Just a few weeks ago T-Mobile’s COO said that there’s no way that T-Mobile would ever be able to get the iPhone because it’s just too damn expensive.
Things may have changed quickly though as a new report from Merrill Lynch is claiming that Deutsche Telecome will announce a deal to bring the iPhone to their U.S. subsidiary, T-Mobile, next week.
Is it more important that your carrier have impeccible cellular service, or that they have the smartphone you want? In T-Mobile’s case, they don’t have great service or great phones, so they’re kinda screwed until they get the iPhone and expand their 4G network.
T-Mobile is the only major carrier left in the U.S. that doesn’t sell the iPhone, and they’re probably not going to be able to sell it anytime soon because the iPhone’s expensive and according to their COO, they can’t afford it.
T-Mobile is now the only major carrier in the United States that doesn’t offer the iPhone, because Apple’s device isn’t compatible with its 3G network. However, that could be about to change. One analyst believes that T-Mobile will finally get its chance to offer the iPhone 5 from early 2013.
T-Mobile launched a new marketing campaign around the same time as the iPhone 5 launch. Called “Bring Your Own Device,” T-Mobile used Apple’s latest smartphone to demonstrate how customers can bring their unlocked devices from other carriers and use them on T-Mobile’s unlimited everything plan. Because Apple still hasn’t partnered with T-Mobile officially, the smaller carrier’s best bet is tempting unlockers with its attractive data pricing.
It’s only been a month into the campaign, but T-Mobile is already removing the iPhone brand from all marketing materials. Did Apple force T-Mobile’s hand? Not exactly.
The rumors of a T-Mobile/Metro PCS merger have been burning hot over the past 24 hours and it appears for good reason. The merger is real and was announced by T-Mobile a short while ago. T-Mobile USA will be merging with Metro PCS in a $1.5 billion deal. Not only will MetroPCS Shareholders receive $1.5 Billion in cash, but they will also have a 26% ownership in the combined company. Not a bad deal if you ask me.
Looks like T-Mobile’s serious about getting you to come to their network with your unlocked iPhone 5, even if they still don’t have a deal in place to sell them directly. What you see here is that T-Mobile is already ordering nano-SIMs, and you’ll be able to slap them into an unlocked iPhone 5 starting in mid-October. You won’t get LTE, of course, but if that doesn’t matter to you, you might save a few bucks.
Source: TMO-News
Buying an unlocked iPhone and using a prepaid plan can save you a lot of money over two years. Over $1000 in savings actually. T-Mobile is the only major U.S. carrier that hasn’t landed a deal for the iPhone yet, but they’re not letting that stop them from getting new iPhone customers.
This week T-Mobile is pushing their new Unlimited & Unlocked campaign to get future iPhone 5 owners to buy an unlocked iPhone and bring it over to their network where they can save $1200 over two years versus AT&T.
At this point, we know that, yet again, T-Mobile hasn’t managed to work itself out a deal when it comes to the iPhone 5 when it launches later this month. That means yet again, T-Mobile will be the odd carrier out: the only one of the major four without an iPhone.
T-Mobile’s at a competitive disadvantage, and they are doing everything they can to address that They’ve started telling their sales staff to start selling against the iPhone. And now they’re going to start marketing to individuals with unlocked iPhones jumping carriers, even going so far as to set up “bring your own iPhone” demonstration stations in store.
For a company that’s wanting to “sell against the iPhone,” T-Mobile still wants whatever business it can get from unlocked iPhone owners. Earlier today we told you about T-Mobile’s new microSIM kits that will easily unlock an iPhone 4/4S to run on its GSM network.
It appears that T-Mobile is also readying flyers that say “Bring Your iPhone to T-Mobile for BIG SAVINGS!” But can T-Mobile’s network really support iPhone users on 3G and eventually 4G speeds?
If you’re a T-Mobile customer who was hoping that the iPhone 5 would be the first iPhone to gain official support for your carrier, then look away now. A leaked T-Mobile memo reveals the company is instructing its staff to sell “against the iPhone” from September 21, and it looks like they’ll be trained to help customers choose alternative smartphones instead.