T-Mobile USA eyeing iPhone launch this year or next?
By Chris Ziegler 
posted March 18th 2010 5:12PM
posted March 18th 2010 5:12PM
We don't like to stir up the nearly constant barrage of "so-and-so is getting the iPhone" rumors unless we've got a great reason to do so -- and we'd argue that a Financial Times report involving statements from Deutsche Telekom's CEO qualifies. The British rag was chatting up DT's boss over the prospects of its American unit -- T-Mobile USA -- and stressed the company's long-term commitment to turning around T-Mobile's fortunes in the face of recent spinoff rumors, saying that it's all about rapidly building out a speedy 3G network as part of an effort this year "to lay the foundation for future growth."Here's where it gets juicy: referring to the iPhone, the report goes on to say that "T-Mobile USA is hoping to start selling the popular smartphone later this year or next year" while focusing on Android in the meantime, as if Android is merely a stopgap measure to make it through to the singular device that can save America's number four carrier from going down the tubes. It's not clear whether FT got the chief exec making a statement to that effect on the record or it's merely gleaning this knowledge from other rumors, but the only way this would be able to happen is if the next iPhone were to come in an AWS-compatible version -- and that seems unlikely considering that AWS coverage represents a trivially small fraction of 3G subscribers around the world. Of course, wireless CEOs of all walks of life regularly make statements saying they'd be more than happy to carry the iPhone if the opportunity presented itself, so this could be little more than off-the-cuff blather anyway.
It wouldn't save them from going down the tubes, but my wife and I would head back to T-Mobile in a heartbeat if they got the next iPhone.
With Android and WebOS on multiple carriers it is inevitable that the iPhone will come to more carriers in the US.
This story is complete and utter bullcrap. It's not the reporting though. It's the delusions of grandeur on T-Mobile's part. iPhone is exclusive to AT&T for 5 years. Count em, 5 years. USA Today reported this way back in 2007. We're not seeing any iPhones on T-Mobile until 2012, at the earliest. Let's also think about 4G rollout. We're not seeing 4G networks really built out to a national level until 2012 either. Verizon is starting now, Sprint is well ahead, AT&T is starting in 2011, and T-Mobile is going to be using HSPA+ as a bridge technology until whenever they deploy 4G.
I'm sure there are some places where T-Mobile has better 3G coverage than AT&T. But AT&T's network is bigger. I'm getting tired of people complaining all the time about AT&T exclusivity and so for that reason, I hope that T-Mobile gets the iPhone soon and that it makes Verizon speed up their LTE transition, assuming they will use LTE for voice too. I'd love to see T-Mobile get the iPhone for another reason as well: so we can move some congestion and data consumption to another network and relieve some of the pressure on AT&T, since they clearly can't handle it. But given what we know now, this is just more pointless posturing and blah blah blah from a CEO who would love to carry the iPhone but won't be able to for a couple of years.
The iPhone's getting a little dated isn't it?
What's the big deal anyway... iPhone isn't everything......
I would like to try an android device
They woNt have it for verizon anymore?!
As it is currently, Verizon needs to build a GSM network for the iPhone to work on Verizon. Apple doesn't need to do anything. It is not in their interest to make CDMA specific hardware that would be used mostly in the US. The Apple brand is a global one. That is why it is easier for T-Mobile USA to carry the iPhone over Strictly CDMA carriers like Verizon.