T-Mobile and Sprint are glomming onto PokémonGo mania. The wireless rivals are just the latest companies trying to profit from the wildly popular app.
This weekend, Sprint will be turning its stores into PokéStops, locations where players can collect items and catch Pokémon. Sprint will also be making "Pokémon Go experts" available, and turning its stores into free charging stations. That's particularly helpful since the game is a battery hog.
Sprint's stores will also feature Lures, beacons inside the game that are meant to attract Pokémon.
T-Mobile plans to go a step further Tuesday, as part of its weekly "T-Mobile Tuesday" promotional program. On each of the next four Tuesdays, the company will be offering a deal in the app that will grant you the ability to use Pokémon Go without tapping into your high speed data plan. Once activated, you'll be granted unlimited data for playing Pokemon through August 2017 on any day of the week.
The unlimited Pokémon data offer is similar to what the company currently does for certain streaming music or video sites, which don't count against your high speed data cap. Pokémon Go is the first time the company has exempted data for a game, raising some concerns on whether it violates net neutrality.
T-Mobile doesn't believe it does. "The FCC rules do not prohibit zero rating," the company told USA TODAY. "In addition, it's a limited gift for customers through T-Mobile Tuesday's. This is an optional gift that customers can choose to take advantage of - or not."
Beyond the free Pokémon Go data promotion, T-Mobile is also offering a Pokémon Go "care package" this week inside it's app, which includes a free Wendy's Frosty, 50% off battery packs and certain other accessories, and a free Lyft ride up to $15 so that users can "explore new Gyms and PokéStops."
The company will also be giving $100 gift cards to 250 people to spend on PokéCoins, the game's built-in currency. Five participants will win trips anywhere in the U.S. to hunt down new Pokémon. Winners can bring a guest.
The wireless carriers are just the latest to battle through the Pokémon Go craze. Earlier this week Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump used the app to promote their campaigns, with Clinton's campaign attempting to attract voters in Ohio and Trump's using the sensation to take jabs at his rival on Facebook.
Follow Eli Blumenthal on Twitter @eliblumenthal
