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T-Mobile Finally Gets The iPhone
Will Offer Device Sometime in 2013

Confirming some earlier Wall Street leaks, T-Mobile today announced that they'll finally offer its customers the iPhone starting in 2013. The company unveiled the announcement via a single sentence a press release addressing Deutsche Telekom's future financial moves. The announcement fails to get specific about exactly when in 2013 iPhone support will materialize.

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"T-Mobile USA has entered into an agreement with Apple to bring products to market together in 2013," is all the press release states. By "products," the company likely means both the iPad and the iPhone.

Up until now the company has so far focused on launching HSPA+ service over the company's 1900 MHz spectrum, trying to lure unlocked iPhone owners over to their network.

Despite the announcement, the company's network simply isn't ready yet to accommodate the device. HSPA+ over 1900 MHz is only available in 15 markets while T-Mobile's LTE network, slated for a 2013 launch, is available in none.

The iPhone on T-Mobile's launch will likely come at the same time T-Mobile launches its first LTE markets, and T-Mobile hasn't gotten specific about when that will be. T-Mobile has stated they hope to reach 200 million people with LTE by the end of 2013, with the upgrades completed entirely sometime in 2014.

Update: While they're sort of beating around the bush with press statements, from the sounds of things while T-Mobile will offer the iPhone, it won't be subsidized, meaning you'll have to pay full price for the iPhone on T-Mobile as the carrier moves away from the subsidy model.
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rokman1
@placidnk.net

rokman1

Anon

Unlimited Data

Bring back unlimited data!

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

Karl Bode

News Guy

Re: Unlimited Data

They did.

m37
@wideopenwest.com

m37

Anon

Re: Unlimited Data

And there it goes with the iPhone. Damm it!

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

1 edit

FFH5

Premium Member

Some speculation about the deal

CNet weighs in:
»news.cnet.com/8301-13579 ··· 1_3-0-20

As well as Engadget:
»www.engadget.com/2012/12 ··· le-2013/

Neither will say it will be an iPhone, but what else would T-Mobile be interested in. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple roles out one model of LTE iPhone that can work on AT&T, TMO, and many EU systems.

Last weeks doubts about the deal were misplaced:
»No, iPhone Probably Not Coming to T-Mobile Next Week
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx

Member

Re: Some speculation about the deal

The AT&T (A1428) iPhone 5 already supports the band that T-Mobile will use for LTE (AWS). So, with the refarmed HSPA+ coming online in many markets (TMo has announced 15 but many more are in progress) the iPhone will work better on TMo than AT&T.

My bet is that the iPhone actually launches on T-Mobile about the same time that T-Mobile turns on LTE. At that point they'll have plenty of refarmed markets for when LTE isn't available, but I'm guessing that LTE will be available in many markets at once due to the upgrades TMo has been making for DC-HSPA+ etc.

IPPlanMan
Holy Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC

IPPlanMan

Member

Re: Some speculation about the deal

Agreed.
»www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/
»www.apple.com/ipad/LTE/

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

TMO CEO confirms the iPhone and iPad are part of the deal. He also claims he didn't get sucked in to a big upfront commitment like Sprint did. He also says that LTE rollout will be sped up significantly.

»news.cnet.com/8301-13579 ··· 1_3-0-20

Camaro
Question everything
Premium Member
join:2008-04-05
Westfield, MA

Camaro

Premium Member

Take it back

T mobiles network is crap already now, this is going to make a crappy network even worse then they can keep it.

a333
A hot cup of integrals please
join:2007-06-12
Rego Park, NY

a333

Member

Re: Take it back

How so? People in NYC already see 8 -9 mbps on DC-HSPA+ equipment, during peak hours, and upwards of 20 Mbps during off-peak hours. I am on a HSPA 14.4 Mbps device, and even I routinely see 3 - 5 Mbps during daytime, and close to 8 or 9 Mbps during nighttime... hardly a crap network. I would concede that coverage is worse outside major cities and highway corridors, but then again, large-scale coverage hasn't really been T-mobile's focus... it's a carrier geared towards those who need a good network near population centers. BTW, multiple studies have been done so far, and the consensus is that iPhones actually consume less data on average than Android phones... not to mention, over half of T-mo's data traffic right now is streaming video... their network is over-engineered and lightly loaded as it is... adding 20 MHz LTE and HSPA+ on PCS will only make things better, even with a bunch of iPhones on the network
patt2k
join:2009-01-16

patt2k

Member

Re: Take it back

said by a333:

How so? People in NYC already see 8 -9 mbps on DC-HSPA+ equipment, during peak hours, and upwards of 20 Mbps during off-peak hours. I am on a HSPA 14.4 Mbps device, and even I routinely see 3 - 5 Mbps during daytime, and close to 8 or 9 Mbps during nighttime... hardly a crap network. I would concede that coverage is worse outside major cities and highway corridors, but then again, large-scale coverage hasn't really been T-mobile's focus... it's a carrier geared towards those who need a good network near population centers. BTW, multiple studies have been done so far, and the consensus is that iPhones actually consume less data on average than Android phones... not to mention, over half of T-mo's data traffic right now is streaming video... their network is over-engineered and lightly loaded as it is... adding 20 MHz LTE and HSPA+ on PCS will only make things better, even with a bunch of iPhones on the network

Few of my friends have T Mobile I have VZW I been doing speedtests just for fun her HTC One S or one V I forgot exact name hit 18 mbps on HSPA+ with unlimited that is more the enough... and I am on Verizon however their unlimited plan is like 90$ I pay 70$ for each phone on family plan with verizon not switching anytime soon though.

Camaro
Question everything
Premium Member
join:2008-04-05
Westfield, MA

Camaro to a333

Premium Member

to a333
said by a333:

I would concede that coverage is worse outside major cities and highway corridors.

Hence my argument, I refuse to pay out of my ass for Verizon (which does have the best coverage no argument there).

So now my bill is going to go up in the next 6 months to a year because T mobile is getting desperate to turn a bigger profit so instead of trying to improve the network to bring in newer customers from areas they never served instead of trying this. I know I am living in a pipe dream but one can dream.

trparky
Premium Member
join:2000-05-24
Cleveland, OH
·AT&T U-Verse

trparky

Premium Member

Re: Take it back

I'm thinking of going to T-Mobile soon but it really comes down to coverage. I have Verizon now and I hate them. I can't even make reliable phone calls in my own home on my cell phone because as they say, I'm in a "marginal signal area".

I'm in a city! Cleveland, Ohio. Is that not a big enough city to get decent coverage? I guess not. They admit that they need to install a new tower in the area but they say that they have absolutely no plans to do so.

I'm researching T-Mobile and come mid-2013, whoever has the best coverage is the company I'm switching the whole family to.

whiteshp
join:2002-03-05
Xenia, OH

whiteshp

Member

Re: Take it back

T-Mo wi-fi calling and UMA make a huge difference in low signal areas. I have wi-fi at home and work so I always have max reception there. No one else at work can even get a call out (steel frame building).

IowaCowboy
Lost in the Supermarket
Premium Member
join:2010-10-16
Springfield, MA

IowaCowboy to Camaro

Premium Member

to Camaro
said by Camaro:

said by a333:

I would concede that coverage is worse outside major cities and highway corridors.

Hence my argument, I refuse to pay out of my ass for Verizon (which does have the best coverage no argument there).

So now my bill is going to go up in the next 6 months to a year because T mobile is getting desperate to turn a bigger profit so instead of trying to improve the network to bring in newer customers from areas they never served instead of trying this. I know I am living in a pipe dream but one can dream.

I used to have AT&T (because VZW had spotty coverage in the area, as of 2004) but I am now back with Verizon (as of 2011) and I just got my iPhone 5 and that LTE connection is awesome.

If network extenders were available in 2004, I would have gone that route instead of switching to then Cingular (now AT&T). With LTE, I can't tell the difference of being on LTE or the Wi-Fi in my house (which is fed by a Comcast extreme 105).

crazyk4952
Premium Member
join:2002-02-04
united state
Ubiquiti EdgeRouter Lite
Ubiquiti UniFi AP-LR
Polycom VVX300

crazyk4952 to Camaro

Premium Member

to Camaro
said by Camaro:

T mobiles network is crap already now, this is going to make a crappy network even worse then they can keep it.

It depends on where you are at. I happily used T-Mobile for several years. During that time, I had stronger signal in most places and had better voice quality than with my previous provider (Verizon).

FastDSL1
join:1999-08-22
Snellville, GA

FastDSL1 to Camaro

Member

to Camaro
said by Camaro:

T mobiles network is crap already now, this is going to make a crappy network even worse then they can keep it.

Clearly, you have not had Sprint.

n2jtx
join:2001-01-13
Glen Head, NY

n2jtx

Member

Re: Take it back

said by FastDSL1:

said by Camaro:

T mobiles network is crap already now, this is going to make a crappy network even worse then they can keep it.

Clearly, you have not had Sprint.

LOL! How True!

Camaro
Question everything
Premium Member
join:2008-04-05
Westfield, MA

Camaro to FastDSL1

Premium Member

to FastDSL1
No sir, but in my neck of the woods every carrier save t mobile has awesome coverage sooo unless I move (which isn't practical of course) or I switch carriers again I wont. I have been a t mobile customer for god 12 years plus and in that time the price to coverage ratio was decent, so I guess my only choice is prepaid.

michieru
Premium Member
join:2009-07-25
Denver, CO

michieru to FastDSL1

Premium Member

to FastDSL1
In Miami I was lucky to even get Pandora to work, let alone 500Kbps on download and that was a good day. Cancelled within 12 days of having it and went to T-mobile.

ArrayList
DevOps
Premium Member
join:2005-03-19
Mullica Hill, NJ

ArrayList to Camaro

Premium Member

to Camaro
my unlimited 22mbps/4mbps hspa+ says otherwise

IPPlanMan
Holy Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC

IPPlanMan

Member

HD Voice...

Per: »Is T-Mobile Quietly Deploying HD Voice? [31] comments

T-Mobile will likely offer the iPhone with HD Voice...
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx

Member

Re: HD Voice...

...and faster LTE than AT&T (10MHz carriers with smaller cell sizes)...and unlimited data.

The only piece missing is rural coverage, and isn't TMo supposed to get a guaranteed roaming agreement from AT&T as a consequence of the failed merger?

IPPlanMan
Holy Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC

IPPlanMan

Member

Re: HD Voice...

Yes.
»www.ciscopress.com/artic ··· =1830020

"AT&T says that in order to reflect the break-up considerations due to Deutsche Telekom, it will recognize a pretax accounting charge of $4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011. Additionally, AT&T is obligated to enter into a long term roaming agreement with Deutsche Telekom. T-Mobile will receive a package of wireless frequencies from AT&T in 128 market areas, including Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Washington and San Francisco. The roaming deal will last at least seven years, and Deutsche Telekom says it will extend T-Mobile’s coverage to 50 million more potential customers."

SimbaSeven
I Void Warranties
join:2003-03-24
Billings, MT

SimbaSeven

Member

Re: HD Voice...

So, does that mean I can get a T-Mobile phone and use it here without issues?

techguyga
Premium Member
join:2003-12-31
00000

techguyga to iansltx

Premium Member

to iansltx
Don't forget...taking a Verizon phone out of the country will cost you BIG money, both in voice and data charges. Tmo has superior coverage internationally and great pricing on voice/data when roaming. And, you get access to their WiFi hotspots.

BackToTmo
@173.227.18.x

BackToTmo

Anon

Re: HD Voice...

Don't forget WiFi Calling feature. I wonder if the T-Mo iPhone will have this feature. That'll be great.
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx

Member

Re: HD Voice...

$5 says it won't.
iansltx

iansltx to techguyga

Member

to techguyga
I wander what percentage of people on each respective carrier use their phones internationally. I know that, for a trip of more than a couple days (and maybe even then) I'd just get a cheap phone/prepaid plan in the country where I am.

valuepac
@pacbell.net

valuepac to techguyga

Anon

to techguyga
maybe Im missing something but looks like T-mobile charges $15 per meg of usage vs ATT which charges $30 for 120 megs. Plus there voice is a lot more expensive as well compared to ATT packages. If T-mobile wanted to differentiate themselves they would become the international phone provider and let free roaming on their network worldwide. then again Verizon Wireless could do the same thing with Vodaphone

techguyga
Premium Member
join:2003-12-31
00000
ARRIS BGW210-700

techguyga

Premium Member

Re: HD Voice...

Don't know what the rates are today as it's been about 1.5 years since our company phones were on T-Mobile, but I do know that practically every country I visited in Europe, I was on the T-Mobile network, not roaming on someone else's. Using my T-Mo phone cost me a fraction of what AT&T or Verizon were at the time.

Asia, I can't remember, but I think I roamed a good bit while I was there.

We're on AT&T now and I've never been directly on an AT&T network abroad...always roamed on another network.
brianiscool
join:2000-08-16
Tampa, FL

brianiscool

Member

WHY????

The nexus one x+ is so much better.

•••
SauceMaster
join:2004-08-01
Kokomo, IN

SauceMaster

Member

T-mobile is doing a way with classic subsidy plans in 2013

The only reason they are able to offer the Iphone is because T-mobile is doing away with Classic (post-paid service) which get's a phone subsidy. They will be moving to Value plans only in 2013 also.

»www.tmonews.com/2012/12/ ··· in-2013/

T-mobile currently has 1.7 million Iphones on it's network currently.

Value plans still require a 2 year contract because you get cheaper pricing on your plan. So you'll be doing a BYOD or you can do a 20 month payment plan for your phone and pay full price.

IowaCowboy
Lost in the Supermarket
Premium Member
join:2010-10-16
Springfield, MA

IowaCowboy

Premium Member

I'll stick with Verizon

I just bought my iPhone 5 this past Monday and the 4G LTE is nice. Much better than 3G on the iPhone 4 and things load a lot faster. Bus schedules load almost instantaneously. It's basically like a cable modem in your pocket. The old 3G on the iPhone 4 was more like DSL or dial-up.

It will be wait and see what iPhone has to offer in another 18 months when I can upgrade again.

••••••

tmh
@comcastbusiness.net

tmh

Anon

Hmmmm

So, Apple finally found a place to unload the surplus/refurb iPhone 4's that were hanging around.

carpetshark3
Premium Member
join:2004-02-12
Idledale, CO

carpetshark3

Premium Member

Re: Hmmmm

There goes the neighborhood.

tippboogie
Bad Boy 4 Life
Premium Member
join:2001-12-13
Brooklyn, NY

tippboogie

Premium Member

Price

Just wanted to know if they had to pay like sprint did ?
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT

BiggA

Premium Member

ARGH

Why on earth does the article assume the T-Mobile iPhone won't have AWS HSPA+ support? It will if it's an official device for T-Mobile. It's not a technically difficult thing to do, it's just a matter of T-Mobile coughing up the money for the iPhone.

a333
A hot cup of integrals please
join:2007-06-12
Rego Park, NY

a333

Member

Re: ARGH

Yeah... not to mention, IIRC the baseband in the existing iPhone already has hardware support for the 1700 MHz band... they might have to add an incremental software patch to enable it, and maybe slightly change the antenna configuration to tune it for 1700 MHz operations... aka an incremental update at most
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT

BiggA

Premium Member

Re: ARGH

Exactly. The antennas and amps already have to be tuned for AWS, as the iPhone can do LTE over AWS in Chicago and Canada, and soon more of the US on AT&T. It's just software or firmware.

Camaro
Question everything
Premium Member
join:2008-04-05
Westfield, MA

Camaro

Premium Member

Well....

in the end we all get screwed in some way or another so not a damn thing we can do except cancel service.

tc1uscg
join:2005-03-09
Gulfport, MS

1 recommendation

tc1uscg

Member

Re: Well....

said by Camaro:

in the end we all get screwed in some way or another so not a damn thing we can do except cancel service.

Amen to that. TMo is now just like the rest, only still number 4, right behind big red, blue and yellow stains .
ConstantineM
join:2011-09-02
San Jose, CA

ConstantineM

Member

Google Nexus 4 @ 349, vs. iPhone 4S @ 549?

Great news, for sure!

Frankly, I think that Android is still quite buggy in many places, but, nonetheless, I still think that at 349$ for an unlocked Google Nexus 4 16GB with many unpolished features that are yet to be incorporated by Apple, vs 649$ for the iPhone 5 16GB, or 549$ for iPhone 4S 16GB (they finally sell non-latest model as unlocked, too? Well, that may end up being more competitive), I can't see just that many users choosing to go the Apple way.

Although it's certainly good Apple now sells even the iPhone 4 as unlocked (but with only 8GB), and for only 450$. It's still more expensive than a comparable Google Nexus 4 w/ 8GB @ 299$, but that's certainly better than having to pay the whole 649 just to get into the Apple camp.

Is it just me, or does it look like smartphone prices are finally going back into being competitive?

This is certainly a progress, and progress is always good!

Eddy120876
join:2009-02-16
Bronx, NY

Eddy120876

Member

Re: Google Nexus 4 @ 349, vs. iPhone 4S @ 549?

Those are some good points and I will also like to point out is that once you upgrade your iphone you can always sell it and recoup some of the Iphone price. The sad part is you can't do that with most Android phones aside from the SG3 or X-one