T-Mobile has allowed its eligible subscribers to their "Binge On" service. This feature allows their customers to binge watch their favorite shows from Netflix, HBO Go, Hulu and a few more, without consuming any portion of their subscriber's the data plan. Plus, these videos can be watched, by default, 480p quality.
T-Mobile subscribers who are paying monthly for 3GB worth of data can enjoy "Binge On" and has started last Nov. 19. For those who does not watch that much, the feature can be disabled via the carrier's website.
Binge On, similar to T-Mobile's Music Freedom program, exempts certain streaming video services like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Go from counting toward a mobile user's data plan, but only by capping video streams at "DVD-quality" 480p. Regardless of whether a company participates in Binge On, its video streams are capped by default. Binge On was automatically activated for all T-Mobile customers paying for at least 3GB of data per month starting November 19th and it can only be turned off on T-Mobile's website.
YouTube is not part of the "Binge On" program offered by T-Mobile and the video streaming giant accused the carrier giant of "throttling" its service. However, T-Mobile said that this is not the case, YouTube is not mobile optimized.
"Using the term 'throttle' is misleading. We aren't slowing down YouTube or any other site," T-Mobile said in a report. They added that all video services passing through their network are "throttled by default," which includes YouTube. Video streams have all the same speed, DSLReports posted.
Experts on these kind of mattes are saying that T-Mobile is "walking a fine line" with regards to the net neutrality rules. It clearly states that companies must give all video service the same treatment and not favors those companies, who are partnered with the carriers.
The FCC and other carriers are currently discussing the issue, Engadget reported