Todd if you are primarily on Google’s services, it looks like Gmail and Gtalk are free, they won’t eat into your count. I haven’t gotten confirmation yet on non-Gmail email and from the research we’ve done so far, it looks like non-Gtalk IM services are implemented with text messages (wth?) so those will eat into the count.

I’d expect T-Mobile to get a clarification out in the next week after this mass-confusion online about this.

As far as T-Mobile, for what it’s worth (keep in mind everyone always has their own story) I’ve always enjoyed shenanigans-free service with them for the last 5 or 6 years that I’ve been with them.

But as with anything I’d encourage you to stick with whatever carrier you are either happy with or research supports; that’s just 1 data point and may not reflect your own experience. (Incase you can’t tell, I’m not enamored with any big service companies…)

so have we come to any 100% definite conclusion here?

Totally agree… just brought this conversation to a friend with the G1, he had no idea this was even under contention (and I believe IM’s on alternative networks eating up his msg count).

We are hoping by drawing attention to this T-Mobile will clarify this FAQ for everyone involved.

Out of curiosity did this confusion almost push you to the $34.99/mo plan, or make you want to avoid a G1 data plan at all?

I wonder if there is an intentional marketing-smoke-screen strategy here by some overzealous marketing manager…

whoever wrote the plan description for this on the tmobile website should be shot. doesnt have to be this confusing.