ipadairT-Mobile US this morning confirmed that it will offer free data for tablets on its network up to 200 MB/month, and said it will also offer tablets including the 16GB iPad Air for $0 down — the latest move in its effort to upend the traditional wireless industry.

John Legere, CEO of the Bellevue-based wireless company, detailed the plan on a conference call and “Twitter press conference” this morning, saying that T-Mobile is aiming to connect more tablets to its LTE network, rather than requiring users to rely on Wi-FI networks.

“We believe it’s time that tablets operate the same way smartphones do and should be connected all the time,” Legere said.

As with the company’s smartphone pricing, tablet users will pay the full unsubsidized price of the device over time, but won’t need to continue paying for the device after it’s paid off. In the case of the 16GB iPad Air, for example, the monthly payment will be $26.25 for two years, or a total of $630 in the end.

“We will prove that we have the lowest cost of ownership for tablets,” Legere said.

Tablets including the Nexus 7 and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 will also be available for zero-down. Versions of the iPad Air with more storage will require a down payment — $100 down for the iPad Air 32 GB, and $200 down for the 64 GB.

T-Mobile said it will also offer the free 200MB of monthly data to customers who bring compatible tablets to the network. “You don’t have to have any kind of paying relationship at all with us,” said T-Mobile marketing chief Mike Sievert.

Tablet data plans beyond the 200 MB/month will start at $10/month for 500 MB.

Here’s the text of the company’s news release with more details on the plan.

T-Mobile Revolutionizes How Customers Buy and Use Tablets 
with Free Data for Life 

T-Mobile is the only major national wireless provider offering customers free 4G LTE data every month for as long they own their device

All tablets start at incredible introductory price of $0 down

Revolutionary Simple Choice plan enables tablet customers to enjoy unlimited data worldwide – at no extra charge

BELLEVUE, Wash. – Oct. 23, 2013 – If you purchased one of the nearly 90 percent[i] of all tablets that only connect over Wi-Fi because you worried mobile connections would mean big monthly bills, listen up.
Just two weeks after upending the wireless industry with its Un-carrier 3.0 moves, T-Mobile US, Inc. (NYSE: TMUS), America’s new No. 1 choice in wireless[ii], is at it again. In its latest Un-carrier move, T-Mobile today announced Tablets Un-leashed, a revolutionary approach to make tablets just as mobile and connected as smartphones.

“Tablets are supposed to be un-tethered like smartphones, but it hasn’t worked out that way because people know carriers will charge them an arm-and-a-leg for mobile data,” said John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile. “Carriers figured out a long time ago that they could make money – a lot of money – by forcing customers into restrictive, overpriced data plans. We changed it for smartphones and we’re changing it for tablets.”

T-Mobile is the only major national wireless provider to make tablets affordable, connected and mobile right out of the box. There’s no bait and switch, no trial period and no strings attached. T-Mobile is the only national wireless provider to offer tablet owners up to 200 MB of free 4G LTE data every month for as long as they own their tablet, even if they’re not yet a T-Mobile customer.[iii] It’s really as good as it sounds – 200 MB of free data on T-Mobile’s nationwide 4G LTE network. That means each month customers can send approximately 800 Instagram photos, more than 2,500 emails or stream 200 minutes of music – all for free.

Customers wanting more data can choose from a range of simple, affordable and flexible options – with no annual service contracts, no data overages and a blazing-fast nationwide 4G LTE network. T-Mobile offers daily, weekly and monthly options for adding 4G LTE data. For T-Mobile voice customers, ‘always-on’ tablet plans start at just $10 a month for unlimited data including 500 MB of 4G LTE data each month. Customers can add even more 4G LTE data in 2 GB increments for just $10 more per month. For customers who would rather have the flexibility of on-demand data, T-Mobile offers daily and weekly passes. Daily passes include unlimited data with 500 MB of 4G LTE data starting at just $5. The weekly passes include unlimited data with 1 GB of 4G LTE data for $10. No caps. No overages. Just simple value.

Additionally, postpaid customers who add a monthly Simple Choice tablet plan automatically get unlimited data to include more than 100 countries worldwide, at no extra charge. This means that T-Mobile’s home data coverage area for tablets is now larger than AT&T’s and Verizon’s combined.

T-Mobile is driving unparalleled value for tablets across its entire line-up. New and existing customers will get affordable and hassle-free access to the latest 4G LTE tablets at the upfront price of $0 down with monthly device payments. With incredible upfront pricing and great value rate plans, T-Mobile has the lowest total cost of ownership among the top US carriers for tablets. In fact, compared to similar AT&T plans, consumers can save up to hundreds of dollars over two years with T-Mobile’s Tablets Un-leashed offer.

“By offering free data for life with incredible upfront pricing, T-Mobile is un-leashing customers to fully enjoy tablets as they were meant to be enjoyed – mobile and connected,” Legere said.

T-Mobile Announces Tablet Trade-In Program and New Device
T-Mobile today also announced plans to extend its existing smartphone trade-in program to tablets. Beginning Nov. 1, anyone with a qualifying tablet can bring it into a participating          T-Mobile store – even if it’s only Wi-Fi capable – and receive a discount on a new tablet.

Tablets in T-Mobile’s portfolio will include:

  • Google Nexus 7 (2013), Google’s flagship 7-inch LTE tablet, featuring a stunning 7-inch full HD display and virtual surround sound is built to deliver the best of Google in a slim, light and extremely portable tablet. T-Mobile today announced it will offer the Nexus 7 beginning Nov. 20 for $0 down with 24 equal monthly device payments of $16.[iv]
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab(TM) 2 10.1, with its brilliant 10.1-inch display, lets customers take entertainment, like games, music, movies and social networking, on the go while taking advantage of T-Mobile’s nationwide 4G LTE network. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is currently available for $0 down with 24 equal monthly device payments of $19.iv

[i]  NPD Connected Intelligence, NPD Mobile Connectivity Report (June 2013)
[ii] #1 choice in wireless based on T-Mobile’s net postpaid phone subscriber additions vs those of the other major national carriers in Q2 2013
[iii] 200 MB free data every 30 days with qualifying Mobile Internet account on eligible device. No roaming. See www.T-Mobile.com for coverage. Go to a participating T-Mobile store for trade-in program details. Simple Choice global data feature’s home data coverage is the area where customers receive data services included in their plan.
[iv] Example Device Pricing: Google Nexus 7 $0 down + 24/monthly device payments of $16; Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 $0 down + 24/monthly device payments of $19. If you cancel wireless service, remaining balance on tablet becomes due. Total $384 (Google Nexus 7); $459.99 (Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1) 0% APR O.A.C for well-qualified buyers.

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