T-Mobile US CEO John Legere announced at CES that the carrier was ending monthly fees and added taxes for mobile internet and T-Mobile One, and that it would give money back to customers for unused data. Legere also announced a record-setting year of growth. During the fourth quarter, the carrier reported 2.1 million net customer additions, including 933,000 branded postpaid phone net customer additions and a record Q4 branded postpaid phone churn of 1.28 percent. Over the course of 2016, 8.2 million customers signed up to T-Mobile US, including 3.3 million branded postpaid phone customers.
The CEO outlined a number of new Rules for T-Mobile One, the first being bill transparency for customers, who will be able to see exactly what they will to pay, including any taxes and monthly fees, on T-Mobile One. With the new KickBack, customers will also not have to pay for what they don’t use. For example, customers using 2 GB or less in a month will get up to USD 10 credit on their next month’s bill per qualifying line. With an extra line costing USD 20 on T-Mobile One (lines 3-12) for a tablet or family member, users could end up paying just USD 10 a month with KickBack.
The carrier has also introduced Un-contract, with a price guarantee on an unlimited 4G plan. T-Mobile explained that this means T-Mobile One will keep their price until they decide to change it. The carrier will never change the price paid for the plan.
T-Mobile has also changed the way it presents data for consumer consumption. Legere said T-Mobile One will now be 100 percent unlimited, and, later this month, be the only postpaid consumer plan available at the carrier, making away with plans delineated in bytes and bits. Existing T-Mobile customers will be able to keep their current plans if they want.
The carrier will also give what it calls its second “tax rebate” this year. From 6 January, they will get USD 150 per line for every line they switch to T-Mobile One up to 12 lines, for a limited time. There’s no trade-in or equipment financing required, and the rebate can be spent in any way.
Finally, T-Mobile is inviting customers to posting their #FeeFace: a selfie of their reaction to their inflated wireless bill on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. The best Fee Faces will be entered in a daily #FeeFace off, with each winner taking a T-Mobile One prize pack with either a smartphone of their choice, a free year of T-Mobile One and a pair of Beats headphones. Every winner will also qualify for a grand prize of a four-night, five-day trip for two to Vegas with first-class airfare, accommodations, a private driver, tickets to shows at T-Mobile Arena and cash.
