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T-Mobile's Binge On expands to 80 more video services
As of today, T-Mobile's Binge On service is expanding to include 80 different video streaming services. Starting today, users will be able to stream content from NBC, Univision, Google Play Music and Spotify.
T-Mobile adds more services to Binge On and Music Freedom
T-Mobile's Binge On and Music Freedom plans for streaming video and music without gobbling up your data add new services to the data-free initiative on the regular. Today, the Un-carrier is adding even more. Amazon Music and ESPN Radio are the two notable additions to Music Freedom while Binge On video now includes Nickelodeon, Spike, TV Land and Epix. Legere & Co. have been preaching this version of streaming for a while, and today the company says the options for streaming that won't cut into your monthly allotment now tally over 100. And that includes porn.
Netflix is the one limiting its video quality on AT&T and Verizon
Last week as T-Mobile CEO John Legere announced that his company's Binge On program would expand to cover YouTube, he mentioned a strange point: that even the "mobile optimized" 480p Netflix streams T-Mobile offers were higher-res than what you get streaming via AT&T or Verizon. Executives from those companies said they don't reduce the resolution of videos on their networks, although tests revealed that Legere was right -- Netflix does only stream at 360p on AT&T and Verizon. Now the Wall Street Journal has reported that the culprit behind this restriction was actually Netflix itself.
You can now binge on porn with T-Mobile's Binge On
Earlier today, T-Mobile announced that it was adding a number of new content providers to its Binge On initiative. The blog post announcing the new additions, which included YouTube and Google Play Movies, listed a number of services by name before mentioning "and others." It turns out "others" meant adult entertainment. That's right, you can now watch porn on T-Mobile without having it count against that monthly data allotment.
T-Mobile adds YouTube and more to its Binge On streaming
Following a round of additions to its Binge On initiative in January, T-Mobile is tacking on more content to the data-free video option. Beginning today, YouTube, Google Play Movies, Red Bull TV, Discovery Go, Fox Business, Baeble Music, ESNE TV, FilmOn.TV and KlowdTV won't count against that data cap when you stream video on the Un-carrier. The company says today's group pushes the total services available via Binge On to more than 50. Of course, the videos you watch are "mobile optimized," so don't expect Ultra HD quality.
T-Mobile's CEO does damage control, apologizes to the EFF
T-Mobile CEO John Legere has published an open letter on the company's website, and it smells like an attempt at damage control after getting some real backlash. As you might know, he's been making good use of his colorful vocabulary to defend his company over accusations that it's throttling YouTube videos these past few weeks. In the process, he lambasted Google and accused the Electronic Frontier Foundation of being a paid mouthpiece.
EFF: T-Mobile's video 'optimization' is just throttling
We wouldn't blame you for doubting T-Mobile's claim that Binge On 'optimizes' mobile video instead of throttling it -- that sounds like a classic euphemism. And it looks like your skepticism may be well-warranted, if you ask the Electronic Frontier Foundation. It recently conducted tests suggesting that the cap-free viewing option throttles every video download and stream to 1.5Mbps, no matter which service you're using or how good your connection might be. While T-Mobile says it's shrinking videos to 480p, the EFF shows that the carrier is simply reducing the bandwidth to make most videos play at 480p. If a service doesn't have a low-bandwidth option, you get stuttering and other hiccups.
T-Mobile says it doesn't 'throttle' YouTube, it 'downgrades'
T-Mobile's Binge On service allows eligible customers to stream videos from select services -- Netflix, HBO Go, Hulu and others -- without eating into their data allowances. The catch? Binge On videos are streamed at 480p by default. YouTube isn't included in Binge On, but recently the company accused T-Mobile of "throttling" its service regardless. This isn't an accurate characterization, a T-Mobile spokesperson told DSLReports in the following statement:"Using the term 'throttle' is misleading. We aren't slowing down YouTube or any other site. In fact, because video is optimized for mobile devices, streaming from these sites should be just as fast, if not faster than before. A better phrase is 'mobile optimized' or a less flattering 'downgraded' is also accurate."
FCC Chairman gives T-Mobile's Binge On the thumbs up
T-Mobile's Binge On feature, which allows subscribers to watch videos from select services without using up their data, has raised eyebrows... and net neutrality concerns. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, however, isn't only OK with it, he also praised the plan, according to Ars Technica. "Its clear in the Open Internet Order that we said we are pro-competition and pro-innovation. Clearly this meets both of those criteria. It's highly innovative and highly competitive," Wheeler replied when a reporter asked him about Binge On at the FCC's open meeting for November.
T-Mobile's 'Binge On' lets you stream video, leave your data untouched
T-Mobile CEO John Legere is on a bit of a tear over in Los Angeles right now -- after doubling the amount of mobile data T-Mo customers will get as part of the carrier's Simple Choice Amped plans, he confirmed the existence of a Music Freedom-like feature for video services. Long story short, T-Mobile customers will be able to watch video at "DVD quality or better" (480p and above) from 24 streaming services without eating into their high-speed data buckets. And the price? As usual, it'll cost you a whopping zero additional dollars starting on Sunday for people who switch to the company's new Simple Choice Amped plans.
