I am very doubtful that VZW won't do anything as both ATT and VZW  have copied everything TMobile put forth to attain customers. (No contracts and new phones prior to two years) Thus free international texts and data (even if data is throttled back to edge - Slow but it still functions) is a massive deal and win for consumers. The wireless marketplace is competitive. Historically, every time a company has offered a new product or service, the other carriers have followed suite. - Hello Unlimited plans, and iPhone

These efforts by TMobile appear to be working as they are attaining subscribers.

1st off  VZW"s "International roaming" is a bit of a joke.  Well at least here in Mexico where I travel often. I have Zero service due to the fact that VZW's roaming partner down here  has a dilapidated CDMA network  because like the rest of the world Mexico is moving away from CDMA.  Though my iPhone is a world phone, the reason I have zero service  (while  my ATT and Tmobile friends make and receive calls) is strictly due to VZW not wanting to offer roaming because VZW would have to offer roaming with competing carriers. It is all about money, not incompatible technology.

The fact is that carriers have historically copied each other 100% of the time when offering new products and services, but given VZW's lack of international roaming agreements this might be a hard trick for VZW to copy.   Sure they might have a great national network. But this is 2013, it's time for VZW to offer superior service 100% of the time, not just in America.  I love some aspects of VZW service but am considering going back to Tmobile after the 3 years with VZW, I can tell you T-Mobile never throttled my data (I've never been able to attain data I pay for) and my phones always worked in Mexico and the Bahamas.

VZW and ATT will have to respond to TMobiles latest offer of free data. They've responded to everything else Tmoble has offered. If VZW doesn't offer some enhancement on international roaming within the next few months, I might have to make the change myself.

But what do I want more? To be able to be reached when I travel internationally, or to be reached when Im out in the sticks while in the states? Because that is where VZW service shines. My problem is I travel internationally just about as often as I travel nationally and  since switching to VZW in order to get an iphone VZW has made international travel a bit of a drag.