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As T-Mobile amps up its industry-leading phone scam protections this summer, we offer ways you can use your mobile device to avoid the most common summer pitfalls that scam you out of the best season!

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Ahhh, summertime! You’ve got old school <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr0tTbTbmVA" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fresh Prince & DJ Jazzy Jeff</a> blasting in the background, the top down on your car, with nothing but a cold brew coffee in hand and plans to lounge on the beach all day.

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Or wait … is that cinematic summer scene all a scam? The humidity, the mosquitos, that sunburn!

Let’s face it, things can go sideways in the summer, but one thing that shouldn’t be scaring you this season is scam calls. Unfortunately, scam calls are <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/network/stir-shaken-all-networks" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/network/stir-shaken-all-networks">returning to pre-pandemic levels</a>. In fact, in a recent study, T-Mobile found that more than one out of five consumers would rather be confronted with an empty toilet paper roll than get a scam call! And as for those robocalls, when asked to rank a list of grievances, the most common answer to be ranked the absolute worst by customers, was just that. In fact, 30 percent of consumers would rather get caught in the rain without an umbrella than get a robocall — and you know how intense summertime showers can be!

Yep. Scam calls are, literally, the worst.

It’s for this reason that last summer T-Mobile launched <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/support/plans-features/t-mobile-scam-shield-app" data-type="URL">Scam Shield</a>, a comprehensive and state-of-the-art set of tools to protect customers against scams and unwanted robocalls. With Scam Shield, T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers get automatic and free scam call warnings, the ability to block scam calls completely with Scam Block, and free Caller ID.

T-Mobile’s Scam Shield Premium even lets you block robocalls by type. Don’t want to hear from telemarketers or political surveys ever again … but do want charitable donations to get through? Just swipe in the Scam Shield app to adjust your settings. Or set all the categories to voicemail only and relax!

In an effort to continue to work together for the greater good of a spectacular summer, here are some tips on how to use your device and enjoy the many benefits of T-Mobile’s <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone-plans" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone-plans">Magenta and Magenta MAX plans</a> to make the most of season and skip the pitfalls. Just like our commitment to warding off scammers, we are here to show you how to use your device to repel pests, protect yourself from getting burned (in all the ways) and avoid the threat of returning crowds. All that sweat — eek!

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Nothing like enjoying a sunset meal in the warm breeze … until you become the main entree for the bugs that have joined your dinner party! Good thing there’s an app to fix that. Yes, there are actually apps that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRhyCjJ7IMk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">can repel mosquitos</a>. Like <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anti-mosquito-repellent-sound/id1242188677">one from Reticode</a> that emits low-frequency sounds to ward off those flying monsters as well as offer helpful tips and tricks to avoid becoming their dinner. Annoying the bugs before they can bother you? Now that’s thinking ahead.

Now that major amusement parks like <a href="https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-04-13/disneyland-california-theme-parks-reopening" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-04-13/disneyland-california-theme-parks-reopening" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Disneyland are reopened</a>, you’ll want to try to avoid those awful crowds and long lines again. Many theme parks have <a href="https://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/article243649457.html">their own app</a> that can help you also plan ahead and <a href="https://www.post-gazette.com/business/tech-news/2021/04/22/apps-help-theme-parks-boost-their-covid-safety-and-collect-data-on-you/stories/202104220096" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">avoid peak hours</a> when the largest crowds are expected. Many Disney theme park goers recommend the <a href="https://touringplans.com/disney-world-app" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lines app</a>, which offers a subscription service where visitors can check the actual wait times of popular attractions, using real-time data to plan the best time to queue up.

This applies to beaches as well. People have quite literally been itching to hit the beach and fix the quarantine yellowing we’ve all developed. If you want to avoid traveling in the heat to a coastline that’s overrun by crowds, there’s often an app or website to help you track its capacity. In Tampa Bay, for instance, <a href="https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/online-tool-beach-parking-crowds-pinellas-county-sheriff/67-8c24de95-8665-4e4f-99a8-97e1e19aa2fe" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/online-tool-beach-parking-crowds-pinellas-county-sheriff/67-8c24de95-8665-4e4f-99a8-97e1e19aa2fe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ensuring you’ll have a spot</a> for your beach chair is as simple as checking their county <a href="https://pcsoweb.com/beachcapacity" data-type="URL" data-id="https://pcsoweb.com/beachcapacity">site,</a> and many experts suggest checking the specific county Twitter handles for updates on your preferred beach. And Tripadvisor <a href="https://www.audacy.com/news/new-app-helps-you-social-distance-and-avoid-crowds" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.audacy.com/news/new-app-helps-you-social-distance-and-avoid-crowds" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">has aggregated crowd data</a> on <a href="https://www.crowdfree.me/about" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.crowdfree.me/about" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Crowdfree</a>, a platform originally meant to help people social distance when visiting places like beaches and parks, and continues to help emphasize when locations are less crowded.

And remember, T-Mobile <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone-plans" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone-plans">Magenta MAX</a> plans also come with the perfect solo activity built right in — <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/support/plans-features/netflix-on-us" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.t-mobile.com/support/plans-features/netflix-on-us">Netflix on Us</a>! So skip the crowds altogether and contentedly settle into season 2 of <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80986854" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.netflix.com/title/80986854" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson</a>. Have a laugh, and the last word on crowds!

Speaking of the beach, when was the last time your skin felt the warmth of the sun for more than a quick grocery store run? You’ve probably spent a lot more time indoors this past year and change, and you need to be wary of harmful UV rays that can lead to all kinds of problems like cataracts, premature skin aging, sunburn and skin cancer, which is the <a href="http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/calls/prevent-skin-cancer/exec-summary.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">most commonly diagnosed cancer</a> in the United States. When you plan your fun in the sun, be sure to check out the <a href="https://dailyburn.com/life/tech/sun-safety-apps-for-uv-index/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UV index sun safety apps</a> like the Wolfram Sun Exposure Reference App, which predicts how long it would take for you to burn based on your skin type and the SPF you’re wearing in a specific location, and can even help you plan five days ahead, for when the sun’s rays are less dangerous.

Things have changed a lot because of the pandemic, and that includes the service on your local public transportation. Yes, you know <a href="https://www.google.com/maps" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.google.com/maps" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google Maps</a> offers navigation but it can even be helpful when searching for any seasonal changes to the buses and trains. Tap on a train or subway station, for example, in the app and you will see information about service modifications because of Covid and be able to check out how busy that particular station is at different times. <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/apple-store/id469463298" data-type="URL" data-id="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/apple-store/id469463298" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Citymapper</a> also has updated times, maps and advisories for transportation in major cities.

And if you’re just wandering around one lazy summer afternoon and want to see what’s quick and easy, <a href="https://roadtrippers.com/about/road-trip-apps/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://roadtrippers.com/about/road-trip-apps/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Roadtrippers</a> uses your location to show you beaches, parks, lakes, nature preserves, farms, botanical gardens, public art, monuments, vacation photo-ops, camping and R.V. spots. You can easily search for attractions near you, or along a route you set, and even filter for the types of places you want to see, like specific outdoor activities and destinations.

We already did the research to help you <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/network/summer-travel-takes-off">plan that summer trip</a> you put off during the pandemic using your mobile device. We also realize you might have forgotten what it’s like to pack properly for a weekend of fun in the sun. Don’t head out for that super cool tubing adventure only to realize you are about to float on the lazy river without some essentials (like river sandals … goodness, your poor feet!). Check out a number of apps to help you prepare for successful summer excursions with a <a href="https://thepointsguy.com/2018/01/how-to-pack-your-suitcase-apps/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://thepointsguy.com/2018/01/how-to-pack-your-suitcase-apps/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">number of apps</a> like <a href="https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/packing-pro/id312266675" data-type="URL" data-id="https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/packing-pro/id312266675" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Packing Pro</a> or <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/packr-travel-packing-checklist/id1208312901" data-type="URL" data-id="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/packr-travel-packing-checklist/id1208312901" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Packr</a>, which help you filter the specific needs to except from those traveling to specific destinations or activities.

And don’t forget, if you’re traveling by air, you get Gogo Wi-Fi your entire flight with T-Mobile’s <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone-plans" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone-plans">Magenta MAX plans</a>!

Now, scams and sunburn avoided — phew! — <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/network/summer-travel-takes-off">here are other ways your phone</a> can help make summer travel a breeze!

Scam Block: Turning on calls may block calls you want; disable anytime. Gogo: Available on select flights of U.S. based airlines.

T-Mobile Newsroom

As T-Mobile amps up its phone scam protections this summer, see how your mobile device help you avoid common pitfalls that scam you from summer fun

The Summer of Scam! (And How to Avoid It) | T-Mobile Newsroom

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The Summer of Scam! (And How to Avoid It)

Shawna Ryan

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https://www.t-mobile.com/news/un-carrier/how-to-avoid-summer-scams

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(A delicious continuation of our series comparing the size of 5G networks using real-life objects)

Here’s the scoop … T-Mobile dishes out the best 5G coverage across the country. It’s the fastest. It’s the most reliable. And it’s by FAR the largest! In fact, our 5G network covers nearly 2x more square miles than AT&T and 4x more than Verizon. Here’s what that looks like in ice cream:

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Because it’s hot out, and because sharing is caring, we took our ice cream to the beach. The North Avenue Beach in Chicago, to be specific. The people had a choice: 4 scoops for an order of Berry Fast 5G (us, of course), 2 scoops for Basic Blue (aka AT&T) and 1 scoop for Last-Place Licorice (aka Verizon).

Here’s some more 5G network scoop for you:

We recently raised a glass of <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/network/ultra-capacity-5gin-extended-range-5ginger-beer" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">T-Mobile 5Gin</a> to our Extended Range 5G now covering 300 million people. That seems like a lot of people, because it is a lot of people — nearly everyone in the country.  And here’s something even sweeter:  we reached that milestone months ahead of schedule.

But don’t just take our word that we have the largest, fastest and most reliable 5G network.

New independent data from Opensignal shows T-Mobile customers got the fastest 5G download and upload speeds (meaning you can get and send things faster). Plus, our 5G connection is the <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/network/opensignal-july2021-fastest-5g-availability-coverage" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">most available</a>, meaning you get that awesome 5G connection more than anyone else.

And, new data from Ookla®, a network intelligence provider, confirmed that T-Mobile customers get the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/network/ookla-july2021-5g-fastest-availability-coverage" target="_blank">fastest</a> 5G speeds and spend more time connected to 5G than customers on any other network.

It’s pretty clear that our 5G melts away the competition.

We also want to dish out a 5G-sized thanks to <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.shawnmichelles.com/" target="_blank">Shawn Michelle’s</a> <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.shawnmichelles.com/" target="_blank">Homemade Ice Cream</a> and owners Nataki and Yahya Muhammad. Their artisan ice cream is so good, it’s no surprise that they’ve been recognized locally. After several servings of Berry Fast 5G, we can see why!

Fastest: According to Opensignal Awards – <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.opensignal.com/reports/2021/04/usa/mobile-network-experience-5g" target="_blank">USA: 5G User Experience Report July 2021</a>, based on independent analysis of average speeds from mobile measurements recorded during the period March 16-June 13, 2021 © 2021 Opensignal Limited. Most Reliable: According to an audit report conducted by independent third party umlaut containing crowdsourced data for user experience collected from September 2020 until February 2021. Full details at: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.umlaut.com/en/benchmarking/USA" target="_blank">www.umlaut.com/en/benchmarking/USA</a>. 5G: Capable device required. Some uses may require certain plan or feature; see T-Mobile.com.

If 5G Were ... Ice Cream | T-Mobile Newsroom

If 5G Were &#8230; Ice Cream

Oscar Meza

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https://www.t-mobile.com/news/network/if-5g-were-ice-cream

Harnessing the power of mobile technology, workers of all ages are redefining the idea of location independence, and with it redefining their very lives.

The term “digital nomad” may initially conjure up an image of twentysomethings traversing the world and posting Instagrammable meals in FOMO-inducing locales. But in truth, today’s digital nomads span all age groups — and a fast-growing sector is the 50-plus demographic.

A result of remote work abundance and delayed retirements, both accelerated by the pandemic, people are choosing to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/20/van-life-tech-workers-worked-from-road-during-covid-may-not-return.html">live and work remotely full-time</a>, exchanging a hefty mortgage or rent for a more economical RV or flexible Airbnb arrangement that allows them to travel the country, and the world, while still holding down a day (or overnight) job. Indeed, a seismic shift has occurred in <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/26/business/remote-work-taxes.html?mc_cid=f7f94bced7&mc_eid=83c3366f7e">how and where work gets done.</a>

T-Mobile and intergenerational workforce mentorship platform <a href="https://cirkel.co/">CIRKEL</a> recently co-hosted a virtual event called <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/tAJJgMdpzMVn5zpOgCSgwE-CsHLvFMIeOvDL3xiWruRXZ6-tB1YeUjjnjqOR91-LJS7xSJtmOcHYfc9S.YkiPDLVoNCZm0YMt?continueMode=true&_x_zm_rtaid=JMOIqKEiRfG5Yc0G4SA3BA.1625082916834.0d26e8de79427a4d74720a6df4dd1604&_x_zm_rhtaid=786">Un-Careers: The Wild West of Remote Work</a> with a panel of professional wanderers who shared their experiences, offering attendees tips and tricks for making a permanent life on the open road, well, work.

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T-Mobile employee <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rooftopadam/">Adam Maddock</a> transformed his Jeep into a tiny-house-on-wheels during a six-month stint as a digital nomad. The youngest member of the panel at 35, he drove almost 14,000 miles to locations like Padre Island and Moab during the pandemic, learning how to do the travel off-hours and making sure he had the ability to be connected to co-workers when it was time to clock in.

Eight years in the Marines prepared Maddock to handle just about anything on the road, provided he had that reliable connectivity.

“I live in downtown Seattle, and when the pandemic hit it was not a great time to be in any downtown and I figured since I’m working from home it shouldn’t matter if I’m here or at the Grand Canyon,” said Maddock. “If I have a connection, I should be able to work from anywhere.”

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Though he tested the nomadic waters for a finite period, the two other panelists, <a href="https://www.theradiovagabond.com/about-palle-bo/">Palle Bo</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/pi4u/">Siobhan Farr</a>, have made living on the road a permanent gig.

Bo found himself selling the bulk of his possessions a la Frances McDormand in the 2020 breakout film <a href="https://www.searchlightpictures.com/nomadland/">Nomadland</a>, and trading them in for experiences: “I sold everything before becoming a digital nomad, and when emptying my loft I realized I had collected so much stuff that I never used.”

An award-winning radio producer and digital nomad since 2016, Bo documents his journey in his podcast <a href="https://www.theradiovagabond.com/">The Radio Vagabond</a>; he now collects new memories instead of things, and says the pandemic has fueled his nomadic life at the age of 56.

“Before the pandemic, if I said to my clients, who are primarily Danish companies, ‘Can we go on Zoom or Skype?’ they would say ‘I don’t know what that is,’ he explained. “So actually during the pandemic, it’s become easier for me because it’s more natural and clients don’t see it as a problem that you’re not next door. Coming out of this I think we are going to see more nomads, because it’s the new normal that you can do meetings on a computer screen and you don’t have to be in the same room.”

While Maddock and Bo set out purposefully to take on the persona of digital nomad, <a href="https://about.me/siobhanfarr">Siobhan Farr</a> is an example of how life and recent events can decide your fate and push you into unknown territory. Farr was traveling for six months when COVID-19 hit and got “locked into Ecuador.” There she was isolated from the world she knew back in Dallas with only her stuffed animal Kicksie to keep her company. A castaway with her own Wilson, so to speak. She realized in her sixties that her life had changed forever, including how and where she would continue her career as a health insurance agent specializing in Medicare.

“All of the carriers that I represented were already moving to allow us to take electronic applications and then the pandemic sped things up considerably, because even though the clients are older, they were getting adjusted to having meetings on Zoom,” she said. “A lot of those digital skills pick up as you move along by necessity.”

Farr said it is “by divine and not design” that she became a digital nomad for life. Call it an epiphany, kismet or a happy accident — it was meant to be.

When trying to find community in the digital nomad space by querying an existing Facebook group, however, she realized she was blazing new digital trails. Upon selecting the 45-and-older age group, she received a pop-up message indicating the group did not support her demographic. Temporarily bloodied but hardly unbowed, Siobhan tapped into the universe — and with necessity being the mother of invention that it is — created <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DigitalNomadsBeyond50/">Digital Nomads Beyond 50</a>.

It’s clear from the panelists’ experiences of maintaining busy careers on the road that digital nomads rely on technology more than their live-at-home counterparts.

“The technology is truly enabling people not to be tethered to a cord to the wall and I think over time we will see more people being able to do this just by using their cell phones,” said Maddock. “I had a phone, a hotspot and an iPad. Those three data sources powered me for six months.”

Farr has traveled to over 35 countries, and relies on her Android Smartphone and Google Fi network as her lifeline to the outside world. She loves landing in a new country, turning on that smartphone, and getting that immediate connection.

All reiterated that having the right device, such as a 5G smartphone like T-Mobile’s new <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone/oneplus-nord-n200-5g">OnePlus Nord N200</a> or <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/devices/revvl-v-americas-most-affordable-5g-smartphone">REVVL V+ 5G</a>, is essential to this lifestyle. It’s no surprise that affordably priced technology like these are popular with the more senior digital nomad crowd, especially when paired with <a href="https://t-mo.co/3xEPS4c" data-type="URL" data-id="https://t-mo.co/3xEPS4c">T-Mobile’s 55+ discounted rate plans</a>, which are available nationwide and include 5G.

Get the OnePlus Nord N200 at a great price here

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Speaking of 5G: Maddock lauded the <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/hotspot-iot-connected-devices/inseego-5g-mifi-m2000">Inseego 5G Hotspot, available at T-Mobile,</a> as an essential connection to the outside world, as there is not always a Wi-Fi network in range. A senior manager on T-Mobile’s digital strategy and planning team, Maddock said because <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/network/ready-for-a-road-trip">T-Mobile’s 5G network</a> covers 92 percent of Interstate Highway miles across America, he was able to travel farther than he thought during his six-month sojourn without ever worrying about staying connected to his colleagues for work.

“I was incredibly lucky to work for T-Mobile during this time as the leader in 5G,” explained Maddock. “5G is essentially the best of short-range in-city signal that you get and the best of the long-range distance over the country packaged into one. It holds a ton of data and has very low latency or delay. So, you’re talking about a technology that will allow people to communicate further, communicate faster and stay in contact and work from more remote places.”

Digital nomadism has been so transformative many have incorporated the term into their personal brand as a descriptor and bona fide skill like a storyteller or change agent. And for some in their supposed career twilight, it’s also redefined how they see retirement — by eradicating it.

“I didn’t necessarily have plans to retire because I love my work, but now being able to incorporate it with my travel and being able to do it from anywhere has brought even more joy to this possibility of a working retirement,” said Farr.

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And more people are joining her online community of older digital nomads, as some — financially decimated by the pandemic — are searching for ways to keep working longer, without living less.

“There are those who might think they’ll be working for the rest of their lives, and if they can’t wait until that retirement to travel,” she said, “this presents a possibility to find something they can do while traveling.”

Interested in the REVVL V+ 5G? Click here

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Harnessing the power of mobile technology, T-Mobile investigates how workers of all ages are redefining the idea of location independence.

Digital Nomads and the New Fountain of Youth | T-Mobile Newsroom

Digital Nomads and the New Fountain of Youth

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5G is propelling a new solution to solve today’s transportation challenges

Driverless cars. They’ve long been the stuff of science fiction, and there are reasons we have not yet reached a transportation utopia where our cities hum along free of traffic congestion and pollution. Driverless and autonomous cars present extremely complex technical challenges that won’t be solved anytime soon according to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/self-driving-cars-could-be-decades-away-no-matter-what-elon-musk-said-11622865615">many experts</a>. Plus, there’s the issue of social trust – it doesn’t matter how intelligent a car is if people won’t get in. But both of these issues – technology development and cultural change – are moving forward in tandem down a path to more capable driverless and autonomous cars. Today we’re seeing exciting progress come to life propelled by <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/5g">5G networks</a>.

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Companies like Cruise, Waymo, Uber, Tesla and others have all been pushing the industry forward. Even Dominos jumped into autonomous vehicles with Nuro, an occupantless on-road delivery vehicle that received U.S. DOT approval in April. Now, there’s a new entrant on the scene called <a href="http://halo.car">Halo</a>, a startup that’s taking a unique and pragmatic approach to tackle transportation challenges with a driverless electric vehicle (EV) that runs on 5G technology. Halo has launched one of the first commercial driverless car services in the U.S., and it’s running on the <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/4g-lte-5g-networks">T-Mobile 5G network</a> in Las Vegas, a city known for its rapid adoption of innovative technology from the first hyperloop test to its newest underground tunnel. Now, Halo is adding to the city’s portfolio of technical achievements.

<a>A People First Approach Towards Autonomous Vehicles</a>

Halo’s service is safe and easy to use. Riders will simply summon a driverless EV via a mobile app. A driverless Halo arrives at the pick-up location, the rider hops in and drives to their destination. Upon arrival, no parking is needed — the Halo moves driverlessly to its next pick-up location.

With its proprietary RemotePilot technology, Halo trains inhouse remote drivers to operate the driverless car over T-Mobile’s 5G network. Halo has developed an Advanced Safe Stop mechanism enabling its cars to immediately come to a full stop if a potential safety hazard or system anomaly is detected. Using an advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithm, the car also learns in the background while humans control the vehicle, building a unique feedback loop to achieve Level 3 capabilities over time.

According to Halo’s Founder and CEO Anand Nandakumar, his service is uniquely designed in that it builds automation over time starting with a solution that consumers will feel comfortable using today. He shares that the inspiration for Halo came from industrial robotics. In the past, entire factory floors were full of people touching every part of a product being manufactured. But over time, robotics have been incorporated to automate redundant tasks, and today many warehouses across the country are almost fully automated with human supervision. Halo is approaching autonomy in a similar way. Humans complete drives over a 5G connection providing real-world data for an AI system to learn and improve in the background. This then leads to the automation of certain tasks over time while creating local jobs where people work alongside AI and robotics.

<a>Solving Transportation Challenges</a>

Halo’s long-term vision is to collaborate with local municipalities to blanket cities with Halos and connect public transit systems. According to the <a href="https://www.apta.com/news-publications/public-transportation-facts/">American Public Transportation Association</a>, public transit is a lifeline for millions of Americans. But for many people, the challenge of last mile transportation is a barrier preventing them from hopping on trains and buses. This “last mile problem” is how to get riders from the bus or train stop to their final destination.

According to Justin Jones, Clark County Commissioner of District F and Vice Chair of the Southern Nevada Regional Transportation Commission City Official, Halo and 5G technology offer an intelligent transition between where the city is today and where it wants to go in the coming years, giving residents and visitors a better, more energy efficient way to move about the city.

Transportation is one of many industries being transformed today by 5G. Just like smartphone apps built on 4G networks revolutionized the mobile economy in ways no one could have predicted, the same will be true with 5G, but with innovation coming at a much greater scale across all industries. It is the innovators, developers and entrepreneurs like Halo that are making the magic happen, and this kind of startup innovation is why T-Mobile is working to build the biggest and best 5G network in the country.  Learn more <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/5g">about 5G</a>.

5GNow is a content series from America’s leader in 5G. With 5GNow we share a first-hand look at the benefits of 5G today, and what’s coming next, highlighting the real-world ways 5G is improving our lives and keeping us better connected.

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Discover how 5G is fueling driverless & autonomous vehicle technology with a people-first approach towards autonomy and solving transportation challenges.

Learn How 5G Fuels Driverless Car Technology | T Mobile Newsroom

5G Fuels Driverless Car Technology

Discover how 5G is fueling driverless &amp; autonomous vehicle technology with a people-first approach towards autonomy and solving transportation challenges.

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Whether you’re tuning up your vehicle for the road trip you’ve been dreaming about or are ready to leave your home and see the world, here’s how your phone can help make summer travel a breeze.

After 15 long months of pandemic-related restrictions, the warm weather has brought a newly opened country — as well as a new era of summer travel. Over <a href="https://tripadvisor.mediaroom.com/2021-04-20-Travel-is-Heating-Up-Two-Thirds-of-Americans-Planning-Summer-Vacations#:~:text=Over%20two%2Dthirds%20of%20Americans,March%201%2D%20May%2031).&text=Although%20many%20still%20plan%20to,up%204%25%20from%20this%20spring." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">two-thirds of Americans</a> (67%) are planning to travel this summer, which is a 17% increase from those who traveled earlier this spring. Millennials seem to be the most excited, with 72% of the generation already planning trips according to Trip Advisor’s 2021 Summer Travel Index. Although many still plan to drive to their destination (43%), 19% plan to fly. The majority of Americans (74%) will take a domestic trip, while 13% will still travel internationally.

Road trippers are clearly eager to get out of the house and into nature, with millions of Americans <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/priceline-national-road-trip-day-survey-reveals-seven-in-10-americans-want-to-take-a-road-trip-this-summer-to-escape-their-quaranteam-301292685.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planning</a> to gas up their vehicles. But with such high demand — along with a move toward a “hybrid” work model — the great American road trip will look much different this year.

As for those digging out their passports and spending hours on their favorite flight search engine (and dusting off that handy <a href="https://www.ricksteves.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rick Steves</a> guide!), many vaccinated Americans <a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-europe-travel-coronavirus-vaccine-health-83594cbef7ac77a7522210f990a6aeff" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">can now visit Europe</a> and other international destinations, even though travel abroad will also look very different this year.

Of course, this means the summer road trip and coveted international vacation is back! Which is great news, especially for T-Mobile customers.

So, from scoring hotel reservations and keeping track of local restrictions, to booking a last-minute table at a European hot spot, here are some tips for how your device can help you navigate the new normal — the next normal — of globetrotting or making the most of your domestic road trip this summer.

With COVID-19 restrictions and local safety guidelines varying widely by state, you’ll want the most up-to-date information relevant to where you’ll be traveling. For domestic trips, websites like the USA Today’s <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/storytelling/coronavirus-reopening-america-map/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">COVID Map</a> and the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a> provide easy access to real-time updates on COVID restrictions across the country.

Safety protocols also vary widely by country, and apps like <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://covidcontrols.co/traveller-entry" target="_blank">COVID Controls</a> offer easy access to real-time updates on COVID restrictions and entry requirements across the globe. The COVID Controls app even allows you to customize your trip, giving you information on your destination country’s current protocols based on your country of origin. A number of<a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/06/02/1025633/seven-eu-countries-just-got-a-digital-vaccine-passport/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> countries in the EU</a> have also adopted a digital vaccine passport ahead of an initiative to have all 27 member states join this summer, and uses a digital green certificate in the form of a QR code that can be stored on a device.

Check these out before you hit the road if you’re planning on crossing state lines or before you book that international flight.

Although restaurants across the country have opened their doors to the public, many are still running at low capacities in a number of states like New York and California. Additionally, a shortage of hospitality workers has caused restaurants to limit the number of customers they can serve each night. If you didn’t plan ahead for your domestic travel and book dining reservations in advance, apps like <a href="https://www.opentable.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Open Table</a> and <a href="https://resy.com/?date=2021-06-11&seats=2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Resy</a> can help you score a last-minute table after a long day on the road.

And although many countries in Europe have opened their doors to vaccinated American tourists, restaurants are still running at low capacities in a number of hot spots like Italy and Spain. Apps like <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.thefork.com/" target="_blank">The Fork</a> can help you score a last-minute table after a long day of wandering the streets of Rome or Barcelona if you forgot to do so in advance. And if you need to ask that foodie friend for a recommendation, don’t forget with T-Mobile’s <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/plans">Magenta and Magenta MAX plans</a> you get unlimited texting and data <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/roaming">while roaming</a> to over 200 countries internationally. Not to mention, if you do decide to hop on a flight and want to do a little last minute research on your destination while in the air, T-Mobile’s Magenta plans offer in-flight text messaging plus Wi-Fi on Gogo-enabled flights.

<div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-magenta-background-color has-text-color has-background no-border-radius" href="https://t-mo.co/3jvWkXm">Ready to Travel? Get Your Phone Plan!</a></div>

So much of life on the road is about aimlessly wandering from place to place in search of your next adventure. It’s that game-time call to push on to a new city or pull into a charming little town you’ve never heard of for the night. And similarly, so much of international travel is about the spur of the moment decision to hop on a train or keep your alpine road trip going for a few more days. Need a place to stay at the drop of a hat? Apps like <a href="https://www.hoteltonight.com/?utm_campaign=google_desktop_us-english_brand_exact&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign_id=1495933104&utm_adgroup=95550526069&utm_targetid=kwd-2819026105&utm_feeditemid=&utm_creative=hotel%20tonight&utm_matchtype=e&utm_loc_physical_ms=9021321&utm_loc_interest_ms=&utm_adposition=&utm_ad_id=433168380655&utm_device=c&utm_network=g&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8IaGBhCHARIsAGIRRYrMBAG0Tv2FO-2-jxUuFPCBfll2BBzNtZSHoZ9PkJO6_gS0ctjkCKcaAhCWEALw_wcB" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hotel Tonight</a> offer deals on last-minute hotel bookings, helping you find a place to get some rest after an epic day of exploration.

Even better: Are you a T-Mobile customer? Great! Access the new <a href="https://hotels.tmobiletravel.com/th/home/en/">T-Mobile TRAVEL</a> to save up to 40% on select accommodations and car rentals.

For domestic travelers on road trips to a city this summer, it’s worth checking to see if the city has an attraction pass — usually a digital ticket that lets you bundle attractions to make the most out of your visit. For example, <a href="https://www.sightseeingpass.com/en/new-york?aid=14&gclid=Cj0KCQjwk4yGBhDQARIsACGfAes_gU-ExA8Qm-uiD0b2qOSESo3omkgrsC0XQIJ6DJdCWs70zrc0OAoaApTaEALw_wcB" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The New York Sightseeing Pass</a> offers ticket-free entry to more than 150 attractions around New York City. These passes can often save you time and money, and are a great way to catch all the can’t-miss sights cities have to offer. And don’t miss out on the savings with T-Mobile’s “Always On” offer for up to 30% off theme park admission with <a href="https://www.entertainmentbenefits.com/about-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EBG</a> that you can find in the T-Mobile Tuesdays app.

For those going abroad, no train trip through Europe is complete without a Eurail Pass. But how to keep track of all the different destinations and timetables to help you hop from country to country? The <a href="https://www.eurail.com/en/plan-your-trip/rail-planner-app" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rail planner app</a> from Eurail will help you sort out your departure and arrival times, and plan the perfect route for an unforgettable vacation.

If you’re like many road trippers this summer in America, you’re likely planning a visit to one of our country’s storied National Parks. For the easiest way to plan your visit, make sure to download the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/digital/nps-apps.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NPS app</a>. This app is your guide to more than 400 National Park System units, and offers interactive maps, tours of park places, accessibility information and much more to help make your trip to the great outdoors an unforgettable one.

While some are trying to master the terrain of America’s national parks, others will be trying to learn the foreign language they set out to master during lockdown before their international trip. No worries if you’re a little behind on your conjugations — apps like <a href="https://www.itranslate.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">iTranslate</a> offer instant translations on the go, so you won’t miss a beat when it’s your turn to order your morning pain au chocolat et café au lait at the boulangerie.

If your domestic road trip includes a little time in nature, your phone can make it easy to get out there and hike, bike or camp like a local. Apps like <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AllTrails</a> and <a href="https://www.trailforks.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trailforks</a> can help you find the best trails for hiking and biking, with updates on trail conditions to aid you in picking the best spot to get out there. If you’re planning to camp this summer, the <a href="https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Recreation.gov app</a> has everything you need to discover and book campsites, no matter where your summer road trip takes you. And with T-Mobile, America’s fastest and most reliable 5G is now available at no extra cost to 300 million Americans to help when <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/network/ready-for-a-road-trip">you’re out on the road</a> with nothing but nature around! Happy trails!

For those traveling abroad, once you’ve made your way around the globe and are ready to return to the United States, the <a href="https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mobile Passport</a> app can make customs a breeze. After all, the last thing you want to do after a transatlantic flight is stand in an hours-long line. The app is only available for certain airports in the U.S., including most of the major points of entry for international flights. Just be sure to download the app ahead of landing, and enter your passport and trip information before you head to the customs area. Bon voyage!

Bags Packed? Check Out Phone Plans!

<div class="wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-100"><a class="wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-magenta-background-color has-text-color has-background no-border-radius" href="https://t-mo.co/3jvWkXm">Bags Packed? Check Out Phone Plans!</a></div>

With T-Mobile’s Magenta and Magenta MAX plans you get unlimited texting and data while roaming to over 200 countries internationally. Not to mention, if you do decide to hop on a flight and want to do a little last minute research on your destination while in the air, T-Mobile’s Magenta plans offer in-flight text messaging plus Wi-Fi on Gogo-enabled flights.

Summer Travel Takes Off | T-Mobile Newsroom

Summer Travel Takes Off

JasonAdams

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The award-winning actress, producer and equal rights advocate joined T-Mobile’s latest Talking with Trailblazers event in celebration of Pride month to discuss the realities of the current transgender experience.

“One of my favorite Brené Brown quotes is, ‘When we deny our stories, those stories define us. But when we can own our stories, we can write a brave new ending.’”

Laverne Cox can find an eloquent quote from a number of people who have inspired her with astounding dexterity. During an hour-long conversation about her experience as one of the first prominently visible trans women in Hollywood during T-Mobile’s latest Talking With Trailblazers event, she offered up insightful quotes from professor and author <a href="https://brenebrown.com/about/">Brené Brown</a>, non-binary poet <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alok_Vaid-Menon">Alok Menon</a>, legendary television host <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oprah_Winfrey">Oprah Winfrey</a> and Feminist activist <a href="http://www.gloriasteinem.com/">Gloria Steinem</a>, just to name a few.

But Cox, an award-winning actress, producer and equal rights advocate, has a voice of her own that speaks volumes. Overflowing with the experiences that have shaped her and now guide her to break barriers for the transgender community, her words stick with you long after. “As things have gotten better, and it’s important to acknowledge that things have gotten better, there are people who are still afraid to be themselves,” said Cox. “And they have reason to be. It’s not delusional to think that it is not safe for you as a trans person. That’s not delusional. And that is something that we have to work really hard to reduce.”

Cox has become an indelible figure of transgender representation in mainstream media after her groundbreaking role as Sophia Burset in the critically acclaimed Netflix original series <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/70242311">Orange is The New Black</a>. The role led to Cox becoming the first openly transgender actress to be nominated for a Primetime acting Emmy and appear on the covers of Time Magazine, Cosmopolitan and Essence. She was named one of Glamour magazine’s 2014 Women of the Year and holds two SAG Awards. Even when discussing her glamorous Hollywood lifestyle, her insistence that being comfortable with the skin you’re in is always her message.

“Sometimes when I’m on a red carpet and I look fabulous because I have a great team, and the lighting is hit just right, I don’t always feel good, because the shoes might hurt, or I might be trying to hold my stomach in for dear life,” she joked. “So I don’t always feel beautiful when I might look at my most beautiful. I love just being chill and being seen and loved by a person who loves me. That makes me feel my most beautiful.”

Some 2,500 employees logged in to hear Cox speak during the virtual event in honor of LGBTQ+ Pride month, hosted by T-Mobile for Business EVP Mike Katz. T-Mobile has been <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/brand/celebrating-diversity/lgbtq-plus-pride">heavily involved</a> in activities meant to celebrate LGBTQ+ community members and allies this June, including sponsoring Pride parades across the country, <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/pride2021">supporting LGBTQ+ youth</a> by teaming up with and donating to GLSEN and The Human Rights Campaign Foundation and supporting LGBTQ+  excellence in tech by sponsoring <a href="https://lesbianswhotech.org/pridesummit2021/?cmpid=MGPO_PW_U_PRIDEEVG_5ASUQSCZYBHVTOS5265358%20">Pride Summit 2021 with LesbiansWhoTech.</a>

For Cox, the topics of this <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/daniel-dae-kim-discusses-aapi-hate-crime-with-t-mobile" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/daniel-dae-kim-discusses-aapi-hate-crime-with-t-mobile">Talking with Trailblazers</a>, a series that invites diverse leaders to talk about issues that matter right now, ranged from being authentic to yourself, raising LGBTQ+ voices, how we can all be even better allies to the LGBTQ+ community, and the current challenges of violence against the transgender community and new legislation threatening rights to things such as gender affirming health care.

“As trans people are more visible, and we’re more visible than we’ve ever been before, this is the backlash to that visibility,” explained Cox. “Often when marginalized groups come forward and assert ourselves, there’s backlash. There is the backlash in spades right now.”

Here are some further takeaways from this fearless trailblazer.

“I think that a lot of folks are terrified to say the wrong things. So, they don’t say anything at all. And that is certainly not being a good ally. And I’ve been leaning into the word ‘accomplice’ rather than ‘ally.’ For me, accomplice suggests not only what you’re doing when trans folks or Black folks or LGBTQI+ folks are in the room, but what are you doing when we’re not in the room? If someone is being mis-gendered behind their backs, are you intervening? And I don’t like to say calling people out, but sort of inviting them in and asking questions if they mis-gender someone. Talking about the humanity of trans people when we’re not there as well as when we are there. I think that is a beautiful way to think about how we create safe space and give people an opportunity to speak their truth. “And, I think for me, story is such a powerful tool. I’m sure there are employees in the company who have transitioned. If they’re comfortable sharing their stories, doing a video where they’ve shared their stories, hopefully of being treated well when they came out or disclosed to their coworkers. To let everyone else know that it’s okay, if that’s what they need to do. I think just letting folks know that the environment will be welcoming and supportive when they do disclose or come out. I think that is crucially important.”

“This legislative session there have been over a hundred pieces of legislation targeting transgender children, either transgender children playing sports, or having access to gender affirming health care. About eight states now have sports bans against trans girls, specifically playing sports on the teams with which they identify in terms of their gender. And that that’s abhorrent. But I think even more disturbing for me are bills that criminalize transgender children receiving gender-affirming care. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, every reputable healthcare organization says that gender affirming care for trans people is life-saving. It reduces suicidality by 40 percent when they have this access. That's major.

“I think so much of it is not just the legislation, it’s the narrative around the legislation that is dehumanizing to trans people and these conversations that continue to stigmatize trans folks. And we know that it emboldens folks to be more violent against trans folks. That dehumanizing language leads to dehumanizing behavior and violence. 2020 was the deadliest year for trans people. Over 44 trans people were murdered. That’s only in the United States. 27 trans people were murdered so far in 2021.”

The importance of knowing our collective and individual histories, in order to move forward.

“I think it’s important for us to understand our histories, so that we don’t repeat the things that are problematic. And when we can understand the story, own the story, then we can begin to write a different ending. And we can write that brave new ending for trans folks in the media. And so I do believe that things have gotten better for trans representation on television and I think we have a better understanding of what is more dehumanizing in terms of representation of trans folks. We understand what is stigmatizing and objectifying when we have conversations with and about trans people and what is more humanizing.

“There’s just so much stigma and misinformation that needs to be debunked. And we need to write new narratives and tell different stories. And most of that, again, is about humanizing trans people. There are many trans stories. We can hear trans people that we can get in front of people to tell their stories on their own terms and humanizing ways. And we can change the tide of all this discrimination and violence. But in the face of the challenges, trans people have been ourselves for centuries. Many of us have found the courage to be ourselves. And so we have to listen to trans people and we have to believe trans people, and give us space.”

The award-winning actress, producer and equal rights advocate joined T-Mobile’s latest Talking with Trailblazers event in celebration of Pride month.

Laverne Cox: “When We Understand the Story, We Can Begin to Write a Different Ending” | T-Mobile Newsroom

Laverne Cox: “When We Understand the Story, We Can Begin to Write a Different Ending”

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In honor of Pride Month, we highlight Customer Resolution Expert Joe Richards and his community photo project “Proud to Be,” which T-Mobile has adopted companywide this year. Joe curates experiences as an art form. His masterpiece? Inclusion.

Joe Richards is many things — but first, he was a kindergartener.

“I think most people know the kind of field trip — all the little kindergartners take their lunches and coats and pile into a bus together and head to a museum,” he remembers.

“At the end of ours, they asked all the kids to present what they wanted to be when they grew up. I knew I wanted to be an artist, but my strongest memory from that moment is listening to everyone else’s answers and wanting to understand the ‘why’ behind them.”

Today, Joe works as a Customer Resolution Expert in T-Mobile’s Charleston Customer Experience Center, and serves as the lead for T-Mobile's Pride Employee Resource Group in the local Diversity, Equity & Inclusion chapter.

He’s also now the artist he knew he wanted to become all those years ago.

“I like to create things,” he starts, launching into an overview of artistic range that spans event and celebration planning, concept and costume design, prop fabrication and a turn as a female illusionist. As Joe describes sewing thousands of sequins onto a gown as a favor for a friend, a ‘blacklight poster costume’ installation he’s working to create with a team for a photo spread (“It’s kind of hard to explain,” he says with a laugh), and parties he’s themed down to the tiniest degree, two things stand out: his dedication to detailed craft and his generosity.

“I love watching people’s reactions,” Joe explains. “So no matter what I’m working on, the big question is always: What impact do you want? An experience — whether it happens through an event or set design or a photo someone’s taking in — is like climbing a mountain, and in terms of reaching the pinnacle, the details set things apart.”

“DE&I is about a seat at the table, but it’s also about the change that happens with our voices, and around ten thousand voices can be pretty powerful,” Joe says, referencing <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/brand/celebrating-diversity/lgbtq-plus-pride">T-Mobile's Pride ERG</a> membership (over a third of the company’s employees, nearly 30,000, belong to one or more Employee Resource Group). “And that’s not to say we’re all using our voices by yelling. It’s just making connections.”

“As Pride lead, I answer a lot of questions for others. Sometimes the advice I give people is as simple as: If you make a mistake, just apologize. We all want to be seen, but we also just want connect with one another and there’s so much fear about getting it wrong.”

Pride season offers members of the LGBTQ+ community a moment to advocate and celebrate their identities together, but “Be You” has long been a year-round motto at T-Mobile. That motto, Joe explains, inspired him to look for a way to open up Pride — and the experience of being “seen” —  to everyone.

“Validation is an important step in connecting with someone. Our vulnerability opens floodgates, and gives us the chance to see each other, maybe beyond corporate and work environments. I wouldn’t be where I am right now if it weren’t for that kind of validation.”

It’s his drive to make an impact combined with his singular artistic sensibility that has helped grow a participatory photo project he launched four years ago at the Charleston CEC called “Proud to Be.”

With the simple directive to employees to write down what they’re proud to be on a chalk board, Joe captured dozens of inspiring photographs of smiling sign bearers and built an art installation to display them in the call center. The project grew from 44 participants to 198 from 2018 to 2019.

This year, it expanded into a companywide T-Mobile initiative in celebration of Pride month.

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