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T-Mobile could launch free TV service soon (Update: It's something else)
Update, January 25, 2019 (05:39 PM ET): It appears the source listed below got it wrong. Apparently, the video service that will be rolling out soon is for Metro by T-Mobile and will be “a snackable content app launching on two phones next month.” The app’s developers, Xumo, said as much in a tweet in response to the CEO of Cheddar:
Not quite. We’re working with Metro by T-Mobile on a snackable content app launching on two phones next month. https://t.co/ptAiWAyZ3g— XUMO (@XumoTV) January 25, 2019
It looks like the T-Mobile “disruptive TV service” and this Metro by T-Mobile service are different beasts altogether. We’ll just have to continue to wait before we can see what T-Mobile has up its sleeve.
Original Article, January 25, 2019 (03:07 PM ET): For well over a year now, we’ve been awaiting the launch of the long-gestating T-Mobile TV streaming service. Now, according to a rumor originating from Cheddar, that day could be only weeks away.
According to Cheddar, the T-Mobile TV service — the name of which is not yet known — will be free, ad-supported, and show both live and pre-recorded content. T-Mobile customers will be able to watch the service on their smartphones, tablets, or other internet-connected devices.
To be clear, this likely is not the separate, “disruptive TV service” T-Mobile CEO John Legere talked about last year. This service will be more akin to AT&T’s Watch TV service or the now-defunct Go90 app from Verizon, whereas we assume the “disruptive” service will be more along the lines of something like YouTube TV, which aims to replace cable TV packages.
However, it could be that this service and the “disruptive” service are one-and-the-same.
Either way, the T-Mobile TV streaming product will be based on technology from Layer3, which T-Mobile acquired in 2018. Layer3 offers consumers a way to watch over-the-air channels through an internet stream, rather than needing a traditional antenna. Layer3 is only available in certain U.S. markets for now.
It’s quite possible the delays in the rollout of this T-Mobile service is due to the company needing more time to license content. However, we won’t really know much about what’s happened until T-Mobile makes the announcement.
What do you think? Are you a T-Mobile customer who will enjoy this free service, or would you think about switching to T-Mobile when this service becomes available? Let us know in the comments!
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