Want to get iPhone 5 but..

[cennix]

Im currently a T-Mobile customer and i own a factory unlocked iPhone 4s, i dont know the best way or most efficient way to get it without having to change carriers or anything. I know its possible to unlock the AT&T and Verizon iPhone 5's but i just don't know the best way i can get my hands on one.

Thanks and Regards

----------

anyone?

 

[KPOM]

It's a bit tricky right now since the online reservation system for in-store purchases requires you to sign up for a contract (or extend an existing one). My advice would be to wait a few weeks until the unlocked model is officially available, or at least until you can easily buy phones in stores without making a reservation. A full-priced AT&T or any Verizon iPhone 5 would work. If last year is any indication, it will be in about a month. T-Mobile won't have nano-SIMs ready until next month, anyway.

The AT&T version eventually will work on T-Mobile for LTE once T-Mobile starts rolling out its LTE starting next year. Hopefully by the end of the year T-Mobile will at least have re-farmed a lot more of their 3G/HSPA (what they call "4G") network onto the same bands as AT&T. The Verizon one would work on T-Mobile's re-farmed HSPA+ network but not LTE. However, LTE is a long way off for T-Mobile (the "5S" will be out by then).

Another option may be to see if a friend who has Verizon is willing to use his or her upgrade to order an iPhone 5. If they want to keep unlimited data they will need to pay the full price, anyway, so if you pay the full price of the phone they would be even.

 

[bidwalj]

Honestly i would look on Craigslist for the Verizon version. They all come unlocked and you prob can get one less than what you would pay full price with apple.


Just make sure it's a legit deal and meet at a police station or another safe place.

 

[cennix]

It's a bit tricky right now since the online reservation system for in-store purchases requires you to sign up for a contract (or extend an existing one). My advice would be to wait a few weeks until the unlocked model is officially available, or at least until you can easily buy phones in stores without making a reservation. If last year is any indication, it will be in about a month. T-Mobile won't have nano-SIMs ready until next month, anyway.

The AT&T version eventually will work on T-Mobile for LTE once T-Mobile starts rolling out its LTE starting next year. Hopefully by the end of the year T-Mobile will at least have re-farmed a lot more of their 3G/HSPA (what they call "4G") network onto the same bands as AT&T.

so you suggest to wait till the unlocked comes out and buy for $649? You assume theres no way i can get it for the normal price right? i mean i assume that too but trying to get my hopes up

 

[KPOM]

so you suggest to wait till the unlocked comes out and buy for $649? You assume theres no way i can get it for the normal price right? i mean i assume that too but trying to get my hopes up

You can take your chances with in-store stock, but there is a lot less now since the associates in stores are telling people to go online. Your best bet may be to stop into a store late in the evening when they put no-shows back for sale.

You can also try seeing if an AT&T or Verizon store has any stock and pay the full price. The rumor is that the AT&T full priced phones are unlocked even from AT&T (I can confirm that's the case with the ones the Apple store sells), and even if it is locked you can request online from AT&T's website that they unlock it since you have paid full price.

The "normal" price assumes you set up a contract, and that results in a locked phone on AT&T. While the Verizon phone would be unlocked, you are still stuck with an expensive contract (the cheapest plan starts for $80/month with a paltry 300MB of data, and the next step up is $90 for 1GB and unlimited voice and text).

 

[cennix]

You can take your chances with in-store stock, but there is a lot less now since the associates in stores are telling people to go online. Your best bet may be to stop into a store late in the evening when they put no-shows back for sale.

You can also try seeing if an AT&T or Verizon store has any stock and pay the full price. The rumor is that the AT&T full priced phones are unlocked even from AT&T (I can confirm that's the case with the ones the Apple store sells), and even if it is locked you can request online from AT&T's website that they unlock it since you have paid full price.

The "normal" price assumes you set up a contract, and that results in a locked phone on AT&T. While the Verizon phone would be unlocked, you are still stuck with an expensive contract (the cheapest plan starts for $80/month with a paltry 300MB of data, and the next step up is $90 for 1GB and unlimited voice and text).

indeed i guess the best choice would be to see if the stores have them in store

 

[cennix]

...

 

[dontwalkhand]

The unlocked ones will be available soon, Patience my friend .

I plan on purchasing an unlocked one for a friend who is on T-Mobile, Apple will more than likely come out with the unlocked ones sometime in October.

(Hint: Also the Verizon version is unlocked, but you would want the AT&T one to be honest, as that one will have the LTE bands that T-Mobile will use in the United States when they build out their LTE network)

 

[cennix]

The unlocked ones will be available soon, Patience my friend .

I plan on purchasing an unlocked one for a friend who is on T-Mobile, Apple will more than likely come out with the unlocked ones sometime in October.

(Hint: Also the Verizon version is unlocked, but you would want the AT&T one to be honest, as that one will have the LTE bands that T-Mobile will use in the United States when they build out their LTE network)

im gunna try to buy it in store at AT&T for full price

 

[bidwalj]

The unlocked ones will be available soon, Patience my friend .

I plan on purchasing an unlocked one for a friend who is on T-Mobile, Apple will more than likely come out with the unlocked ones sometime in October.

(Hint: Also the Verizon version is unlocked, but you would want the AT&T one to be honest, as that one will have the LTE bands that T-Mobile will use in the United States when they build out their LTE network)

Are they really using the same band? I was under the impression tmobile would also have their own unique lte band. I know they are moving their hspa+ network to the 1900 band so they can support the iphone.

 

[lawlbringer]

Honestly i would look on Craigslist for the Verizon version. They all come unlocked and you prob can get one less than what you would pay full price with apple.


Just make sure it's a legit deal and meet at a police station or another safe place.

Most of the asian resellers are asking way too much, like $200+ over retail, and most are retarded.

Just wait for them to be in stock, I would never trust anyone from craigslist with anything that valuable...especially some of these jerkoffs buying iPhone's strictly to resell them. There are so many around Northern VA, it makes me sick...

 

[cennix]

Most of the asian resellers are asking way too much, like $200+, and most are retarded.

Just wait for them to be in stock, I would never trust anyone from craigslist with anything that valuable...especially some of these jerkoffs buying iPhone's strictly to resell them. There are so many around Northern VA, it makes me sick...

I am really dying to get this phone, I'm one of those type of people who always want the top notch of an item.

 

[KPOM]

Are they really using the same band? I was under the impression tmobile would also have their own unique lte band. I know they are moving their hspa+ network to the 1900 band so they can support the iphone.

Part of the "break-up" agreement is that AT&T will license a big chunk of their AWS (1700MHz) spectrum for LTE to T-Mobile. The AT&T iPhone 5 supports LTE in that band.

 

[cennix]

Part of the "break-up" agreement is that AT&T will license a big chunk of their AWS (1700MHz) spectrum for LTE to T-Mobile. The AT&T iPhone 5 supports LTE in that band.

So if I get the iPhone 5, I will be able to use LTE on my Tmobile network?

 

[KPOM]

I am really dying to get this phone, I'm one of those type of people who always want the top notch of an item.

Another option, again if you don't care about getting T-Mobile's LTE when that finally rolls out, is to see if anyone wants to sell you a Verizon iPhone. I am OK enough with AT&T that I signed up for another 2 years and picked up an iPhone at the subsidized price. I got an unlocked phone over the weekend (technically a Device-Only AT&T) and rather than return my on-contract phone I decided to sell it for about a $200 premium. Between that and what I can get reimbursed from my employer (I use the iPhone for work e-mail) that covers any potential ETF, so I just did that and sold it through the MR Marketplace. Perhaps there is someone on Verizon who would be willing to do the same.

Remember, all Verizon iPhone 5s are unlocked, so even if you buy someone's on-contract Verizon iPhone for a $350 premium you still make out a $100 better than buying the phone off contract, and you'll cover that person's ETF to boot.

----------

So if I get the iPhone 5, I will be able to use LTE on my Tmobile network?

Only once T-Mobile actually starts deploying LTE (sometime in 2013). Depending on where you live, you might be stuck with EDGE for a little while, but T-Mobile is re-farming a lot of their spectrum so that at least you'll get 3G. T-Mobile's 3G is better than AT&T's from my experience.

 

[cennix]

Another option, again if you don't care about getting T-Mobile's LTE when that finally rolls out, is to see if anyone wants to sell you a Verizon iPhone. I am OK enough with AT&T that I signed up for another 2 years and picked up an iPhone at the subsidized price. I got an unlocked phone over the weekend (technically a Device-Only AT&T) and rather than return my on-contract phone I decided to sell it for about a $200 premium. Between that and what I can get reimbursed from my employer (I use the iPhone for work e-mail) that covers any potential ETF, so I just did that and sold it through the MR Marketplace. Perhaps there is someone on Verizon who would be willing to do the same.

Remember, all Verizon iPhone 5s are unlocked, so even if you buy someone's on-contract Verizon iPhone for a $350 premium you still make out a $100 better than buying the phone off contract, and you'll cover that person's ETF to boot.

----------



Only once T-Mobile actually starts deploying LTE (sometime in 2013). Depending on where you live, you might be stuck with EDGE for a little while, but T-Mobile is re-farming a lot of their spectrum so that at least you'll get 3G. T-Mobile's 3G is better than AT&T's from my experience.

Hm I see what your saying thank you, and about the reframing, I get 3G in some areas and I live in Staten Island New York

 

[bidwalj]

Part of the "break-up" agreement is that AT&T will license a big chunk of their AWS (1700MHz) spectrum for LTE to T-Mobile. The AT&T iPhone 5 supports LTE in that band.

Thanks. Good to know. It's really confusing to keep up with lte and all the new network bands.

 

[BFizzzle]

Honestly i would look on Craigslist for the Verizon version. They all come unlocked and you prob can get one less than what you would pay full price with apple.


Just make sure it's a legit deal and meet at a police station or another safe place.

Not if you want to stick with tmobile??? I'd get the AT&T out of contract (it will be unlocked) so you can use it on tmos lte in the future.

If you get the verizon you'll never be able to.
If you're not going to be on Tmo or AT&T in the long run, then yes get verizon


Edit sorry see someone already said this

 

[cennix]

I just don't know how I can get the AT&T one out of contract?

 

[KPOM]

I just don't know how I can get the AT&T one out of contract?

If there are no-shows who reserved AT&T phones, then you can try an Apple Store. Alternatively, try an AT&T store. If you pay the full price ($649.99 plus tax - AT&T adds an extra $0.99 for some reason) then you can get the phone unlocked even if it is locked for some reason).

 

[boomhower]

Just wait until they sell unlocked versions.

 

[bidwalj]

Not if you want to stick with tmobile??? I'd get the AT&T out of contract (it will be unlocked) so you can use it on tmos lte in the future.

If you get the verizon you'll never be able to.
If you're not going to be on Tmo or AT&T in the long run, then yes get verizon


Edit sorry see someone already said this

I didn't know tmobile would be using the same spectrum as AT&T for lte. Makes sense to go AT&T unlocked then.

 

[cennix]

Well I see its not possible to get it online without a contract or buying it without a plan, you can't do it, I'm going to try to call the store tomorrow

 

[cennix]

And I was on live just with an apple specialist today and they claimed they have no clue at all when the unlocked version is going to come out.