Home
›
News
›
Here's the main reason why T-Mobile didn't get the iPhone in the past

Here's the main reason why T-Mobile didn't get the iPhone in the past

Posted: 11 Jan 2012, 07:44, by Victor H.

Categories: T-Mobile T-Mobile Apple Apple Bookmark

Discuss 21

Here's the main reason why T-Mobile didn't get the iPhone in the past

After the AT&T and T-Mobile merger has now officially become a tihng of the past, the topic of the T-Mobile iPhone, or more precisely - the lack of one, is getting the centerstage attention. Why doesn’t T-Mobile carry the iPhone? Even Sprint’s chief executive Dan Hesse admitted that it was the biggest contributor to the Now Network’s decline of subscribers. T-Mobile CEO Philip Humm made it all clear - it’s because of T-Mobile’s unique bands.

“The key reason we didn’t have the iPhone in the past is we are on different band than globally the market was,” Humm said in an interview. “That is something which will change over time. Chipsets are also evolving to be able to allow for more bands.”

T-Mobile is known for using the 1700/2100MHz AWS bands for its 3G network, while most other GSM carriers ride the 850, 900, 1900 or 2100 MHz frequencies. Hardware-wise, this requires the inclusion of a special chip to support the carrier’s frequencies and Apple has clearly not included one.

The hope is that Apple could include existing pentaband silicon as for example Nokia has done with some of its latest Symbian devices. This would mean global network compatibility, so a handset can work on T-Mobile, but also various European operators.

Humm also assured that the carrier will continue offering “Value” plans. Currently, T-Mobile is considered to be the most affordable among the four major US carriers. Finally, when it comes to LTE, the CEO is seeing the full benefits of the technology in the long term and that’s why it’s not rushing to get a network, but he admits it’s the technology of the future.

source: AllThingsD

Discuss21

Prev news
Sprint Samsung Galaxy Nexus to arrive with 32GB of memory, not 16GB 11 Jan

Next news
Morgan Stanley sets the bar high for Windows Phone - predicts 37 million 11 Jan

21 Comments
Follow Following

Post Comment
View options
Close
Show comments: Display mode:

1. protozeloz posted on 11 Jan 2012, 08:50 0 2

Ha! I knew it!

2. remixfa posted on 11 Jan 2012, 08:53 8 4

pentaband phones have been around longer than the i4s. its a nice cover story for "we didn't want to get raped like sprint did"... and that's about it. if the price was right the i4s would have nbeen pentaband

7. greathero1 posted on 11 Jan 2012, 09:48 1 0

Rape? Interesting but bad choice for analogy.

20. remixfa posted on 11 Jan 2012, 16:12 4 1

what do you call being forced to bend over and hand over about 3 years worth of actual profit to apple to carry a stupid phone???

3. ghost__uwi posted on 11 Jan 2012, 08:54 1 1

I think this was stated before ?

4. DROIDX0430 posted on 11 Jan 2012, 09:13 4 1

bologna...if Apple can build radio chips for Verizon and Sprint...then they could have did it for T-Mobile.....Apple probably wanted too much of the pie for each serving of iphone activated on T-mobile--T-Mobile's revenue is not as large as AT&T, Verizon and Sprint--so losing that much revenue on a phone just don't make since for T mobile....hey Verizon raised the price of all it's LTE Android phones to $299 to help offset the cost of selling the $649.. MSRP, 16gb iphone 4 and 4S......they go for $199.00 on VW, while the same MSRP phone (Bionic, RAZR, Nexus all were launched at $299.

10. greathero1 posted on 11 Jan 2012, 10:16 0 1

Please. TMobile can more than handle the subsidy. If some of the bootleg carriers in the 3rd World can offer the iPhone, I highly doubt TMobile would have any issues at all. As for the comment about VZ offsetting Apple subsidy costs, that is complete speculation and has little to no merit. Since it is for LTE phones, why couldn't VZ be using that extra cash to fund the accelerated build out costs for there LTE network? That network is not paying for itself and since their are no LTE data fees seperate from 3G, why couldn't this be reason? Why couldn't VZ just be trying to capitalize on their marketing for 4G? In there eyes it could be why should I sell my 4G phones at the same price as my 3G phones? This is a new blazing fast technology. Why not charge a premium for our service since customers are getting much better benefits? Especially when all of their plans are already a huge premium compared to the competition. It really just falls into line with all of their other pricing models. I mean, there are so many variables and reasons that make more sense but your Apple biased always take you and the other rabid fanboys to the one that makes Apple look more greedy or painted in a negative light.

5. dbparipsa posted on 11 Jan 2012, 09:42 0 0

I think you misspelt thing as "tihng" in the first line of this article.

6. Johnny_Mnemonic posted on 11 Jan 2012, 09:44 3 0

T-mobile is the smartest carrier out there , best costumer service

11. greathero1 posted on 11 Jan 2012, 10:18 2 1

Lol! No I think that goes to VZ. The numbers dont lie.

19. Johnny_Mnemonic posted on 11 Jan 2012, 12:53 1 1

I agree vz. Has good customer service not like at&t

8. greathero1 posted on 11 Jan 2012, 09:52 1 1

I think both sides will come to some kind of agreement and make this thing happen in time for the iPhone 4G/5 whatever. I hope so because I would like to try the iPhone out and see what its all about but there is no way in hell im moving over to VZ or ATT to get taken to the cleaners every month. Come on TMobile and Apple, make this thing happen.

9. gallitoking posted on 11 Jan 2012, 10:15 1 4

dont carry the iphone.. fine.. without LTE and without the iphone.. please... it the 4th carrier and will remain the 4th carrier...

18. Johnny_Mnemonic posted on 11 Jan 2012, 12:48 2 2

Gallito T-Mobile don't need crap ( iPhone ) to have good sales please!!!

12. InspectorGadget80 posted on 11 Jan 2012, 10:23 0 1

The journalist misspelled tihng its thing.

13. DROIDX0430 posted on 11 Jan 2012, 10:36 2 0

greathero must be on T-Mobile---innercity coverage only on that network...try driving from Miami to Tampa with T mobile---you lose coverage for 70 miles on Alligator Alley....

14. greathero1 posted on 11 Jan 2012, 10:40 1 0

Dude I am and I live in the city (Houston) and my coverage is still iffy in a metro area of 5.5 million people but its the price I pay to pay the price I like. I just want them to come to an agreement so that I can try the phone out lol! I have no allegiance with any OS, I just like phones. I have tried just about everything except the iPhone and really need TMobile to coax Apple to include the 1700/2100 band. I want an iPhone but I refuse to use Edge only.

15. DROIDX0430 posted on 11 Jan 2012, 11:09 0 0

Fair enough! i'll thumb you up!

16. godsarmylds posted on 11 Jan 2012, 11:11 1 0

I said it once and i will say it again. I think it would be a horrile chice for t-mobiles customers to get an iphone. I bet you in T-mobile gets the iphone your plans will go up in cost.

17. greathero1 posted on 11 Jan 2012, 11:34 0 1

I think what we want at TMobile is the choice to purchase an iPhone or not. Choice is good whether you approve or not.