T-Mobile Talks Up Apple

[dscottbuch]

I can't believe 3G is new for the Americans.

Land of the free indeed....

Yep, free to use a phone as a phone. I travel a lot to Europe and therefore do have T-mobile for GSM compatibility but overall the main difference I find is cultural - in the US many many more people use the phone as a phone only, which is my preference as well. I want a very small phone and therefore there is no way I would use the screen and/or keypad for anything but a phone. 3G has no real appeal for me and the cost of phone service in Europe I now find attrociously expensive, even if I get local sims. It is so expensive to call between countries. I assume this is to support 3G/WAP/etc. for which I have no use.

 

[ThunderLounge]

"Who's your carrier"?


http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/cellphone-complaints-705/index.htm


Mirrors my experience.

Nice link. Thanks.

At my last job, we had a contract with Cingular. After seeing how they treated a client that spent almost $200k a year with them, I'd never use them. It was horrid. I can't imagine how they would treat someone who spent $1200 or less.

I've had Nextel since 2000, and I loved it. Note the keyword there? Loved.

I had Sprint before that, and finally got so fed up with not only their service, but their customer service as well. Made the switch, and was very pleased until a year ago. When they announced the merger, I almost threw up. Since they actually merged, it's been the same crap that I dealt with when I had Sprint. Screwed up billing, ungodly terrible support and customer service, you name it.

It's sad, but when I call them I can tell right off the bat if the person I'm speaking with was a Nextel employee or an original sprint employee. Yeah, it's that bad.

Prior to the merge, 495 of the Fortune 500 companies had Nextel. I wonder how many of them still do?


The only thing keeping me on it right now is free incoming calls. Since U.S Cellular has recently added this feature, I'm very tempted to switch. The only thing stopping me so far is I'm waiting to average up my mobile to mobile minutes. If they are doable without doubling my current bill, I'm all over it.

What does really interest me is if Apple would indeed end up providing access to mobile broadband in their line-up. That would be very, very nice to have since all the cards out there are for PC's with some flavor windows.

As for the whole iTunes integration, I'm with you on this. Carrier first, then the goodies.

 

[bousozoku]

Keep in mind that T-Mobile also operates Wi-Fi hotspots and probably will get into get into the wireless internet biz soon. Talking with Apple doesn't necessarily mean they are talking phones. It could be some other marketing or technical arrangement about some other product or Leopard feature.
...

Considering my experience with T-Mobile hotspots, they should leave the business as quickly as possible.

 

[ct-scan]

TMobile has awful coverage in the US. This is def bad news.

I've had TMobile for 3 years now, and I find their coverage much better than Cingular (my previous provider)!

Either way, I hope they have some sort of multi-provider approach for release, with their own private service for content. I want Apple to have 100% control over the phone, and not provider xyz.

Also, don't expect to see/hear about the iPhone from Apple until at least MWSF. And it will NOT be a silent release, so any "store down" means nothing for this product. Apple is going to flood the market with advertisements for the iPhone...they'll have to. I really think they're going to treat it much like they do iPods.

 

[narco]

Awesome, I just switched from Sprint to T-Mobile. Granted, i had to pay $200 for the Blackberry Pearl, but mid-2007 is still quite a ways away. I guess it all depends on how cool this "iPhone" really is.

Fishes,
narco.

 

[lmalave]

I'm a new T-Mobile customer - over from Nextel/Sprint. I find the coverage is very good. I'm not waiting for an iPhone though. Loving my new Blackberry Pearl You know how with Apple products you marvel at the thought that went into every little detail? That's how it is with this device.

What is so great about the Pearl? I seriously considered getting one when I first heard about it, but then the reviews said that the media player software sucks. Has this been your experience? I have a Sony Ericsson phone which is great except for the exact same problem: the media player software sucks. But the Pearl software sounds even worse. Is it true that there are *no* shortcut keys for the media player? That the volume keys won't even work with the media player? I mean, I don't ask for much: volume up/down, prev/next track, play/pause. Is there any 3rd party media player software that can provide these features, at least? I dunno, from what I hear it seems the Pearl is basically an even smaller BlackBerry 7100 with expectedly great communication features, but with unexpectedly poor multimedia features. What's your take?

 

[alexpros]

Wireless Spectrum

Heres the thing the new wireless spectrum actually is WiMax, to those who don't know what WiMax is, pretty much some people say its WIFI on steroids. Also the fact that if Tmobile is talking to apple it may have to do not only with Iphones but laptops. Wimax works in a way that you can have broadband connections up to 75mbps. So if Tmobile is talking to Apple they are probably going to design a chip or something so that people who buy apple then sign on to Tmobile and will have access to the internet with extremely high speeds anywhere in the US. What Tmobile is doing has more to do with Laptops than it would with Phones. Think of it on WiMax you can have IPTV and VOIP running and still surf the net. Not only that Intel and Motorola invested over 1 billion into Clearwire, INTEL IS designing new chips for WIMAX. I dont think this has to do with the Iphones.

 

[Cooknn]

Is it true that there are *no* shortcut keys for the media player? That the volume keys won't even work with the media player? I mean, I don't ask for much: volume up/down, prev/next track, play/pause.

I haven't even used the media player on my new Pearl except to watch the demo. The volume keys on the side of the phone do indeed control the volume in that application, but as far as shortcut keys, etc. I'm not sure. I just love the fact that it does e-mail and internet so well. The interface is very easy to move around in with center scroll button and predictive text is amazing. I can pop out full length e-mails in no time. It's also got a nice 1.3Mpx camera with flash...

 

[ThunderLounge]

Heres the thing the new wireless spectrum actually is WiMax, to those who don't know what WiMax is, pretty much some people say its WIFI on steroids. Also the fact that if Tmobile is talking to apple it may have to do not only with Iphones but laptops. Wimax works in a way that you can have broadband connections up to 75mbps. So if Tmobile is talking to Apple they are probably going to design a chip or something so that people who buy apple then sign on to Tmobile and will have access to the internet with extremely high speeds anywhere in the US. What Tmobile is doing has more to do with Laptops than it would with Phones. Think of it on WiMax you can have IPTV and VOIP running and still surf the net. Not only that Intel and Motorola invested over 1 billion into Clearwire, INTEL IS designing new chips for WIMAX. I dont think this has to do with the Iphones.

If this is the direction T-Mobile is heading in... I'm there. Although I doubt it would be something seen anytime soon. Not that I would buy a T-Mobile phone, but I'd get their net access if it was Mac compatible. Heck, if any cell provider offered Mac compatible broadband, I'd be on it. Even if that menat having to buy a new machine, just for the compatibility. What better excuse for a new Mac?

 

[Chundles]

Heres the thing the new wireless spectrum actually is WiMax, to those who don't know what WiMax is, pretty much some people say its WIFI on steroids. Also the fact that if Tmobile is talking to apple it may have to do not only with Iphones but laptops. Wimax works in a way that you can have broadband connections up to 75mbps. So if Tmobile is talking to Apple they are probably going to design a chip or something so that people who buy apple then sign on to Tmobile and will have access to the internet with extremely high speeds anywhere in the US. What Tmobile is doing has more to do with Laptops than it would with Phones. Think of it on WiMax you can have IPTV and VOIP running and still surf the net. Not only that Intel and Motorola invested over 1 billion into Clearwire, INTEL IS designing new chips for WIMAX. I dont think this has to do with the Iphones.

Yep, years ago when our 3G network was going in down here they had a big "firesale" on the remaining skerricks of bandwidth. Some upstart internet companies bought it and are making a killing in wireless broadband internet access. It's easier to set up and you can access it all over the city and it's pretty quick too. The companies have limited the download speeds to around 1.5mbps so they can get more people on but that's not too bad when you consider you can be anywhere in the city and have internet access.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

T-Mobile doesn't even have OS X in-house, let alone have the personnel to manage it.

Their servers are a mix of Red Hat and Solaris.

Their clients are Windows only.

They run Peoplesoft and vendor shrinkwrap for all business processes.

They've never built an enterprise team to develop solutions.

They don't know a damn thing about Cocoa Programming.

I'll stop here.

Either they plan to pay Apple to build their call center suite like McCaw Systems--later ATT Wireless asked NeXT, Omnigroup and various other consulting teams to write it or they are blowing smoke about OS X Leopard.

The talented system engineers who know Linux have all but moved on from T-Mobile to greener pastures like Intel.

Perhaps if T-Mobile knew a damn thing about the Enterprise I'd take some of this serious.

I'd be happy if Apple came in and did it all. At least we know it wouldn't be such a cluster-f***.

 

[ct-scan]

T-Mobile doesn't even have OS X in-house, let alone have the personnel to manage it.

Their servers are a mix of Red Hat and Solaris.

Their clients are Windows only.

They run Peoplesoft and vendor shrinkwrap for all business processes.

They've never built an enterprise team to develop solutions.

They don't know a damn thing about Cocoa Programming.

I'll stop here.

Either they plan to pay Apple to build their call center suite like McCaw Systems--later ATT Wireless asked NeXT, Omnigroup and various other consulting teams to write it or they are blowing smoke about OS X Leopard.

The talented system engineers who know Linux have all but moved on from T-Mobile to greener pastures like Intel.

Perhaps if T-Mobile knew a damn thing about the Enterprise I'd take some of this serious.

I'd be happy if Apple came in and did it all. At least we know it wouldn't be such a cluster-f***.

It really doesn't matter...TMobile would be providing a service. A service based on standard protocols, it doesn't matter what OS is running on the device, they're not going to support the devices; that's the job of the manufacturer.

And most companies don't run OS X, it's sad I know , but it's true.

 

[nick.hill]

please apple produce the iphone

I'll be honest in saying if apple brought out a PDA/Phone/Camera thing out I'd walk over glass to get it.

If they do it right they will sell millions, Nokia especially have kind of lost their way with the new N series phones, very buggy

With microsoft already having a phone available and the Zune, which may have phone functionality its a must.

At least in Europe most of my friends carry an iPod and phone around with them at all times. The new Sony Eric phone I have now is actually good as a walkman and I;ve thought about stopping carrying the iPod.

So Mr Jobs if u ever read this, pull your finger out and make one! preferably GSM/UMTS

 

[Telekom]

I still can't believe you lot in the USA have gone for yet another incompatible-with-the-rest-of-the-world frequency for your 3G network meaning that anyone coming to the USA won't be able to use your 3G network and your 3G iPhones will be about as useful as a one legged dog outside the USA.

It's interesting that the T-Mobile guy thinks that the prime use for 3G in the USA will be email and other user generated content and not music though. Personally the last thing I want is content rich email on my mobile phone.

Well, our "lot" didn't have much choice in the matter. North Americans didn't choose a different frequency spectrum for their mobile communications out of "spite" or just to be different. We couldn't use 900 or 1800 Mhz because it was already in use by services that could not be moved. Likewise for the frequencies used for 3G there was no choice there either. Why it is that people automatically assume that people in North American do things just for spite is beyond me.

 

[MacCoaster]

I've got T-Mobile, have had them since I got my old Sidekick II. I now have the Sidekick 3. I love the Sidekick but I was disappointed with the Bluetooth support in Sidekick 3. Doesn't let you sync with Address Book. Nor do they allow you to "hop on" to the EDGE network via Bluetooth to your BT-enabled Mac.

I'm hoping they do a firmware update to change this along with iSync support for Sidekick and PPP over BT. That'd be awesome.

T-Mobile is the only real provider that makes sense for deaf people, since they have plans that do unlimited text and data for only $30 a month, without voice plan.

 

[Telekom]

T-Mobile is the low-end carrier. Who on this green Earth uses them? They serve no purpose.

Cingular if you want GSM/SIM cards
Verizon if you want the widest American network
Sprint if you want cheapest/fastest unlimited data

T-Mobile if you.. um.. if you're 11 years old and think Sidekicks are cool?

The only way this will go well is if Apple does an MVNO. They need control of "the whole widget."

Why can't people get the concept of "get what works for you" and just ignore people posturing that this or that is better for them when nobody is in the same exact place as everybody else.

Your last comment however, is spot on. A matter of fact from what I've read Apple wants to hold a certain amount of control over the whole matter of providing the service.

 

[50548]

I can't believe 3G is new for the Americans.

Land of the free indeed....

Indeed...the US mobile industry is probably the crappiest in the whole world...but this is no surprise...they also assert the following:

- "american football" is the real football;

- America means one country;

- "U.S. champion" means "World champion".

So no surprises here...move along, citizens...

 

[GoCubsGo]

hmm interesting. seems a bit funny how he speaks highly of Apple, compares both their visions, yet declines anything going on. Although, I guess its a way to win people over. Complement someone else in the hope they like you for it.

Or get the attention of one Mr. Steve Jobs and hope someone calls them and starts the relationship that T-Mobile seems to want.
Good for T-Mobile, that is a great idea on their part.

 

[mavrick422]

iphone.org

i just checked, and it looks like if you go to iphone.org, the url no longer is redirected to "apple.com", but the url stays as "iphone.org" and loads apple's homepage. the hyperlinks throughout the page are also "iphone.org/ipodnano",etc. does this mean apple's moving to make iphone.org a real website?????

 

[Westside guy]

Man I love watching phone nerds have pissing contests. Do you guys really think all the posturing actually matters to anyone? Are you wearing them on your belt loop or something?

In our area we have a choice of four carriers - Verizon, Cingular, Sprint, and T-Mobile. When it was time to switch, it was because of dissatisfaction with Verizon so that dropped them out of consideration. We use a family plan, and when I discovered Cingular's advertised base rate includes only one phone (how can that be considered a "family plan"?) unlike every other carrier, that eliminated them. Sprint doesn't seem to do the lower-end plans, and we just don't talk on our phones that much. So, that left T-Mobile.

I've got to say that, at least in my area, calls from a T-Mobile phone seem significantly clearer than they did on Verizon. The coverage area is sub-optimal, though, if you need phone coverage in less populated areas (like where my in-laws live) - but I've had absolutely no issues in the normal day to day routine.

 

[pink-pony115]

The CEO of TMobile is a big suck up.

Well....Lets see how this little meeting goes.

 

[ddrueckhammer]

I worked for a couple of years in the cell phone industry for a company that acts as an intermediary between cell phone companies for various products. As part of my job, I had to deal with various escalations departments for all of the carriers and found that T-mobile actually had pretty good customer service. Maybe not the best but certainly not the worst.

Personally, I use T-mobile now and get a few more dropped calls than if I were using Verizon but they are also cheaper and have much nicer phones because they support GSM. I think that they are a solid choice if you live in top 100 markets but if not they just don't have the coverage. I really hope that they can expand their market to become competitive with Cingular and Verizon. Competition is always a good thing and I think that they would probably make a good partner for Apple.

 

[dizastor]

"american football" is the real football;

The follow-up to that statement is usually "soccer is for wimps"

 

[mkrishnan]

Personally, I use T-mobile now and get a few more dropped calls than if I were using Verizon but they are also cheaper and have much nicer phones because they support GSM.

Similar for me... I spent about four years with Sprint and now about three with T-Mo. I've been happier with the latter, although I was close to switching to Verizon or Cingular. And we've done that thread a thousand times...

But, so this business of using a new frequency is interesting. It seems quite a gamble, especially since it's just T-Mobile and apparently even just T-Mo North America. One replier above stated that these new phones will be based on WiMax. This seems suspect, because WiMax, as far as I know, only goes down to 2 GHz, and one of the frequencies T-Mo is spending so much money on is 1.7.... I wonder what the deep meaning of leaving the GSM frequency is going to be.....

 

[AvSRoCkCO1067]

i just checked, and it looks like if you go to iphone.org, the url no longer is redirected to "apple.com", but the url stays as "iphone.org" and loads apple's homepage. the hyperlinks throughout the page are also "iphone.org/ipodnano",etc. does this mean apple's moving to make iphone.org a real website?????

This is interesting - can anyone confirm that the website didn't do this before?