T-Mobile unveils Un-carrier 5.0: free iPhone 5s Test Drive, LTE network news

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Tonight T-Mobile held its big Un-carrier 5.0 event in Seattle, but the gathering ended up being even bigger than we originally anticipated. Not only did John Legere and Co. introduce us to Un-carrier 5.0, they also took the wraps off of Un-carrier 6.0!

First up, we’ve got Un-carrier 5.0 and the iPhone 5s “Test Drive.” As part of its new program, T-Mobile will let customers try an iPhone 5s with unlimited domestic usage for a full 7 days. After the trial is up, customers can return the iPhone to a T-Mobile store and pay nothing for their trial.

So what’s the catch, you ask? Well, there is a bit of fine print worth mentioning. When you sign up for a Test Drive, T-Mobile will place a $699.99 hold on your credit card. If you return the iPhone 5s with a cracked screen or water damage, you’ll need to pony up $100. And if you decide not to return the iPhone at all, you’ll be charged $700 for the unit.

T-Mo’s Un-carrier 5.0 move also includes some big network news. T-Mobile has activated its Wideband LTE network in 16 markets across the U.S., giving those lucky Magenta Army members access to a network with peak download speeds of 150Mbps. The current list of Wideband LTE markets as follows:

  • Atlanta, GA
  • Birmingham, AL
  • Columbus, OH
  • Dallas, TX
  • Detroit, MI
  • Honolulu, HI
  • Houston, TX
  • Jacksonville, FL
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Minneapolis, MN
  • Mobile, AL
  • Orlando, FL
  • Portland, OR
  • Seattle, WA
  • Tampa, FL
  • Upstate, NY

T-Mobile also announced that it has rolled out its Voice over LTE (VoLTE) service in 15 U.S. markets. Of course, we’ve got the full list for you:

  • Atlanta, GA
  • Austin, TX
  • Boston, MA
  • Chicago, IL
  • Dallas, TX
  • Houston, TX
  • Long Island, NY
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Minneapolis, MN
  • New Jersey
  • New York, NY
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • San Francisco, CA
  • Seattle, WA
  • Washington, D.C.

So there’s Un-carrier 5.0. With its iPhone 5s Test Drive and LTE network improvements, there’s goodies included for both new and existing T-Mobile customers. What do you think of T-Mobile’s Un-carrier 5.0 effort?

Sources: T-Mobile (1), (2)

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