T-Mobile announced Operation Tablet Freedom that offers 4G-enabled tablets for the price of Wi-Fi models, cheaper deals on data bundles and ability to add a tablet to postpaid voice plan for free.
T-Mobile, the fourth largest U.S. carrier, is pushing harder to remove the major pain points in the wireless industry. After making the headlines with $40 Simple Starter plan, Wednesday, T-Mobile is at it again with day two of "Three Days of Un-carrier." The carrier announced Operation Tablet Freedom, a new program that lets users add a tablet to existing postpaid voice plan for free. The revolutionary move by T-Mobile changes the traditional and expensive method of using tablets through major carriers.
In an official press release, Thursday, T-Mobile's CEO John Legere said the new program goes live April 12, and gives customers nearly 1.2GB of free 4G LTE data each month for the rest of the year, and charges $10 a month starting next year. Additionally, the carrier is offering 4G LTE enabled tablets for the price of Wi-Fi models, for which charges are about $130 extra for the 4G devices.
"With this announcement, T-Mobile's launching a full-on assault against the restrictions and pain points that keep tablet owners from experiencing life beyond the Wi-Fi zone," said John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile. "The Un-carrier is all about solving pain points, and today we're eliminating every reason to be stuck on an unconnected Wi-Fi-only tablet. There's no longer any need to limit the use of your tablet because you're intimidated by Big Blue, Bad Red or Bumbling Yellow."
The Big Blue reference in the post is towards AT&T, Bad Red is Verizon and Bumbling Yellow is for Sprint. In a separate blog, Legere called these carriers "stumbling" and "arrogant" and emphasized on the overage charges on their customers to make more profits.
With the launch of the new program, T-Mobile is giving the freedom of using a tablet computer almost anywhere, without always looking for a Wi-Fi connection. The carriers is also offering Wi-Fi tablet owners a trade-in of their existing tablets for a new one for zero down. Additionally, the popular ETF coverage is extended towards the tablet deal, where T-Mobile pays any early termination fees charged by their current carriers while making a switch.
T-Mobile's new and robust offers have been pressurizing other carriers since earlier this year. AT&T started offering a $450 credit for T-Mobile customers if they switched carriers. The two-year contract tradition was also eliminated by T-Mobile, which was followed by others. This aggressive attitude has attracted 1.6 million new customers in the fourth quarter of 2013, but the company paid a price for it, as it posted a $20 million loss.
T-Mobile offers Apple iPad Air with 4G LTE support for $499, down from its original $630 price tag, and 4G enabled Samsung Tab 3 for just $200 instead of $312, T-Mobile CMO Mike Sievert said in a company's blog. These trimmed down prices will get you a Wi-Fi only model with other carriers.
