T-Mobile Exempts 'Pokemon Go' From Data Caps

The carrier will exempt Pokemon Go from counting towards data limits until August 2017.

By Tom Brant

Nintendo

This story originally appeared on PCMag

There are many things to worry about before you head outside wielding a Pokemon Go app: Is your phone's battery at 100 percent? Will the app crash? Are you nearing your data limit for the month?

If you're a T-Mobile customer, your carrier just solved that last problem for you. Starting Tuesday, T-Mobile subscribers get unlimited data while using the country's most popular app through August 2017. That's right: whether or not the Pokemon craze lasts that long is anyone's guess, but free data will be there either way.

The promotion is part of the "T-Mobile Tuesdays" marketing stunt, whose launch last month made headlines when it broke Domino's by giving away too much free pizza. If there's anything that Americans love more than pizza right now, it's Pokemon Go, so T-Mobile had better be ready this time.

Along with the unlimited data (which, like new Pokemon, you have to "claim" in order for it to be added to your account), next Tuesday's offers include a free Frosty from Wendy's, a free Lyft ride up to $15 and a 50 percent discount on select phone accessories, presumably intended to be used for external chargers to sidestep Pokemon Go's notorious battery drain.

There are also some Pokemon-related prizes next week: 250 people will win $100 to spend on PokeCoins, and five people will win trips anywhere in the US to hunt new Pokemon with a guest.

That T-Mobile would capitalize on the Pokemon Go craze by offering free data isn't surprising. Its Binge On and Music Freedom offerings already give subscribers unlimited streaming video and audio streaming from many companies, from Spotify to NBC, without counting against their data plans.

Tom Brant

News reporter

Tom is PCMag's San Francisco-based news reporter. 

Related Topics

Editor's Pick

Everyone Wants to Get Close to Their Favorite Artist. Here's the Technology Making It a Reality — But Better.
The Highest-Paid, Highest-Profile People in Every Field Know This Communication Strategy
After Early Rejection From Publishers, This Author Self-Published Her Book and Sold More Than 500,000 Copies. Here's How She Did It.
Having Trouble Speaking Up in Meetings? Try This Strategy.
He Names Brands for Amazon, Meta and Forever 21, and Says This Is the Big Blank Space in the Naming Game
Business News

Gen Z Loves the Toyota Camry. Here's What Car Brands Boomers Love Most

S&P Global Mobility provides data on what types of each age group likes the most, based on car registration.

Business News

These Are the Most and Least Affordable Places to Retire in The U.S.

The Northeast and West Coast are the least affordable, while areas in the Mountain State region tend to be ideal for retirees on a budget.

Leadership

How to Detect a Liar in Seconds Using Nonverbal Communication

There are many ways to understand if someone is not honest with you. The following signs do not even require words and are all nonverbal queues.

Business News

American Airlines Sued After Teen Dies of Heart Attack Onboard Flight to Miami

Kevin Greenridge was traveling from Honduras to Miami on June 4, 2022, on AA Flight 614 when he went into cardiac arrest and became unconscious mid-flight.