Be wary of T-Mobile's audacious new wireless plan

But be thankful for how it's changing the game

Legere
(Image credit: (David Becker/Getty Images))

Remember those black-and-white commercials of the kindly looking wireless company CEO walking through New York in an overcoat, classical music playing soothingly in the background, gently explaining why his company's offerings are superior to those from the top two U.S. wireless giants, Verizon and AT&T? Yeah, that's wasn't T-Mobile.*

John Legere, T-Mobile's chief executive, is known more for his expletive-laced presentations and for crashing — then getting thrown out of — rival AT&T's big party at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. But the self-styled bad boy of the wireless industry made his biggest splash on Wednesday, when he crudely belittled his competitors while making America's smartphone owners an offer he hopes they can't refuse: T-Mobile will take all the pain out of leaving your old carrier.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.