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.
@Kunta Kinte
Well said.
AT&T wont like this announcement one bit
@AlienSix At&T can eat dog shit. It's somebody else's turn to get the cash flow rolling..
@ashleythehottiest Oh believe me, I agree with you
@AlienSix Its AT&T's fault they didn't spend their buckets of cash on their newtork.
@Dustin Yeah they instead put it into advertising and Owen Wilson
@AlienSix luke wilson
@Snow Tech Thanks for the correction
The nose gives it away...
@AlienSix
Someone named Ralphie D joked about “sloppy seconds” and quoted a famous renaissance poet name Shaquille O’Neal who said: Yo, T-Mo, tell me how my azz taste! lol...
Hey, if I was T-Mo I would reply by saying: Ralphie D, you got pantsed by your "iGirl". Me? Pimpz up, Ho'z down. Check the newest addition to my stable in one week (HD2). Sayin...
I have the t-mobile nexus one, why would I downgrade?
@B3astofthe3ast wouldn't you want a Steve Jobs virtual blowjob? Everyone's doing it!
@B3astofthe3ast Yes that amazing phone that you will likely never be able to upgrade. Awesome!
@B3astofthe3ast
Depends really. If you're happy with the phone and its available software, then you can continue to use it happily.
The iPhone has a lot more love from developers right now. An example would be the new Square-Enix RPG that's being developed for the iPhone. I have a feeling that it's going to be a while before Android isn't just a "me too" platform that is happy just to get ports of big titles.
I can understand that a lot of you guys like to have a mobile OS that you can tweak, customize, and use to install unsupported software. What you guys need to realize is that there's a lot of us out there that place big content above being able to heavily customize the OS.
For you, going to an iPhone would be a downgrade. For me, going to a Nexus One would be a downgrade. Get it?
@ebgolfin
I could not have said it any better,
@ebgolfin Well said, I am excited for all the technologies that are out and will be out. It is more competition and that ultimately means better devices for us. All the "fill in the blank" bashing needs to go.
I'd prefer an iPhone with WiMAX and LTE available for all of the big four.
@HurricaneDC yup
would be better if it was Verizon, they'd get more customers but I guess this will work in the meanwhile...
Personally i'm waiting for the SS or N1 on Sprint :D
"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"
I'm having a very difficult time believing that
@stubby boardman Didn't see that one coming!
Oh man. That's me outsmarted
@Kunta Kinte I feel weird saying this given your past comments but... agreed.
Maybe Apple should take some pointers from Google and release the phone on every carrier. Doubt that will happen in my lifetime though.
@scots79 Its only the US who have got it so bad with the iPhone. Apple have released it on four major carriers in the UK, and I'm pretty sure rest of Europe is the same. Not really sure what's stopping them in the US, AT&T seem to have a very firm grip on steve's balls. Regardless it would be massive if they started selling on different networks...since selling it on different carriers in the UK, everywhere u look someone has an iPhone.
@to86
Many people that don't like the iPhone state that they don't "want to be like everyone else". This crowd also wants the Nexus One or others to "kill" the iPhone. The fact that this would require everyone to have a Nexus One and thus violate their rule for owning one does not seem to apply to their logic.
@scots79 Google is only available on T-Mo and ATT (as of this week) now android that is available on all but that is because other makers use their open source OS. Google doesn't make money (except hopefully on marketing) So apple wouldnt really be following in Googles shoes. More like Apple following in MS shoes or even Palms shoes
@angermeans Your post probably just killed a kitten. As of now the only US carrier that has the n1 on its 3g bands is tmo. Google has plans to launch it on every carrier over the coming months.
Never going to happen Google just patented this idea for the Nexus One LOL
Personally...
I've long moved on from the iPhone/iTunes, and judging from Apple's recent behavior, I'm glad I did.
@Kunta Kinte
How do you go from making a perfectly great first comment then back it with an asinine one here?
@Kunta Kinte So in respect to your comment I could say that we dont give a damn that you dont give a damn correct?
@Scuzzy19 What's wrong with what he said really. If he said something wrong then so did the other guy/girl that is essentially trolling an apple article for hits
@Kunta Kinte Massive over-generalizations, blatantly faulty arguments, unwillingness to see anything that would paint apple in a somewhat bad light, or android or WP7S as anything but complete crap, name calling, etc. Honestly agree with this one though, competition is always good.
Even though the iPhone is coming to my carrier, I will not be one to flock to it.
I personally love the openness of Android phones (and how easy it is for me to put my own apps on it).
@Rick Goodman Poor trolling. In Apple topics, you promote Android. In Android topics, you promote Apple. You should at least be consistent!
@Rick Goodman
You have officially confused me.
This is one of your previous comments:
"No, the android is not SEXY! THE iPhone is! They should make this for iPhone and iPad because more people have it and it is better. If they dont make it for my iPod, then it is bad.
Then again, I forgot their is already something better than this. APPLE TV. Super awesomne and epic cool. Great cheap price, better than slingbox that I never hear of. Buy and watch an Apple tv with your new Mac. Bull (crap) Gates should stop making these horrible things. They are expenisve, over-priced, cost a lot of money, and nobody buys it.
Overall, Apple TV is awesome and android fails as a computer since MACS>Computers."
Really. We can't tell when your serious or not. Add some sarcasm tags once in a while. Please.
It's obvious that he's trolling only by looking at his avatar.
@Rick Goodman
Dude.... You're a trollaholic!
@Rick Goodman How hard is it to put apps on the iPhone?
@Rick Goodman "and how easy it is for me to put my own apps on it", do you even know what an app is? Go eat your bathing suit
@Kamil R
Oops, forgot sarcasm tags :p
Just to let people know, I am truly a fanboy of nothing but good quality and well-priced software/technology :) Which basically means I dislike high apple prices, love android, and other things.
@Rick Goodman Which basically means that you are going to jump in an apple related article and troll for hits. Find something better to do. iPhone is great (but has its shortcomings), Android is great (but has its shortcomings), The new Win Ph 7 S is great (but has its shortcomings) The point is you will never be right, you will just have your "opinion" and really when you act the way you do, no one wants to hear it.
Would be a smart move on apples part. I mean they sold over 40million iPhones since it launched in 2007.
@Kunta Kinte
Apple will never leave AT&T - that would mean Steve Jobs was wrong, and Steve Jobs is never wrong.
It doesn't have to be AWS only, it could be (2100/AWS/900) bands at the same time as the Nexus One.
My comment was about this point "that seems unlikely considering that AWS coverage represents a trivially small fraction of 3G subscribers around the world"
@r4lx
but money is money and if jobs wants to increase market share and go after RIM they have to sell to more than one carrier.
So...anyone been to the Verizon Wireless testbed in Waltham, Ma?
Poke around there...there are some interesting things.
It will be three years this spring that AT&T has had the iPhone all to themselves. People that would be willing to leave their current carriers and move to AT&T has done so. I dont think they are picking up that many NEW customers. Im sure apple has also figured this out. The bad thing about this for AT&T would be they have to lower their monthly charges to be more competitive. Oh god I hope that happens....