Original iPhone Loses Its Last Cellular Network as T-Mobile Kills 2G

[MacRumors]

T-Mobile retired its 2G GSM network on Monday, August 3, which means all three major carriers in the United States have now ended 2G service.

T-Mobile kept its 2G network active because it still had some legacy customers who were using it. Some customers visiting the United States and using international roaming carrier agreements for connectivity also needed 2G for voice calling, but T-Mobile worked with carriers globally to prepare for the end of its 2G network.

Customers who were still on T-Mobile's 2G network were warned well ahead of time about the shutdown and given time to transition. Smartphones, alarm panels, payment terminals, and other IoT accessories that used 2G will no longer function.

AT&T ended support for 2G almost a decade ago in 2017, and Verizon stopped supporting 2G in 2020. Now that no carriers in the U.S. support 2G, legacy devices like the original iPhone will not be able to connect to any cellular network. The iPhone technically lost cellular support in 2017 when AT&T sunset its 2G network, and now the last workaround is gone.

All three carriers also ended support for 3G back in 2022, and have also abandoned early LTE iPhones without VoLTE support.

Article Link: Original iPhone Loses Its Last Cellular Network as T-Mobile Kills 2G

 

[Nermal]

Wasn't the original iPhone locked to AT&T? I thought unlocking didn't come along until later.

 

[Hajj.david]

Wasn't the original iPhone locked to AT&T? I thought unlocking didn't come along until later.

Jailbreaking was initially created specifically for this. Also it was cingular at the time. My cousin would always buy iphones then unlock them and sell them to other people for money in college.

 

[PerfectChaos]

Wasn't the original iPhone locked to AT&T? I thought unlocking didn't come along until later.

The first 4 were exclusive

 

[JamesMay82]

That’s a shame. I always keep all my old tech but beginning to wonder why as it just becomes bricked by software in time…

For example is have some old iMacs from 2008 that still work and run fine but won’t connect to iTunes and most websites don’t even work anymore.

I doubt these will ever be worth anything so might as well just sell before it gets to this point

 

[dannys1]

Typical Apple and their planned obsolescence.

 

[CEmajr]

Wasn't the original iPhone locked to AT&T? I thought unlocking didn't come along until later.

It was but the original iPhone can easily be unlocked these days.

 

[Justin Cymbal]

This affects literally no one but thanks for making me laugh 👏👌

 

[gmnygts]

Goddammit! Now I have to upgrade

 

[B4U]

This affects literally no one but thanks for making me laugh 👏👌

"T-Mobile kept its 2G network active because it still had some legacy customers who were using it."

This was literally in the article though?

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

Been struggling to get my Airpods Max to pair with it anyway

 

[goobot]

Wasn't the original iPhone locked to AT&T? I thought unlocking didn't come along until later.

You could unlock them via jailbreak and a few years later att was forced to allow people to unlock phones

 

[nostaws]

Count me as one of those who jailbroke my phone to use it on Tmobile. I even had a little interrupter chip that went between the SIM card and the phone at one point. glad I’m not dealing with that crap anymore.

Buy my phones unlocked now. 🫡

Jailbreaking was initially created specifically for this. Also it was cingular at the time. My cousin would always buy iphones then unlock them and sell them to other people for money in college.

 

[Xeem]

Wow, I assumed they’d shut that down years ago. I still do boot up my original iPhone once in a while because my son loves playing with “ancient” technology.

 

[benroberts3]

Good-night, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest

 

[JohnC1959]

oh great! Now I'm left with a useless phone.

 

[klm9210]

I will remember you
Will you remember me?

 

[Jets737]

Typical Apple and their planned obsolescence.

actually, I find that Apple products are in use far longer than other equipment manufacturers.

 

[Corefile]

Does this mean I can still use my iPhone 5 on a cell network?

 

[LegendaryTechnician]

This affects literally no one but thanks for making me laugh 👏👌

Did you not read the article?

 

[840quadra]

There were also instances where Sim cards in older cars or other connected devices provided service / connectivity using their network. It's sad to see going away, but the spectrum can likely be used for far more modern uses.

 

[davidg4781]

That’s a shame. I always keep all my old tech but beginning to wonder why as it just becomes bricked by software in time…

For example is have some old iMacs from 2008 that still work and run fine but won’t connect to iTunes and most websites don’t even work anymore.

I doubt these will ever be worth anything so might as well just sell before it gets to this point

There might be a market for those old Macs. There were some games that I was able to play on my 2006 MacBook but couldn't play on my 2010 MBP. Tropico 4 and some Lego games come to mind. I forget the specifics on why they weren't playable.

But yeah, after I realized older electronics break down, I get rid of them if I don't need them. Batteries start expanding, my iMac G4's screen started delaminating. Not worth it.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

The first 4 were exclusive

This isn’t true. I had an iPhone since the 3G, the second iPhone, and that was with Verizon.

 

[LegendaryTechnician]

This isn’t true. I had an iPhone since the 3G, the second iPhone, and that was with Verizon.

How could you have? The first iPhone Verizon got was a CDMA version of the iPhone 4.

 

[Siliconguy]

That’s a shame. I always keep all my old tech but beginning to wonder why as it just becomes bricked by software in time…

For example is have some old iMacs from 2008 that still work and run fine but won’t connect to iTunes and most websites don’t even work anymore.

I doubt these will ever be worth anything so might as well just sell before it gets to this point

If they are 64 bit they will still run [OK walk briskly with] Linux. But it's pretty much a novelty or hobby project.