T-Mobile USA Launches Effort to Attract 'Bring Your Own iPhone' Customers

[macUser2007]

T-Mobile is so much better than AT&T and Verizon, one has to be an idiot to go with the two majors.

I switched about a year and a half ago and my monthly bills for two phones (Nexus S and a Galaxy Nexus) are half of what I used to pay to AT&T, for better service and faster speeds.

Yes, you have to buy the phones outright, but the monthly savings will pay for it in five months or so and by the end you'd be way ahead. Plus, the phones are unlocked, which means you can use local SIMs when you travel abroad, as well as have a better resale value when you upgrade.

[Cingular]

Originally Posted by TechNutt

$50 unlimited everything when I checked in the Tmo store a few weeks back. My concerns are slow data speeds (don't want 2g, whatsoever) and then possible throttling.

They throttle you after 5gb. If you don't use alot of mins they also have a 100 mins, unlimited text and data for $30

[PracticalMac]

Originally Posted by MacRumors

the carrier is also seeking to embrace those who already own an unlocked iPhone.

So T-Mo will not unlock the phones for you???
(Let alone for free)

Glad I got away from T-Mo!

[KPOM]

Originally Posted by HobeSoundDarryl

It's not a matter of Tmobile or others just deciding to carry the iPhone. Apple really flexes their muscles. There's nothing particularly wrong with the latter but we shouldn't imagine that it's just an easy choice to decide "Yes, we'll carry the iPhone now." If it was that easy, Tmobile would have had it years ago (along with just about everyone else too).

If C-Spire and a bunch of smaller carriers can strike a deal, T-Mobile can, too. Sprint was desperate, since it was losing customers and had an inferior network. The settlement with AT&T left T-Mobile in a little bit stronger position, even though they are smaller than Sprint.

[TOYSTER17]

Originally Posted by jrswizzle

So will Sprint, AT&T and Verizon.

EDIT: Not trying to argue or anything. Just wanted to throw that out there. LTE-A will be the norm next year (as far as deployment goes). LTE is, I would say, more a transition from 3G to true 4G.

My point was that T-Mobile's network will be compatible with the iPhone, as the article states, and incorrectly stated by i-john (or whatever), and my LTE comment was towards the comment he/she made that T-Mobile will not be be investing in infrastructure.

[memo90061]

I have T-Mobile prepaid now with a Samsung Galaxy S3 on the 30 dollars a month plan with 100 minutes/unlimited text/5gb web. I only get edge in my house in LA, and get 4g in many places. I'm waiting for them to expand coverage, so I can use the iPhone.

[kvizzel]

Originally Posted by PracticalMac

So T-Mo will not unlock the phones for you???
(Let alone for free)

Glad I got away from T-Mo!

How would T-Mobile unlock your phones for you? That makes no sense...

Good thing you are staying away from T-Mo.

[TallManNY]

Originally Posted by KPOM

Why not take the release of the iPhone as an opportunity to announce that you'll be carrying the iPhone instead? It will be a hard sell to convince people to purchase an unlocked iPhone for $649 upfront, and there aren't many iPhone 4S models that are out of contract.

But there are a lot of 4's out there that are about to become available. I'm upgrading to 5 when it comes out and I will have an AT&T 4 that is in perfectly good shape. I'm well past my two year contract and I can go off contract. I will actually stay with AT&T with the 5, so my 4 should be unlocked, right? Is there a way I can unlock it without having bought the phone for $600 in the first place?

[gaby4ever25]

Can't beat $69.99 for unlimited everything with no data caps, throttling, or overages. $64.99 for me since I only need 500 minutes.

If I were to switch to T-mobile I would switch to their pre-paid plan instead of locking myself to a 2-year plan. I currently have Verizon and pay $65 monthly for 450 minutes, 250 texts and unlimited data. Although the $30 plan on T-mobile sounds intriguing, I wouldn't want to deal with the slower speeds and dropped calls. My brother had Verizon, switched to T-mobile last year and can't wait to switch back. He says he would rather pay higher fees but have more reliable service.

I would rather stay with Verizon for their better service and buy the phone outright to keep my plan.

[Bwinski]

Let's make sure folks are FULLY up to speed with what T-Mumble is trying to package as the bean in this game of three-bean shuffle...

If you read their offers carefully, you'll notice in the fine print that the 'Value plan' unlimited for folks that come in ready to swap their SIM cards and go merrily on their way, that transaction REQUIRES YOU TO AGREE TO A NEW TWO-YEAR CONTRACT COMMITMENT !!!!!!! And if you manage to dodge that hidden barrel of snakes, then the Pre-paid plan is MORE EXPENSIVE AND IS CAPPED !!!!

NOTHING TO SEE HERE. it's all a lie.

[TechNutt]

Originally Posted by Cingular

They throttle you after 5gb. If you don't use alot of mins they also have a 100 mins, unlimited text and data for $30

That's what I thought. Someone posted Tmo doesn't do that, but I believed they do. As far as I know, Sprint is the only network that doesn't throttle at all. The problem for me is 3g in my area is horrendous. I thought it was an iphone compatibility issue, but my friend's Samsung phone is piss poor slow, too, when using the 3G network. So back to Tmo I went and now looking to jump for the new iphone.

Personally, I'd rather use the iPh5 on Tmo's prepaid plans, if possible, rather than AT$T or VZW.

[KPOM]

Originally Posted by TallManNY

But there are a lot of 4's out there that are about to become available. I'm upgrading to 5 when it comes out and I will have an AT&T 4 that is in perfectly good shape. I'm well past my two year contract and I can go off contract. I will actually stay with AT&T with the 5, so my 4 should be unlocked, right? Is there a way I can unlock it without having bought the phone for $600 in the first place?

Now that your 4 is off contract, you should be able to have it unlocked by AT&T.

[TechNutt]

Originally Posted by PracticalMac

So T-Mo will not unlock the phones for you???
(Let alone for free)

Glad I got away from T-Mo!

I don't think Tmo has that ability to unlock. It's really easy to unlock iphones ( (most phones, for that matter) and use them on compatible networks.

Tmo has good customer service ... has for years. Sprint is better, but ATT is still bad, imo.

[macUser2007]

Originally Posted by PracticalMac

So T-Mo will not unlock the phones for you???
(Let alone for free)

Glad I got away from T-Mo!

LOL! This is a good example of who stays with AT&T and Verizon....

(Hint: Why/how would they be unlocking other carriers' phones for you?)

[MaxPower49]

So, in theory... if you buy an unlocked iPhone 5 from Apple... you could use it with one of the T Mobile prepaid plans? Or Straight Talk? You would just need to trim the sim down from micro to nano size?

It looks like companies are starting to make nano sim cutters for the new iPhone.

http://www.noosyapple.com/cp/html/?80.html

[jrswizzle]

Originally Posted by TOYSTER17

My point was that T-Mobile's network will be compatible with the iPhone, as the article states, and incorrectly stated by i-john (or whatever), and my LTE comment was towards the comment he/she made that T-Mobile will not be be investing in infrastructure.

Ya I realize that. No harm no foul

[TechNutt]

Originally Posted by memo90061

I have T-Mobile prepaid now with a Samsung Galaxy S3 on the 30 dollars a month plan with 100 minutes/unlimited text/5gb web. I only get edge in my house in LA, and get 4g in many places. I'm waiting for them to expand coverage, so I can use the iPhone.

Superb!

I'm curious to know if you get visual vm and the like with your phones on those plans?

Also, does that 100 min calling plan have n/w included? Starting at 7p?

[mytakeontech]

Promise all customers who buy unlocked iPhones from ATT/Apple that TMo will subsidize the iPhone if the customer comes to T-mo and signs the two year contract with them (or at least give billing credit).

[Cingular]

Originally Posted by Bwinski

Let's make sure folks are FULLY up to speed with what T-Mumble is trying to package as the bean in this game of three-bean shuffle...

If you read their offers carefully, you'll notice in the fine print that the 'Value plan' unlimited for folks that come in ready to swap their SIM cards and go merrily on their way, that transaction REQUIRES YOU TO AGREE TO A NEW TWO-YEAR CONTRACT COMMITMENT !!!!!!! And if you manage to dodge that hidden barrel of snakes, then the Pre-paid plan is MORE EXPENSIVE AND IS CAPPED !!!!

NOTHING TO SEE HERE. it's all a lie.

How is prepaid more expensive? Like I said, if you sign up for postpaid then your doing it wrong.

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Originally Posted by TechNutt

Superb!

I'm curious to know if you get visual vm and the like with your phones on those plans?

Also, does that 100 min calling plan have n/w included? Starting at 7p?

No, and no. We don't get none of that fancy stuff

[Tiger8]

Originally Posted by GoreVidal

Just got off the phone with T-Mobile. They offered me 500 minutes+UNLIMITED TEXT+UNLIMITED DATA...NO THROTTLING for $64.99/mo+tax, etc!!! Now that's if you bring your own phone.

If you buy a Galaxy SIII or something with a plan, it is $90/mo+tax etc which is what I'm paying on AT&T anyway. Coverage is awesome in all the areas I'm usually in and given that I use MAYBE 150 minutes/month on AT&T, I think I'm jumping ship

That's the thing, regardless of your carrier you are paying $25 or so to subsidize for your phone. In my opinion the FCC needs to request that phone subsidy be billed separately than the rest of your plan, this means also that once you finish your two year contract, your plan should drop by $25, but of course this won't happen.

[TechNutt]

Originally Posted by Cingular

How is prepaid more expensive? Like I said, if you sign up for postpaid then your doing it wrong.

That confused me, too. It baffles my mind why more people don't do prepaid vs postpaid, even though I'm an offender, myself. It's probably the subsidizing of phones, particularly smartphones.

This thread is DEFINITELY making me think harder about getting different plans because with all the throttling and continuous price increases, it just isn't worth it, anymore. PLUS, compare our high prices with Euro/Asia costs, and we are blown out the water. Overseas folks save a ton more.

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Originally Posted by Cingular

No, and no. We don't get none of that fancy stuff

Thx. I figured that would be the case.

[Tiger8]

Originally Posted by Bwinski

Let's make sure folks are FULLY up to speed with what T-Mumble is trying to package as the bean in this game of three-bean shuffle...

If you read their offers carefully, you'll notice in the fine print that the 'Value plan' unlimited for folks that come in ready to swap their SIM cards and go merrily on their way, that transaction REQUIRES YOU TO AGREE TO A NEW TWO-YEAR CONTRACT COMMITMENT !!!!!!! And if you manage to dodge that hidden barrel of snakes, then the Pre-paid plan is MORE EXPENSIVE AND IS CAPPED !!!!

NOTHING TO SEE HERE. it's all a lie.

AT&T, what are you doing on the boad?

Quite the contrary, I think the 2 year contracts are just awful, they sell you all you can eat buffet of things you don't need (minutes!) and cap you on the things that you actually need (data). And oh yea, AT&T screw their customers who leave them by basically never prorating their last month.

I'd rather switch back to landlines than ever going to this evil company again, I hop they go bankrupt.

[milan03]

Originally Posted by Diode

And I believe T-Mobile's LTE network being launched in 2013 will be LTE-A.

T-Mobile's LTE network in 2013 is not gonna be LTE-Advanced. However the hardware they're deploying to their cell sites is gonna be release 10 and compatible/easily upgradable to LTE-A.

Verizon and AT&T will have the replace their existing setups in order to upgrade to LTE-A.
That's the benefit of being late to the LTE game

[ryanasimov]

What about visual voicemail? Does that work with T-Mobile?

[bearda]

I'm really considering switching from Straight Talk to the T-mobile prepaid $30 deal, but two things are stopping me:

1) No 1900Mhz service map. Right now I have no clue what areas are 3G and which are EDGE, and it seems like nobody else does either. If my office was covered by 3G here in Bethesda it would probably be enough for me to switch since wifi and EDGE would work fine near home. Nobody can tell me what the local coverage is like on the 1900 Mhz band, though.
2) No micro SIM cards for prepaid. Yes, I know you can trim the normal cards (and I have a cutter somewhere). It just strikes me that they aren't really serious about BYOD if they can't get this detail right. I may stop in at one of their retail stores next time I see one and ask if they can sell one, but they don't offer them online.

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Originally Posted by ryanasimov

What about visual voicemail? Does that work with T-Mobile?

No.