Users can stream video in DVD-quality or better from partner services without having it count against their data allotment. “In addition, T-Mobile will now work with video services that wish to optimize their own streams, using an average data rate limit”.
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T-Mobile has tweaked its “Binge On” plan that gives users the ability to watch certain video services without racking up data charges.
When Binge-On originally launched with Netflix, Hulu and others, YouTube was noticeably absent, with corporate parent Google saying T-Mobile shouldn’t throttle service for video providers who weren’t Binge-On partners.
Google revealed Thursday it was initially hesitant to participate because of questions raised by the launch of the service, including how Binge On would treat services that were not included in the “free streaming” portion of the program and how users could exercise control over the program’s options. YouTube, which is owned by Google parent Alphabet Inc., wasn’t part of the service and had openly complained that the carrier’s program reduces the quality of all video. “Going forward, any video service meeting traffic-identification requirements will be able to opt out, and T-Mobile will stop including them in the Binge On program and will no longer modify their video streams”, Legere said. But while it’s free, the video image is presented in lower, 480p resolution, way down from higher-def 720p or 1080p.
That makes over 50 video providers now on the list.
T-Mobile had said it couldn’t include YouTube because of technical issues and required “a small amount of collaboration” from the video provider to solve.
If you’re anything like us, you’ve probably been seeing those T-Mobile Binge On commercials with Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul for a while. You may disable Binge On at any time, but will lose Binge On benefits. That means they can stream at full resolution and of course, use more data doing it. You can still shut off Binge On in your T-Mobile account settings if you want full-resolution video.
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“Any user can toggle Binge On off and on, and the change will take effect within minutes – which significantly improves the user experience”, Kleinerman noted.
