AppleInsider Staff
Pre-orders for T-Mobile's version of the iPhone 5 went live early Friday ahead of a rollout next week, finally heralding the introduction of Apple's popular handset to America's fourth-largest wireless carrier.
In line with its announcement last week, T-Mobile has started accepting pre-sale orders for Apple's iPhone 5 after having gone years without official access to the device. The telecom is the last of the "Big Four" U.S. wireless carriers to ink a deal with Apple, though nearly two million "unofficial" iPhones are currently operating on T-Mobile's 3G network.
The iPhone 5's T-Mobile debut lines up with the company's "Uncarrier" campaign, which drops phone subsidies in exchange for lower monthly rates. Under the new plan, a 16-gigabyte iPhone 5 will be sold for a $99 up front fee, with 20 additional monthly payments of $20 covering the remaining cost of the hardware.
When Apple's phone hits store shelves on April 12, T-Mobile subscribers will be able to use the device to access the carrier's new LTE network in seven U.S. markets: Kansas City, Kan., Houston, Tex., Las Vegas, Nev., Phoenix, Ariz., San Jose, Calif., and Washington D.C.
One analyst believes Apple's entrance on T-Mobile will have more of an impact to Apple's bottom line than market watchers speculate, as the carrier is expected to close a merger deal with MetroPCS, growing the number of addressable subscribers from 33 million to 42 million.
T-Mobile first announced it would begin selling Apple products in December of 2012, but at the time did not specify a rollout timeline.
Marko Zivkovic
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18 Comments
applw winning, I mean doom
No doubt the story will send AAPL down some more, why can't we get some bad news and help the stock? /s
Considering T-Mobile is selling the iPhone 5 for $70 under retail, anyone wanting an unlocked iPhone would be foolish to buy one elsewhere. Yes, pay full-price from T-Mobile, and they will happily submit the unlock for you. That's what I'll be doing when the next iPhone (5S) comes out. Hopefully T-Mobile continues this trend with pricing.
Tmobile has messed up the pre-order. To pre order you must pay full price, NO monthly option. Customer service supervisor "understands my frustration" but there is nothing to be done! They have taken down the Tmobile FaceBook page, which must have been full of angry comments! This is SOME way to treat long time customers!
Considering T-Mobile is selling the iPhone 5 for $70 under retail, anyone wanting an unlocked iPhone would be foolish to buy one elsewhere. Yes, pay full-price from T-Mobile, and they will happily submit the unlock for you. That's what I'll be doing when the next iPhone (5S) comes out. Hopefully T-Mobile continues this trend with pricing.
Maybe could it be that the $70 discount is because the iPhone 5 that T-Mo is selling is due to be eclipsed in short fashion by the 5S or 6 or whatever. That is, the price cut that will be fall the iPhone 5 being sold by (AT&T, VZW, Sprint, and everyone else) when the 5S/6 is released is baked right into todays T-Mo's price.
Maybe, maybe not. That's my guess.