Business Corpus: T-Mobile Cuts Prices As It Readies Its Case For Buying SprintT-Mobile is going back to basics by cutting prices, following years of relying on giveaways like free video streaming and complimentary Netflix accounts The post T-Mobile Cuts Prices As It Readies Its Case For Buying Sprint appeared first on Investor's Business Daily.

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T-Mobile US (TMUS) is going back to basics by cutting prices, following years of relying on giveaways like free video streaming and complimentary Netflix (NFLX) accounts to attract subscribers.

Starting Friday, customers can get T-Mobile Essential, a $60-a-month plan with unlimited data and standard-definition video. A second line will cost $30, and additional lines are $10 if enrolled in an auto-payment plan. The Essential offer is $10 less than the company's current unlimited plan, which comes with a Netflix subscription and covers fees and taxes.

The new lower T-Mobile price matches Sprint's (S) unlimited plan and is $15 less than the base offer at Verizon Communications (VZ), the market leader. It's also $10 less than AT&T's (T) base unlimited plan.

T-Mobile seeks to convince U.S. regulators the mobile-phone market remains competitive even if it acquires Sprint — a $26.5 billion merger that was proposed in April. Consumer groups fear that prices go up if the two smaller, more aggressive competitors combine.

While the pace of user growth has been slowing for T-Mobile, the company raised its outlook for 2018 subscriber growth last week. It now sees as much as 3.6 million vs. its previous projections of 3.3 million.

Making T-Mobile More Formidable?

Executives from T-Mobile and Sprint, the No. 4 provider, have argued that their combination would create a more formidable competitor to industry giants AT&T and Verizon.

The merger has faced minimal opposition so far. But the regulatory review is only just getting underway. Opponents who worry about higher consumer prices for service have until Aug. 27 to file objections to the Federal Communications Commission.

In addition to an OK from the FCC, the merger also needs approval from the Justice Department. It also must go through the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., or CFIUS. That agency reviews acquisitions of American businesses by foreign buyers.

Sprint is owned by Japan's SoftBank Group (SFTBY), which would become a major T-Mobile investor under the deal.

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