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Switching over to T-Mobile

slipper

slipper

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Nov 19, 2003
1,563
44
I just wanted to share this with my fellow MacRumors brethren as a way to save a few bux. I'm gonna keep my existing iPhone 4S and switch to T-Mobiles pre-paid unlimited Talk, Text, and 4G for $49.99/mo. SIM will cost $6.99. T-Mobile seems to have great service here in Honolulu so it seemed like a no brainer for me. And the phone support dude assured me that T-Mobiles 4G is compatible with my iPhone. I just hope they don't increase the cost of their pre-paid unlimited 4G plan any time soon.
 
I'm pretty sure the 4G won't work on tmobile unless they've updated the spectrum here in hawaii.
 
slipper said:
I just wanted to share this with my fellow MacRumors brethren as a way to save a few bux. I'm gonna keep my existing iPhone 4S and switch to T-Mobiles pre-paid unlimited Talk, Text, and 4G for $49.99/mo. SIM will cost $6.99. T-Mobile seems to have great service here in Honolulu so it seemed like a no brainer for me. And the phone support dude assured me that T-Mobiles 4G is compatible with my iPhone. I just hope they don't increase the cost of their pre-paid unlimited 4G plan any time soon.
Click to expand...

I got bad news for you.
You wont get 3G or 4G on your 4S with Tmobile in Hawai.
Just 2G slow Edge data and no talk and use of data either.
 
Applejuiced said:
I got bad news for you.
You wont get 3G or 4G on your 4S with Tmobile in Hawai.
Just 2G slow Edge data and no talk and use of data either.
Click to expand...

You will get slow Edge data, but

no talk and use of data either

What's that even mean...

I have an unlock iPhone and everything works great, even facetime and imessages. Only problem is slow data speeds, but it's doable.
 
kvizzel said:
You will get slow Edge data, but

no talk and use of data either

What's that even mean...

I have an unlock iPhone and everything works great, even facetime and imessages. Only problem is slow data speeds, but it's doable.
Click to expand...

What it means is if you're using carrier data on your iphone on 2G then you cannot be on the phone talking to someone on a call.
Try using safari or pandora while you're on a call with tmobile on an iphone and not connected to wifi.
 
According to the phone support guy, T-Mobile has 4G support for iPhones in Hawaii. I'll call a local T-Mobile store to confirm.
 
I'm getting different answers from the local T-Mobile stores and the phone support. The two local guys at the T-Mobile stores said only 2G with working here in Hawaii but 3G will be available at the end of this year. The two phone support guys say 4G is currently working for the iPhone. Phone support guys said to try it out without porting over the existing phone number and if it doesn't work i'll get a refund. So i guess i'll keep you folks posted.
 
Looks like the new phone will work on the frequencies (from TMO rep), but the problem is you can't get a SIM card.
 
I read in an article somewhere that tmobile is already offering sim converter/adapter for 4s microsim and that they will be doing the same for nano-sim for iphone 5. I cant recall which article it was...

Wiggum said:
Looks like the new phone will work on the frequencies (from TMO rep), but the problem is you can't get a SIM card.
Click to expand...
 
Wiggum said:
Looks like the new phone will work on the frequencies (from TMO rep), but the problem is you can't get a SIM card.
Click to expand...

This was what I was curious about, but there are mentions of T-Mobile distributing nano-sim cards to retailers. Pretty sure other carriers will follow suit.
 
Applejuiced said:
What it means is if you're using carrier data on your iphone on 2G then you cannot be on the phone talking to someone on a call.
Try using safari or pandora while you're on a call with tmobile on an iphone and not connected to wifi.
Click to expand...

I'm using an unlock iPhone 4 and using Safari/Data while on call works fine.
 
If I lived in Honolulu I would not care how fast or slow my data was, I would enjoy the outside world every day.
 
brendu said:
If I lived in Honolulu I would not care how fast or slow my data was, I would enjoy the outside world every day.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately i work and i'm stuck in the office all day. Fortunately i have a decent view from my desk. :D
 

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slipper said:
I'm getting different answers from the local T-Mobile stores and the phone support. The two local guys at the T-Mobile stores said only 2G with working here in Hawaii but 3G will be available at the end of this year. The two phone support guys say 4G is currently working for the iPhone. Phone support guys said to try it out without porting over the existing phone number and if it doesn't work i'll get a refund. So i guess i'll keep you folks posted.
Click to expand...

They are both right. HSPA+ (T-mobile's 4G) isn't turned on in Hawaii yet but T-mobile doesn't support 4G on the iPhone 4S. T-mobile plans on finishing the conversion for the US by the end of the year. So you might get edge now on a a 4S or 5 but you should get 3G/4G by the end of year.
 
kvizzel said:
I'm using an unlock iPhone 4 and using Safari/Data while on call works fine.
Click to expand...

It doesnt work if you're on 2G edge data period. On wifi or 3G yes.
That is a 2G limitation. Are you claiming somehow that you're the only one that the 2G technology works differently somehow?

slipper said:
I'm getting different answers from the local T-Mobile stores and the phone support. The two local guys at the T-Mobile stores said only 2G with working here in Hawaii but 3G will be available at the end of this year. The two phone support guys say 4G is currently working for the iPhone. Phone support guys said to try it out without porting over the existing phone number and if it doesn't work i'll get a refund. So i guess i'll keep you folks posted.
Click to expand...

Rule number one.
You never trust what salespeople tell you in order to make a sale;)
 
Simple Mobile or Straight Talk.

Don't do Tmobile. They suck. Also, they're just not ready yet with their spectrum in most areas. EDGE is a seriously miserable Fail.
 
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