T-Mobile frequently runs promotions that offer a free or discounted line to customers who open one or more paid lines. When asked if these free lines were converted into paid lines later on, T-Mobile's President of Consumer Group, Jon Freier, hinted that the question missed the bigger picture.
Freier said that analysts often use free lines as a gauge for the quality of the customer base. He pointed out that the increasing postpaid service revenue showed that the customer base was strong.
Freier also revealed that free lines were a retention tool, targeted toward customers contemplating moving their accounts away. This could potentially help disgruntled customers stay with T-Mobile for up to three years longer than they would have. This increases their Customer Lifetime Value (CLV), or the total revenue they generate over their tenure at T-Mobile.
Then, of course, we have an opportunity to further differentiate and deepen that relationship, too, with other products and services and get more and more adoption from things beyond the smartphone, whether that be tablets or watches or fixed wireless with our 5G home broadband.
–Jon Freier, President of Consumer Group at T-Mobile, September 2025
It also allows T-Mobile to upsell customers on other products or services. While customers may believe that T-Mobile is absorbing the cost of their free lines, most end up generating even more business for the company, making it a net win for T-Mobile.
To gauge public opinion on this practice, we polled our readers to find out if they considered it shady. Most couldn't care less.
Of the 4,834 PhoneArena readers who responded, 2,247 (47 percent) said the offer was mutually beneficial for both the carrier and its customers.
While the majority of the respondents were fine with free lines being used to generate more business for T-Mobile, 1,406 (29 percent) found it dodgy.
Others had a mixed opinion but were comforted by the fact that they were still receiving value from their extended time at T-Mobile, even with potential increases in spending. Some shrugged it off, highlighting that free lines weren't binding in any way.
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Do customers need to care about why a freebie is being offered?
Yes, we need to know what we are signing up for.
60%
No, as long as it isn't conditional.
40%
No, why do we have to be so serious about everything.
0%
Customers understand that corporations aren't charities and that they have ulterior motives behind their every action. Their tolerance in this case is likely due to the fact that they are getting a good deal in return. This serves as an example for companies that not only want to retain customers, but also want them to increase spending. Customers won't mind deepening their relationship with you as long as they are taken care of.
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Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.
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