Is T-Mobile USA getting fitted for the Apple iPhone 4?

posted by Alan F. / Apr 23, 2011, 7:30 PM

Is T-Mobile USA getting fitted for the Apple iPhone 4?

It's unknown whether or not this took place before the announcement of the AT&T/T-Mobile merger, but a photograph seems to show a white Apple iPhone being tested on T-Mobile USA's AWS frequencies. The handset in the picture is Model N94 compared to N92 for the Verizon iPhone and N90 for the AT&T variant. The Apple iPhone in the picture is running a test version of iOS with apps such as the Apple Employee Directory.

So what does this mean? Again, it all goes back to the timing of the testing. If it occurred before the merger news broke, we could see a T-Mobile branded Apple iPhone in the not too distant future. If the testing came after the merger was announced, than T-Mobile customers will probably need to wait for the merger to be completed. Either way, the iPhone 4 will probably be replaced with the next model by the time T-Mobile customers get their shot at an Apple smartphone. What we see is probably just Apple testing a T-Mobile enabled radio, using the current iPhone hardware although we might add that the proximity sensor is said to look different than the one on the upcoming white iPhone 4 launching by month's end.

Either way, it looks like T-Mobile USA customers will get a shot at buying an Apple iPhone. As far as when, well, that still is up in the air.

source: BGR

Was this testing done before or after the announcement of the AT&T/T-Mobile merger?

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28 Comments

1. X-clusive unregistered

Why didnt apple do a nationwide release on all 4 carriers??? This exclusive to one phone carrier is the stupid as hell from a $$$ standpoint for manufacturers at least.

posted on Apr 23, 2011, 7:43 PM 3

2. Kjayhawk

Posts: 294; Member since: Oct 07, 2010

they had a deal with AT&T. Also this looks like a jailbroken iPhone...

posted on Apr 23, 2011, 8:06 PM 1

18. ssjassassin

Posts: 108; Member since: Aug 31, 2009

They needed a good deal and they got one. They asked for the world and only got half of it. They started out selling only at the retail price then lowered it by demand. They then started to make a new one for every year. After time goes by they move to more carriers and control growth to a gradual and consistent upward swing. Seems to me that the way they are selling iphone is working perfectly. Creating allot of desire out of people who cant switch or wont switch carriers. The manufacturers dont give a shit about what they make or how many as long as they are making. They will fire people if business dips and hire as it grows.

posted on Apr 24, 2011, 2:15 AM 0

3. fiveizzo unregistered

It's not a jailbroken phone. Jailbroken iphones don't get 3g on tmobile, only edge....

posted on Apr 23, 2011, 8:29 PM 3

23. Kjayhawk

Posts: 294; Member since: Oct 07, 2010

But you can change that to say t-mobile on a jailbroken device.

posted on Apr 24, 2011, 10:18 AM 0

24. remixfa

Posts: 14605; Member since: Dec 19, 2008

you can make it say "T-Mobile" easily, you cant make it have 3G without Tmobile's radios. A jailbroken Iphone is EDGE only on Tmobile. Tmobile uses 3G radios that noone else does. PA, Why would they need to wait for the merger? Again, I question your motives. Tmobile's 3G/HSPA+ frequencies wont be turned off right away after the merger. Your train of thought forces them onto an ATT plan instead of leaving them on a Tmobile plan which is much cheaper and gives them better 3g service. Besides, its BUSINESS AS USUAL until the merger is APPROVED, which is a YEAR away. You think Apple cares if people buy a Tmobile phone and then are forced to buy an ATT phone one day when the 3g signals get cut? That only helps them out.

posted on Apr 24, 2011, 10:58 AM 1

29. Kjayhawk

Posts: 294; Member since: Oct 07, 2010

lol sorry :P. Didn't even pay attention to the 3g

posted on Apr 24, 2011, 1:12 PM 0

30. Gsmalltheway

Posts: 272; Member since: Aug 15, 2009

Yes there is an app in cydia where you can make it say whatever you want where the 3g is.... install either i complete theme or ielegance and there will be wings where the 3g is

posted on Apr 24, 2011, 8:01 PM 0

4. Rawrzellers

Posts: 224; Member since: Aug 22, 2010

This wouldn't make any sense considering the merger. Unless they intend to run T-Mobile as a separate company after the merger, I don't know why they would bother making an iPhone for T-Mobile.

posted on Apr 23, 2011, 8:45 PM 2

19. ssjassassin

Posts: 108; Member since: Aug 31, 2009

Because when they disband the t-mobile network to make room for LTE they will be able to force everyone to buy a new iphone and get more contracts. They will under no circumstance let the t-mobile name live after the take over unless small divested markets keep the name like alltel. Also something people seem to miss is that this deal is not done T-mobile must continue to compete for business as a separate company. They will open stores they will sign new contracts for phones like iphone and sell them. They will keep moving forward until the day the deal is signed and then some because of the transitional period. You dont just stop working because someone says they might be able to buy you that would be damn stupid if anything you want to grow your value to ask for more money.

posted on Apr 24, 2011, 2:22 AM 2

33. remixfa

Posts: 14605; Member since: Dec 19, 2008

because its BUSINESS AS USUAL until the Merger gets APPROVED. They arent going to stop releasing phones. That would not make sense. Also if the merger goes through, Tmobile's 3g isnt going to just dissapear over night.

posted on Apr 25, 2011, 7:11 AM 1

5. jdog unregistered

This is just a guess PA and BGR but the date on the picture of the iphone shows April 14, 2011 and the potential merger was announced a few weeks before that so I would say t-mobile loyalists will have to wait until the next-gen iphone comes out.

posted on Apr 23, 2011, 9:08 PM 0

7. skymitch89

Posts: 1451; Member since: Nov 05, 2010

If the At&t iPhone 4 is model number N90, Verizon's is N92, and the supposed T-Mobile iPhone is N94; then were is model numbers N91 and N93? I bet that one of those, probably N93, is going to be for Sprint. Personally I don't care for the iPhone, but think that it would give Apple a bit more advantage against Android to have wider availability because of Android's wide spread usage.

posted on Apr 23, 2011, 9:30 PM 0

9. sun0066

Posts: 251; Member since: Feb 12, 2011

and do you think for metropcs too?

posted on Apr 23, 2011, 9:51 PM 0

15. joshanth

Posts: 5; Member since: Aug 10, 2010

i would guess Apple only used even numbers. only a guess though.

posted on Apr 23, 2011, 11:37 PM 0

10. calistajones unregistered

I just wanna know why doesn't apple release the iphone on all 4 major carriers in the usa? I mean if they done it in canada and australia and and some parts of europe the iphone is available on more than 3 carriers why da hell can't they do it in the usa??

posted on Apr 23, 2011, 9:53 PM 0

11. OhSo3D

Posts: 39; Member since: Feb 22, 2011

Here's an idea. Make an iphone 5 on sprint with WiMax. That would be an iphone I would buy.

posted on Apr 23, 2011, 10:01 PM 2

31. Gsmalltheway

Posts: 272; Member since: Aug 15, 2009

Haha WiMax sucks majorly. It is so sparatic and it only gets about 3mbs compared to Tmobile where i can get 6 on 3G and 12-15 on 4g

posted on Apr 24, 2011, 8:05 PM 0

12. quakan

Posts: 1418; Member since: Mar 02, 2011

Awwwww :-(((( sprint will be left out!!! hahahahahahahahaha

posted on Apr 23, 2011, 10:02 PM 4

22. cellgeek82

Posts: 518; Member since: Dec 20, 2009

Sometimes I think they want to be left out. They do a wonderful job of being the oddball. Take "4G" for example. Everyone announced they were going to LTE, then Sprint shows up on the playground and in their nerdy sort of way was proud to annouce they were going to use WiMAX. Another article said that all the major carriers were going to adopt a mobile payment system...but Sprint said they were going to do their own thing. To this day all the carriers are still knocking the books out of Sprints hands and everyone points and laughs. I'm surprised that Sprint hasn't asked Apple to make an iDEN only iPhone for their network.

posted on Apr 24, 2011, 7:32 AM 2

13. joey18

Posts: 647; Member since: Jul 20, 2010

The problem with sprint when tmo and att get together all customer will go to verizon or att the only way the sprint survive is get close to verizon or metro pcs make bigger network why tmo are saling they company is no bsness with biggers carrier

posted on Apr 23, 2011, 10:28 PM 0

14. vvelez5

Posts: 623; Member since: Jan 29, 2011

You get a thumbs down for grammar

posted on Apr 23, 2011, 11:25 PM 2

16. paxor unregistered

LOOOOOOOOOL

posted on Apr 23, 2011, 11:39 PM 0

26. mark1 unregistered

niceeeee.... finaly, really hope that it comes to tmobile, all stay with my flexpay unlimited everything for $80 no 2gb cap and get grandfather in to att if the merger goes true, with probably will, hope not, the only bummer is the the biggest iPhone in memory wise is the 32, still getting one if it comes to tmobile and then all get the iphone 6 not 5,.

posted on Apr 24, 2011, 11:54 AM 0

27. box unregistered

Personally I don't want the ifail on T-Mobile. Crap device, data hog, and the current lineup is about to get even better with the 4 Nokia smartphohes coming out

posted on Apr 24, 2011, 12:20 PM 1

28. luis_lopez_351

Posts: 951; Member since: Nov 18, 2010

oh yeah! if this icrap goes to t-mobile then their would be more data traffic and slower speeds...Apple keep your hands off tmo!!!

posted on Apr 24, 2011, 12:58 PM 0

32. InspectorGadget80 unregistered

You guys love APPLE just as much as Engadget does. Why would T-Mobile want the Iphone when they make campaign ads against the Iphone and they MOSTLY SUPPORT ANDROID OS not IOS Iphone