T-Mobile Defends Easy Switch Tool Against AT&T Lawsuit

T-Mobile US has responded to a lawsuit filed by AT&T, which seeks to halt the use of T-Mobile’s Easy Switch price comparison tool. AT&T’s legal action, initiated to obtain a temporary restraining order, claims that T-Mobile’s tool allows it to unlawfully access AT&T customer data. T-Mobile filed its response in a federal court on December 8, 2023, asserting that AT&T’s claims lack merit.

T-Mobile emphasized that it made significant changes to the Easy Switch tool prior to AT&T’s legal challenge. Specifically, T-Mobile removed a function that was scraping customer data from AT&T accounts just four days before the lawsuit was filed. The company stated that the current version of Easy Switch enables AT&T customers to either upload their wireless bill or manually enter their plan information.

According to T-Mobile, “AT&T does not allege that this current version of Easy Switch is unlawful or harms it, let alone irreparably so.” This tool, powered by artificial intelligence, analyzes existing AT&T or Verizon accounts to recommend suitable T-Mobile plans. It was first introduced in a beta version at the Formula 1 Heineken Grand Prix of Las Vegas on November 20 and officially launched on December 1.

AT&T’s legal filing claims that T-Mobile’s use of the Easy Switch tool constitutes unauthorized access to secure software. The company implemented security measures on November 24 to prevent such access. Following these measures, T-Mobile disabled the original version of Easy Switch on November 26 and replaced it with the updated tool.

On December 5, T-Mobile’s legal counsel informed AT&T that the company does not plan to revert to the original version of Easy Switch. In its defense, T-Mobile’s legal team argued that the tool had to be redesigned due to AT&T’s persistent efforts to restrict customer access to competitive pricing information.

“These facts resolve the motion,” T-Mobile’s lawyers stated. They further noted that the actions AT&T is challenging are no longer taking place and that AT&T has not raised concerns about the operation of Easy Switch in its current form.

An AT&T representative expressed appreciation for T-Mobile’s decision to cease its data scraping practices for the time being. The representative added, “We ask that they commit, on the record, to never employing these unlawful tactics that put customers and intellectual property rights at risk again.”

The case is set to proceed to an in-person hearing on December 16, 2023, in a U.S. district court located in Texas. As the legal battle unfolds, both companies are navigating the competitive landscape of the telecommunications industry while addressing customer concerns over data privacy and service offerings.