Behind T-Mobile’s Free LTE Data Offering

T-Mobile’s Tablets Un-leashed program is the latest in a string of moves the carrier has made with the apparent goal of disrupting the US wireless market heavily dominated by AT&T and Verizon Wireless.

Among other things, T-Mobile’s new “Tablets Un-leashed” program gives customers 200 megabytes of free LTE data every month for as long as they own their tablets. Customers don’t have to sign a contract and can obtain a tablet with no down payment. T-Mobile said models available for no down payment include the Google Nexus 7, iPad mini, iPad Nano and the new iPad Air. Monthly payments for those devices are $16, $18, $22 and $26, respectively. Additional devices will be forthcoming, the carrier said. While some carriers seem to move in lockstep with regard to pricing, contracts, data caps and the like, T-Mobile has been pushing against tradition.