UPDATE: One note about Binge On and Data Stash is that if you want to use Binge On, a 20GB limit will be imposed on your Data Stash. If having an unlimited Data Stash is more important than Binge On’s free video streaming, you can opt out of the 20GB Data Stash limit here. Thanks to Chuck E Cheese and @madhatman for the heads-up!
Un-carrier X is official, and it’s called Binge On. Think of Binge On like Music Freedom for video, because it lets you stream video without using your high-speed data allotment.
Binge On will support 24 video services at launch, including Netflix, WatchESPN, HBO Go, and HBO Now. Binge On even includes Go90 and DirecTV, which are owned by Verizon and AT&T, respectively. T-Mo says that more services are on the way, adding that it’s in discussions with Google about adding YouTube and that it’ll work with any other partners that want to join Binge On. Here’s the full list of services that’ll be supported by Binge On at launch:
- Crackle
- DirecTV
- Encore
- ESPN
- Fox Sports
- Fox Sports Go
- Go90
- HBO Now
- HBO Go
- Hulu
- MLB
- Movieplex
- NBC Sports
- Netflix
- Sling TV
- Sling Box
- SHOWTIME
- STARZ
- T-Mobile TV
- Univision Deportes
- Ustream
- Vessel
- Vevo
- VUDU
With Binge On, video will stream at “DVD quality (480p+).” T-Mobile says that it’s using proprietary technology to optimize streaming video for mobile screens, and as a result, users can watch “up to three times” more video on services that aren’t yet included with Binge On. If you’d prefer to watch video without T-Mobile’s Binge On optimization tech, like if you want to beam video to a TV and you want higher-quality video, you’ll be able to flip a switch in your account and turn the feature off.
Binge On is available to all customers with a data plan of 3GB or higher. It’ll be available to customers on Simple Choice Amped plans starting November 15, and everyone else will get it on November 19. To celebrate the launch of Binge On, T-Mobile is partnering with Sling TV to give Simple Choice customers 30 percent off a 1 year subscription to Sling’s “Best of Live TV” service, which regularly costs $20 per month and includes channels like ESPN, ESPN2, AMC, Food Network, A&E, TNT, History Channel, Travel Channel, Cartoon Network, and more.
Unlimited data subscribers, you’re getting something special, too. Magenta is teaming up with VUDU to give unlimited 4G LTE customers a free VUDU movie rental each month of 2016.
Binge On is definitely a big move for T-Mobile, which is probably why it got its own Un-carrier event today. Obviously there are some big names missing from the service, most notably YouTube, but T-Mobile did add services to Music Freedom as time went on, so we’ll have to wait and see if that’ll be the case with Binge On, too. As with Music Freedom, though, there are net neutrality concerns with Binge On, with some folks concerned that it could give T-Mobile the power to decide whether or not particular services get used by consumers. Some consumers might avoid using a service if it’s not in Binge On because it’ll use up their limited data allotment. For it’s part, T-Mobile argues that Binge On isn’t a net neutrality issue because it’s free, consumers have the ability to turn Binge On on and off, and it says that it’ll work with anyone that wants to be a part of Binge On.
So now that it’s official, what do you think of Binge On? Excited to watch more shows on the go? Think that it is a net neutrality issue, despite T-Mo’s claims?
Source: T-Mobile