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T-Mobile USA to Carry iPhone Beginning April 12th, Using New 'Uncarrier' Payment Plan

turbineseaplane said:
So is the TMo iPhone 5 different than the factory unlocked iPhone 5 you can buy today?
Key is about the AWS.

If that's available on the Tmo iP5 it makes a WORLD of difference so you don't get stuck on Edge where they haven't re-farmed their 3G (like..most everywhere sadly)
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Looks like it's a new model according to Engadget. Their refarmed HSPA + is spotty in Chicago, particularly if you're away from the main downtown area. But when it works, it's amazing. I have a carrier-unlocked 4S. Link
 
Akack said:
I'm hoping its just an update to the existing ATT A1428 model, if not guess i wil have to sell my unlocked ATT one and buy a T Mobile. I get 3G coverage in some places but most places I get EDGE and the speeds are unbearable.
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I'm in the same boat and yes, I agree, EDGE is horrible. I hope it's just an update to our existing A1428 model.
 
Well, that seals it.
Unlocked iPhone 5 going back while I can still return it.

The AWS being enabled is KEY to avoiding Edge all the time on Tmobile when you're out of a major area.
 
Glad to see at least 1 company doing this. Mobile contracts are a joke all over the world, very scammy as well.

That being said, its still worth shopping around. When the iPhone 5 came out, I was planning on buying it outright, then getting a cheaper month to month contract so I wasnt locked it. However when I priced it up, it was actually cheaper for me to get the iPhone 5 with three. Saved about £50 but got the benefit of true unlimited (tethered) data :)
 
turbineseaplane said:
So is the TMo iPhone 5 different than the factory unlocked iPhone 5 you can buy today?
Key is about the AWS.

If that's available on the Tmo iP5 it makes a WORLD of difference so you don't get stuck on Edge where they haven't re-farmed their 3G (like..most everywhere sadly)
Click to expand...

it sounds like it according to this article :confused:

http://venturebeat.com/2013/03/26/live-at-t-mobiles-uncarrier-event-in-nyc/#upH1Rwh2jguIoOhQ.99

EDIT: already mentioned previously... man this thread updates too quickly ;)

Additionally, he noted that Apple added some new technology to T-Mobile’s iPhone 5 — it can now support LTE networks, HSPA+ 42 Mbps, and other HSPA networks.
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Spock said:
It's about time, now I'm hoping that Apple pushes out an update with T-Mobile support to current unlocked iPhone users. visual voicemail and non hacked mms would be great.
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It would be really nice, but its an (very small) updated iPhone 5 - software won't make existing 5's work like the new ones will. :-(
 
So I can't just purchase the iPhone? I have to dole out $20 for 24 months, and only then do my rates go down? Sure sounds like a contract to me, sure sounds like a way to keep me locked in with Tmobile for 2 years before I even see the advantage of being with them.
 
petsounds said:
So I can't just purchase the iPhone? I have to dole out $20 for 24 months, and only then do my rates go down? Sure sounds like a contract to me, sure sounds like a way to keep me locked in with Tmobile for 2 years before I even see the advantage of being with them.
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The difference is that you can pay the full price upfront and have a lower monthly bill, and no contract.
 
mscriv said:
Thanks for the response. I get what TMobile is doing in allowing you to use a "payment plan" for your phone. I just think it's misleading to say that the other carriers are charging you a subsidy when in reality there isn't a subsidy there. The rate plan is the same cost for both those customers who choose a new phone with contract and for those who choose to bring their own phone or don't sign a contract.

I don't like misleading advertising. I'm sure with Sprint, Verizon, and At&t there is a subsidy built into the cost of monthly plans, but everyone pays the same cost. There is no way to avoid the "subsidy" just like there is no way to avoid the cost in the plan that goes to infrastructure, the part that goes to research, or the part that goes to pay employee's salaries. That's how business is done. Price points are set based on expenses and desired profit margin.

I think TMobile's new plans look like a good option for some people and competition is always beneficial for the consumer, but don't mislead people into thinking your competitor is doing something "underhanded" or "sneaky" when they aren't. TMobile is just choosing to follow the model of separating the cost of hardware from the recurring cost of the service. The only thing that makes their new plan different from Metro PCS, Cricket, or other providers that use this model is that TMobile is offering a payment plan for the hardware instead of requiring payment in full up front.
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Tmobile is calling out exactly what you described. By keeping the price the same for everyone regardless if you subsidize or not your paying exactly what they want you to pay. Because they are hiding it behind their monthly plans is very sneaky or underhanded in my eyes.

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Codyak said:
The difference is that you can pay the full price upfront and have a lower monthly bill, and no contract.
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Or buy a used phone and your savings increase quite a bit. They are giving you an option. ATT/VZW/Sprint don't care what you bring to them. You are paying the full monthly price (paying for a subsidy even when you own the phone)

You are still saving even with the $20 fee if you look at the plans. For those who don't need the top of the line Galaxy or iPhone every 2 years this plan is for them.
 
qnssekr said:
How is T Mobile able to sell a unlocked 16g iPhone 5 for less than what Apple would charge?
T Mobile=$100 down + $20 x 24 +$580.
apple $649.
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When a company buys in bulk, they get a discount from each phone.
 
I just returned my unlocked iphone 5 that I got about 20 days ago to Apple! I'd been using it on TMO but now I'll wait for the new A1428s to come out! Can't wait, love the service I get on my old S3 with TMO and now my iPhone will run just a well! :)
 
aneftp said:
Ok, let looked it up. Their Even More plus didn't offer discounts. But their value plans did offer discounts.

It get all too confusing with T-mobile switching plans every 2 years. I can't keep up anymore which plans qualify for discounts and which don't qualify.
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What discounts do you mean? If you are talking about phone cost or corporate discounts, I did not understand that.

But about plans...
Over 3 years ago (when I was still a customer) they started offering the non-subsidy plans (even more plus). They were cheaper per month than the standard plans (even more). It may have been difficult to see this as they did not advertize it much, which was strange in itself, and the price had to be calculated out because of the bizarre way in which they presented the options on the site. And I can't find a fee schedule now since all of the plans have been changed or deleted. But it was cheaper. Not too long ago they dropped the subsidy plans completely and went with the cheaper non-subsidized only.
 
bhuwan said:
This question has been lingering for a while.

Sign up with the payment plan, cancel 1 month later. obviously T-Mobile would expect you to either return the phone, or pay the full unsubsidized value (reduced by the amount already paid) of the device.

Isn't that a "contract" ?
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It's similar but it should be the same way that Walmart does it with straight talk and the iPhone 5 where the cost is placed on a credit line with a down payment. What I'm interested to know is if the iPhone is unlocked or not.
 
bjsterilite said:
It's similar but it should be the same way that Walmart does it with straight talk and the iPhone 5 where the cost is placed on a credit line with a down payment. What I'm interested to know is if the iPhone is unlocked or not.
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Apple will sell unlocked version. However, it may not be for ~$580.
 
I'm still not seeing how it is cheaper. I mean, either way you will pay a lot of money out of the wazoo.


Also think of it this way: you can pay $600 for 3 iPhone 5's now with ATT OR you can pay over $1500 with T-Mobile. I mean, I can see where some of the savings are, but it's not a lifesaver. :eek:
 
gmanist1000 said:
Yes because I want Verizon's network... it's much more grown out than T-Mobile's... at least in my area.
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sure... but it's slower... there's articles out there in each carrier's performance tests and I think you'd be really surprised if you were to at least look into it.

T-Mobile rocks in my area, in fact T-Mobile's 3G speeds are faster than ATT's and you factor in their 4G (Not even LTE) it screams.

I find it strange how people WANT to pay more... It's like trying to get someone to at least try a COKE over PEPSI. People like their brands.
 
Registration for new T-mobile iPhone 5

https://explore.t-mobile.com/iphone-5

The bottom line is if you are city is farmed well for PCS 1900 Mhz and has LTE, you do not need to get rid of your current iPhone 5. If you live in the part of the city with Edge all the time, then selling your current iPhone and buying the new version means you can take advantage of T-mobile's excellent AWS 1700/2100 Mhz frequency. Which by the way is real good compared to their shoddy 1900 PCS coverage for iPhones.
 
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