T-Mobile USA Focused on 'Selling Against the iPhone' Starting September 21

TmoNews reports (via Engadget) that it has received a pair of photos from T-Mobile USA's internal news system announcing that the carrier will be rolling out new training programs focused on "selling against the iPhone". The new training modules are being deployed on September 21, the rumored launch day for the next-generation iPhone in the United States.

Perhaps it’s coincidental that the information for employees to utilize against the iPhone will drop on September 21st, a date being tossed around as a possible release date for the next-generation iPhone. Perhaps it’s just coincidence but we can’t envision a scenario in which T-Mobile would prepare their employees to sell against a product they are about to receive.

tmobile selling against iphone
T-Mobile is the only one of the four major U.S. carriers to not officially offer the iPhone, hampered by its use of 3G spectrum bands that are not supported by iPhone models released to date. That has not stopped customers from bringing their GSM iPhones to the carrier for use on its 2G network, and T-Mobile has been working to increase support for the over one million iPhones in use on its network even as it seeks to downplay the impact of its official absence to potential customers.

Following its failed merger with AT&T, T-Mobile USA announced earlier this year that its work on refarming spectrum would make the carrier's 4G HSPA+ network compatible with a broader range of devices, including the iPhone, by the end of 2012. Today's report from TmoNews reveals that T-Mobile is also rolling out new Monthly4G SIM kits that are compatible with the iPhone 4S and 4 later this month, perhaps signaling an increased effort to attract iPhone customers as its iPhone-compatible HSPA+ network reaches critical mass.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

maxresdefault

Apple Shows Off a Key Reason to Upgrade to the iPhone 17

Saturday February 7, 2026 9:26 am PST by
Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie. "Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says These 7 U.S. States Plan to Offer iPhone Driver's Licenses

Monday February 9, 2026 6:24 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future. To set up the...
m5 macbook pro deal

Why You Shouldn't Buy the Next MacBook Pro

Tuesday February 10, 2026 4:27 pm PST by
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models as soon as early March, but if you can, this is one generation you should skip because there's something much better in the works. We're waiting on 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, with few changes other than the processor upgrade. There won't be any tweaks to the design or the display, but later this...
Apple Logo Zoomed

Apple Expected to Launch These 10+ Products Over the Coming Months

Tuesday February 10, 2026 6:33 am PST by
It has been a slow start to 2026 for Apple product launches, with only a new AirTag and a special Apple Watch band released so far. We are still waiting for MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the iPhone 17e, a lower-cost MacBook with an iPhone chip, long-rumored updates to the Apple TV and HomePod mini, and much more. Apple is expected to release/update the following products...
iOS 26

Apple Releases iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3

Wednesday February 11, 2026 10:07 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3, the latest updates to the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 operating systems that came out in September. The new software comes almost two months after Apple released iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. According to Apple's release notes, ...

Top Rated Comments

iSamurai Avatar
176 months ago
...the most innovative phone on the market.
oh wow! a stretched iphone with an extra row of icons! so innovative! :D
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Blackberryroid Avatar
176 months ago
T-Mobile is making a horrible choice. Going against the most innovative phone on the market.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FSMBP Avatar
176 months ago
So they're just following what AT&T and Verizon does? :p
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MyMacintosh Avatar
176 months ago
There goes my hope for iPhone coming to T-Mobile
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rdlink Avatar
176 months ago
Is this story on here meant to indicate that T-Mobile isn't getting the iPhone or validation of the release date? Or that somehow - they are "evil" for training their sales staff for how to remain competitive against the iPhone?

Not much news here.

Why are you trying to imply editorial commentary where there isn't any currently? This was a reporting of pertinent Apple related news as it relates to a major US telephone carrier. The implications of this information are that TMO doesn't look to be getting the iPhone anytime soon, and they potentially have inside information as to the launch date, since their purported push on selling against the iPhone corresponds with the rumored date of release of the new model. The story in no way implies that TMO is evil for doing this.

And as someone who waited for years to get an iPhone on TMO before throwing in the towel and moving to VZ, I find this one of the more interesting rumor stories published on this site in days, if not weeks.

I also find it kind of sad. TMO continues to stand on the outside, looking in...
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
176 months ago
Who says Apple isn't unwilling to let them have the iPhone? But if it a TMO decision then they're missing out.

Depends. Look at the hole Sprint got themselves into for making their deal with Apple...
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)