T-Mobile has launched The Full Monty, a 24-month tariff that offers unlimited calls, texts and internet, with no fair use restrictions. The network describes the tariff ad the first of its kind for the UK, and given the fact that there are no fair use restrictions, the claim looks a valid one. The tariff will be available from 1 February through T-Mobile’s High Street and online stores, telesales and in-direct partners.

There are four price plans, ranging from £36 to £61 per month. The more you pay, the better the phone you can get on the tariff. The £36 tariff, for example, comes with an iPhone 4 8GB, Samsung Galaxy SII or HTC Sensation XE. Or if you’re willing to pay £99, you can get the iPhone 4S 16GB. The £61 tariff comes with an iPhone 4S 32GB, or, for an additional £29, the 64GB version.

All offer unlimited calls, texts and internet, though the cheapest tariff is restricted to 2,000 minutes of calls per month to other networks. The internet allowance can be used any way the customer chooses, including tethering a smartphone for internet access via a PC or Tablet. The tariffs also come with unlimited wi-fi, using the BT Openzone network, though not including any BT Openzone access which is anything to do with the 2012 Olympics. The only other caveats are that the unlimited text allowance does not include picture messaging, and calls to 08 numbers are not included in the unlimited bundled minutes.

“Over the past two years, we’ve seen a rise in mobile internet use of over 250 per cent, which reflects the consumer trend of being ‘always on’ wherever they are,” says Ben Fritsch, head of propositions at T-Mobile UK. “However, consumers also still want to retain a more personal level of communication by calling or sending a text. The Full Monty has been designed for customers who want the peace of mind that there are absolutely no limits placed on their allowances, whilst also knowing they’re getting market-leading value for money. We believe our Pay Monthly portfolio offers plans to suit anyone’s needs, all at accessible prices – and we’re really proud to be the first to offer a plan like The Full Monty in the UK.”  

David Murphy writes:

At first glance, The Full Monty looks like just another all-you-can-eat tariff from a mobile operator, but the line about no fair use restrictions is a signifnicant one. Over the past couple of years, there have been numerous reports about a tiny percentage of mobile users accounting for a disproportionate amount of data usage. Well finally, if you are one of those serial mobile video downloaders, heres the tariff for you. With prices starting at £36 per month and rising to £61 depending on the phone you want, T-Mobile is hardly giving it away, and obviously feels it can make money at these sort of rates, even from the heaviest data users. I just hope the network has done its sums, and doesnt find itself in a few months time saying something along the lines of: “Ah, when we said unlimited…”