Cricket and C Spire to Offer iPhone 5 Beginning September 28 [Updated]

[MacRumors]

While the three major U.S. iPhone carriers AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint will be launching the iPhone 5 on Friday, September 21, it will not take long for availability to extend to other carriers. Cricket Communications and C Spire Wireless have both announced that they will begin offering the iPhone 5 one week later on Friday, September 28.

Both of the carriers were pioneers in the U.S. iPhone market, with C Spire being the first regional carrier to begin offering the iPhone last November while Cricket was the first U.S. prepaid carrier to launch the iPhone this past June. The iPhone is now available on 16 different U.S. carriers, but it is unclear when the iPhone 5 will come to the remaining carriers.

Neither Cricket nor C Spire has offered any launch details beyond the September 28 availability date.

Update 8:06 AM: Several of the other regional carriers have also confirmed that they will launch the iPhone 5 on September 28:

- Appalachian Wireless
- Bluegrass Cellular
- Cellcom
- GCI
- Golden State Cellular
- Nex-Tech Wireless
- nTelos
- Pioneer Wireless

Article Link: Cricket and C Spire to Offer iPhone 5 Beginning September 28 [Updated]

 

[toshmac]

didn't expect this

 

[DrJohnnyN]

What region uses these carriers?

 

[Agent OrangeZ]

Using an iPhone 5 on Cricket would be like driving a Lamborghini on a bumpy dirt road.

 

[kiljoy616]

Using an iPhone 5 on Cricket would be like driving a Lamborghini on a bumpy dirt road.

Sound like fun, who does not want to run thru dirt road in a 200 k plus car.

 

[tinkafoo]

It's all but confirmed: Apple utterly hates T-Mobile for some reason.

 

[fusconed]

So is GCI in Alaska

http://www.gci.com/offer/iphone-5

And probably all of the other regional carriers that have the 4S.

-Jason

 

[class77]

What region uses these carriers?

C Spire covers MS, Memphis TN, Alabama and the panhandle of FL. Elsewhere, they partner with Verizon. They are scheduled to launch their own LTE network starting in Sept.

 

[Lordskelic]

I can't remember...did these carriers have the iPhone 4/4S?

 

[Spock]

It's all but confirmed: Apple utterly hates T-Mobile for some reason.

It's T-Mobiles 1700mhz 3G band that I'm sure has stopped a T-Mobile iPhone, with the switch T-Mobile is making to 1900mhz and iPhone 5 compatilble LTE next year, we might see a T-Mobile iPhone 5S.

 

[sessamoid]

Using an iPhone 5 on Cricket would be like driving a Lamborghini on a bumpy dirt road.

Unless you live in Tuscon, AZ, which is apparently their only LTE rollout thus far.

 

[class77]

I can't remember...did these carriers have the iPhone 4/4S?

C Spire does currently carry the iPhone 4 and 4S

 

[usarioclave]

Unlocked GSM?

Does anyone know if Cricket will have their GSM side unlocked?

 

[jimbo999]

C Spire covers MS, Memphis TN, Alabama and the panhandle of FL. Elsewhere, they partner with Verizon. They are scheduled to launch their own LTE network starting in Sept.

Just to add to this...C Spire has launched LTE in McComb, Greenville, Brookhaven, and Meridian, MS.

 

[kwfl]

I will be in Houston Sep End. Will I be able to buy an officially unlocked iPhone 5? No contracts as I won't be using it in the us.

 

[Vol7ron]

We know for sure who wont be getting it....T-Mobile....

 

[Tiger8]

It's all but confirmed: Apple utterly hates T-Mobile for some reason.

No! you see Cricket, C-Spire, Virgin, even BoostMobile all lease bandwidth from Verizon and Sprint, so really with both big carriers on board, small carriers are bonuses, and ensure that Apple extends its reach.

T-Mobile has its own technology for 3G, and will require engineer from Apple's side. But that said, they are moving their HSPA+ to the same frequencies as AT&T so you can get your own unlocked one and save a load using their 'bring your phone' plans or better yet prepaid.

T-Mobile is getting a nano-SIM mid October.

----------

I will be in Houston Sep End. Will I be able to buy an officially unlocked iPhone 5? No contracts as I won't be using it in the us.

Check with Apple store, but if they don't have factory unlocked one, buy an AT&T, pay full price, and they can unlock the phone in the store for you.

Careful though, it requires a nano, not micro, sim. This will delay those who want to go their own way.

 

[partyBoy]

i wish MetroPCS (my carrier) would carry it...that would be awesome

 

[M-O]

Does anyone know if Cricket will have their GSM side unlocked?

the 4s is currently SIM unlocked for international roaming. i would imagine the 5 will be also.

 

[mrholder]

Awesome! I will be getting my first iPhone through C Spire. Hopefully I won't have to change to a capped plan. I've had an unlimited plan with them for a few years, but now they're rolling out LTE in the major cities around here. Heard a rumor that any upgraders will have to choose a new plan.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Using an iPhone 5 on Cricket would be like driving a Lamborghini on a bumpy dirt road.

Yes, but even a cheap brand of car would still get a driver to the exact same destinations... and probably leave some extra money in their pockets to spend on fun when they arrive.

 

[partyBoy]

Using an iPhone 5 on Cricket would be like driving a Lamborghini on a bumpy dirt road.

Nope, thats a myth, alot of people think that but its NOT true, have you ever had a "pay by the month" phone service?

 

[stukick]

Cool, so all my friends on well fare and food stamps can get in on the iPhone craze.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

It's all but confirmed: Apple utterly hates T-Mobile for some reason.

Probably because T-mobile won't bet their whole company on the iPhone by doing what Sprint did (commit to a huge volume of iPhone unit purchases whether Sprint can actually sell them or not). FYI: Sprint is feeling the pain of that bet (already).

T-mobile wants to sell the iPhone. Apple just doesn't want to sell the iPhone through T-mobile without a Sprint-like commitment by T-mobile. And I'm sure the trio with pretty much uniform pricing for contract service doesn't want T-mobile to join the little party. After all, a nationwide carrier who could offer the contract-side of the purchase at a lot less than the trio could really cut into the trio's profits on iPhone... maybe even drive service cost averages down for us consumers.

 

[Agent OrangeZ]

Nope, thats a myth, alot of people think that but its NOT true, have you ever had a "pay by the month" phone service?

Really... because I could have sworn that Cricket only has LTE in 1 or 2 markets. I think only in Tucson... I heard. Either way... it is NOT as much as AT&T or Verizon. LTE is the new standard for speed. EV-DO is very much "a dirt road now."