Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
The idea of the iPhone going to other carriers such as T-Mobile or Verizon is very possible and logical. Creating multiple versions of the same phone for different carriers isn't something new; such as the Google Nexus One. Nor is having multiple carriers something new either; look at the iPhone sales in other countries that have multiple carriers. I don't understand why people are complaining. Competition is always a good thing because it drives prices lower. Also, multiple carriers allows the consumer to have a choice.
 
Good catch

GSM != UMTS, they are separate radios. The iphone4 does have a pentaband chip but the extra band supported (but not listed on Apple's website) is for a frequency only in Japan and not t-mobile.

Agreed the Skyworks chip is GSM but of course the pentaband 3G chip is what's interesting in the T-Mobile discussion. What I've also read is those 3G frequencies can be changed in software and the antennae can be tuned to different frequencies at the factory.

So it's technically possible that the extra band is set to 800 Mhz (band 6) for the Japanese version of the iPhone4 but in NA it's set to 1700 Mhz (band 4). There's really no way to know for sure until Apple actually does it.

If the iPhone4 coming to T-Mobile rumor is true then the scenario above is more likely than different 3G chips being used. Having a Japan-specific iPhone isn't much different than the Chinese-specific version that's been done.
 
I'm on T-mobile already with my Iphone

I jail broke my phone then unlocked it to T-mobile, it works fine. This must mean the hardware supports the T-Mobile network right?
 
T-mobile's coverage and 3G speeds are definitely great in SF and NYC. Coverage means nothing if reception and speeds are slow.
 
You’ll be able to confirm for sure whether iPhone 4 will work on T-Mobile’s 3G next Friday, when it launches in Canada. An up-and-coming new carrier, Wind Mobile, decided to go with T-Mobile’s proprietary frequencies (which was, admittedly, rather stupid of them, making them only compatible with every other carrier in the country when on EDGE). Undoubtably there will be some Wind customers who will buy an unlocked iPhone 4 directly from Apple. If 3G works on Wind for iPhone 4, then it’ll work on T-Mobile.
 
Well they aren't... T-Mobile is the worst carrier in America
I've been "lucky" enough to experience Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T at home and through work. In my experience, Sprint and T-Mobile are best-- best customer service, lowest cost, reasonable coverage. Verizon has the best voice coverage, but, customer service not as good. AT&T is the worst -- voice coverage somewhat limited, plus you get the AT&T attitude. However, as much as everyone hates AT&T, I think any carrier would have trouble coping with the surging data demand from the iPhone. And, in any urban area, you always have coverage gaps from every carrier, even Verizon. I really don't see the particular attraction of Verizon-- I had a much better experience with Sprint. I am hoping that Apple will start supporting T-Mobile, as the rumors say.
 
I've been "lucky" enough to experience Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T at home and through work. In my experience, Sprint and T-Mobile are best-- best customer service, lowest cost, reasonable coverage.

Sprint was low cost? From looking at the website a couple weeks ago, they'd be the most expensive for my 4-basic-phone family plan, and if I started adding smartphones. Am I missing something?
 
Sprint was low cost? From looking at the website a couple weeks ago, they'd be the most expensive for my 4-basic-phone family plan, and if I started adding smartphones. Am I missing something?

lol yes. I dont see how u can figure the simply everything plan isnt the least expensive. its free mobile to mobile starting at 79.99
 
Sprint was low cost? From looking at the website a couple weeks ago, they'd be the most expensive for my 4-basic-phone family plan, and if I started adding smartphones. Am I missing something?

sprint is cheap for single people on a 1 line plan if you text. i played with the numbers for family plans on all carriers for a 4 line family plan with smartphones and they are all about the same so it comes down to which phone you want
 
sprint is cheap for single people on a 1 line plan if you text. i played with the numbers for family plans on all carriers for a 4 line family plan with smartphones and they are all about the same so it comes down to which phone you want

Just seems ridiculous that their Everything plan is $70 for one line, $190 for 2.
 
T-Mobile sucks

sorry... I have it. Going to verizon soon. Bad reception outside the city.
 
That's the worst analogy and take on this I've seen. Why would Apple start rumors about beginning to include one company just to influence another? Esp when business deals with VZW are no longer the issue, it's the exclusivity contract with AT&T that is an issue.

You need to follow what the real goals are and not what some hack with a journalism and flawed social ideal has. Then you will be worth something and not another sheep!
 
sprint is cheap for single people on a 1 line plan if you text. i played with the numbers for family plans on all carriers for a 4 line family plan with smartphones and they are all about the same so it comes down to which phone you want
This is starting over 12 years ago that I have been on all the carriers-- starting with Sprint. At the time, Sprint was the only carrier to have nationwide digital coverage without roaming, and reasonable roaming fees if you did analog roam, and no extra for long distance. AT&T home long distance still cost a lot. etc. Overall, Sprint saved a significant amount of money, given our profile of use. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then ;-) By my calculations, for my profile, T-Mobile is the cheapest, followed by Sprint, then Verizon, then AT&T. In my area, I would put voice coverage by Verizon first, followed by T-Mobile, then Sprint, then AT&T. YMMV. Messaging and data are another story. There are lots of complaints about AT&T data, but, who else would have done better with the volume of iPhone data at the time?

In any case, T-Mobile is cheapest for me, and they have good coverage in my area, so, I would like to see the iPhone on T-Mobile. I suspect that the iPhone can handle T-Mobile's slightly different frequency allocation, but, we won't know for sure unless Apple/T-Mobile decide to go ahead, will we? (rumors, rumors)

I had Verizon through work-- no big deal as far as I am concerned. I don't know why all the love for Verizon relative to AT&T. AT&T had Ed Whitacre, Verizon has its famous customer service ...
 
If Tmobile UK is getting the iphone 4.

http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/coming-soon/

What is the hassle to get it over on TMO in the US. Ive been on the fence of switching to ATT just for the iphone but all these damn rumors dont let me. ATT plans are outta control expensive also. I have unlimited talk text and web with TMO and pay around 70 bucks. what to do, what to do
 
If Tmobile UK is getting the iphone 4.

http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/coming-soon/

What is the hassle to get it over on TMO in the US. Ive been on the fence of switching to ATT just for the iphone but all these damn rumors dont let me. ATT plans are outta control expensive also. I have unlimited talk text and web with TMO and pay around 70 bucks. what to do, what to do

Apple signed a 5 year exclusive contract with AT&T in 2007, that's the hold up. Unless Apple finds an out clause, or straight up breaks the contract, no other U.S. cell carrier will have the iPhone on their network for sale.

Considering all the hype and hoopla that went into the first iPhone's launch (you know, the 6 months everyone spent dissecting every morsel of news they could get on the iPhone), I'm still surprised that an article that was printed in a national newspaper in 2007 isn't more widely known about.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/2007-05-21-at&t-iphone_N.htm

Choice quote from that article: "AT&T has exclusive U.S. distribution rights for five years — an eternity in the go-go cellphone world. And Apple is barred for that time from developing a version of the iPhone for CDMA wireless networks."
 
I would be the first in line for a Tmobile iPhone 4, I will be getting one regardless come january. I dont believe Apple signed a solid 5 year agreement, Maybe 3 year exclusive with a 2 year extension? I just find it hard to believe that a company so far ahead of everything else out there would limit themselves like that. iPhone 4 for tmobile is a total game changer and id be willing to bet that if there is a 5 year contract tmobile would help front that bill to get out of it.
 
I think this has all been one huge misunderstanding...

Whoever the original source was probably meant that the iPhone 4 was coming to T-Mobile UK in quarter 3... not T-Mobile USA.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.