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Technologies

Soon, You Can Cut Through Stadium Cellular Congestion With Turbo Live by AT&T

AT&T’s new feature promises clear phone service during crowded events like the Super Bowl and concerts, even for T-Mobile and Verizon customers.

Attending a sports game at a stadium can be fun, but when the crowded stands are filled with people trying to use their phones at the same time, it’s hard to get good cellular reception. AT&T is launching a new service to beef up cellular service in congested venues like these, and you don’t need to be an AT&T subscriber to use it.

Turbo Live by AT&T provides priority cellular performance during big sports and concert events, and will first roll out in 10 US stadiums in early February. Yes, that’ll be in time for the Super Bowl on Feb. 8, if you’re going to be in Levi’s Stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area.

AT&T has yet to formally announce pricing. Currently, there’s a web page to sign up for announcements. However, Rob Pegoraro at PCMag got more details from AT&T spokesperson Michael Delgado, who wrote to him in an email, «Turbo Live starts at $5 per event with a variable structure that changes depending on the caliber of the event.»

Pegoraro said that Turbo Live is not an ongoing subscription open to any customer: «Instead, it’s a power-up offered only in designated spots and subject to capacity limits and variable rates that might evoke surge pricing.»

A spokesperson for AT&T confirmed that Turbo Live is using AT&T’s existing 5G network that covers the following 10 stadiums:

• Alabama (Bryant Denny Stadium)
• Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
• Chicago (United Center)
• Houston (NRG Stadium)
• Las Vegas (Sphere)
• Los Angeles (Intuit Dome)
• Miami (Hard Rock Stadium)
• New York/New Jersey (MetLife Stadium)
• San Antonio (Alamodome)
• San Francisco Bay Area (Levi’s Stadium)
• Seattle (Lumen Field)

AT&T is also working to expand coverage in Dallas (AT&T Stadium), Foxborough (Gillette Stadium) and Los Angeles (SoFi Stadium).

You’ll need a 5G-capable phone, which AT&T says may need to be unlocked, and an open eSIM slot for activation.

The latter detail is what makes Turbo Live available to Verizon and T-Mobile customers with unlocked phones: The feature is installed as a secondary eSIM. A Connect on Demand app will provide instructions for setting it up, which will involve a «one-time payment method» with no carrier commitment needed, according to AT&T.

Running a separate service as a secondary eSIM is becoming more common. It’s one of the easiest ways to get international phone service when you’re traveling, and is also how T-Mobile offers its T-Satellite feature to customers of other carriers for $10 a month.

I’ve reached out to AT&T for more details.

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T-Mobile’s New Unlimited Phone Plan Is Designed for Families, But Check the Details

The Better Value plan looks great on paper, especially compared to its Experience More plan, but the fine print matters on this limited time deal.

If you’re looking for an unlimited data phone plan for three or more people that includes plenty of perks, T-Mobile’s new Better Value plan has a lot to offer. But does the name actually reflect a better value for an unlimited plan, especially considering, according to the company, it’s a limited time offering?

We rank T-Mobile’s Essentials plan highly in our Best Cellphone Plans, Best Unlimited Data Plans and Best T-Mobile Plans lists, though after reviewing the specifics, the Experience More plan — the number two unlimited postpaid plan — presents a more interesting comparison. Let’s see how they stack up.

Better Value plan pricing and features compared

For an account with three lines, the monthly cost of the Better Value plan is $140 (with AutoPay active), plus applicable taxes and fees. Experience More similarly costs $140 a month for three lines. The Essentials plan costs $90 a month for three lines, but lacks most of the add-ons that make the other two plans appealing.

Both the Experience More and Better Value plans offer unlimited data on T-Mobile’s 5G network, a five-year price guarantee and two-year device upgrades.

However, the Better Value plan includes 250GB of high-speed mobile hotspot data, compared to 60GB for the Experience More plan. After those amounts have been used up, data is available at an unlimited rate of 600 kbps. (T-Mobile’s highest tier plan by comparison, Experience Beyond, includes unlimited high-speed hotspot data.)

Better Value also includes more high-speed data when you’re in other countries, with 30GB available in Mexico and Canada, as well as in 215 countries and areas worldwide. That’s more than the Experience More plan, which offers 15GB in North America and 5GB elsewhere.

T-Satellite is also included in the Better Value plan, a feature that costs $10 extra for every other T-Mobile plan except for Experience Beyond.

One appeal of these plans, especially in the context of families, is the set of included streaming services. The Better Value plan and Experience More plan both include Netflix Standard with Ads and Hulu, and Apple TV can be added for $3 per month.

Important qualifications

Here’s where the fine print comes in, and it appears that T-Mobile is aiming to inspire and reward loyalty.

If you’re switching from a different carrier, the Better Value plan requires three or more lines and two eligible ports. Although it’s likely a family or small business would be transferring from another provider and not keeping its other lines, Better Value is an effort to build up group plans and incentivize switching away from other carriers.

If you’re already set up with T-Mobile, the Better Value plan requires that you have been a T-Mobile postpaid customer for at least five years. And if you have that much tenure, you should be aware that your current plan might have taxes and fees included, whereas the Better Value plan doesn’t.

The Better Value plan is available in the T-Life app and on T-Mobile.com. When you enter a retail T-Mobile store, you’ll likely be directed to the app or website with the assistance of an employee.

And lastly, T-Mobile brands this as a limited-time offer, but I confirmed with a spokesperson that it currently has no end date. 

See also: I got an in-depth look at T-Mobile’s emergency response programs.

T-Mobile Better Value vs. Experience More plans

Better Value plan Experience More plan
High-speed data 5G, Unlimited 5G, Unlimited
Mobile Hotspot 250GB high-speed, then unlimited at 600kbps 60GB high-speed, then unlimited at 600kbps
International Call/Data Unlimited talk and text; 30GB high-speed data in Mexico/Canada/215+ countries, then unlimited at 256 kbps Unlimited talk and text; 15GB high speed data in Canada/Mexico, 5GB high speed data in 215+ countries; then unlimited at 256Kbps
Extras Netflix Standard with Ads; Hulu with Ads; Magenta Status; Apple TV for $3/mo Netflix Standard with Ads; 1 year AAA; Magenta Status; Apple TV for $3/mo
Price Guarantee 5 years 5 years
T-Satellite Included Optional $10 add-on
Cost for 3 lines $140 $140
Limited-time offer? Yes No

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Technologies

Forza Horizon 6 Focuses on Japanese Car Culture: Here’s What to Know

The racing series’ latest edition, out in May, includes stunning views of Mount Fuji.

Microsoft has given racing-game fans a deeper dive into the upcoming Forza Horizon 6, and on Friday announced a May 19 release date for Xbox and PC. Premium Edition buyers will get early access on May 15, but PlayStation 5 owners will have to wait until sometime later in 2026 to play.

The publisher provided a first-look video that shows stunning views of Japan, including cherry blossom-strewn rural roads, ice-enclosed courses, neon-lit Tokyo streets and plenty of views of Mount Fuji.

The game will launch with 550 collectible cars, and Microsoft will display two on the cover: the 2025 GR GT Prototype and the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser.


Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.


Microsoft says the open-world game will focus on Japanese car culture, with the player in the role of a new arrival to the country guided by two close friends, motorsports fan Jordy and car builder Mei.

The locations will be divided into districts, ranging from bustling urban areas such as Tokyo’s Shibuya Crossing to suburbs, industrial docklands, and more rural areas.

What to know about Forza Horizon 6

Progress in the game will include unlocking new cars and more advanced races, plus a journal of digital mementos inspired by stamp collecting.

The game features eight player houses across Japan that serve as fast-travel points. And new to the game series is The Estate, a piece of land players can acquire and build on. 

Inspired by Japanese car culture, Forza Horizon 6 will add Car Meets that’ll serve as social spaces for players.

The Standard Edition costs $70, the Deluxe Edition costs $100, and the Premium Edition, which unlocks early access and includes several Car Packs, costs $120. The game will also be a Day 1 release on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and will be available on Steam and Xbox Cloud as well.

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