Following the recent news that T-Mobile has decided to apply a 500MB data limit to its mobile phone contracts, and the subsequent criticism it received, the network has issued a statement clarifying its position.

"Yesterday we began notifying our contract customers of changes to their Fair Usage Policies (FUPs) relating to data usage on mobile phones. In line with the industry, T-Mobile will be reducing its FUP for data downloading to 500MB/month from 1st February 2011.

"These restrictions will affect both new and existing customers, and will ensure an improved quality of service for all of our mobile internet users. As the average mobile internet customer uses only 200MB of data each month, this will only affect a small minority of users, whom we have begun notifying.

"T-Mobile will not charge its customers additional rates for exceeding these data limits, and those who do will still be able to access important services such as email and website browsing, but will have file downloading restricted. Customers who have a need for higher volumes of data will be encouraged to take up a separate mobile broadband plan. We are confident that these changes will result in a better experience for all of our customers who use internet on their phone."

So basically, once you get to 500MB you'll be blocked from any large web activity, but you won't be charged. Nice for your pocket, but still not great for those Android users who signed 3GB agreements.