Free Netflix coming to T-Mobile customers tomorrow

Free Netflix access will become reality to many T-Mobile users starting tomorrow, revealed the Un-carrier last week in a press release. This move is simply entitled "Netflix On Us" and brings free access to the content delivered by the popular on-demand internet streaming media provider.

According to T-Mobile, Americans are now spending more than 50 percent of their screen time on mobiles and digital devices, while traditional TV is losing ground. Thanks to the faster and cheaper mobile data plans available, this trend is accelerating, and mobile viewing is expected to double in less than three years.

T-Mobile users who qualify for "Netflix On Us" can activate their Netflix subscription online, in-store, and via the carrier's customer care service. Even more, T-Mobile will cover the cost of a standard subscription for those who already subscribed to Netflix, thus allowing them to save around US$120 each year.

Netflix was founded back in 1997 as a DVD sales and rental business, introducing media streaming services a decade ago. Right now, the company is present in no less than 190 countries and has more than 100 million users worldwide. During 2016, Netflix released over 120 original series or films, some of its most popular titles being "House of Cards" and the Marvel Series.

To qualify for the deal, a customer simply needs two or more paid voice lines on T-Mobile ONE. Those with free lines from the recent "line-on-us" deals also qualify, while customers on Unlimited 55+ or 2 lines for US$100 need to get a T-Mobile ONE plan to be eligible for the free Netflix deal. T-Mobile ONE families who get "Netflix On Us" also receive the Family Allowances at no extra charge. This is a service that allows parents to manage the kids' phone usage by setting various boundaries, for example by blocking or allowing calls during four predefined time periods.

AT&T and Verizon Wireless launched their own streaming services a while ago, but they do not offer Netflix content. AT&T's DirecTV Now (DTV Now) comes with four packages that start at US$35 a month and four add-ons (HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, and Starz). Less than a year after its introduction, it has around 500,000 subscribers. On the other hand, Verizon's go90 has been around since October 2015 and is a free, ad-supported service that does not require a subscription and has about 2.1 million monthly users. It features a few original series and content from MTV, Funny Or Die, CollegeHumor, and more.