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Have Unused T-Mobile Data? Roll It Over Into a 'Data Stash'

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

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Let's say you don't use all your cell phone data this month. Normally, whatever is left over goes away, but if you're a T-Mobile customer, that unused data will now carry over to the next month.

The self-proclaimed "un-carrier" on Tuesday announced the latest in a string of moves intended to take on rivals and win over new customers. Going forward, any high-speed data you don't use in a given month will automatically roll into a personal "Data Stash," so you can use it at a later time, for up to a year. 

Starting in January, Data Stash will be available at no extra charge for every new and existing T-Mobile customer on a Simple Choice plan who has purchased additional 4G LTE high-speed data for their device (3GB or more for smartphones and 1GB or more for tablets). Better yet, every Data Stash comes pre-loaded with 10GB of 4G LTE data for free (though your data will not start rolling over until that 10GB has been used up).

Any unused data will be rounded up to the nearest megabyte and automatically added to your stash at the end of the month. Then, when you need more data, you'll automatically start tapping into your data deposits. 

T-Mobile is the first national wireless provider to implement this type of program. Typically, any leftover data a customer has already paid for is confiscated, T-Mobile said. 

"Can you imagine your gas station siphoning unused gas from your car each month? The U.S. wireless industry is even worse," T-Mobile's outspoken CEO John Legere said in a statement. "Americans have been gamed by the carriers into buying huge data plans — all to avoid getting screwed with overage penalties. Only to find out they bought more than they need which is then confiscated by the carrier. For the consumer it's lose, lose." 

There's no limit to how much data you can collect in your stash. The deal is available on individual, family, and business accounts. 

Though T-Mobile has been introducing some innovative products lately, many mobile users have been reluctant to make the switch because of the carrier's coverage, which is good in big cities but gets spotty in more rural areas.

But T-Mobile has been working to expand its LTE network, which now covers 260 million Americans, an increase of 10 million people in the last 60 days alone, the company said. T-Mobile also today announced it has deployed its newly acquired 700MHz spectrum in Cleveland, Colorado Springs, Minneapolis, and Washington, D.C., extending coverage to less-populated areas and improving in-building service. In addition, Legere and Co. yesterday that its new Wideband LTE, which boosts network speeds up to 50 percent, is now live throughout the greater NYC metro area.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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