In line with its launch previously announced launch plans, T-Mobile USA today officially launched the iPhone, offering the iPhone 5 nationwide and the iPhone 4S and 4 in markets where the devices are supported on its network. The T-Mobile iPhone is also available through Apple's online store at full price with interest-free financing offered through Barclaycard.
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TechCrunch notes that some T-Mobile retail stores are seeing small lines this morning as customers seek to purchase the device using under T-Mobile's new "Uncarrier" service plans which begin at $50/month with no contract. The business model separates the device and service costs, putting the full unsubsidized device cost onto a separate 24-month payment plan.
As noted by TmoNews, T-Mobile has also rolled out a new television ad for the iPhone, touting the pairing of the popular device with T-Mobile's network and service plans.
It's the phone that's revolutionizing phones. Make sure it's running on the carrier that's revolutionizing wireless. Introducing iPhone 5 on T-Mobile. With our advanced nationwide 4G network, and no more restrictive annual contracts required, only T-Mobile lets your iPhone 5 be as great as an iPhone 5.
Top Rated Comments
Welcome to the way it suppose to be, America.
Check your sources. This is an apocryphal quote. What Gates actually said is that the move from 64K to 640K was planned to provide enough memory for ten years, but it ended up running out in six. Yes, he was surprised that 640K of memory wasn't enough, but it was a timeframe misjudgement, not a case of thinking it was all that would ever be needed.
General rule, they'll unlock it once it's paid off. However, talking to a support person over the phone, I was told they'll consider special cases (i.e. traveling abroad) for early unlocking.
Uh, it's not quite as simple as that. Two cases:
First case (the one most people think about), you buy a phone and keep it 3 years before buying a new phone. In this case, if you accept the premise that the cost of TMo (plan + financed phone) is essentially the same as AT&T or Verizon (contract plan with subsidized phone), you save money for the year when you're not paying for the phone, or about $240.
Second case (the one that most people seem to overlook), you want to buy a new phone every year. With AT&T and Verizon, you have to pay full price for the new phone upfront. No options. Further, because your old phone is still within its contract period, they won't unlock it to make it easier for you to sell. So, it's a double lose situation. With TMo you can pay off your old phone, unlock it, then buy the new phone under finance and sell the old phone. Odds are that you'll make more off your old phone than the pay off cost, so you may net enough to cover the down payment on the new phone. Thus, your final cost is zero, and you've moved to upgrading your phone every year, instead of every other year.
Food for though...