First spotted by Light Reading (opens in new tab), the plan is almost too simple for the consumer. All they need is an iPhone XS or newer with iOS 14.5 installed, then they can download the Network Test Drive app before following the instructions to get up to 30 days or 30GB of data for free via T-Mobile (opens in new tab). There’s no need to change your current phone number and you don’t even have to provide T-Mobile with your billing information. Even better, if you have an iPhone 12, you can check out T-Mobile’s 5G connectivity via the service too. T-Mobile’s Test Drive program has been around since 2014 but this new iteration is rather tempting indeed. If you don’t have the eSIM feature on your phone, T-Mobile can always send you a free Wi-Fi hotspot instead to try out the network, again with the same 30 days or 30GB option. However, it’s the eSIM option that’s the newer interpretation and it’s sure to be useful. Of course, if you’re reading this and realizing how dated your phone is, you might want to check out the best smartphones (opens in new tab) currently out there so you can enjoy such extra functionality. Also, sorry Android fans. This is an iOS exclusive for now. Whatever you decide, this move by T-Mobile seems like a shrewd step forward for everyone. Consumers get to actually see network coverage for themselves rather than rely on network coverage maps, while T-Mobile is offering an edge over other competitors such as AT&T (opens in new tab) and Verizon (opens in new tab). Anything that smooths out a potential transition between cell phone providers has to be advantageous for everyone, and we’re certainly fans of a hassle-free approach. We’re hopeful that other companies may adopt this attitude. If you want to check out the Network Test Drive app for yourself, it’s available on the App Store (opens in new tab) now. You really don’t have anything to lose by doing so and, really, you’ve just gained 30GB of data for the month by giving it a try. You just may find that T-Mobile is the cell phone provider for you.
