T-Mobile has tried its best to disrupt the wireless carrier industry in the United States by offering plans and programs that its major rivals haven’t countered. The increase in new subscribers that Magenta has seen over the past few quarters reveals that this moves are doing wonders for the company’s total subscriber base. One such program is called Test Drive under which the carrier allows potential subscribers to take an iPhone 5s for a spin, albeit for one week only. If they like the device they can keep it or they can send it back without incurring any charges or fees.
That doesn’t mean that T-Mobile doesn’t require any surety. The carrier will place a $699.99 hold on the credit card when a Test Drive iPhone 5s unit is ordered. The hold will be released if the unit is sent back without any major damage.
Magenta confirmed to Re/code that it is going to update all existing units to iOS 8 so that potential subscribers can get the best possible experience with the iPhone 5s unit they receive. iOS 8 updates on these units are expected to be installed by next week, Apple will be officially releasing the new software to the public on September 17th.
A spokesperson for the carrier also confirmed that T-Mobile has plans to upgrade the offering in its Test Drive program. This means that in the near future potential subscribers will be able to obtain an iPhone 6 to try out for one week and then decide if they really do want to purchase it or not. A definitive timeline has not been provided for the switch to iPhone 6 but T-Mobile says it does intend to make this switch.
