T-Mobile U.K. Backpedals Over Data Cap - Wall Street Journal (blog)

By Ben Rooney

Major back-pedalling by T-Mobile U.K. after protests met their announcement to slash the amount of data smartphone users were allowed to use.

As we reported, the limit was cut from 1GB to just 500MB (Android users were allowed a very generous 3GB monthly limit).

A contrite message was posted today on their website, signed by Lysa Hardy, VP, T-Mobile UK.

"On Monday 10 January 2011 we announced that, in line with the rest of the industry, T-Mobile would be reducing its Fair Use Policy for data usage to 500MB a month for all mobile phone customers. Following a further review of our policy, these changes will now be introduced from 1 February, to new and upgrading customers only—not existing customers.

There will be no change to the data packages for existing customers for the duration of their contract and we apologise for any confusion caused. The revision to the Fair Use Policy is designed to ensure an improved quality of service for all mobile internet users."

T-Mobile had suggested that its users should not use their internet-enabled phones for, well, the internet: "Our Mobile Broadband and internet on your phone service is best used for browsing which means looking at your favorite websites like Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, BBC News and more, checking your email and looking for information, but not watching videos or downloading files…If you want to download, stream and watch video clips, save that stuff for your home broadband."

Clock one to customer action.