Apple Testing iPhone for T-Mobile USA

[MacRumors]

BGR provides photos of an iPhone prototype that supports T-Mobile USA's 3G service.

That’s right, you’re looking at photos of an iPhone prototype with T-Mobile USA 3G bands. The actual internal model is N94, and if you remember, the Verizon model is N92 while the standard GSM variant is N90. We have verified that the phone itself is running a test version of Apple’s iOS, much like the one we saw in those videos from Vietnam, and it includes internal Apple test apps like Radar and Apple’s employee directory app.

The T-Mobile US network uses different frequencies than AT&T's, requiring different hardware to support. It's not clear what this will mean given that AT&T is planning to acquire T-Mobile USA, though that transaction will take some time before it goes into effect. In the meanwhile, T-Mobile continues to operate as an independent carrier in the U.S.

Article Link: Apple Testing iPhone for T-Mobile USA

 

[thadoggfather]

Why?

I thought AT&T's buyout means T-Mobile is going bye-bye?

408 area code, that means cali. is that steve jobs' personal number?

 

[boodyup]

I think AT&T is getting tired of dropped calls on it's frequency band...it wants to start dropping them on T-Mobile's as well.

 

[KnightWRX]

This would make a possible model for Videotron and Wind Mobile in Canada and probably give Apple more carrier options in other countries also. It makes sense in a non-US Centric view.

And looking at "carrier acquisitions" here, Rogers acquired Fido ages ago, yet even though the networks worked on the same GSM bands, they still haven't merged. An AT&T purchase of T-mobile would probably take years for a merge to even occur, and a few technology changes. AT&T isn't going to retrofit T-mobile's network and change their frequencies, requiring all the existing customer base to change phones.

So even in a US Centric view, it makes a lot of sense. Basically, don't let an AT&T acquisition of T-mobile trick you into thinking this is a false rumor.

 

[dashiel]

Why?

I thought AT&T's buyout means T-Mobile is going bye-bye?

408 area code, that means cali. is that steve jobs' personal number?

The T-Mobile deal isn't a for sure thing. Likely, but the FTC could block it. Also, as the article states T-Mobile's towers use a different frequencies.

 

[Mactagonist]

Why?

I thought AT&T's buyout means T-Mobile is going bye-bye?

408 area code, that means cali. is that steve jobs' personal number?

I am sure any plans to launch it have been scrapped and this is just a left over prototype. You know Apple has a history of planning for every contingency, I am sure there are Sprint iPhones ready to go also. If Apple decides to release them they would be ready to go.

 

[snebes]

The T-Mobile deal isn't a for sure thing. Likely, but the FTC could block it. Also, as the article states T-Mobile's towers use a different frequencies.

That doesn't mean that Apple wouldn't be testing handset for them now. Just being an optimist. If AT&T/T-Mobile purchase does go through, it doesn't mean that T-Mobiles 2G/3G network goes away. It will be around for many more years. AT&T may require their handsets to support the T-Mobile 3G bands as well as their own.

 

[Eriamjh1138@DAN]

Testing doesn't mean it is definitely coming. Apple is going to weigh all it as a business opportunity or not.

T-Mobile could mean another 3-6 million phones in a year. If it is a simple hack of an AT&T phone and easy to implement, it might be worth Apple's effort.

Besides, what WILL happen to T-mobile's frequencies? The HW would have to be modified/upgraded/changed to support AT&T, right? Those cell towers won't switch overnight to AT&T freqs for no cost.

What really would make sense would be an AT&T/Verizon/T-Mobile WORLD phone. That would make the most sense to me.

 

[Buschmaster]

Is it possible that they would make a phone that would cover both AT&T's and T-Mobile's bands? AT&T could really combat the coverage problems they've had on the west coast with that, correct?

 

[cleric]

Good news finally a carrier in the US with lower prices.

 

[chrmjenkins]

The Verizon iPhone's radio actually supports the AWS 3G bands. This phone could be as simple as a Verizon iPhone with SIM and custom firmware. It's also possible the antenna bands are different too. Still, the radio wouldn't have to be something not in a shipping apple iPhone.

 

[DeathChill]

Wouldn't it be nice for you guys if iPhone 5 came out on every carrier?

 

[wordoflife]

Cool. They'll need to make an iPhone that supports the T-mobile's bands if the merger goes through anyways. (right?)

 

[Starbuckfsd]

Good news finally a carrier in the US with lower prices.

Don't bet on it. IF AT&T gets them...trust me...the rates will go up.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

Money talks.

 

[destroyboredom]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7E18 Safari/528.16)

Hmmm...September launch of the iPhone on T-mobile?

 

[Gregintosh]

I would buy this immediately. No more crappy Edge service on my iPhone. It's a chore to load anything on it, even google maps and simple web pages.

 

[kwikdeth]

now we know what the iPhone3,3 model was that kept popping up in iOS references.

i came over to AT&T with my iphone 4 from tmobile i bought off contract because i was tired of jailbreaking all the time with every update and having everything break like MMS and internet. the quality of service on ATT is awful, both in phone and with MMS/Text. I love it how on the ATT network it breaks up every text into pieces, and delivers the second half before the first.

if tmobile got an iphone, i would go back in a heartbeat. screw att, even with the merger.

 

[emwgradstudent]

Wouldn't it be nice for you guys if iPhone 5 came out on every carrier?

YES! I would love a iPhone on Sprint's everything plan. I know several people with Sprint smart phones and the service they provide is great for only $70! Choice is a good thing for the customer and if the iPhone 5 does have a global chipset, then wider availability would be the best way to go.

 

[ratzzo]

The more carriers with iPhone reach, the better. Competition only benefits us, the customers.

 

[na1577]

The AT&T iPhone 4 is 3,1 and the Verizon iPhone is 3,3. That leaves one unreleased phone in the middle.

 

[0038396]

does anyone know if the dual GSM/CDMA chip supports T-MO 3G?
if so, yee boiii

 

[deannnnn]

Maybe they're testing this so that when AT&T and T-Mo combine, future iPhones will be able to use the T-Mobile 3G bands, even though the phone would still be exclusive to AT&T (and of course, Verizon).

 

[DeathChill]

Maybe they're testing this so that when AT&T and T-Mo combine, future iPhones will be able to use the T-Mobile 3G bands, even though the phone would still be exclusive to AT&T (and of course, Verizon).

Or maybe the delay for the iPhone 5 is support for all major US carriers? That would be nice for you Americans!

 

[ITGuy]

I can see the iPhone 4 coming out on T-Mobile in short order, probably once the white iPhone 4 is available. This way Verizon and T-Mobile will eventually be able to offer it as the lower cost iPhone in conjunction with iPhone 5. Right now only AT&T can exclusively offer the $49 iPhone 3GS alongside the iPhone 4. No carrier will have that exclusive low cost advantage with iPhone 5.

I think Apple launched iPhone 4 on Verizon while in the final phase of bringing it to T-Mobile.