jio</keyword>, on Thursday announced that <keyword id="9621522" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="upi-autopay" source="Orion">UPI Autopay</keyword> has now been introduced for the telecom industry with Jio.<br /><br />Jio customers can now set standing instructions on the MyJio App using UPI <keyword id="2836894" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="autopay" source="Orion">Autopay</keyword> for their favourite tariff plans.<br /><br />"The combination of Jio's superior prepaid and postpaid plans and UPI Autopay will now be available to every Jio user," Kiran Thomas, Director, Jio, said in a statement.<br /><br />"Jio users will no longer need to remember their recharge renewal date or bill payment date and perform manual payments. This will enable an ALWAYS-ON service experience for every Jio prepaid user," Thomas added.<br /><br />Jio's integration with UPI Autopay has made it the first player in the telecom industry to go live with the unique e-mandate feature that was launched by NPCI.<br /><br />"We are glad to associate with Jio and witness UPI Autopay venturing into the ever-evolving telecom sector. We believe our collaboration will change the way Jio customers experience the renewal of their mobile tariff plans," said Kunal Kalawatia, Chief of Products, NPCI.<br /><br />"With UPI Autopay, it's our constant endeavour at NPCI to provide an extra layer of comfort and convenience to all the customers for their recurring spends and payments," Kalawatia added.<br /><br /><b>SEE ALSO:</b><br /><br /> <b><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/airtel-jio-vodafone-idea-best-postpaid-plans/articleshow/87868625.cms">Airtel vs Jio vs Vodafone Idea postpaid plans compared</a></b><br /><br /> <b><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/reliance-jio-and-zupee-announce-strategic-partnership-jio-users-to-get-access-to-games/articleshow/88709349.cms">Reliance Jio and Zupee announce strategic partnership, Jio users to get access to games</a></b><br /><br /> <b><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/what-is-e-mandate-or-upi-autopay-and-how-to-enable-it-for-jio-hotstar-and-others/articleshow/86650600.cms">What is e-mandate or UPI autopay and how to enable it for Jio, Hotstar and others</a></b><br />

Jio users can now use UPI to automatically recharge their numbers or make bill payments

If you are looking to invest in the initial public offering (IPO) of Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC, then go ahead as today, October 1, is the last day of the issue. The IPO application is live from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.<br /><br />So far, in the first two days of subscription, the IPO has received a tepid response from all categories of investors.<br /><br />The portion reserved for retail investors was subscribed 2 times the issue size on the second day of the issue i.e. September 30.<br /><br />Overall, the issue was subscribed 1.08 times on the second day. The IPO has received bids for 2.99 crore equity shares against the IPO size of 2.77 crore equity shares.<br /><br />The grey market premium of the fund house’s IPO is nearly 3% higher at ₹20 per share from its price band of ₹695-712. The premium in the grey market fell from ₹70 in the last few days.<br /><br />The IPO for Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC opened Wednesday, September 29 and will close on October 1, with a price band of ₹695-712.<br /><br />Further, analysts are positive on the long term prospects of the company’s growth. They expect the mutual industry’s assets under management (AUM) to grow by 11-13% in the next five years to ₹57 trillion and Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC to benefit from strong industry prospects given it is among the top five players in the country.<br /><br /><table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Brokerages<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Recommendation<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Anand Rathi<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Subscribe<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">BP Equities<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Subscribe<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Canara Bank Securities<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Subscribe<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Religare Broking<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Subscribe<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Ventura<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Subscribe<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Nirmal Bang<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Subscribe<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Dalal &amp; Broacha<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Subscribe<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Swastika<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Subscribe<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Investmentz<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Subscribe<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />A report by Nirmal Bang said, “ABSL enjoys a strong parentage, solid brand image, a decent distribution network and consistently high return on equity of over 30%. We thus recommend “subscribe for the long term.”<br /><br />“The MF industry will witness consolidation in the next 3-4 years of players who won’t be able to survive,” said A Balasubramanian, managing director and chief executive officer at Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC in an interview with Business Insider The ₹36 trillion mutual fund industry, in India, with 44 players may see mergers happening in the next couple of years considering the majority of the market is held by the country’s top 10 fund houses.<br /><br />Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC is the fourth largest mutual fund house in the country with ₹2.75 billion average assets under management after SBI MF, HDFC MF and ICICI Prudential MF as of June quarter.<br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO:<br /><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/paras-defence-space-tech-ipo-continues-to-demand-a-premium-of-200-in-grey-market/articleshow/86663834.cms">Paras Defence &amp; Space Tech IPO continues to demand a premium of ₹200 in grey market</a><br /></strong><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/what-is-e-mandate-or-upi-autopay-and-how-to-enable-it-for-jio-hotstar-and-others/articleshow/86650600.cms"><strong>What is e-mandate or UPI autopay and how to enable it for Jio, Hotstar and others</strong></a>

Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC IPO’s last day to subscribe, grey market indicates ₹20 premium

<p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/master-your-money"></a></p><div type="image" title="checking credit" height="1301" width="1735" msid="79556229" hostid="261"></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Your <keyword id="88181" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="credit-history">credit history</keyword> can determine whether you're able to get a loan on a house or car, rent an apartment, and may even affect your job opportunities.</li><li>Through April 2021, you can request a free <keyword id="524374" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="credit-report">credit report</keyword> once a week, which serves as your financial reference sheet for lenders.</li><li>Review it three to six months before any large purchase and to make sure there's no suspicious activity on any of your accounts.</li><li>In addition, always pay your bills on time, or contact your lenders in advance if you can't.</li></ul><p>I've spent more than 20 years teaching people about the value of a strong credit history. While the world looks much different today against the backdrop of COVID-19, I believe one truth from pre-pandemic America remains: A <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/what-is-an-excellent-credit-score" target="_blank" rel="noopener">good credit history</a> is a gatekeeper to financial opportunity. </p><p>From buying a home to purchasing a new family car and much more, the types of purchases that create meaningful economic impact are the same things many of us, including millennials, want in life. Purchases like these will require sound credit, which is why protecting your credit history in 2021 and beyond is essential. </p><p>Here are three ways you can protect your credit history for a financially healthy new year: </p><h2>1. Don't be afraid of your credit report</h2><p>A common myth is that checking your credit report will hurt your <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/average-credit-score" target="_blank" rel="noopener">credit score</a>. It's simply not true. Your credit report serves as your financial references. Being familiar with the information in it enables you to protect your <keyword id="533402" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="financial-health">financial health</keyword>. </p><p>If you're planning to make a purchase in 2021 that will require credit, start by looking at your credit report. You can get a free credit report once a week through April 2021 at <a href="https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AnnualCreditReport.com</a>. At a minimum, I recommend checking your credit report three to six months in advance of any large purchase. Give yourself time to ensure your accounts are in good standing and that your credit history is ready to work for you when you need it. </p><h2><strong>2. Pay on time, every time</strong></h2><p>Experian's latest <a href="https://www.experian.com/blogs/insights/2020/10/state-credit-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">State of Credit</a> report shows millennials had fewer missed payments in 2020 than they did in 2019. This is good news, and I hope the trend continues. Nothing will damage your credit history faster than missed payments. </p><p>To maintain a positive credit history in 2021, pay on time to the best of your ability and make a plan to catch up on any missed payments. Enrolling in autopay can be a helpful way to stay on a payment schedule that works for you. </p><p>If you might miss a payment, contact your lenders as soon as possible. Many lenders have <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/banks-helping-customers-impacted-by-coronavirus-2020-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">special accommodations in place</a> to protect your financial health during the COVID-19 pandemic. </p><h2>3. Protect your financial health from fraudsters</h2><p>With people spending more time at home and online, the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to an increase in fraudulent activity that's likely to continue into 2021. To help combat this, I recommend using a credit card to make your online purchases. Doing so can help protect you against losses tied to fraudulent charges. </p><p>Another benefit to checking your credit report regularly is that it can help you spot potentially fraudulent activity on your credit accounts. If you're not already, using a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/credit-monitoring-caught-identity-theft-before-it-got-serious-2019-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">credit-monitoring service</a> can alert you to suspicious or fraudulent activity in real time to protect your credit standing and your financial health in 2021.  </p><p><em>Rod Griffin is the senior director of consumer education and advocacy at Experian and a member of BI's Money Council.</em></p>

A good credit history is the gatekeeper to financial opportunity. Here are 3 expert-recommended ways to protect yours.

<p class="source"><span>Apple</span></p><p class="caption">Virgin is going all-in on the iPhone.</p>Just a week after it started giving away <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/sprint-free-unlimited-plan-deal-switch-verizon-att-t-mobile-2017-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a year's worth of "unlimited" data for next to nothing</a>, Sprint has launched more hyper-aggressive moves - this time for its prepaid brand Virgin Mobile.<p>Virgin Mobile on Wednesday said that it would offer customers a year of its new "unlimited" data plan for a base price of $1. (There are small taxes and fees on top of that, though.)</p><p>The company also said it will only sell iPhones going forward. As in, no more Android.</p><p>Virgin Mobile calls the new plan "Inner Circle," and says that it will go for $50 a month after the first 12 months of service. It'll be open to new and existing Virgin Mobile users who buy an iPhone and make the switch prior to July 31.</p><p class="source"><span>Punip Paranjpe/Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">Virgin Group founder Richard Branson</p>The service comes with unlimited talk and text, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/unlimited-plans-comparison-verizon-att-sprint-tmobile-2017-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">but, as with every "unlimited" plan</a>, also has some caveats:<ul><li>Video streams are capped at a "480p+" resolution, which means they'll be less than HD.</li><li>Music streams are capped at speeds 500 Kbps, while games are capped at 2 Mbps. Both of those should be fine, but those speeds aren't particularly fast.</li><li>The company says customers that use more than 23 GB of data in a given month will have their speeds "deprioritized" during areas of network congestion.</li><li>There are no family or multi-line plans available. Virgin Mobile says it will eventually offer one, but for now, everyone in your group would have to sign up separately.</li><li>International calls cost an extra $5 or $10 a month, depending on whether you need the ability to call beyond Mexico and Canada.</li><li>You need to set your billing to auto-pay.</li></ul><p>All of this piggybacks off of Sprint's mobile network, which is widely <a href="http://www.pcmag.com/article/354110/fastest-mobile-networks-2017" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">regarded as the weakest</a> of the four major carriers. Nevertheless, cheap is cheap.</p><p class="source"><span>Hollis Johnson/Business Insider</span></p><p class="caption">The iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 7.</p>As part of the plan, the company is <a href="https://www.virginmobileusa.com/life-more-virgin.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">promising early subscribers</a> deals on other Virgin services, including discounts for Virgin Wines bottles and a "free companion ticket" for a Virgin Atlantic flight, among others. This is somewhat similar to what T-Mobile has done with its "<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/t-mobile-gives-customers-free-pizza-stocks-2016-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">T-Mobile Tuesdays</a>" giveaways.<p>The moves on Wednesday represent a relaunch of sorts for Virgin Mobile, which sits alongside Boost Mobile as Sprint's major prepaid wings. Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure <a href="https://www.recode.net/2016/1/26/11589076/sprint-ceo-promises-network-upgrades-wont-cause-disruption" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">said last year</a> the company would pull back advertising for Virgin Mobile, suggesting business had slowed. Sprint as a whole has struggled of late; Verizon and AT&amp;T continue to hold much larger subscriber bases, while T-Mobile has <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-t-mobile-m-a-network-idUSKBN18S3UT" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">surged</a> into a distinct third place.</p><p>The decision to exclusively sell iPhones is a curious one. Virgin, for its part, says the move is meant to bring its mobile brand more in line with the swankier image of its other businesses. But while Apple's phones are not cheap, prepaid phone users tend to be budget-conscious. Virgin is selling a 32 GB <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-iphone-se-review-retrospective-2017-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iPhone SE</a> for $279, and the two-year-old iPhone 6 for $319, but iPhone 6s and 7 models are still set at their typically high going rates.</p><p class="source"><span>Virgin Mobile/Screenshot</span></p><p class="caption">How Virgin Mobile's website sells the perks of joining its new "Inner Circle" plan.</p>The move will see Virgin Mobile phones sold directly through Apple's retail stores, however. Virgin said those will start popping up on June 27 - though phones bought through Apple's website will not be eligible for the new deal.<p>That retail partnership gets at why Virgin Mobile is selling its service for $1 in the first place. Much like Sprint said last week, Virgin says it's cutting costs by not spending on its own physical store sales and focusing on digital advertising. But while Sprint described its "free" promotion as an "experiment," Virgin's decision to go iPhone-only is its plan for the foreseeable future.</p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence/25-big-tech-predictions-for-2016?IR=T&amp;utm_source=businessinsider&amp;utm_medium=ctgr&amp;utm_term=ctgr_leadgen_2016-predictions&amp;utm_content=iphone_ctgr_leadgen_2016-predictions&amp;utm_campaign=iphone_ctgr_leadgen_2016-predictions"></a><strong> EXCLUSIVE FREE REPORT:</strong><br />25 Big Tech Predictions by BI Intelligence. <br /><strong><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence/25-big-tech-predictions-for-2016?IR=T&amp;utm_source=businessinsider&amp;utm_medium=ctgr&amp;utm_term=ctgr_leadgen_2016-predictions&amp;utm_content=iphone_ctgr_leadgen_2016-predictions&amp;utm_campaign=iphone_ctgr_leadgen_2016-predictions">Get the Report Now »</a></strong>            <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/here-are-all-the-rumors-about-apple-new-iphone-8-x-10-tim-cook-2017-6">Everything we know about the iPhone 8 - including a total redesign</a></h3>                                    Please enable Javascript to watch this video

Virgin Mobile, Sprint's prepaid brand, will only sell iPhones from now on

<p class="source"><span>Reuters/Dave Kaup</span></p><p class="caption">Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure.</p>Sprint has <a href="https://www.sprint.com/en/shop/offers/free-unlimited.html?ECID=vanity:1yearfree" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">quietly launched</a> what may be its most aggressive promotion yet.<p>The carrier said on Tuesday that it would give select customers who switch from Verizon, AT&amp;T, or T-Mobile a free year of its "unlimited" data plan for a limited time.</p><p>According to a page for the promotion on Sprint's website, the deal will last until June 30. Sprint says there's no requirement to change numbers, and that it'll let up to five lines switch over at once.</p><p>You'll have to pay a $30 activation fee upfront, but Sprint says it will repay that within two billing cycles. There are a couple other fees required beyond that, but they only amount to a couple bucks a month. You'll also have to cover the $13 or so it costs to get a Sprint SIM card, though.</p><p class="source"><span><a href="http://mediaexpress.reuters.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2016%3Anewsml_KBN14H1TO%3A2&amp;search=all%3Asprint">Mike Blake/Reuters</a></span></p><p class="caption">Sprint</p>From there, you're on <a href="https://www.sprint.com/landings/unlimited-cell-phone-plans/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sprint's "unlimited" plan</a>, which, like all of its peers, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/unlimited-plans-comparison-verizon-att-sprint-tmobile-2017-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">isn't <em>truly</em> unlimited</a>. Most of what you'd do is left alone, and you can stream video up to a 1080p resolution, but LTE mobile hotspot data is capped at 10 GB a month per line (you're bumped down to 2G speeds after that), and your speeds may be temporarily slowed in congested areas if you use more than 23 GB in a given month.<p>Because this is still a mobile carrier we're talking about, there are a few other caveats to the promotion: </p><ul><li>It only applies to those who are new to Sprint.</li><li>Only some phones are eligible for the upgrade. You can check <a href="https://www.sprint.com/en/shop/offers/free-unlimited.html?ECID=vanity:1yearfree" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sprint's promo page</a> for a full list, but it boils down to every iPhone since the iPhone 5C, recent Google Nexus and Pixel phones, a few Moto phones, and "special edition" Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S8 phones.</li><li>Sprint says you have to own the phone in the first place. So the promotion is a no-go if you're in the middle of a monthly installment plan.</li><li>The phone must be unlocked and work on Sprint's network. A handful of the iPhone options will only be eligible if you're switching from Verizon because of this.</li><li>If you take up the offer and upgrade to a new phone before October 1, you'll lose the free service, and will have to pay for Sprint's unlimited plan like any other customer. After October 1, you can switch to a new phone and keep the discounted plan for the rest of the year.</li><li>You have to enroll in auto-pay billing.</li><li>The deal isn't eligible to those switching from an MVNO like Cricket Wireless or MetroPCS.</li></ul><p>If you can wade through all of that, Sprint says the discounted service will last until July 31, 2018. After that, you'll have to pay $60 a month for one line, $40 a month for a second, then $30 a month for additional lines. Sprint says there's no requirement to pay for service once your discounted year is up; its hope is that you'll be coerced to stick around regardless, in part because its unlimited plan is the most affordable of the big four.</p><p class="source"><span>David Becker/Getty Images</span></p><p class="caption">T-Mobile CEO John Legere has pushed his company well past Sprint in recent years.</p>Sprint sits firmly in fourth place among the major mobile carriers in the US in terms of total subscribers. Verizon and AT&amp;T have faced declining growth as of late, but still have big bases of subscribers to sell to. T-Mobile, meanwhile, <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-t-mobile-m-a-network-idUSKBN18S3UT" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">has surged</a> in recent years on the back of aggressive discounts and marketing, passing Sprint along the way. Sprint's network continues to be <a href="http://www.rootmetrics.com/en-US/content/mobile-performance-in-the-us-part-1-performance-across-the-entire-united" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">seen as lagging behind</a> its peers, too.<p>Rumors of a <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2017/5/12/15633240/sprint-tmobile-merger-early-talks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">potential T-Mobile-Sprint merger</a> persist, but as it is now, Sprint seems to be feeling the heat to get more subscribers onboard. </p><p>At first blush, it also seems as if Sprint is taking a loss with the promotion. But a company spokesperson told Business Insider that the deal is only available online, not in retail stores, and that it's only advertising the promotion through cheaper digital channels. The company also asserted that its network has the capacity to handle any spike in subscribers the deal might cause.</p><p>Regardless of Sprint's issues, the deal mostly appears to be sound for those looking for a bargain. Just make sure Sprint's service is acceptable in your area if you decide to take the plunge.</p>            <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-fix-iphone-7-verizon-connection-issue-2016-10">The iPhone 7 is having connection issues on Verizon - here's how to fix it</a></h3>                                    Please enable Javascript to watch this video

Sprint is offering an aggressive deal: a free year of 'unlimited' data for people who switch from Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>Sprint on Thursday <a href="http://newsroom.sprint.com/news-releases/sprint-launches-best-unlimited-hd-plan-ever.htm?previousArticle=0&amp;nextArticle=12434&amp;gotoArt=%2Fnews-releases%2Fsprint-launches-best-unlimited-hd-plan-ever.htm" target="_blank">announced</a> that, starting February 17, its unlimited data plan will offer&#xa0;high-definition video streaming and 10 GB of LTE mobile hotspot data a month for&#xa0;new subscribers.<p>The upgrades come just days after <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/t-mobile-one-unlimited-data-plan-changes-verizon-2017-2" target="_blank">T-Mobile updated</a> its "One" unlimited plan to include the same features, which itself came in response to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/verizon-unlimited-data-plan-announced-2017-2" target="_blank">Verizon's re-entry</a> into the unlimited plan market earlier in the week. AT&amp;T <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/att-announces-unlimited-data-plan-2017-2" target="_blank">announced</a>&#xa0;it was&#xa0;introducing a new unlimited plan on Thursday as well.</p><p>Sprint currently caps all video streams on its unlimited plan at a less-than-HD resolution of 480p by default. Subscribers who want HD video streaming on&#xa0;an unlimited plan have&#xa0;to pay for a separate $75-a-month <a href="https://support.sprint.com/support/article/FAQs_about_the_Sprint_Unlimited_Plans/e8bc59f3-1893-4482-895a-38b7ed69ab65#faq10" target="_blank">offering</a>.&#xa0;</p><p>The carrier also limits mobile hotspot usage - which allows a phone to be used as a portable WiFi router - to&#xa0;5 GB of LTE data a&#xa0;month on the default unlimited plan, and&#xa0;3 GB of LTE data a&#xa0;month on the $75 plan.</p><p>Now, Sprint says new subscribers will be able stream video up to a sharper 1080p resolution on the default plan. Gaming and music streams, which were also throttled under the old plan, will be raised from a slow 2 Mbps to 8 Mbps, and from 500 Kbps to 1.5 Mbps, respectively.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>As with before, subscribers that exceed the designated amount of LTE mobile hotspot data in a given month will have that throttled to 2G speeds for the rest of the pay period. Both T-Mobile and Verizon knock&#xa0;subscribers down to faster&#xa0;3G speeds once they go past that 10GB-a-month allotment.<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Notably, Sprint&#xa0;says that the updates only apply to new subscribers and those who purchased five lines of service for $90 a month as part of a price promotion that carrier rolled out earlier this month. Current Sprint unlimited plan subscribers who do not have the five lines for $90 plan will be stuck with the same conditions as before.</span></p><p>That promotion, as a reminder, allows&#xa0;new customers to&#xa0;buy one line on its unlimited plan for $50 a month, and anywhere from two to five lines for $90 a month. Those places will stay in place for new customers here, but they'll still only last until March 31, 2018. At that point, Sprint will raise prices back to their normal rates, where one line costs $60 a month, two lines cost $100 a month, and every line beyond that costs an additional $30 a month.</p><p>To&#xa0;get any of these prices, though, you'll have to enroll in auto-pay billing - otherwise, Sprint charges another $5 a month.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p><span>That's still less than both T-Mobile One, which starts at $70 a month for one line, and Verizon's unlimited plan, which starts at $80 a month, but it notably doesn't include monthly taxes and fees, which raise the final cost up somewhat. Verizon doesn't include those fees in its advertised rates, either, but T-Mobile does.</span></p><p>As with all of its peers, Sprint's unlimited plan isn't technically "unlimited." The carrier says it may slow certain subscribers' speeds in areas of congestion once they use more than 23 GB of LTE data in a given month. T-Mobile and Verizon give similar warnings - for T-Mobile, it's 28 GB, and for Verizon, it's 22 GB.</p><p>The updates bring Sprint closer to parity with Verizon and T-Mobile on a feature-by-feature basis as it offers its plan at a lower price. But its network is still widely seen as lacking compared to its peers. A <a href="https://opensignal.com/reports/2017/02/usa/state-of-the-mobile-network/" target="_blank">recent study</a> from mobile research firm OpenSignal, for instance, found it to be firmly in fourth place in terms of overall LTE coverage and speeds.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/verizon-can-you-hear-me-now-guy-today-2014-11">Here's What The 'Can You Hear Me Now?' Guy Is Doing Today</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="l1Y2NucTr3inBjxq4PzZCJA-JNhp3-Xt" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

Sprint is upgrading its 'unlimited' plan to keep up with T-Mobile and Verizon - here's what's new

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>With a new year on the horizon, it's a great time to get your finances in order and start 2017 on the right foot. But the ways your best friend, your coworker, or your sister handle money won't necessarily work for you.</p><p>Business Insider spoke with Kimmie Greene, head of communications at financial services company <a href="https://www.mint.com/">Mint</a>, to identify several different money management strategies. Here are five methods people commonly employ, as well as how to use and improve on them.</p><p>Which one do you identify with?</p><h2>1. Set it and forget it</h2><p>Automate all of your bills so you don't have to worry about remembering to make payments each month. This strategy works best for individuals with consistent spending habits who have a significant financial cushion in case their bill runs high from one month to the next.</p><p>While this strategy takes the effort out of money management - and seemingly ensures that you'll never pay a bill late - Greene points out that not everything can be automated. "People may have one-off or new expenses that fall through the cracks and miss the due date," she says.</p><h2>2. Points person</h2><p>If you have a good handle on using credit cards and are able to pay back what you owe each month, it's possible to charge all recurring expenses, including rent and utilities, and rack up rewards points.</p><p>"All your bills are in one place and you get the points too - on the surface it's a win-win, it's often just a single check to cover monthly expenses," Greene says.</p><p>However, this strategy can get tricky if you use the same card for both recurring expenses and discretionary spending. Anyone charging everything to a credit card should be completely sure that they have enough cash flow to be able to stay out of the red.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>3. Micromanager</h2><p>If you prefer a hands-on approach to your finances, you can use apps and tools like Mint.com or Digit to track your spending, create savings goals, and stay within your spending limits. Micromanaging your money keeps you vigilant about your financial goals and works well for people who are early adopters of new apps that can help them stay on top of their accounts.</p><p>This approach can be challenging for those who aren't naturally detailed-oriented, however.</p><h2>4. Pay as you go</h2><p>Some individuals choose to pay their bills as they come. "To be successful, this individual needs a financial cushion so they don't get into trouble paying bills without being aware of the bigger picture," Greene says.</p><p>As Greene notes, if you take this approach, it's smart to periodically take a look at your long-term spending habits so you don't end up hit with any major surprises that you're not equipped to handle.</p><p>"Bills can get out of sync, which can lead to overdrafts or dipping into savings to cover too many payments in a given month," Greene warns.</p><h2>5. Pay what you can</h2><p>Though it's the least-advised approach, many individuals rely on paying only what they can from month to month. With this strategy, it's important to set aside time to evaluate the big picture.</p><p>"These individuals would benefit from taking a step back to gain a clearer picture of their income and expenses, answering the questions, 'How much is coming in? How much do I owe? How much do I pay myself? And what do I do with what's leftover?'" says Green, noting that the bill tracking and reminders offered in services like Mint can help build awareness as well as healthy money habits.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/income-state-top-one-percent-salary-map-2016-11">Here's how much you need to make to be in the top 1% of every state</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="V0cW9zNzE6SM2p7WbrsEo0VKlNzdMDjq" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

There's no single right way to manage your money - here are 5 of the most common strategies people use to stay on top of their bills

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>AT&amp;T is <a href="https://www.att.com/shop/wireless/unlimited-plan.html#legal" target="_blank">introducing</a> two new "unlimited" data plans to better compete with recent similar offerings from <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/verizon-unlimited-data-plan-announced-2017-2" target="_blank">Verizon</a>, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/t-mobile-one-unlimited-data-plan-changes-verizon-2017-2" target="_blank">T-Mobile</a>, and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/sprint-unlimited-plan-upgrades-verizon-t-mobile-2017-2" target="_blank">Sprint</a>.<p>The carrier has had an unlimited plan for some time, but previously it was only available to subscribers of its DirecTV or U-Verse TV services. Earlier this month, it <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/att-announces-unlimited-data-plan-2017-2" target="_blank">lifted that requirement</a>.</p><p>Now, it's reworking the costs and features of its offer altogether. The new plans will become available on March 2. AT&amp;T says current subscribers will be able to switch to the new plans.</p><p>Here's the rundown:</p><ul><li>The first new plan, AT&amp;T Unlimited Plus, starts at $90 a month for a single line. Two lines cost $145 a month, each additional line costs another $20 a month after that (for up to eight lines). That's down from $100 a month for a single line, plus $40 a month for every additional line, under the previous plan.</li><li>If you subscribe to the Unlimited Plus plan, AT&amp;T will take $25 off the price of a subscription to its DirecTV, U-Verse TV, or DirecTV Now service each month. (AT&amp;T still does not count all of those services against your data cap, a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/att-directv-now-net-neutrality-zero-rating-2016-11" target="_blank">controversial practice</a> known as <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/zero-rating-fcc-ajit-pai-net-neutrality-2017-2" target="_blank">zero-rating</a>.) AT&amp;T says this is a limited-time promotion, and that it'll start applying the $25 credit after "2-3 billing periods."&#xa0;</li></ul><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><ul><li>You can add a tablet to the plan for another $20 a month, and a wearable for another $10 a month.</li><li>The Unlimited Plus plan will now include 10GB of LTE mobile-hotspot data, which lets you use your phone as a WiFi hotspot. Once you hit that limit, mobile-hotspot speeds will be throttled down to 128Kbps, which is close to 2G speeds. Previously, AT&amp;T did not include mobile-hotspot data at all with its unlimited plan.</li><li>The Unlimited Plus plan includes "high-definition" video streaming, but you'll have to turn off AT&amp;T's <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/att-stream-saver-480p-video-resolution-feature-2016-11" target="_blank">Stream Saver feature</a> - which caps video streams at a less-sharp 480p resolution by default - to use it.</li><li>Like before, AT&amp;T says it might slow your connection speeds in areas of network congestion if you use more than 22 GB of data in a single pay period.</li></ul><p>Besides Unlimited Plus, AT&amp;T is offering a second, more affordable "unlimited" plan called AT&amp;T Unlimited Choice. That starts at $60 a month for a single line, $115 a month for two lines, and another $20 a month for each additional line after that.</p><p>However, it caps all video streaming at "about 480p," and caps all speeds entirely at 3Mbps, which isn't terribly fast by modern standards. Once again, AT&amp;T says it might slow speeds in areas of congestion if you use more than 22 GB of data in a given month.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>In either case, the rates above do not take into account monthly fees and taxes, so they'll be a little more expensive than advertised. (A caveat that applies to every carrier but T-Mobile.) You'll also have to enroll in auto-pay billing - otherwise, AT&amp;T says a single-line plan will cost another $5 a month, while a multi-line plan will cost another $10 a month.<p>While carriers continue to stretch the meaning of "unlimited" - a <a href="https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/unlimited" target="_blank">word that means</a> "not limited or restricted in terms of number, quantity, or extent" - the recent re-interest in the concept has set off a fluid competition, as Verizon and AT&amp;T attempt to slow market share gains from the fast-growing T-Mobile, which <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/t-mobile-to-sell-only-one-plan-with-unlimited-data-talk-and-text-2016-8" target="_blank">kickstarted</a> the revival this past summer, and fourth-place Sprint.</p><p>In this case, the lowered entry price and mobile-hotspot data should make AT&amp;T's unlimited offering a bit more competitive with its peers. It is still the most expensive of the bunch, however.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-presidency-could-change-net-neutrality-completely-fcc-2016-11">The internet could look vastly different under Trump's presidency - here's how</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="ZleXJvNzE6FRhz7IOGhh53quls1gjoP0" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

AT&T just introduced two new 'unlimited' data plans - here's everything you need to know

<p><span></span></p><p class="source"><span>Joshua Lott/Reuters</span></p>This past weekend, I spent more than an hour on the phone with Spectrum, my internet and cable provider, because my bill was increasing every month without my knowledge for seemingly no reason at all.<p>I eventually resolved the situation - finding out about a bunch of hidden charges in the process - and even got a discount on my service. But that was only after I insisted on talking to a manager and agreeing to accept slower internet service.</p><p>My situation is not unique. The problems I ran into - a lack of transparency about billing practices and a lack of communication about service changes - illustrate just how awful it can be do deal with internet service providers (ISPs) in America. Monthly bills can feel arbitrary, and customers are often left with few choices other than cancelling their service. And even that's not much of a solution, since <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/internet-isps-competition-net-neutrality-ajit-pai-fcc-2017-4">most Americans have few choices</a> when it comes to internet providers.</p><p>I've been a Time Warner Cable customer for as long as I've lived in New York City. When it comes to competition, we actually have a decent situation here. In terms of the big providers, customers can choose among Optimum, Verizon Fios, and Spectrum (formerly Charter, which renamed its service after purchasing Time Warner Cable last year).</p><p>Though I regularly check offers from the competition, Time Warner Cable (now Spectrum) has consistently been cheaper and generally more reliable. Plus, you don't have to sign a contract, as you do with the others. You can cancel at any time, although that's often easier said than done.</p><p>When my fiancée and I moved apartments last year, we had Time Warner Cable install our cable TV and internet service the day we moved in. For 200Mbps download speeds and a limited cable package, TWC told us we'd pay $120 for the first year of service. After that, the price would increase, although TWC didn't say by how much. This billing practice - giving customers a flat rate for a year before increasing the price - is typical among internet service providers, and we were totally fine with it.</p><p>After our first year of service ended, we saw our bill increase by $10, to $130 a month. We considered switching ISPs, but Spectrum (formerly Time Warner Cable) was still our cheapest option for both cable and internet. And since we had expected the bill change after the first year, we were OK with a $10 increase.</p><p>But the following month - April - our bill unexpectedly jumped another $13 to $143. And then this month, it increased again, this time by $2, to $145.</p><p>My fiancée and I called Spectrum the night we got our latest bill. A representative told us what we were paying was "still low" for what we have and said we should expect further price increases.</p><p>The rep could not give us a specific timeline for how many months it would take before our bill would stop increasing. But when it was all said and done, our monthly rate would end up being $173 per month, she told us.</p><p>We were given no prior notice about these price increases, whether by email, billing statement, or otherwise. Although we agreed to a price increase after the first year of service when we signed up with Time Warner Cable, we didn't agree on having our bill jump every single month.</p><p class="source"><span>Spectrum</span></p>We pressed the Spectrum rep on why our bill was seeing seemingly random increases every month and why the company kept raising the price of our service, instead of just raising it once after the first-year discount expired. The Spectrum rep responded by saying the company felt the gradual increases are "easier on customers."<p>But it didn't feel easier to us. We were concerned that our bill was increasing at an unpredictable rate for seemingly no reason - we hadn't changed our service - and we wanted to know why. So I asked to speak to a manager. </p><p>We were quickly transferred to Spectrum's retention center, where we spoke to a woman named Esmy. After listening to our concerns, Esmy explained that when we signed up for service, Time Warner Cable made our first year's bills cheaper by applying a bunch of individual discounts. Those discounts were now expiring one by one, which was causing the fluctuating price increases each month.</p><p>It was good to have that explanation, but it was baffling. As I explained to Esmy, we had received no information about these particular discounts. Our statements didn't say what discounts we were receiving, how they were applied, or when they expired.  </p><p class="source"><span>Spectrum</span></p>After a long discussion, Esmy eventually offered us a deal. We'd get a lower monthly rate than we paid in our first year, but we'd have to accept slower internet service. Instead of 200Mbps speeds, we'd get 100Mbps, since Spectrum no longer offers a 200Mbps plan.<p>We decided to take the offer, because the the price was less expensive than what we'd pay one of Spectrum's rivals. </p><p>But the price we were paying was less important to me than what we had to go through to find out why our bill kept going up. We would have never known what was going on if we hadn't called Spectrum and then insisted on talking to a manager when the customer service rep couldn't answer our questions. It's ridiculous that we had to go that far just to get an explanation for what we were being charged.</p><p>And that's not the only example of Spectrum's arbitrary and opaque billing practices. Another comes into play when customers decide to upgrade their internet service, say from 50Mbps to 300Mbps. After making the upgrade,<strong> </strong>Spectrum will not only charge them a higher rate for the speedier service, but will also apply a one-time $199 fee. When I asked a Spectrum representative about it, the rep couldn't explain the reason behind the fee or why it's so hefty. The rep did confirm, though, that it's not due to any technical change needed for the faster service or the need to install new hardware. It's just the way it is. </p><p>Those kind of arbitrary fees as well as the lack of transparency and predictability that Spectrum has exhibited is bad for customers. Because many subscribers pay their bills through auto-pay, they expect them to be a certain amount each month. When bills suddenly change, it can cause confusion, frustration and undue stress. The lack of a clear explanation for such changes feels unfair and could open the door for predatory practices.</p><p>The bottom line is that Spectrum needs to be more transparent. It - and its rivals, which can be just as bad - needs to communicate bills, fees, discounts, and changes to customers' accounts clearly and well in advance of when it sends out its monthly statements.</p><p>Two years ago, Time Warner Cable ranked dead last in customer satisfaction in a <a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/06/time-warner-actually-statistically-the-worst.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a survey of 300 companies</a>. Although it's merged with another company and switched names since then, it doesn't seem like its customer service or the overall experience it offers have gotten any better.</p><p>The more things change, the more they stay the same.</p><p class="tagline">This is an opinion column. The thoughts expressed are those of the author.</p>            <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/reporter-calls-out-claim-that-fbi-was-happy-comeys-firing-sarah-huckabee-sanders-white-house-press-briefing-2017-5">'Really?': A reporter calls out Huckabee's claim that 'countless' FBI employees were happy with Comey's firing</a></h3>                                    Please enable Javascript to watch this video

Spectrum kept raising my monthly TV and internet bill but wouldn't tell me why

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>T-Mobile's mobile plans aren't getting any simpler.<p>The carrier last week <a href="http://t-mo.co/2iaYZ6w">announced an update</a> to its flagship "T-Mobile One" plan. Now, instead of having the single "T-Mobile One Plus" add-on <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tmobile-one-unlimited-data-plan-changes-hotspot-video-streaming-2016-8" target="_blank">that was unveiled</a> shortly after the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/t-mobile-to-sell-only-one-plan-with-unlimited-data-talk-and-text-2016-8" target="_blank">original One plan's launch</a>, there will be two add-on options: the One Plus plan, and a new "T-Mobile One Plus International" plan.</p><p>T-Mobile says the latter will do everything the One Plus plan does, but add "unlimited international calling" to mobile numbers in more than 30 countries and landlines in more than 70 countries. It will also include unlimited 4G LTE tethering, if you want to turn your phone into a mobile hotspot on the go.</p><p>The move has both ups and downs. On the plus side, the One Plus add-on now costs $15. Previously, it cost an extra $25. That's on top of the base One plan, which starts at $70 for a single line, $120 for two lines, and an additional $20 for any of the next six lines beyond that. (So, a three-line plan costs $140, a four-line plan costs $160, and so on.)</p><p>The One Plus plan also gives unlimited Gogo in-flight WiFi through Gogo, which would seem very&#xa0;convenient for frequent flyers. This is good.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>On the flip side, the One Plus International add-on costs an extra $25, and is the only way to get LTE mobile hotspot data. On its own, the base One plan includes unlimited hotspot data, but only at speeds up to 128 Kbps. That's extremely slow. Originally, if you wanted to upgrade to LTE tethering speeds, the plan was to pay $15 per month for every 5GB of data you wanted to use.<p>That was thrown out with the One Plus add-on. Pay for that, and you get unlimited tethering at speeds up to 512 Kbps. That's still not good, but it's at least better. However, when the One Plus add-on was announced, T-Mobile got rid of the option to buy 5GB buckets of LTE tethering data.</p><p>Now, you <em>can</em> get unlimited LTE tethering, but it starts at $95 per month for a single line. There's a catch, too: You <em>can't activate the plan online</em>. T-Mobile says the One Plus International plan is only available to new customers by calling the carrier directly. Existing customers, meanwhile, have to go through the T-Mobile app to take $10 off the One Plus plan if they want that. If they don't, they're now on the One Plus International upgrade by default.&#xa0;</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>Besides that, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tmobile-unlimited-data-plan-sprint-att-verizon-2016-8/#t-mobile-1" target="_blank">all the red flags that arose</a> when the One plan was first announced remain. On its own, the base One plan offers "unlimited" texts, calls, and LTE data, but caps all video you watch at a less-than-HD resolution of 480p, and, as mentioned above, keeps mobile hotspot data at those crippling speeds.<p>The One Plus plan, which now starts at $85 per month for a single line, negates that to an extent. Alongside the meager tethering boost, that plan gives you an unlimited supply of what T-Mobile calls "HD day passes." Those allow you to watch high-def video, but they have to be manually activated each and every day, instead of simply making HD the default. (On the base One plan, a single HD day pass costs $3.)</p><p>In all cases, none of the One plans are <em>totally</em> unlimited - on the admittedly low chance that you use more than 28GB of LTE data in a month, T-Mobile <a href="http://t-mo.co/2iaZKwz" target="_blank">says</a> you may notice "reduced speeds" during moments of network congestion. And in order to get the advertised rates, you need to set your billing to auto-pay; every plan costs $5 more otherwise.</p><h2>The 'One' plan isn't quite 'radically simple'</h2><p>When T-Mobile <a href="http://t-mo.co/2hkWG40" target="_blank">introduced</a>&#xa0;One, it called the plan a "radically simple subscription to the mobile Internet." If the mess of caveats above are any indication, it's hard to say that's true.</p><p>Having unlimited data is great, but before the One plans existed, T-Mobile already sold an unlimited LTE data package through its "Simple Choice" plans. It cost $95 per month for a single line - the exact same as the fully-loaded One Plus International plan - and let you stream HD video without having to flip a switch every day. It also threw in a generous 14GB of LTE tethering data. And if you&#xa0;<em>didn't need</em>&#xa0;unlimited data, you could pay less than $70 for a lower amount, without having to look at individual&#xa0;<a href="http://t-mo.co/2eT2sbC" target="_blank">prepaid plans</a>. (Which remain solid deals.)</p><p>Today, T-Mobile still makes some Simple Choice <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone-plans.html?icid=WMM_TM_TMBLONE_S00W055QZJ6425" target="_blank">plans</a> available, but again, you have to take the step of calling the company or visiting a local store to get it.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>So it's clear where T-Mobile wants you to go. The thing about making one catch-all plan, though, is that the plan itself has to be good. On its own, the One plan has clear compromises. But instead of improving it, or at least toning down the "unlimited" rhetoric, T-Mobile is fracturing much of what was already there, selling those features through add-ons that get you back to the same high price point, and raising the cost of entry under the notion that unlimited data is something for which everyone is willing to pay extra. "One" has become three.<p>Yes, Verizon and AT&amp;T <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/fcc-verizon-att-zero-rating-net-neutrality-letter-directv-now-2016-12" target="_blank">do many things</a> <a href="https://www.cnet.com/news/verizon-popdata-let-you-have-unlimited-data-but-only-for-an-hour/" target="_blank">worth</a>&#xa0;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tmobile-unlimited-data-plan-sprint-att-verizon-2016-8" target="_blank">yelling</a> <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/att-stream-saver-480p-video-resolution-feature-2016-11" target="_blank">about,</a>&#xa0;but generally speaking, you don't have to jump through this many hoops&#xa0;just to buy a block of data and use it however you want. The&#xa0;latter&#xa0;<em>is</em> just as bad about charging extra for tethering with its unlimited plan, but its&#xa0;standard metered&#xa0;<a href="https://www.att.com/shop/wireless/plans/planconfigurator.html?tab=data" target="_blank">plans</a>&#xa0;aren't as fussy, and those&#xa0;are at least&#xa0;still&#xa0;easily accessible.</p><p>I'm sure T-Mobile knows its user base. Lots of people are fine with 480p video - especially if they own a smaller phone - and plenty others don't even know what a mobile hotspot is. If those people heavily stream music and video on the road, the One plan isn't so bad a deal.</p><p>But that's not everyone. Moreover, it stands counter to the company's marketing. For all of its boasting about being the "un-carrier," T-Mobile is still throwing a good chunk of obfuscation and fine print in the way of its heaviest users. That's pretty carrier-like, if you ask me.&#xa0;</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/xiaomi-new-mi-mix-better-than-iphone-2016-10">The 'Apple of China' just unveiled a phone that's more powerful and better looking than the iPhone</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="5tamMwNzE6XQnLV5ixV8UUd-PSbdYX4A" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

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