Google's mobile phone group Google Fi just revealed a phone plan called Simply Unlimited. This is a smartphone carrier plan with unlimited data, calls, and text messages for approximately $30 USD (per line, so long as you're signing up three lines). For that price, Google Fi includes unlimited data, calls, and texts in the USA, as well as unlimited data and texting (not calls) in Canada and Mexico.
eSIM, short for embedded (not electronic) SIM, is supposed to be the SIM technology of the future. More convenient than popping out SIM card trays or physically interacting with carriers, the technology has been ironically but unsurprisingly hampered by carriers who aren't that keen on making it too easy for users to switch networks. Unfortunately, that also hampered even those phones with both physical and embedded SIMs so it's actually a pleasant surprise to hear that T-Mobile is finally enabling it for last year's Galaxy Note 20.
In a webcast today, T-Mobile announced a new free 5G phone upgrade offer and the 'Great Unlimited Trade-Up,' a program that gives competitors' non-unlimited customers the chance to switch to T-Mobile's unlimited plan for up to the same price they're already paying. The announcements joined T-Mobile's Home Internet launch and its T-Mobile Hometown 5G commitment to rural American communities.
T-Mobile is launching its 5G Home Internet service, promising cellular data coverage for 30+ million US households and the potential for cable- and DSL-beating speeds. Priced from $60 per month - with a few provisos - the carrier says that it expects average speeds of around 100 Mbps for most new customers.
Dish has accused T-Mobile of the sort of shady carrier behaviors that T-Mobile made a business out of accusing AT&T and Verizon of performing, demanding the FCC weigh in on the upcoming shutdown of the CDMA network many of its subscribers still rely upon. Dish and T-Mobile were meant to be collaborating closely in the aftermath of T-Mobile's merger with Sprint, but now the smaller carrier claims its erstwhile partner is now getting sneaky.
Although all US carriers now offer Android phones on their shelves, T-Mobile has a distinct place in Android history. It is the carrier to actually put its faith in the still-nascent smartphone platform with the T-Mobile G1, a.k.a the HTC Dream. Now it is renewing that close ties not just with Android but with Google's entire ecosystem by betting on some of the tech giant's services, even at the expense of one of its own.
T-Mobile plans to shutter its TVision Live and VIBE services in late April, but it is giving its subscribers the opportunity to continue getting live streaming television through new deals with Google and Philo. Under the change, both services will be offered at a $10 discount, meaning Philo will only cost subscribers $10/month.
Prepaid carrier Metro, which is now owned by T-Mobile, just got a bit more appealing for consumers who prefer to pay for their phone service ahead of time. The wireless carrier has announced that Metro prepaid customers are now eligible for T-Mobile Tuesdays perks, meaning they'll be able to redeem the freebies and other offers previously only available with certain T-Mobile plans.
T-Mobile has teamed up with SiriusXM to launch a new perk for the carrier's mobile customers: a 'first of its kind' Pandora offering that includes SiriusXM curated 'Top Tracks' stations, ad-free weekend radio, and early access to original podcasts. The new offering, which was announced today, will go live for T-Mobile subscribers later this month.
Anyone who uses T-Mobile for their mobile phone service should be aware that the carrier has announced it will automatically enroll subscribers in an advertising program if they don't opt-out. The advertising program would serve ads to the users based on their online activity. The first indication of T-Mobile's plan came from a recent update to its privacy policy.
Dish Network has announced plans to acquire Republic Wireless, the ultra-cheap MVNO wireless service that offers data-only plans and more. Once the acquisition deal closes, Dish will have control over the Republic Wireless brand and various 'supporting assets,' earning itself around 200,000 wireless customers.
T-Mobile has launched three new working-from-home products, figuring that even as vaccinations may be more commonplace, a return to the office is still a long way off for many US workers. T-Mobile WFX will encompass new unlimited 5G plans along with new home office internet plans, along with various voice and messaging services for business use.