iPhone 6s Supports T-Mobile Extended Range LTE on 700MHz Spectrum
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spinedoc77
macrumors G4
Anyone know if this improves indoor reception? I've resisted T-Mobile because in my hospital it has 5 bars outside, but by the time I get to my office I have zero reception.
Also any idea if this will also be on the AT&T models? This way if I get an unlocked AT&T model I have the option to switch to T-Mobile in the future.
Also any idea if this will also be on the AT&T models? This way if I get an unlocked AT&T model I have the option to switch to T-Mobile in the future.
spinedoc77
macrumors G4
T-Mobile customers should notice an improved LTE experience in the United States with the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, as Apple has included support for LTE band 12 on the new smartphones. Both GSM and CDMA models of the new iPhones support the 700MHz spectrum.T-Mobile uses the 700MHz spectrum to offer what it calls T-Mobile Extended Range LTE across the U.S., which it says extends the network's LTE signal twice as far from its cellular towers and works four times better in buildings. T-Mobile Extended Range LTE is live in 170 markets and covers more than half of the American population.
T-Mobile plans to cover another 600,000 square miles with Extended Range LTE over the next three months, expanding coverage to over 260,000 homes each week to reach over 350 markets across the U.S. T-Mobile shared a map of its projected cellular coverage in the U.S. through the end of the year to highlight its progress.
T-Mobile's projected LTE coverage in the U.S. by the end of 2015
T-Mobile is confident enough that customers will be satisfied with their network coverage that it has announced a Lifetime Coverage Guarantee for the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus purchased through JUMP! On Demand. The carrier will unlock your iPhone and offer partial refunds to customers that are unhappy with their coverage.T-Mobile has also announced that it will be offering the iPhone 6s through JUMP! On Demand for $0 down with equal monthly payments of $20 for 18 months. At the end of the 18 months, you can return your iPhone to T-Mobile and pay nothing more or pay an additional $164 more to keep the iPhone 6s -- a total cost of $524, which is $125 cheaper than Apple's $649 price.
T-Mobile CEO John Legere also announced on Twitter that the carrier will begin selling the Apple Watch, although he stopped short of providing a specific release date. Since launching in April, the Apple Watch has slowly been expanding to resellers such as Best Buy in the U.S. and other countries following a period where sales were limited to Apple Stores and select fashion boutiques.
Article Link: iPhone 6s Supports T-Mobile Extended Range LTE on 700MHz Spectrum
Sigh, nothing near me. Heck I'm in Northern NJ and quite surprised an area as dense as this doesn't even have proposed towers.
doctor-don
macrumors 68000
In cities I have excellent / full capability with my Android phone on T-Mobile.
In the past I had been a customer of both BellSouth (AT&T) and MCI (now Verizon) - nevermore.
Full 4G LTE reception in cities, inside buildings and outside. At one point several years ago, no reception was possible inside some larger stores with all their metal shelving. Today that's not a problem. Part of the answer is the improvements in the carrier, but another part is the improvements in the phone, currently an HTC One M8.
JeffyTheQuik
macrumors 68020
Does it transfer from cell to wireless without dropping the call? Thank you for the info, and the WiFi calling sounds a lot like a Vonage/FaceTime thing, so that sounds like it would be great!We actually just recently switched. Same issue as you but wifi calling works flawlessly. I've never noticed an issue and I speak to my wife every night in her drive home from work. I'll be honest, I'll be happy when I don't HAVE to rely on wifi though
BornAgainMac
macrumors 604
I was considering switching. But I like that they are trying so I'll probably keep them around.
So, with T-Mobile it's $35/month and upgradable after 18 months; with Apple's new program it's $33/month and upgradable after one year.
Am I missing something or does Apple's upgrade program not sound better?
Up to 3x per year and if you decided to keep the phone after 18 payments, you just pay $164 for it to be yours for a total of $524 which is still cheaper compared to Apple or anywhere else.
Right. If you want to hold on to the phone for longer than a year, like most sane people do, then the T-Mobile total cost will be less. If you want to upgrade each year, then the Apple program is more attractive.
iOSFangirl6001
macrumors 6502
Although I agree with ssl and Shan your research needs an update T-Mobile jumped to 2nd
( via all their slandering/libelous comments , advertising, luring people in with pricing and all these "Uncarrier" gimmicks and moves whilst hoping people still don't research or read the fine print as is common with many consumers at all carriers)
AT&T however STILL Holds the number 1 slot for many reasons. Die hard loyal or legacy customers, their charity work, bigger better network with vastly more coverage overall in terms of sheer network size and number of towers,
Slightly faster data in some markets ( via several research and analytical firms )
Better Customer service
( although CS always varied by customer and from company to company AT&T has won awards for and generally has done pretty well for me to the point if/when I've left AT&T I always come back )
And despite the endless back and forth that we could ( and I have engaged in )
AT&T STILL Has some good value
Highest cost carrier? Yes
But in many cases worth the cost for better network, better promos and customer incentives, typically you at least get what you're actually paying for granted some grandfathered plans may have their share of issues ( data speeds on old unlimited plans, compatibility issues etc )
Most of those can reasonably be explained.
At the end of the day ALL Carriers are businesses and in business to profit
T-Mobile can claim to be Uncarrier all they want but as long as they always provide a service they will be a carrier
ALL Carriers have their issues rather it be TMO, AT&T , Verizon, Sprint whoever I guarantee at some or another every single user or customer has been or will be peeved off with their carriers be it stupid and petty issues or fully legitimately justified rage
In the end it comes down to this
1: Your experiences past present and future
2: what you want out of your carriers
3- ALWAYS DO RESEARCH
4: person preference of whoever the account holder is
5: what you're willing to pay for X services and devices you want
6- EVERYTHING Has a price both seen and unseen both $$$ wise and future headache/problem wise. What seems or sounds like a good deal today may not be a good deal tomorrow.
I'm all for competition and improvement in ANY Business sector but still you always gotta weigh all the pros and cons and anything that matters to you the consumer not just buy into gimmicks , over the top or misleading ads and the like
iOSFangirl6001
macrumors 6502
You essentially called everyone on AT&T stupid without knowing every customers reasons for being on AT&T
I for 1 am with AT&T for several reasons:
The value I get ( yes I get decent pricing)
Loyalty
High customer satisfaction ( in my own , family and friends experiences )
Great coverage
Pretty good customer service
Flexibility
AT&T has supported some charities and good causes I support
did you leave out Verizon?
#1 Verizon
#2 ATT
#3 t-mobile
#4 sprint.
in terms of coverage and number of subscribers on their network. unless it based on quality or customer service or something else ...
iOSFangirl6001
macrumors 6502
It's an on again off again promo
( gimmick )
And as with many industries availability can/does vary by market
iOSFangirl6001
macrumors 6502
Maybe we are using different metrics/basis because in no way could I ever see, view or accept Verizon as number 1
I've had bad experiences with them, they retired too many old plans/features too soon and I've had friends and family have bad experiences with Verizon
I stopped calling my Aunt 2 of my cousins and Uncle on their phones cause I got sick of their end dropping calls like crazy
iOSFangirl6001
macrumors 6502
I laugh every time @ friends and co-workers using it
And 1 of my cousins piggybacking on their network by being with MetroPCS lol
Does anyone know what is the payoff amount, residual, at the end of the 18 month term? Is it the same for all the different models?
How To Calculate Payoff Amount After 18 Months
(Full Retail Price - $ Down) - (Regular JOD Monthly Price x 18)
Therefore:
6s 16GB: ($649.99 - $0) - ($27 x 18) = $163.99
6s 64GB: ($749.99 - $99.99) - ($26 x 18) = $182
6s 128GB: ($849.99 - $199.99) - ($25 x 18) = $200
6s+ 16GB: ($749.99 - $0) - ($31 x 18) = $191.99
6s+ 64GB: ($849.99 - $99.99) - ($30 x 18) = $210
6s+ 128GB: ($949.99 - $199.99) - ($29 x 18) = $228
No, because the introductory price actually works like a $7 monthly discount on your bill for as long as you keep with the program. That's why after 18 months, (if you choose to pay off and own the device) you end up getting it for $126 ($7 x 18) cheaper than retail. Hence their wording: After your 18 monthly payments, you can hand back your phone and pay nothing more. Or you can pay just $164 more if you want to keep your iPhone 6s. That means your total cost to own your phone is just $524 – that’s a screaming deal. They're referring to the base model 6s with a retail price of $649.99. Getting it for $524 would be a discount of $126 (125.99, actually) but the math ($7 x # of months) applies to any model.
It's unclear to me whether they allow early pay-offs on this program, but if they do, you could potentially pay off the device after 12 months and you would have gotten it for $84 ($7 x 12) cheaper than retail. Then you could turn around and sell it on Craigslist to further bring your cost down and start a new 12 month lease/buyout program.
In Chicago T-Mobile actually has an even bigger problem than the TV station... Band 12 there is owned by AT&T, which they got by virtue of the Cricket acquisition. No way will the Deathstar sell that license to T-Mobile (unless maybe if it was part of a bigger spectrum swap deal).
As for Phoenix, see below:
Band 12 in Hampton Roads (and Phoenix, Vegas, San Diego, New Orleans, etc.) is being held by a spectrum speculator that wants too much $$ than T-Mobile is willing to pay for. It was originally owned by Cox which planned to build its own wireless network but eventually gave up on that idea. When they decided not to build the network they sold the spectrum to Columbia Capital (aka "AB License").
As for the TV stations, pretty much everywhere where T-Mobile owned a band 12 license which was encumbered by a TV station (not all areas had TV stations parked on that band) they were able to reach an agreement with that station to move them to a different TV channel. In areas where they didn't own licenses (Phoenix, Chicago, etc.) they obviously didn't try to do that since they didn't own the band 12 license for that area.
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Staindsoul
macrumors 6502
How so? T-Mobile seems like the better deal. Let's say you get the 64GB iPhone 6S and update at 12 months when the hypothetical iPhone 7 comes outs:
Apple: $36.58 x 12 mo = $438.96
T-Mobile: $99 + ($19 x 12 mo) = $327
I don't care about Apple Care so that is a non-value to me.
LSUstang05
macrumors member
You're forgetting the $15/mo charge for Jump On Demand.
TMO cost would be $507 after 12 months ($34 x 12 mo + $99 down).
LSUstang05
macrumors member
JoD doesn't have a monthly fee.
Huh. Learn something new everyday. I was almost certain there was a charge for it. Thanks for the clarification!