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T-Mobile USA Launches Effort to Attract 'Bring Your Own iPhone' Customers

I wonder if they'll support visual voicemail? T-Mobile coverage here isn't the greatest (although of course it's better than AT&T by a mile!) but still, if I could run a normal unlocked iPhone 6 on T-Mobile on HSPA (mainly for the better encryption for phone calls) I'd probably go for it.

GBrooks said:
Alright, you just look desperate now, T.
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How on Earth so?
 
Yet for those on an AT&T family plan without unlimited minutes, Tmobile is more expensive unless you switch to a contract. Kind of lame if you ask me.
 
DoNoHarm said:
Yet for those on an AT&T family plan without unlimited minutes, Tmobile is more expensive unless you switch to a contract. Kind of lame if you ask me.
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How so? Less data + fewer minutes + no texts is still more expensive with AT&T, and worst coverage of any of the phone companies I've used.
 
This sounds cool. But is Apple going to allow this. With other carriers, Apple is getting a cut of the hardware and the phone contract. Sofar, Apple isn't getting anything from TMo USA. Apple can't keep legally unlocked/off-ATT iOS devices off the TMo network. So it wouldn't suprise me if TMo USA iPhone users started having problems with their phones come iOS6 since TMo isn't part of the party. Which would make Apple look almost as douchy as ATT.

Come Tim. Make the announcement.

"And one more thing. You can use your iPhones on T-Mobile without limitations." Be nice if it isn't a dream.
 
JoeDMD said:
What plan is that? Couldn't find it anywhere on T-mobile's website.
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What TechNutt said.
You can only get it by activating a prepaid SIM kit purchased online or one that comes with a prepaid phone you buy at Walmart stores. Getting a SIM kit in a T-Mobile store doesn't allow you to choose that plan.
 
So.. for someone that knows nothing about T-Mobile.. help me out here. What is all the talk about Edge speeds everywhere, HSPA+, LTE, blah blah blah... I understand that they are in the process of upgrading their network. But if I am in an area that doesnt appear to be covered by this map, does that mean I will be getting edge speeds? I don't need blazing fast data, but I don't want edge. The 3G/4G coverage map on the T-Mobile site seems to have decent coverage in my area. What am I missing?

I'm in NC btw. If I can get decent speeds, and they come out with a nano sim for the iPhone 5, I am all over that $30 prepaid plan.
 
MaxPower49 said:
So.. for someone that knows nothing about T-Mobile.. help me out here. What is all the talk about Edge speeds everywhere, HSPA+, LTE, blah blah blah... I understand that they are in the process of upgrading their network. But if I am in an area that doesnt appear to be covered by this map, does that mean I will be getting edge speeds? I don't need blazing fast data, but I don't want edge. The 3G/4G coverage map on the T-Mobile site seems to have decent coverage in my area. What am I missing?

I'm in NC btw. If I can get decent speeds, and they come out with a nano sim for the iPhone 5, I am all over that $30 prepaid plan.
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EDGE is very old technology. Think 2-4x faster than a 56K modem.
HSPA+ is newer, but not as new as LTE.

HSPA+ is a type of 3G service (LTE is supposed to be "real" 4G, but cell providers are quick to call fast HSPA+ 4G as well)

3G works by using certain frequencies, such as 800Mhz, 1700Mhz, 1800Mhz, 1900Mhz, 2100Mhz, etc. AT&T iPhones that run on 3G use the 1900Mhz band. T-mobile is taking its current towers that have 1700/1800Mhz and switching them to 1900Mhz to make them compatible with iPhones' 3G capabilities.

Hope that helps

mk
 
Well, really really there is no 4G at all, and LTE is no more 4G than HSPA+.

In my area on both AT&T and T-Mobile, both drop to 2G frequently, though T-Mobile's coverage/signal strength for both is at least 2x as good.
 
mknawabi said:
EDGE is very old technology. Think 2-4x faster than a 56K modem.
HSPA+ is newer, but not as new as LTE.

HSPA+ is a type of 3G service (LTE is supposed to be "real" 4G, but cell providers are quick to call fast HSPA+ 4G as well)

3G works by using certain frequencies, such as 800Mhz, 1700Mhz, 1800Mhz, 1900Mhz, 2100Mhz, etc. AT&T iPhones that run on 3G use the 1900Mhz band. T-mobile is taking its current towers that have 1700/1800Mhz and switching them to 1900Mhz to make them compatible with iPhones' 3G capabilities.

Hope that helps

mk
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OK, so if I understand correctly... this map shows where they have finished upgrading to 1900? So everywhere else will be edge until the upgrade is complete?
 
macUser2007 said:
What's with all the dimwits out there who think they are getting a "deal" when they are being locked into two year contracts?

With so many dim bulbs around, no wonder the major carriers in the US don't have to compete on service and service price, offering phone "deals" and multi-year lock ups to the stupid instead. Learn to add double digits, for the love of Jobs!
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I guess I'm an idiot then. I have a Tmobile small business plan - I pay $40/month for 1000 minutes, unlimited texts, and "unlimited" data (throttled after 5gb but I never come close to that). Maybe it's just me but if I'm getting a good deal like that, I'd rather lock it in! I could never afford to have an iphone on any of the other carriers......for that matter, I couldn't have a dumbphone on any of the others for this price. I'll take it.
 
BIS2 said:
I guess I'm an idiot then. I have a Tmobile small business plan - I pay $40/month for 1000 minutes, unlimited texts, and "unlimited" data (throttled after 5gb but I never come close to that). Maybe it's just me but if I'm getting a good deal like that, I'd rather lock it in! I could never afford to have an iphone on any of the other carriers......for that matter, I couldn't have a dumbphone on any of the others for this price. I'll take it.
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Wow, that's an awesome deal! Geez...if T-Mobile really gets semi-official iPhone support...

My biggest concern with T-Mobile and AT&T is my cell phone is my only phone, and I'm not keen on the fact that GSM/Edge is no longer secure.
 
Rizzn said:
Well there are limits to customer entitlement and I think you need to know those limits. I wouldn't say they're breaching anything if your 2 years is up. They're only obligated to do anything until the contract is up.

Of course they'll make exceptions to keep a customer though. I'm just not one to overstep known contractual boundaries to get exactly what I want.
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A very good point.

On a side note I called AT&T this morning about using my other lines upgrade and they told me no I had to upgrade the other line and switch the sims (not possible with nano one now). But in the end they gave me 6 months of free family messaging. So hey they do try.
 
Tailpike1153 said:
This sounds cool. But is Apple going to allow this. With other carriers, Apple is getting a cut of the hardware and the phone contract. Sofar, Apple isn't getting anything from TMo USA. Apple can't keep legally unlocked/off-ATT iOS devices off the TMo network. So it wouldn't suprise me if TMo USA iPhone users started having problems with their phones come iOS6 since TMo isn't part of the party. Which would make Apple look almost as douchy as ATT.

Come Tim. Make the announcement.

"And one more thing. You can use your iPhones on T-Mobile without limitations." Be nice if it isn't a dream.
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Apple can't stop T-Mobile from allowing iPhones on their network.
It's the carriers decision, not Apple's.
Apple also doesn't get anything from the customer contracts. That was a limited deal with AT&T for the original iPhone only to help offset some costs.
The only money Apple makes from the carriers now is from the sale of the hardware.
 
Bwinski said:
Let's make sure folks are FULLY up to speed with what T-Mumble is trying to package as the bean in this game of three-bean shuffle...

If you read their offers carefully, you'll notice in the fine print that the 'Value plan' unlimited for folks that come in ready to swap their SIM cards and go merrily on their way, that transaction REQUIRES YOU TO AGREE TO A NEW TWO-YEAR CONTRACT COMMITMENT !!!!!!! And if you manage to dodge that hidden barrel of snakes, then the Pre-paid plan is MORE EXPENSIVE AND IS CAPPED !!!!

NOTHING TO SEE HERE. it's all a lie.
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I am confused why you think the pre-paid is more expensive? Basically you're just paying for data only and they throw in 100 minutes of talk time. I think it's a great deal! In fact I decided to ditch my AT&T plan I have had for the past five years and three months and take the plunge. Yes, I know I'm giving up much faster data speeds and visual voice mail, but it's a small price to pay for saving $90/month.
 
Basically TMO management got caught flat footed. The German owners wanted to sell the off. So TMO management came up with the idea of saying their WCDMA/GSM network is already 4G, not, and not spending the money on LTE rollout.

So all the eggs were in the one basket that ATT was set to purchase until the DOJ said nope. So now TMO has to continue to pretent their network is already 4G while rolling out LTE, which is the closest thing to the 4G definitions as is available. But it is a bit deal and cost to upgrade the Radio Base Stations in thousands of sites coast to coast and put in a new all IP switching/routing infrastructure. So TMO will likely stay far behind ATT and Verizon on LTE availabliity.
 
What kinds of speeds are people experiencing on HSPA+? I was under the impression they were pretty decent. Perhaps not as fast as LTE, but still quite good.
 
rjlawrencejr said:
What kinds of speeds are people experiencing on HSPA+? I was under the impression they were pretty decent. Perhaps not as fast as LTE, but still quite good.
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They're way more than anyone needs. Feel like wifi with fast broadband where it's available. The real issue remains how network coverage is, not whether it's LTE or EV-DO, or HSPA.

In my area, T-Mobile seems to have much better coverage than AT&T. Both drop back to GSM/Edge frequently, but T-Mobile's coverage is better on both systems where I am.

Today's LTE isn't 4G anyway, and quality 3G ought to be more than anyone needs...it's just a lot of places these companies DON'T have anything like real 3G coverage.
 
rjlawrencejr said:
What kinds of speeds are people experiencing on HSPA+? I was under the impression they were pretty decent. Perhaps not as fast as LTE, but still quite good.
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So, I get 9+ Mbps, unlike the 1.x Mbps that I get on AT&T (yes, I use both - long story)-- except when AT&T gets congested in a downtown area, when it drops down even further. Oh, and, the unlimited data plan on T-Mobile lets you tether, and, it actually works well enough to carry out normal business on the road using my laptop, so, I don't have to worry about paying $10/day for stupid hotel WiFi. Their customer service is way better than AT&T and Verizon, too. The only thing that I have noticed as a negative with T-Mobile is that for some reason, their rural coverage seems to have gotten worse the last year or two.
 
Their best shot is the prepaid offering

and i think their prepaid plans are lacking.

I am seriously considering T-Mobile but at the $30 range you have to pick either the 1500 minute/text plan with only 30 MB data (embarrasing) or the unlimited text 5 GB plan with only 100 minutes. Their next plan is at $50, unlimited text and talk and 100 MB 4g (then all you can sip of 2G)

AT&T Go-Phone offers unlimited everything (I assume the 2-3GB throttling limit applies) at $50.

Straight Talk offers unlimited everything for $45

If T-Mobile wants to lure customers, they need to up their game a bit; maybe a $40 plan with 1500 minutes / texts (to appeal to talkers and texters) with 1 GB data?

No one in their right mind will sign a 'value plan' contract were you get charged a hefty $200 termination fee when you bring your own phone, that's stupid.
 
Tiger8 said:
I am seriously considering T-Mobile but at the $30 range you have to pick either the 1500 minute/text plan with only 30 MB data (embarrasing) or the unlimited text 5 GB plan with only 100 minutes. Their next plan is at $50, unlimited text and talk and 100 MB 4g (then all you can sip of 2G)
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No, it's the same network, they can just throttle you after whatever their limit is, I think 200MB, and you can upgrade THAT for not all that much.

AT&T Go-Phone offers unlimited everything (I assume the 2-3GB throttling limit applies) at $50.
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So does T-Mobile...except T-Mobile lets you use that on whatever phone you want, not a bunch of terrible phones.

Straight Talk offers unlimited everything for $45
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There are tons of reports of Straight Talk dumping people if they use over 100MB/day or 2GB a month. That's just plain dumping them, you lose your number. Yes, they're $5 cheaper than T-Mobile, but their customer service is terrible, and you're risking losing your number.

No one in their right mind will sign a 'value plan' contract were you get charged a hefty $200 termination fee when you bring your own phone, that's stupid.
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Huh? You don't get charged anything on their European style plans.
 
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