T-Mobile CEO Says Binge On is About Customer Choices - Not Limitations

T-Mobile has defended its Binge On service, with CEO John Legere responding to the criticism received by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and Youtube itself, regarding the company's alleged throttling tactics. The Binge On program allows you to stream from the approved services without eating into your high-speed data cap. However, the Electronic Frontier Foundation recently tested Binge On and concluded T-Mobile has simply started throttling all video services, regardless of whether or not they?re signed up for the program.

T-Mobile has defended the service, with CEO John Legere responding to the criticism in a video. Here is a part of Legere's words:

"There are people out there saying we're "throttling." They're playing semantics! Binge On does not permanently slow down data nor remove customer control. Here's the thing, mobile customers don't always want or need giant heavy data files. So we created adaptive video technology to optimize for mobile screens and stream at a bitrate designed to stretch your data. You get the same quality of video as watching a DVD - 480p or higher - but use only 1/3 as much data (or, of course, NO data used when it's a Binge On content provider). Watch more video, use less data from your service plan. That's an important and valuable benefit!

"YouTube complained about Binge On, yet at the same time they claim they provide choice to customers on the resolution of their video. So it's ok for them to give customers choice but not for US to give our customers a choice? Hmmm. I seriously don't get it. Customers have more choices than before. And these guys are complaining? Who do they think they are? Do they have the right to dictate what my customers - or any wireless consumer -- should or should not be able to choose for themselves?? No way!"

T-Mobile is also tacking on 14 new streaming services to its Binge On program.

The carrier now has a total of 38 apps on board, including Netflix, Hulu, and WatchESPN. The new members are: