Comments on: iPhone will appear in T-Mobile stores — but it’s not for sale

By: Omar

Omar — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 23:46:34 +0000

I’ve switched my iPhone 4 to T-Mobile in SF and been impressed with the networks’ responsiveness even at 2G speeds. I’ve seen 3G coverage in some neighborhoods; at one tower I clocked the speed at 3.5M down 1.5 up before throttling kicked in when I reached my prepaid plan’s cap, which is 1.5 and .5 more than I got with AT&T. I imagine it’s even faster on a 4S.

One thing to keep in mind about AT&T’s coverage vs. T-Mo’s: they deployed cellular on a lower-frequency band (850 MHz) that penetrates buildings better, even underground subway stations. But that’s assuming you get reliable service when you have signal! I didn’t.

I’m frustrated that T-Mo imposes data limits on plans that include mobile hotspot. As I understand it, Sprint’s plan is unlimited on your phone and only limits the data used while tethered.

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 18:48:53 +0000

t-mobile currently offers both standard size SIMs and micro SIMs. So you can already use t-mobile with iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4 and 4S. However your data speed is likely to be slow unless/until they refarm the spectrum in your area.

They will also start offering the nano SIM required by the iPhone 5. Rumors claim this begins mid-October. But it’s unclear when you’ll get more than 2G data speeds. Again it depends upon when t-mobile upgrades their equipment in your location.

By: Guest

Guest — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 04:52:03 +0000

That makes no sense: the monthly rate itself is SUBSIDIZED? it’s the same amount every month. how can it subsidize itself? That means 2gb of data costs more the first months than it costs the last month? Are you trying to say that they need you to stay 2 years or pay them 200 per line for just entering a line into a database with your account number? That’s absurd. Make it a year, or make it prorated, or something, but paying 200/line for BYOD seems ridiculous.

By: Ed

Ed — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 15:57:05 +0000

Where do you live? How is your speed. I have a 4s and I’m thinking in switching to Tmobile.

By: saykredcow

saykredcow — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 20:52:18 +0000

No.

The Value Plans on an individual basis are the same rates for the same tiers as the prepaid plans. You also get the advantage of a data plan which is truly unlimited and doesn’t throttle you which isn’t possible on prepaid.

You SAVE more money than prepaid by going with a Value Family Plan. Check out the rates for a family of five on value with unlimited talk, text, and web. Then divide by five for the amount of users on that plan. It’s unbeatable. The reason for the contract is that the monthly rate itself is subsidized instead of your equipment. Anyone who has completed 6th grade math will tell you it is cheaper to go that route instead of a more expensive plan and subsidized equipment. Also T-Mobile allows you to finance the full retail price of your phone completely interest free across 20 months if you want to.

By: Tima

Tima — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 01:05:11 +0000

I’ve been a T-Mobile customer for more than 4 years and now I have the iPhone 4S on their network. Today I noticed I was getting 3G signal on my phone and I was excited. Why you ask? Because before I got my phone I was debating whether or not I should switch to Sprint or AT&T but then I thought to myself, “why are you switching because of a phone?” I knew eventually T-Mobile would fully support the iPhone 4S regardless of what everyone was telling me. Being loyal is a good thing. Have a little faith and you’ll see. ;)

By: Orcas Island TV

Orcas Island TV — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 22:52:46 +0000

I have a lot of faith that the feisty innovator that t-mobile and sprint are internally will start showing externally more and more.

If t-mobile can harness the power of groups like WISPA to bring 100s of independents in smaller towns to bear on the problem, the word that t-moble is interested in America winning, not just making megabucks, will propel t-mobile to stardom here.

perhaps eventually, they’ll join the ranks of Apple and Amazon, in their quest to do the right thing for their customers. In the carrier’s case: fight to bring the prices of LTE deployment hardward way down, and find innovative ways to build out their networks co-operatively.

New thinking can make it happen.

By: tim

tim — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 16:46:54 +0000

ahh thanks for the clarification. Derp.

By: Nick N

Nick N — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 03:09:49 +0000

I really hope they extensively advertise this. Considering how little AT&T gives their customers, I would guess many people would go over to T at any network speeds. I told many iPhone users about how they can get cheap prepaid service for their phone on T, and even knowing they would be relegated to EDGE didn’t stop several from making the switch. One person I know is currently paying around $60 a month for 450 minutes, no texts, and 250?Mb of data. Over at T-Mobile prepaid, you can get unlimited everything for $50 a month – $10 cheaper! If they would advertise examples like that, they could make a fortune!!!!

By: EB

EB — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 00:52:17 +0000

As indicated, they have not historically supported the 1900 MHz spectrum. Until such a time, it made no sense for them to carry those SIMs. The Galaxy Nexus supported the 1700 MHz spectrum that T-Mobile had its 3/4g service on.