are you sure about that? unless t-mobile refarmed their network in LA, you would not get HSPA+ on iPhone 4S.
I thought only newer iPhone 5 with patched base band that capability? (For AWS spectrum)
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
T-Mobile USA Begins Taking Pre-Orders for iPhone 5 Ahead of April 12 Launch
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
are you sure about that? unless t-mobile refarmed their network in LA, you would not get HSPA+ on iPhone 4S.
I thought only newer iPhone 5 with patched base band that capability? (For AWS spectrum)
You get what you pay for
Sticking with AT&T...best 4G LTE in the US according to RootMetrics. T-Mobile is laughable.
http://www.rootmetrics.com/
Sticking with AT&T...best 4G LTE in the US according to RootMetrics. T-Mobile is laughable.
http://www.rootmetrics.com/
T-Mo moved (refarmed) their 3G/4G from Band 4 to Band 2 and that's how you get the bump from their 2G (edge) to their 3G/4G
for that I can get it from apple directly. it is same issue with ATT; they will unlock after you complete contract.
the guys who look for unlocks are who goes overseas and need the phone; it could be frequent or out of the sudden you need to go overseas.
----------
That is not everywhere right? LA might be refarmend I do not think it is everywhere.
You didn't quite read it.
Nobody "subsidises" any phones. What most companies do is give you a phone with a cheap down payment, charge you more over the next 24 months, and then charge you more again after these months.
T-Mobile tells you what the phone costs, and gives you two options to pay - pay it all in one go, or $99 now and the rest over 24 months. That's a purchase, and you have to pay the purchase price. You wouldn't expect not to have to pay, right? In addition, they offer phone and data service at some price with no long-term contract. Actually, three different levels of data service at different prices.
What I like about it is that they offer things in a way that almost everyone would understand. I have seen plenty of people who just _do not understand_ that what they pay for a "subsidized" iPhone is not the price of an iPhone. And if you ever looked at prices at O2 in the UK, either whoever sets the prices is a complete idiot, or, more likely, they are intentionally trying to confuse their customers.
That really is the key. If you even go into the bedroom communities of some of those Metro areas T-Mob can get spotty. If you live and stay in the city you are OK, but if you travel around T-Mob is unpredictable.
Yes, but only after the contract is expired or you upgrade. They won't unlock while you are in contract. That is different than the T-Mob model where they will unlock the phone as soon as it's paid in full, be it day one, a year later, or two.
The only reason I didn't order 6 T-Mo iPhone 5 is because the 4 of us using our Unlocked iPhone 4S are waiting for the upcoming iPhone 5S/6
Plus, I opened a T-Mo Business Acvount and get me a $200 per line signing bonus (credit into my account; unfortunately did not come in a Visa-GiftCard, but it's still a $1200 acct credit for free)
Last edited:
If you're trying to lower your monthly expenses this T-Mobile deal is the way to go, especially me living in NYC 20-30$ off my expenses would be really nice. I have the 4S with Sprint and pay 97$ for everything unlimited. Sucks this deal is out now 'cause isn't the 5S out soon?
No you are buying an unsubsidized phone with no contract. And none of the games of lumping the device with your service plan so you overpay.
You might be the type that buys a new phone every year but the majority are more the type to hang into it for 3-4 years so long as it doesn't take a dump and stop working.
So you go to AT&T and pay $199 plus tax for an iPhone 5. On the most basic rates you are paying $70 a month. AT&T justifies locking phone and ETF by saying they paid the rest of the device costs and you owe them that money. Which is $450, or $18.75 a month for 24 months.
So at month 25, your rate drops to $51.25, right? Wrong. You buy full price phone and your rate is $51.25 right? Wrong. You buy a phone on eBay and ... Nope. It's all $70
But on T-mobile that price is split apart. So instead of $70 with the device hidden in there in a way were they don't have to deduct it, it's $50 for service (and much better service at that in terms of minutes, no of texts) and $20 for the device which goes away when that cost is zero.
So if you keep the phone for 3 years you saved $240. For the average person that is important. And if you compare rates based in getting unlimited talk and text etc its more because that's another $20-30 a month
t-mobile is not even in the apple site
that speaks for the deal itself.
I am considering the jump only if they unlock the phones from the go. (I am still bind by the credit contract!)
okay with 3G compared to ATT LTE.
that speaks for the deal itself.
I am considering the jump only if they unlock the phones from the go. (I am still bind by the credit contract!)
okay with 3G compared to ATT LTE.
I'm the other way. Coverage is decent in my area so I'm tempted to switch my personal phone to T-Mobile as a show of support for this scheme since I believe it is how it should be done, required by law
also lots of used iphones in the market you can pick it for $200 to $300 range, and verizon's iPhone 5 is unlocked on the GSM side - it might work with t-mobile's 3G/4G and not LTE
there are cheaper options.
used iPhones
refurbished iPhones
last year's mode - iPhone 4S
if you are really trying to save $$$ t-mobile has options whereas ATT and Verizon - nope.
Agreed, but I can't cut my nose to spite my face. ATTs coverage is pretty decent everywhere I travel be it in a city or a podunk village.
According to info I read, T-Mo began making moved because of the 1+ Million (maybe 3+ million) unlock iPhone users on their network.
To accommodate their usage of 3G/4G, they would refarm all their current (existing) 3G/4G towers (nationwide)
No interest and if you want to walk you literally pay what is left.
AT&T etc deduct a bit monthly but it's only like $10 when 1/24 of the subsidy is $18.75
So $450 - $10(12) means you would owe AT&T etc $330 even though by the 1/24 it should be $225
T-mobile math the phone is $580. You paid $99 (plus presumably the appropriate sales tax) off the top. At a year in that $580-$99 - $20(12) = $241.
Remind me again how much 4 liters (1 gallon) of gas costs in Germany
----------
Add Sprint to your list as well. Not to mention there is no early termination fee at T-Mobile. I am really looking forward to switching from Sprint (and there slower then modem data speeds) to T-Mobile.
All carriers make money on service plans. T-Mobile in fact is charging less than all of them for their unlimited plan. They are offering a lower cost iPhone and a lower cost plan. Not sure what you're getting at?
So basically the only way you save money is if you keep the same phone for longer than 2 years?
Does anyone here currently have a phone older than 2 years? I'm sure those that do are FAR from the majority!
Does anyone here currently have a phone older than 2 years? I'm sure those that do are FAR from the majority!
only sales numbers of iPhone on t-mobile will tell. also there is no overage, after 2.5GB the data goes to EDGE instead of charging you more $$$
there are pluses and minuses ...
If that is an issue,
1) Buy the phone cheaper on T-Mobile through their installment plan.
2) Pay it off immediately and have the phone unlocked.
3) Pay a lower monthly bill without the monthly installment cost.
In any case, I'm not sure how well the phone will operate internationally.
The only way you can avoid the taxes / fees in the US is if you have a pay as you go (pre-paid) service. Even then, you will pay sales tax unless you are in a sales tax free state like New Hampshire
I thought all the new t-mobile plans were pre-paid.