T-Mobile Adds YouTube to 'Binge On' Data-Free Streaming

Huge news, T-Mobile users: Watching YouTube videos will no longer count against your data.

T-Mobile has apparently received Google's blessing for its Binge On perk, because the self-proclaimed un-carrier on Thursday added YouTube and Google Play Movies to the program, which lets you stream video on your mobile device from certain services without it eating into any of your data.

Thursday's Binge On expansion also brings support for number of other streaming services, including Baeble Music, Discovery GO, ESNE TV, FilmOn.TV, Fox Business, KlowdTV, and Red Bull TV.

That brings the total number of supported services to more than 50, which represent 70 percent of all video that T-Mobile customers watch on their phones and tablets each month, the carrier said.

"The facts are clear—Binge On is a runaway hit, and adding these services is just huge!" T-Mobile President and CEO John Legere said in a statement. "Now T-Mobile customers can watch all of the videos they want from these platforms without even touching their high-speed data."

The main drawback of Binge On is that it delivers DVD-quality (480p) streams, though customers can turn it off and return to higher-quality video. But if you're stuck in an airport or doctor's office, or you don't have a Wi-Fi network at home, checking out Netflix and now YouTube without eating into monthly data is probably worth a slight drop in quality.

Legere added that "demand for mobile video is skyrocketing," before taking a jab at rival carriers, saying their customers "can either stop watching or pay bigger bills and surprise overage charges."

Evidence suggests that Legere is right about Binge On being a hit. Since the program launched nearly four months ago, T-Mobile users are watching "twice as many hours" of video per day, "in longer and more frequent viewing sessions," the company said. Users have collectively burned through more than 57 million GB to date, without touching their high-speed data.

"That's like watching Adele's 15 minute Carpool Karaoke with James Corden more than 460 million times," T-Mobile said.

About Our Expert

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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