T-Mobile will make its its budget-minded Connect plan available on March 25th well ahead of its intended debut. Originally expected after the finalization of the Sprint merger, the new option arrives at an all-important time.
Intended for Americans who work with tight budgets or who have very minimal needs, the $15 Connect plan provides for unlimited talk and text with 2GB data. A $25 monthly option allows for up to 5GB of data.
As coronavirus pandemic forces businesses to shutter, T-Mobile claims Connect is ideal for Americans who are struggling financially. “Right now, having a reliable, low-cost connection is absolutely crucial for Americans, and with many facing financial strain, time is of the essence,” wrote CEO John Legere in a statement. “We knew we couldn’t wait for the merger to finalize to launch T-Mobile Connect, our lowest priced smartphone plan, so we’re rolling out ahead of schedule.”
$15 is certainly a low price for a phone plan, though it does come with some caveats. Video streaming on the Connect plan is limited to 480p. It’s also pretty easy to blow through 2GB of data (and you’re cut off completely when you’ve used it up), so customers who choose this option will need to be judicious with it.
Metro by T-Mobile will also begin offering the same plan on Wednesday as well as a $35-per-month hotspot plan with 20GB of data, though the new prices will only apply for the next 60 days. In addition, Metro will offer a free 8-inch tablet for new or current customers with a voice line, and it will sell its hotspot devices for half off.
T-Mobile first unveiled the Connect plan last November, but it claimed that it would only offer it after the merger with Sprint went through. The plan was one of several initiatives the company announced in an effort to garner goodwill for its pending deal.
“The things consumers love about T-Mobile won’t change,” said T-Mobile president and COO Mike Sievert. “We’re still solving pain points and forcing change, but now we’ll be powered by a supercharged network that is only possible with a combined T-Mobile and Sprint.”
