what you should Know
- T-Mobile has made it easy to switch carriers with an app feature called Easy Switch, which allows switching up to five lines in the app.
- T-Mobile lets potential customers try out its network for three months through its app via an eSIM with Network Pass.
- Network Pass is available for iOS through the T-Mobile app with Android support coming soon.
T-Mobile has made it easy for potential customers to switch from their old carrier to the T-Mobile app without ever setting foot in a store. T-Mobile also added a feature called Network Pass so people can try out T-Mobile’s coverage to see if it’s a good fit before committing.
In a news publication (opens in new tab)T-Mobile announced that these two new features are available in the iOS app, with Android support for both features coming soon.
In a T-Mobile study, the carrier found that nearly two-thirds of people who started the switching process gave up before completing it. The company wants to streamline that process by allowing customers to sign up from the T-Mobile app while keeping their phones. Customers with unlocked phones that are compatible with T-Mobile’s network can complete the process in minutes. Fortunately, most unlocked phones will work with this network.
Customers can switch up to five lines with quick activation for phones that support eSIM. If the phones on your account require a physical SIM card, T-Mobile will send SIM cards to those who need one.
Before switching, you’ll need to keep your old service active and your phone must be unlocked. To unlock a phone, it must be paid for, and some carriers, such as AT&T, will require a few extra steps to unlock. Fortunately, T-Mobile will help you unlock your phone. If you’re ready to trade in but still owe on your phone, T-Mobile will help pay off the device with up to $1,000.
Perhaps the most interesting addition to T-Mobile’s app is Network Pass. In what is essentially a three-month network test, T-Mobile will give potential customers three months of unlimited data to try out its network. This includes full access to T-Mobile’s 5G network so users can get an accurate idea of exactly what T-Mobile’s service will be like where they live. To help even more, Network Pass users can get a Network Scorecard from T-Mobile that shows the performance of the network in their area.
While T-Mobile’s coverage maps can give you a pretty good idea of how strong coverage is in your area, a real test drive can help people feel a lot more confident about making the switch. If T-Mobile turns out not to be right for you, you’re not on the hook for anything. You don’t even need to provide a credit card.
You’ll still keep your phone number during the trial, so you don’t need to change the way you use your phone. T-Mobile’s network will be available for data while you can continue to use the basic features of your current plan.
T-Mobile isn’t the first carrier to offer free trials to some of the top wireless carriers, with smaller carriers like Mint Mobile or Visible offering limited trials. Visible even offers a trial period with an iPhone eSIM. Still, it’s nice to see that T-Mobile is offering such a long trial of its network so people aren’t rushing to make a decision based on a limited trial. It’s also nice that T-Mobile is bringing the feature to eSIM-enabled Androids like the Pixel 6 or Galaxy S22. In addition, T-Mobile has a free hotspot trial option to show its coverage for those without an eSIM on any operating system.
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Experience the largest 5G network in the country
T-Mobile’s plans have plenty of 5G data with the fastest 5G coverage included in every plan. T-Mobile’s network is also compatible with most unlocked phones, so many people won’t need a new phone to switch.