T-Mobile and Verizon have been offering free network trials for a couple of years; now, AT&T has finally introduced own test program. It's a no-obligation way to try out the AT&T network while keeping your current carrier, number, and device. Very cool! But you'll need an unlocked phone, which could disqualify many people who are still paying for their current device, although the FCC is trying to do something about it.
AT&T calls its program Try AT&T, and at the moment it's iOS-only; The carrier's blog post indicates that Android support will be introduced in 2025. The test uses eSIM, which allows you to use a secondary line on your phone without getting rid of your primary number. Likewise, you'll need an eSIM-compatible device (iPhone XR or later) to participate.
No credit card or commitment required, just head to the Try AT&T website or download the myAT&T app to get started. The program lasts for 30 days and includes 100 GB of data plus 25 GB of hotspot data. Oh, and you can't be a current AT&T customer, but that seems obvious.
To take advantage of any of these programs, you'll need one important thing: an unlocked phone. If your phone is financed through a carrier installment plan, it may be locked to your current carrier. T-Mobile and AT&T won't unlock a phone until it's paid for; only Verizon will unlock a phone with outstanding balance. It's confusing to say the least, but the FCC submitted a proposal this year to make things simpler by requiring all carriers to automatically unlock a device 60 days after activation. That proposal is still a long way from becoming law, but if that happens, then price comparison between operators could be much easier.
