You know something good is coming when T-Mobile hosts an Uncarrier event. It’s never bad news. Over the last few years, its charismatic CEO, John J. Legere, has taken the stage, talked a lot of shit and then proceeded to back it up by announcing changes to their network that, for the most part, go against the grain in every way. Things like repayment of ETFs, ending hardware-sale based contracts, increasing data limits, the JUMP! upgrade plan, and music streaming that didn’t count against your data cap all worked to rejuvinate a network that was bleeding both customers and profits just a short time ago. Not only did these shake-ups propel T-Mobile to record customer acquisitions, leapfrogging Sprint to take over 3rd place earlier this year, but it forced other carriers to rethink their approaches and alter the way they treat their customers. The newest event, dubbed “Uncarrier X” is set to do more of that.
The first thing Legere is improving is data caps. As in doubling them. Simple Choice customers are now getting 2GB, 6GB and 10GB to replace the 1GB, 3GB and 5GB plans respectively; while the Unlimited will also be doubled to Double Unlimited… that last one is not true. The important thing here is all that extra data is going to cost you nothing extra. Unlike the number of gigabytes, prices remain the same. The extra data carries over to the family plans via the Family Match promotion. For a limited (and undefined) time, a family with 4 lines, for example, will get 6GB each for $120/month. After the end of the promotion, that price will increase to $140/month, which effectively means that for now the 4th line is free.
Extra data is great, especially when you don’t even have to use any of it. That’s where T-Mobile’s new Binge-On comes in. In yet another freebie that will anger some net-neutrality folks (as they did with their similar streaming music promotion), the magenta network partnered with 24 services that customers can now stream video content from without it counting against their data caps at all.
The video streaming networks include:
- Netflix
- HBO NOW
- HBO GO
- Hulu
- Sling TV
- Sling Box
- ESPN
- Showtime
- Starz
- Movieplex
- Encore
- T-Mobile TV
- Vevo
- Vessel
- Univision Deportes
- Major League Baseball
- Go90
- DirecTV
- Fox Sports
- Fox Sports GO
- NBC Sports
- Crackle
- VUDU
- Ustream
And if you’re sad to see YouTube missing from this list, don’t worry, Legere said they are working with them, and you should see the service added eventually. A few caveats here: you must be a subscriber (if applicable) to those services, video streaming will be at least DVD (480p) quality or better, and Binge-On applies only to plans over 3GB of data, which includes all family and individual plans except for the $50/2GB one.
So lots more data and even less reason to use it; for the same price you are paying today. Drops mic, walks out.
With so many industry disrupting promotions, T-Mobile has been drawing in a lot of new customers. Are you one of them? Are you thinking about it? Let us know in the comments or on social media.
Last Updated on November 27, 2018.
