T-Mobile USA Claims Over One Million iPhones Running On Its Network

Thursday June 23, 2011 7:48 AM PDT by Eric Slivka

9 to 5 Mac reports that a spokesperson for T-Mobile USA has disclosed the carrier currently has over one million iPhone users on its network, despite the fact that Apple has not offered an unlocked iPhone in the United States until the past several weeks and that differences between T-Mobile's network and other GSM networks that mean that iPhones are unable to run at 3G speeds on T-Mobile.
In a meeting with T-Mobile spokespeople today ahead of the NYC Pepcom event, I received word that there are actively over a million Apple iPhones currently on T-Mobile's network. When asked for a breakdown, the spokesman said the majority were pre-iPhone 4 but that a significant amount of people had "taken the scissors" to their T-Mobile SIM cards. T-Mobile doesn't currently offer a Micro-SIM solution for Apple's iPhone 4 so people who want to use the iPhone 4 must modify their SIMs into MicroSIMs.
T-Mobile noted that it is planning to roll out micro-SIMs at some unspecified time in the future, but declined to discuss any possibility of the iPhone coming directly to the carrier's network.

AT&T announced back in March that it planned to acquire T-Mobile for $39 billion, although federal regulators are still assessing the impact of the potential merger before giving a final go-ahead on the plans.

46 comments


Top Rated Comments

(View all)
Avatar
lehite
106 months ago

Hmmm. Maybe all these illegal jailbreakers should be prosecuted..


Jailbreaking is not illegal. At all.
Rating: 17 Votes
Avatar
tasset
106 months ago
The fact that 1 million people will live on the fringe with Edge data speeds, Tmobile coverage, and use older OS versions for fear of losing their unlocks, speaks volumes to the extent people will go to avoid AT&T.
The FCC/DOJ should consider this in assessing the damage a Tmobile acquisition will do to consumer choice and the strength being afforded to the Sister Bell's control over the market.
Rating: 6 Votes
Avatar
goobot
106 months ago

The fact that 1 million people will live on the fringe with Edge data speeds, Tmobile coverage, and use older OS versions for fear of losing their unlocks, speaks volumes to the extent people will go to avoid AT&T.
The FCC/DOJ should consider this in assessing the damage a Tmobile acquisition will do to consumer choice and the strength being afforded to the Sister Bell's control over the market.


Just saying, most of the people that have an iphone on t-mobile are there because of the cheap data plans they can get. My friend was doing it for 2 years because it was cheap yet he always got no service. He finally switched to att and has perfect service. Im sure most wouldnt do it if t-mobile forced smart phone data plans on them.
Rating: 5 Votes
Avatar
nostaws
106 months ago
I am an iPhone user on T-Mobile. I don't have a data plan (I did in the past), I just have Wifi about everywhere I go.

When I did have EDGE data is was good enough to use google maps when in a pinch, check a blog, or get email. Not the fastest, but serviceable while out and about.

T-Mobile service is great where I live and I haven't had any problems.

I will admit, that it took me forever to upgrade to the latest OS because I don't like the hassle of jailbreaking. I let several updates pass.
Rating: 5 Votes
Avatar
reactions
106 months ago

Hmmm. Maybe all these illegal jailbreakers should be prosecuted..


And yet another troll..

I had run on the tmobile network and if you are single and want a good price per month tmobile is a great alternative to AT&T

I'm surprised there aren't more people

$5.99 unlimited Internet was nice while I had it ;)
Rating: 5 Votes
Avatar
justinfreid
106 months ago

Technically, this is Unlocking, and it IS against the law in the US.


Really? Please cite your source.
I don't think it is: http://jstnfrd.com/mAZqzu.
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
nagromme
106 months ago
I believe it! Carrying a dumbphone plus a WiFi-only iPod Touch is a highly functional combination. Carrying an iPhone with EDGE and WiFi both, and only one device to lug, is a step up from that!
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
TMar
106 months ago

Hmmm. Maybe all these illegal jailbreakers should be prosecuted..


Knock the dust off your law degree and go get 'em :rolleyes: It's hard to be prosecuted for something that isn't illegal...
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
Menge
106 months ago
Back in May when I went to the US I took my unlocked iPhone 4 over and bought a T-Mobile SIM. The salesperson didn't seem all that worried about me telling him that I would use it in my iPhone 4. He even offered me a pair of scissors so I could cut it right then and there at the store!

I believe this.
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
supmango
106 months ago

The fact that 1 million people will live on the fringe with Edge data speeds, Tmobile coverage, and use older OS versions for fear of losing their unlocks, speaks volumes to the extent people will go to avoid AT&T....


Yep, I know I would. If I could get an iPhone to work on Sprint, I would dump my HTC Evo faster than you can say "Android sucks (insert your own explicative here)." Picture the Office Space scene with the fax machine.
Rating: 2 Votes
[ Read All Comments ]