T-Mobile's iPhone 5 Reviews: LTE Speeds Are Impressive, HD Voice Difference Notable

[Vegastouch]

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AT&T in Boston

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No, you're paying $99 up front and financing it (basically like a credit card, at a subsidized price) over the term, as long as it takes to pay off the phone. If you leave early, you owe TMobile the excess money.

Or:

Finally, you could return your device to T-Mobile and have it assessed for a “fair market value” credit to go toward the remaining balance on your phone payments.

You can still get one for $99 for those that dont have $199 to shell out and the plans are cheaper. You cant get the iP5 at AT&T for $99. Call it whatever you want, you will still pay more monthly at AT&T for the same things you get from T-Mobile.

Might want to read up on that. AT&T was going to dismantle their network anyways. They wanted to buy T-Mobile for their spectrum, that's it. Take down their AWS 3G and put up AWS LTE to supplement their 700mhz network for congestion, etc (what VZW will start doing soon, in high traffic areas like NYC)

Is that what they said after the deal got vetoed?

 

[grassfeeder]

I was looking at the T-Mobile deal today and trying to figure out what I would be paying. For (2) iPhones would be $80 + $40 = $120/month. With my employer discount of 15% this would become $68 + $40 = $108 or $54/month for each iPhone. Plus I would only have to put out up front $198 (T-mobile) vs $389 (AT&T, Verizon and Sprint) for two iPhone 5(s). The unlocked iPhone 5 is $649 from Apple vs at the end of the T-Mobile contract I would be paying $99+480=$579.

So $54/month/phone for unlimited minutes, text (not that important to me) and data is a hell of good deal. That aside, I am still concerned about the data speeds I would be getting in my area in Michigan with T-Mobile which would be 3G right now. I am with Sprint right now and the data speeds are worse then horrible. Unlimited data plan, what a joke.

I think you're forgetting to factor in the monthly costs for the tmobile iphone

 

[2298754]

Call it whatever you want, you will still pay more monthly at AT&T for the same things you get from T-Mobile.

How are they comparable? I'm paying slightly more for LTE everywhere in my area (and the Northeast), whereas TMobile is pretty much EDGE. Unlimited data with EDGE as their dominate speed? No thanks

 

[kaielement]

Now that T-Mobile is offering unlimited data on an iPhone we might see a ton of people switching. Get the unlimited data while you can lol. If this is anything like what happen to ATT or Version (which claimed because of all the new network traffic and to provide a better customer experience it was getting rid of unlimited data which to me seemed like a cop out lol). All we can hope is that T-Mobile can handle the network traffic of all the new iPhones.

 

[Toltepeceno]

I think you're forgetting to factor in the monthly costs for the tmobile iphone

Isn't that what the + 40. Is? 20 for each phone?

 

[maxosx]

It's nice to have another carrier option.

Those speeds are along the lines of what i get on ATT in the LA area.

I agree, the prospect of T-Mobile coming back to life so to speak, is really great news. They do so well in the UK and other areas, outside of the US, I've been rooting for them all along.

Especially if they deliver speeds like I typically get on AT&T. I also have a couple of phones on Verizon but despite all the TV ads claiming fast speeds, they are in fact just below what I consistently get on AT&T.

Having used both these two for several years they are pretty even from a standpoint of customer service. About the only difference other than Verizon being somewhat slower is they are pricier.

Yet like paying premium prices for Apple, I don't mind the price premium on Verizon since it gives me more phones to choose from.

 

[Toltepeceno]

How are they comparable? I'm paying slightly more for LTE everywhere in my area (and the Northeast), whereas TMobile is pretty much EDGE. Unlimited data with EDGE as their dominate speed? No thanks

Not every place is the same. When i was in the us my t mobile beat my brother's att speeds pretty much everywhere. I think anyone can figure out you go with the best in your area. It's not a cut and dried thing either way.

 

[Electrolytic]

This is a good step for t-mobile to take... but I don't understand all the fuss about the plan at 70 dollars when you can get a iphone from Straight Talk & pay 45 for unlimited?

You guys on att n V are getting raped.

 

[jamezr]

this isn't any cheaper than anyone else for those who upgrade after every couple or whenever eligible. All they're doing is shifting around the #'s

$70 is great for all this unlimited stuff - but you've forgot to tack on another $20 for the "phone loan".

$90 grand total. It's great marketing though to artificially make your pricing look so low so since all of NA is used to looking at the monthly with subsidies.

But then when your "phone loan" is paid off you bill goes down. The other carriers continue to charge for the "phone loan" even after the phone is paid off. Plus when the "phone loan" gets down to under say $100 how many people will pay it off.....then their bill will go down. The other carriers don't off that kind of flexability.

 

[milo]

this isn't any cheaper than anyone else for those who upgrade after every couple or whenever eligible.

You obviously haven't done the math, it's way cheaper whether you are paying $20 monthly for the phone or not.

 

[baryon]

Can someone explain to me how T-Mobile will still make a profit out of all this?

I think that the lower total cost of the iPhone is compensated by the fact that it will attract so many customers that the phone bills will end up paying for it. I think in the end people will pay as much as they do with other carriers, except that the customer will feel that they have the freedom to pay less if they wanted to (but not many will want to anyway).

The secret is that most people will end up spending lots on calls/data/etc… regardless of whether they're on a contract or not.

I guess...

 

[Amazing Iceman]

Isn't that what the + 40. Is? 20 for each phone?

Also, tethering is included in the plans, which is great for some situations. No extra charge, except with Unlimited Plan.

 

[Premium1]

Can someone explain to me how T-Mobile will still make a profit out of all this?

because you're still paying pretty much what the other carriers pay when they get iphones, just getting plans for a little cheaper.

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Now that T-Mobile is offering unlimited data on an iPhone we might see a ton of people switching. Get the unlimited data while you can lol. If this is anything like what happen to ATT or Version (which claimed because of all the new network traffic and to provide a better customer experience it was getting rid of unlimited data which to me seemed like a cop out lol). All we can hope is that T-Mobile can handle the network traffic of all the new iPhones.

It was definitely a cop out. They got rid of unlimited to make more money off of overages. It's been said time and time again by verizon/att that this was their reasoning.

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But then when your "phone loan" is paid off you bill goes down. The other carriers continue to charge for the "phone loan" even after the phone is paid off. Plus when the "phone loan" gets down to under say $100 how many people will pay it off.....then their bill will go down. The other carriers don't off that kind of flexability.

This is good for users who keep their phones for 2+ years, but if you like upgrading often it kinda sucks, unless you wanna keep paying full price for your devices right away

 

[skellener]

Looking forward to moving to T-Mobile myself. Will wait for the next iPhone whatever it will be called. I'd rather pay upfront for the phone and get the lower monthly plan ($50 or $60 one). Was hoping for this. Glad they did it.

 

[Electrolytic]

This is good for users who keep their phones for 2+ years, but if you like upgrading often it kinda sucks, unless you wanna keep paying full price for your devices right away

I would plan on keeping a phone for about a year or less, then sell it on ebay. If you keep it in good shape you should get 60% of the price you paid.

 

[milo]

I pay $140 a month for 2 iphone 5's - 450 shard minutes - both unlimited data and texts....

ATT doesn't offer true unlimited any more, even the grandfathered plans are throttled after a certain point. Your plan is probably comparable to the TM plan with 2 gigs per month which is $100 and includes unlimited calling. That's a difference of $960 over two years which you're probably not making back from the subsidy.

If they are having customers pay for the phone via installment billing then if they were to cancel before the phone is paid for the customer will still owe the balance.

That's not a contract, that's just having to pay for an item you bought, no different than putting it on your credit card and having to pay it that way. The other contracts require paying a penalty if you exit early, that's money spent for nothing in return. Very different.

 

[Rychy]

I switched away from T-Mobile to get the original iPhone and looks like I'll finally be going back when the 5S comes out.

 

[odedia]

I'm still surprised at what is considered fair pricing in the USA. 70$ per month is A LOT.

I live in Israel, and I pay the equivalent of 25$ a month for unlimited talk and texting with 3gb of 3G data, after that I'm being throttled (that's what it says in the ads as well, no one is selling me "unlimited" data plan with a cap).

Some promotions around here get you a price of 13$ for 6 months, after which you get back to 25$ a month.

How did we get to such pricing? It wasn't always like that, actually I used to pay a whole lot more than 70$ a month. The answer is simple: regulation and competition. 2 new carriers were added to the existing big 3, plus a flood of MVNOs. The new carriers had to get a minimum amount of subscribers in order to keep their license after 3 years. This caused the market to go crazy. Prices went down every week.

People rarely buy their phone from the carriers, they get it through a merchant store, unlocked. Actually, many bring it from an Apple store in the USA since it's cheaper.

We only buy a SIM card from the carrier. Many switch carriers several times a year based on best price. It works great, and an ultimate proof that good competition, combined with some strict regulation (no, it is not a bad word) really does wonders.

 

[Taz Mangus]

I think you're forgetting to factor in the monthly costs for the tmobile iphone

I am factoring in the monthy cost of the phone. $50 is for the first iPhone (unlimited voice, text and data) + $30 for the second iPhone (unlimited voice, text and data) + $20/month to pay for the first iPhone + $20/month to pay for the second iPhone. 15% off the $80/month = $68/month. $68 + $40 = $108/month. Or $54/month for each iPhone.

 

[koban4max]

HD voice is the only thing interesting about this.

LTE speeds are nothing to note because VZW and AT&T have had these speeds for a long time now and they will be getting better when LTE-A launches by year end.

LTE is not available in lot of places.

 

[Premium1]

I would plan on keeping a phone for about a year or less, then sell it on ebay. If you keep it in good shape you should get 60% of the price you paid.

Well yeah but unless you paid full price you are stuck paying the $20 a month to TMO

 

[Taz Mangus]

This is a good step for t-mobile to take... but I don't understand all the fuss about the plan at 70 dollars when you can get a iphone from Straight Talk & pay 45 for unlimited?

You guys on att n V are getting raped.

Not everyone can afford to spend $649 up front which is what you would have to do with Stright Talk.

 

[Waxhead138]

Nope.

Hopefully this makes AT&T and Verizon change up their pricing.

And by change up pricing I mean make it cheaper.

One would hope, but it won't happen. If no one has beat me to it: Largely one "rule" in the cell phone industry is, the worse off the network, the more you get for the money. VZW and ATT have some royally ugly price gouge techniques, but the network quality is better overall. There will always be exceptions.

For any of you who live in cities though: Probably good for you, assuming you don't travel much into the burbs. City coverage w/ T Mobile is normally ok, but fades fast outside densely populated areas. Same can be said for Sprint, but it's not quite as bad with them.

 

[cmwade77]

Well that sucks. I can't take my factory unlocked Verizon iPhone 5 to T-Mobile and use their AWS 3G/4G spectrum. They are re-farming their spectrum to the compatible band here in Houston, but that doesn't help me nationwide until they re-farm every market.

You also can't take your factory unlocked Verizon iPhone 5 to AT&T, per Apple's website.

 

[HenryDJP]

That's not a contract, that's just having to pay for an item you bought, no different than putting it on your credit card and having to pay it that way. The other contracts require paying a penalty if you exit early, that's money spent for nothing in return. Very different.

Okay, but then explain to me how is this really any different? I pay $99 upfront for the iPhone and then pay $20 a month in installments, plus my phone plan. Then after say 6 months I decide to cancel with them and move on. If I choose to keep my phone I have to pay the balance (which is essentially like the early termination fee) of the phone in order for it to be unlocked. I'm obligated to buy the phone whether or not I choose to stay with them. That's essentially a contract. How is it any different?