T-Mobile is now ready to offer potential customers one more reason to change mobile operators, as the carrier on Wednesday announced a new element of its Uncarrier operation. Starting on Monday, June 23, T-Mobile will let customers sign up for T-Mobile Test Drive on the company’s website in order to try out T-Mobile’s “data-strong network” for seven days free of charge on an iPhone 5s that’s also provided by the carrier.
To use the iPhone 5s on T-Mobile free of charge for a week, users only have to register for the Test Drive, and drop the device at any T-Mobile store once they’re done with it.
“The way this industry forces Americans to buy wireless is completely, utterly broken. I’m here to tell you there’s a better way,” T-Mobile CEO John Legere said. “While the carriers ask you to buy blind, the Un-carrier gives you transparency. Our network kicks ass, and now people can experience for themselves what a data-strong network can do with T-Mobile Test Drive.”
The company further said it expects at least one million people to try out the service in the first year of the program.
In addition to the new Test Drive program, T-Mobile has also kicked off a new music-related program. T-Mobile will offer Simple Choice customers free music streaming on their smartphones via its “Music Freedom” service, which includes several services such as Spotify, Pandora, iTunes Radio, Rhapsody, Slacker, Milk Music and iHeart Radio. Additional services may be added in the future.
The full press releases follow below.
T-Mobile Transforms the Way Americans Buy Wireless … Again
T-Mobile Test Drive offers every American an iPhone 5s with unlimited service on T-Mobile’s network for a full seven days – completely free.As the Un-carrier puts its network’s data muscle on show, T-Mobile expands Wideband LTE to 16 total markets and VoLTE technology to 15 total markets reaching over 100 million people
SEATTLE, WA, June 18, 2014 – In another of its signature moves, T-Mobile US, Inc. (NYSE: TMUS) today introduced “T-Mobile Test Drive” and pioneered a new way to buy wireless in this country. With T-Mobile Test Drive, people can receive an iPhone 5s and unlimited nationwide service to take T-Mobile’s network for a data-intensive, seven-day spin at no cost whatsoever.
The new initiative puts T-Mobile’s data-strong network in the spotlight, as the Un-carrier rolls out yet another major network expansion ahead of the competition.
No More “Buying Blind”
The Un-carrier’s latest initiative takes aim at the painful process of buying wireless in America today. People must decide on a wireless provider without knowing how the network will really work for them – where they live, go to school, work, and play. As a result, the U.S. wireless industry has one of the highest “remorse rates” of any out there. Nearly half (46%) of wireless customers say they’ve signed up with a carrier and then wanted to leave, and one in 10 have actually left within the first 30 days of making a switch.1 It’s a pain point ripe for an Un-carrier solution.“The way this industry forces Americans to buy wireless is completely, utterly broken. I’m here to tell you there’s a better way,” declared John Legere, T-Mobile CEO and President. “While the carriers ask you to buy blind, the Un-carrier gives you transparency. Our network kicks ass, and now people can experience for themselves what a data-strong network can do with T-Mobile Test Drive.”
Starting this Monday, June 23, people can sign up for T-Mobile Test Drive at http://www.t-mobile.com/testdrive. A few days later, they’ll receive an iPhone 5s fully loaded and ready to go, and they can put T-Mobile’s data-strong network to the test for seven full days on the “most forward-thinking” smartphone. After the test drive, just drop it off at any T-Mobile store. That’s it. Absolutely no money down. No obligation. No strings attached.
T-Mobile Test Drive is a first-of-its-kind nationwide initiative from a major carrier that the Un-carrier is rolling out at scale. During the first year of the program alone, T-Mobile expects at least one million people to take a test drive.
Network Designed Data-Strong
T-Mobile Test Drive marks a new campaign to let consumers experience first-hand how the Un-carrier’s network is different, even as the company today announced two massive network expansions. T-Mobile has expanded Wideband LTE into 16 total markets, giving all T-Mobile LTE devices a speed boost with capable peak network download speeds up to nearly150 Mbps – that comes out to a 90-minute HD movie download in under three minutes or an 11-song music album in seven seconds.Building on its data DNA, the Un-carrier also expanded Voice over LTE (VoLTE) to more than 100 million people in 15 total markets. T-Mobile was the first major provider to launch VoLTE, and now, because its network has been designed for data, is nearly doubling the amount of data dedicated to voice calls for highest fidelity, crystal-clear HD Voice and faster call setup times than ever before. The Un-carrier expects to deploy VoLTE nationwide by the end of the year.
“The old telecoms designed their networks for a time when your phone’s only app was a phone call—and they haven’t shaken that dial-tone mind-set,” said Neville Ray, Chief Technology Officer for T-Mobile. “Our 4G LTE network was built in the last year and a half, so naturally we built it differently. We built it for the way people use smartphones and tablets today, and we built it with a mobile Internet architecture, so we could roll out new technologies faster.”
Now, as mobile broadband usage skyrockets, Un-carrier customers are reaping the rewards of a network designed to be data-strong and concentrated where people use data the most – unlike older carrier networks built by phone company utilities. T-Mobile customers are using more wireless data on average than the major national carrier customers – 61% more than Sprint, 69% more than Verizon, and 100% more than AT&T. T-Mobile customers also have more network capacity per customer than with any other major national wireless company, a full 70% more network spectrum per customer than Verizon, and they’re streaming, tweeting, using FaceTime and more at lightening speeds on America’s fastest nationwide 4G LTE network.
“We’re a mobile Internet company competing against utilities, so it’s no wonder we’re faster than they are,” added Legere. “We’re out there doing it while the other guys are still scheduling a meeting to talk about doing it. And, there’s one more thing you can bank on. We won’t stop.”
Learn more about T-Mobile’s network expansion and data-strong network design in this blog post. For more information on iPhone, please visit http://www.apple.com/iphone. For more information about T-Mobile Test Drive, visit t-mobile.com/testdrive or the T-Mobile Newsroom.
1 Based on a CivicScience poll of U.S. wireless users
Limited time offer; subject to change. Credit or debit card required for trial. Phone must be returned in 7 days to avoid $699.99 charge +tax. Trial use only. Service and account suspended after 7 days. Domestic use only. See T-Mobile.com for Test Drive Trial and coverage details.
T-Mobile Sets Your Music Free
Stream unlimited music without data charges from ALL of the top music streaming services—only on the Un-carrierSEATTLE, WA, June 18, 2014 – In a surprise announcement immediately following its Un-carrier 5.0 launch earlier this evening, T-Mobile US, Inc. (NYSE: TMUS) unveiled its second groundbreaking move of the day – designed to both unleash music in America and put its LTE network’s data muscle on full display with Un-carrier 6.0.
Beginning immediately, T-Mobile’s Simple Choice customers will now be able to stream all the music they want from all the most popular streaming services, including Pandora, Rhapsody, iHeartRadio, iTunes Radio, Slacker, and Spotify – without ever hitting their high-speed 4G LTE data service. Music services from T-Mobile partners – Samsung’s Milk Music and the forthcoming Beatport music app from SFX – will also stream without data charges for T-Mobile customers. While the old guard carriers with “music offers” choose a music service for you, T-Mobile is giving customers unprecedented choice with the ability to use all the top music streaming services.
“As a committed music freak, I’m personally outraged at the way the other guys are using the music you love to lure you into over-priced plans with sweet ‘promotional offers’ that quickly roll into higher prices or trigger those absurd overage charges,” said T-Mobile CEO and President John Legere. “Music should be free of all that. Music should have no limits. So, beginning right now, you can stream all you want at T-Mobile from all of the top music services – data charges do not apply.”
With streaming music seeing unprecedented growth in the U.S. and around the world, Americans are increasingly tuning in through their smartphones and tablets. The old-guard carriers have seen the trends, too, and have responded with a steady stream of programs designed to lock in customers and slam them with overages. Because of this, 37% of people say they avoid streaming on their phones – the majority out of fear that they’ll use up their data and run into overages.1
“Our competitors want you to believe that Internet radio is still free on their networks – but it’s not,” said Mike Sievert, Chief Marketing Officer for T-Mobile. “On AT&T and Verizon, you’re paying for every note of every song you stream. You even pay for the ads. Our goal with Music Freedom is different. We want people to enjoy their music worry-free – the way it’s meant to be.”
And in typical Un-carrier fashion, T-Mobile is inviting customers to help decide which services to add next via a poll at http://www.t-mobilemusicfreedom.com or by tweeting the name of their favorite service with the hashtag #musicfreedom.
Of course, T-Mobile customers with Simple Choice plans don’t have to do a thing to enjoy these new benefits. Just indulge in your favorite music, knowing it’ll never count toward your data charges, and that T-Mobile’s got your back.
For more information about Music Freedom, please visit http://www.t-mobile.com/musicfreedom or the T-Mobile Newsroom.
1 Based on a CivicScience poll of U.S. wireless users.
Qualifying Simple Choice plan and capable device required. Music streaming does not count towards data allotment on T-Mobile’s network; song downloads, video content, and non-audio content excluded. Data rates apply to Smartphone Mobile HotSpot service and tethered devices. For included services, see list at http://www.t-mobile.com/offer/free-music-streaming.html.
