T-Mobile is about to launch a new feature as part of its wireless service plans designed to lure in new subscribers: free TV streaming.
The carrier is reportedly planning to enter the streaming wars within the new few weeks with a free, ad-supported video service optimized from mobile streaming. T-Mobile service sounds similar to Verizon’s now-defunct go90 video streaming platform, but T-Mobile is hoping to some extra perks will make it more attractive to customers.
T-Mobile is about to enter a crowded streaming market that seems to be gaining competitors monthly. Netflix, Hulu, HBO Now, Sling TV and Amazon Prime Video are some of the biggest names in the industry right now. Meanwhile, Apple, Disney, AT&T and NBCUniversal are all planning to launch their own video streaming services over the next year or so.
According to a report from Cheddar, T-Mobile’s mobile TV service will be based on licensed Xumo technology through its Layer3 division. One of the advantages it has over other mobile services is the ability to access the content from non-mobile devices.
Some Samsung phones sold through T-Mobile will come with a pre-installed app for the streaming services once it launches. Customers will be able to watch live and pre-recorded content. Layer3 services are currently only available in select markets like Chicago, Washington D.C. and Dallas, so it will be interesting to see how accessible the service will be when it launches.
An exact launch date wasn’t given in the report. The TV streaming service is supposedly a prelude to the “disruptive TV service” T-Mobile John Legere promised would launch last year. That service will allegedly launch by the end of 2019. During the meantime, T-Mobile is busy securing rights to shows, although it doesn’t plan to create any of its original content at this time.
