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Friday, November 05, 2010, 12:35 pm
T-Mobile US mysteriously begins selling Apple iPhone USB cable
T-Mobile has reportedly begun selling its own branded "Charge & Sync USB Cable" licensed for Apple's iPhone, fueling speculation that the handset could soon become available on the American carrier.A photo of the product, also licensed for use with Apple's line of iPods, was provided by an anonymous source to Engadget on Friday. The source indicated that T-Mobile's corporate stores in the U.S. will now carry the cables, leading to speculation that their stocking could be in preparation for an iPhone launch.
Since the device debuted in 2007, the iPhone has been exclusive to AT&T in the U.S.
The USB cable could also be seen as evidence that T-Mobile will begin selling the iPad. Apple recently partnered with Verizon -- another carrier that does not sell the iPhone -- to sell its touchscreen tablet last month. However, T-Mobile's retail box makes no mention of the iPad.
The apparent availability of the product comes as a T-Mobile executive this week blamed the company's poor performance on the fact that it does not sell the iPhone in the U.S. The carrier has 33.76 million customers, making it the smallest of the four major wireless carriers in America.
T-Mobile this week also released a new advertisement parodying Apple's "Get a Mac" commercials, and suggesting that the iPhone 4 is held back by AT&T's network. The carrier is advertising its expanding HSPA+ network as "America's Largest 4G Network."
T-Mobile has long been rumored to be a potential home for the iPhone, should Apple's exclusive agreement with AT&T end. However, most rumors of late have focused on Verizon, with numerous major media outlets reporting that it will offer a CDMA version of the iPhone in January 2011.
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Previous Comments View All
This could also mean that Apple is trying to get T-mumble to sell this inventory for them so T-Mumble can start selling the old, Nokia handsets - probably 5-10 million of them before Nokia buys T-Mumble!!! So T-Mumble is becoming kinda like the e-bay of old telephony tech...hummm... warehouse prices for old parts with rust!! Come get a thousand today!!!
Looks like T-MUMBLE is about to crater.
Um, no. Apple doesn't have warehouses full of black charging cables. For that matter, why would T-Mobile bother to put their own brand on it? You make no sense, Bwinski.
On the other hand, as an unlocked iPhone user on T-Mobile, it would be great for them to start carrying it... unless it meant I could no longer keep my ultra-low, no-data voice plan that I use right now with this iPhone 2G.
If their customers are using iphones it only makes sense to offer accessories...
That was my thought, too. Last time I visited a T-Mobile store the employees didn't try to hide the fact that iPhones worked on their network.
There is really no story (nor conspiracy) here. T-Mobile has been actively helping iPhone users unlock their phones since 2007, and they gladly support and welcome the iPhone on their network. If you call up T-Mobile and tell them you have an iPhone, they will be more than happy to transfer you to their iPhone team to help you unlock your phone and get whatever support you need. This cable is probably just to help out their existing customers.
iPad.
That was my thought, too. Last time I visited a T-Mobile store the employees didn't try to hide the fact that iPhones worked on their network.
I got the same story and an offer to upgrade my service to accommodate the iPhone (without the at&t bells and whistles, of course).
iPad.
hmm if I can get an already subsidized iPhone from ATT to put on my network for a customer, even if it works on 2G.... its a cash cow for me as a carrier. I bet there are a few iPhones on Tmo's network
iPad.
There ya go. Nothing more to see here, folks, move along.
If true, this certainly shines a new light on their latest television campaign. The ads are clearly designed to cast AT&T as the villain...not iPhone.
If Apple intends to try to keep up with Android, they are going to have to expand the number of networks they are available on. Maybe we're seeing the first signs that the AT&T stranglehold is about to be broken.
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They might just be overwelmed with people who come in requiring service/support that already utilize the tmobile network with jailbroken iphones? Prolly a stretch but who knows. But... if their customers are using iphones it only makes sense to offer accessories...