T-Mobile encountered a major hiccup as the fourth-largest U.S. mobile carrier launched its tablet data plans on Nov. 1.
As Latinos Post reported, T-Mobile announced tablet owners could receive 200MB of data from the carrier regardless of where and how the tablet originated.
Customers who already own an iPad and are subscribed to T-Mobile will automatically receive the 200MB of data, without the need of contacting the mobile carrier.
T-Mobile President and CEO John Legere stated on Oct. 23, "By offering free data for life with incredible upfront pricing, T-Mobile is un-leashing customers to fully enjoy iPad as it was meant to be enjoyed - mobile and connected."
Tablet owners are also able to select more data while not signing any annual contracts or data overages with the carrier. T-Mobile will offer daily, weekly, and monthly options for adding 4G LTE data for one's tablet.
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The new data offers, however, did not go as smooth as expected for some T-Mobile customers.
AllThingsD reported new tablet customers were mistakenly charged $10 per month for the data that was meant to be free.
T-Mobile was alerted of the problem and issued a statement.
"We had a technology glitch and a training issue that caused some people to believe [they were being charged] - and some people to be charged," said T-Mobile's Chief Marketing Officer Mike Sievert, during an interview. "That's just not right."
According to Sievert, the T-Mobile customers that were erroneously charged $10 will receive automatic credit.
The T-Mobile chief operating officer then said something that has another "catch" as AllThingsD's Ina Fried noted.
Sievert added, ""Every single customer gets free data for life if they have a tablet on our network. You don't need to have any paying relationship with us whatsoever."
Fried clarified, "The only other catch - and T-Mobile argues it has been clear about this from the start - is that customers who want to finance their tablet purchase through the carrier must have a paid relationship with T-Mobile."
T-Mobile tablet customers can have a "paid relationship with T-Mobile" by, for example, having a postpaid phone with the mobile carrier. People who are interested in T-Mobile tablet data need at least a $20 per-month tablet plan in order to finance the purchase.
T-Mobile has also taken to their FAQ section about the tablet data confusion about the $10 charge.
"We readily admit that we had some executional issues around our tablet launch on Nov. 1. Breaking with the industry norm and giving data away for free is complicated," read the FAQ on T-Mobile free data for life plan. "There were legacy elements in our system and in our training activities that created the confusion. We are actively working to fix and clarify the website while re-educating all of our channel reps."
T-Mobile CEO John Legere went on Twitter to address the topic.
In the future, we will be better with the specifics; in the meantime, this should clear up some of the confusion: https://t.co/IJeaAG9SZO
— John Legere (@JohnLegere) November 5, 2013
Bottom line: we are working to clear up the confusion, but at least we admit it & make it right. More than you'll see @ATT do. #Uncarrier — John Legere (@JohnLegere) November 5, 2013
The only time you need to have a paying service agreement with us is if you're financing a tablet. You'll get 200MB of free data too.
— John Legere (@JohnLegere) November 5, 2013
To those upset about how we launched our offer of 200MB of free tablet data: Our bad! Changing the industry isnt as easy as we make it look — John Legere (@JohnLegere) November 5, 2013
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For the latest updates, follow Latinos Post's Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO
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