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More Analyst Speculation on T-Mobile as Next U.S. iPhone Carrier

Just buy T-Mobile. Its cheap and compatible with the current iphone hardware. Looks like its worth around 10 billion. They could just write a check. Its actually right up apple's alley given their hostorical desire to control everything under the umbrella. They would obviously have to make significant investments to to get the network up to par with ATT and Verizon, but the returns are there. The iphone would be untouchable if Apple controlled the networks. They would change the whole industry. Better yet, Deutch Telekom wants to sell.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6141ZD20100205
 
sand0s said:
it is strange that they added a fourth band (VIII - 900 frequency) which is for more of europe, asia and also vodaNZ but doesn't open up anything in the US... even stranger is that i was just in NZ and my 3G (which doesn't support VIII / 900 apparently) was on the vodaNZ 3G network the whole time. anyone with knowledge of this whole UMTS / HSDPA band and frequency thing, please tell me how this worked then?
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I guess Apple added the 3G in 900Mhz to support the 3G networks in Europe. 3G in Europe has been historically in the 2100Mhz band, but that band has poor propagation (poor in building reception) so since a few years there has been some refarming going on of regular GSM bands at 900Mhz to 3G in euroland. Most 3G phones these days in Europe are 900/2100 3G so I'm assuming Apple just wanted to be competitive in Europe in terms of reception.
 
i dont get service with t-mobile around my house so i switched to att when the first iphone came out and never went back but this might just do it
 
Friscohoya said:
Just buy T-Mobile. Its cheap and compatible with the current iphone hardware.
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Apple would have to add AWS (1700 MHz) frequency support to the iPhone and iPad, but as mentioned upthread that should be less work than adding CDMA.

Apple wouldn't necessarily have to buy T-Mobile outright. They could strike a MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) deal as part of an equity stake, for example. An MVNO arrangement would give Apple some flexibility, with preference to T-Mobile but the option to fill in gaps through wholesale arrangements with other carriers.
 
Bleh... The only provider that has a chance at delivering worse service for the iPhone than AT&T....
 
Enigma55 said:
Bleh... The only provider that has a chance at delivering worse service for the iPhone than AT&T....
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Perhaps, but T-Mobile's major problem is coverage rather than saturation. (Although T-Mobile has filled in its gaps primarily with AT&T coverage agreements.) There aren't all that many people competing for AWS 3G service right now, even in places like New York and San Francisco, and that's precisely where the AT&T-only iPhone needs help.

That's why I tend to think an Apple MVNO approach would make a lot of sense, to stitch together T-Mobile, AT&T, and perhaps some smaller regional carriers into a single "best service available" iPhone/iPad network. An MVNO could better manage coverage gaps and high demand areas across carriers.
 
Apple already sells the iPhone on T-Mobile; at least in Germany. If you really want to, just unlock one and pop in a TM sim card (try doing that on Verizon). Sure you won't get to play scrabble at 3G speeds on TM, but it's not like you'd be able to on AT&T. ;)
 
It probably won't happen, but T-mobile is, at least, a better candidate for having the iPhone that Verizon. T-mobile is GSM, they've never turned Apple down and they don't release advertisements mocking the iPhone.
 
Next U.S iPhone Carrier BoostMobile, iPhone 5 to have WalkieTalkie feature also!
 
sand0s said:
answer this myself... apparently they use I / 2100 as well.
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Yeah, Voda has 2100 in the main cities and 900 elsewhere. Telecom has 850 nationwide, which is more suitable for a 3G(S) if you need to use it outside the main cities.
 
Nooooooooooo.
Just when I decided to finally get my first iPhone from at&t. What's the expiration date on this rumour?
 
BBCWatcher said:
Perhaps, but T-Mobile's major problem is coverage rather than saturation. (Although T-Mobile has filled in its gaps primarily with AT&T coverage agreements.) There aren't all that many people competing for AWS 3G service right now, even in places like New York and San Francisco, and that's precisely where the AT&T-only iPhone needs help.
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Precisely. Tmo owns about 33% of the wireless spectrum in New York 45% of the wireless spectrum in San Fran according to this.

Repo said:
Apple already sells the iPhone on T-Mobile; at least in Germany. If you really want to, just unlock one and pop in a TM sim card (try doing that on Verizon). Sure you won't get to play scrabble at 3G speeds on TM, but it's not like you'd be able to on AT&T. ;)
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And in many other countries as well. I counted nine here plus I believe Tmo is carrying it in the UK as well.


@ SAD*FACED*CLOWN IIRC they did not have the kind of deal where they allowed anyone with expiring contracts at anytime for the rest of 2008 or 2009 to upgrade at the full upgrade price. Also I think what I do partially because of the publicity around this deal.
 
Oh wonderful ... how many of these brilliant analysis's have we had?? They are gonna go for T-Mobile cus they the GSM ... they are gonna go to verizon because they have an awesome network!

Everyone seems to forget that of the big 4, all of the carriers told apple to take a hike (except atnt) because of their the demands of total control of the app store, and the demand of a cut of the general revenue from the phone. atnt pays apple more for the devices than competing products.

atnt now has a data hog of a phone, and because they don't receive revenue from app store sales (even when its being downloaded over the network and not wifi or on a computer) and have to pay and arm and a leg to apple, thus they can't affording to upgrade their network. Mark my words, they will be the last to 4G and they will have the worst 4G network too.

All 3 of the carriers not with the iPhone have gotten behind Android. They have more control over the product, pay less for it, and receive revenue from the android market. Their flagship phones, are all android devices, the Incredible, the Evo and the Nexus One.

A manager has to say ... what exactly does apple have to offer us exactly? except a headache ..
 
Drat

I really hope T-Mobile isn't chosen...I had them for a year and a half and what horrible customer service. Not to mention that their coverage in Palm Springs, CA is horrible. Apple should go with Verizon, I did go with AT&T myself, but Verizon is rated highest of all the carriers for customer satisfaction and coverage.
 
If Verizon was not CDMA I think we would of seen a Verizon iPhone. I just don't think Apple really wants to mess with two different models of the phone.
 
Yelmurc said:
If Verizon was not CDMA I think we would of seen a Verizon iPhone. I just don't think Apple really wants to mess with two different models of the phone.
Click to expand...

disagree with you in England iphone is sell by 5 companies

robertcoogan said:
I really hope T-Mobile isn't chosen...I had them for a year and a half and what horrible customer service. Not to mention that their coverage in Palm Springs, CA is horrible. Apple should go with Verizon, I did go with AT&T myself, but Verizon is rated highest of all the carriers for customer satisfaction and coverage.
Click to expand...

I wish that more companies will sell the iphone in the US so at&t will not act as a monopoly DO YOU RIMMBER some 20 years ago at&t was broken out by the goverment because of monopoly lows? I thing its time to do it again
 
Here we go again.

Now for the past month these same analysts were predicting that Verizon was the next carrier.

I guess now everyone will be getting on the T-Mobile band wagon, until the rumor fades away, just like the Verizon rumor.
 
Why on earth did T-Mobile decide to build out a network that was so strange that no one else isues it and basically phones are going to have custom radios in them to work.

If T-Moblie used more of a stardard frequency, they would be running MILLIONS of iPhones right now even though you can't buy one from T-Mobile.
 
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