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T-Mobile made a splash on March 26 with the announcement that not only will it start selling the iPhone in April, but also that it’s launching a new plan and pricing scheme designed to cut down on the total cost of mobile phone ownership and reduce the impact onerous mobile terms might be having on the average smartphone owner.
It was a major step in the right direction and one that at least got customers talking.
Whether those customers will make the jump to T-Mobile, however, remains to be seen.
The company is, after all, the smallest of the four largest carriers in the United States and over the past few years it has watched companies such as Verizon and AT&T charge by to lead the mobile-carrier market.
It won’t be easy for T-Mobile to climb back into serious competition with these two giants. But these latest welcome moves might help T-Mobile draw closer to the leader. T-Mobile, in other words, might have just become a worthy carrier choice.
But would choosing T-Mobile over another carrier actually make sense? You bet.
Here is why the time might be right for mobile phone users to consider dropping their current mobile carrier for T-Mobile:
1. A solid device lineup
Although most folks focus on Verizon and AT&T when they’re looking at devices and services plans, T-Mobile is no slouch. The company will start selling the iPhone in April and it also offers the Samsung Galaxy S3. Several other Android-based smartphones are also available to its customers. T-Mobile’s smartphones are worth considering.
2. Root for the underdog
It’s always fun to root for the underdog, isn’t it? There was a time last year when it looked like T-Mobile would disappear from the market after a buyout offer from AT&T. But when that deal fell through, T-Mobile had a new life. Now, T-Mobile is trying to stage one of the most impressive comebacks the mobile industry has seen. It’s an inspiring story. There are some romantics among us that like the idea of supporting the underdog and stop relying on the big, baleful competition.
3. The 4G LTE is ramping up
One of the reasons many people didn’t switch to T-Mobile was its lack of a 4G LTE service. However, the company is now ramping it up very quickly. T-Mobile estimates that its network will cover more than 100 million potential customers by the middle of the year and 200 million by the end of 2013. If it achieves its 2013 goals, expect T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network to be just as widespread as those of its competitors.
4. Customer service is quite good
T-Mobile actually performs quite well in studies on customer service. Granted, regional carriers, such as MetroPCS, tend to do better, but for a major provider, T-Mobile isn’t so bad. Since it’s close to completing its MetroPCS acquisition, it might not be long before its customer service improves.
T-Mobile’s New Service Plans Provide 10 Good Reasons to Switch Carriers
5. It’s growing
Speaking of MetroPCS, the fact that T-Mobile is going to be acquiring that company is extremely important. The move signals that T-Mobile is poised for growth, and it might actually be able to learn a thing or two from MetroPCS management. Remember: MetroPCS is a relatively well-run company. That might rub off on T-Mobile.
6. The iPhone is finally coming
The big thing holding back T-Mobile from entering the arena of wireless giants was its lack of an iPhone. Starting next month, the company will begin selling the iPhone, finally giving it the product it needs to compete more effectively in the marketplace. If the iPhone isn’t a good reason to switch to T-Mobile, what is?
7. No-frills plans
T-Mobile has tried to take all of the guesswork out of its plans. The company’s new plans come with unlimited talk and texting and will set customers back from $50 and up depending on the amount of data they want. It’s a simpler way of doing business that the company says should benefit its business and customers.
8. The ability to leave at anytime
T-Mobile is doing something that other major carriers have tenaciously resisted for years: eliminating subsidies. In their place, customers will be required to pay a set fee every month to help offset the company’s costs. That means customers can leave T-Mobile contracts whenever they want and extends the freedom that so many mobile customers want.
9. T-Mobile’s penchant for innovation
T-Mobile has a strong penchant for innovation, as proven by the recent changes to its plans and device pricing. There’s no telling what the future holds. But if these latest moves are any guide, it might not be long before T-Mobile shows off even more innovative ideas. If innovation is what customers are after—and it should be—going with T-Mobile might not be a bad idea.
10. There’s something exciting about a radical
Don’t underestimate the impact that radical moves can have on customer preference. T-Mobile is doing something that the marketplace deemed impossible just a year ago and it’s getting all kinds of attention because of it. That attention should only help T-Mobile and increase its chances of drawing new customers away from its competitors.
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