T-Mobile offering up to $350 off an HD2 in exchange for your iPhone, soul
By Tim Stevens 
posted April 5th 2010 8:12AM
posted April 5th 2010 8:12AM
posted April 5th 2010 8:12AM
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Now we know where T-Mob is planning on getting those iPhones they were rumored to start selling soon... ha!
Not a bad idea at all...its like trading in lack of multi tasking and customizing for a device that does just that. Too bad the apps are a bit dated on windows mobile. They should def run this offer for the Windows Phone 7 handset
lol, i would never part with my iphone until the new version comes out this year or it goes to verizon.
@neojubei
Seconded.
Don't these companies realize it reeks of desperation when they do things like this?
'Please give up your iPhone, we'll give you money, women, drugs whatever you want. Pleeeease.'
Immediately I think they don't see themselves as being good enough to compete without a promotion and they come across much worse than if they just said:
'No promotion, our phone is better, take it or leave it.'
That's what Apple does and it works.
@TinWard I think an Apple fanboy would see it that way, though I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and say if there were another carrier exclusive handset on the market dominating for years and on a proprietary OS that you'd still feel this way.
However, phones compete on price, so I ask, "How is this any different?" Sure, you are right, if they charge a higher price, they are obviously less desperate. However, they are also less smart. I guess I'll end it there.
@TinWard
It definitely looks desperate to me alright, on multiple levels. Desperate carrier, desperate phone manufacturer and desperate OS vendor. The fact that they don't just offer a good refund or price cut to lure some customers into buying a phone with a dead-end OS locked to their contract, but instead want to have your iPhones, it's a bit sad if you ask me and I would be highly surprised if this would get them more than a handful of new customers.
"Pleeeeeeeeeassse iPhone people, come to us, we have cool phones too! Cool phones running an obsolete system though, but if you trade in your iPhone you will get some CANDY!"
I totally agree with you. T Mobile is so desperate right now and it shows.
Nonsense, it's just a cheeky promotion. You spin it as desperation out of of your own desperation.
I've been wondering if there would be something like this happening one day. I expected it to be more broad by a carrier than a specific phone, and that might still happen.
Recalling about the ETF buyouts a while ago, I wondered if something like this would happen because people are spending more money on phones these days and people are more "locked into" an ecosystem like Apple's. I think this is a very smart move on the right product to do it with, not just because of sales #s but also because of how much people hate the feeling that the money they've spent on apps will be wasted when they go to a new platform.
"ever since it got the nod for an (unofficial) update to Windows Phone 7 it's been looking all the more tasty"
HTCPedia was faking! Here's how they did it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZovb8onH-g
They have since closed the thread and went silent...
@NigelL
That way still doesn't run as smooth as how HTCpedia showed.
Secondly, there is no proof it was a fake.
Thirdly, it was backed by the most popular cookers.
Ballsy. I like it.
I have returned Luke, more powerful than you could ever have imagined. Now give me your iPhone and soul so I can go get a HD2. Or die
@Lord Vader
Can't I just go make out with my sister instead? Yeah, thanks for warning me about that one, dad.
Wow! That’s “great new [sic]” for iPhone owners.
@CoffeeCoffee HaHa. I noticed that too. Credibility went downhill from there.
I wish they would run something like that in the UK for the Desire!
Wow, definitely desperate. Still, not good enough
@Macc55 I'm a mac, and people doing things to compete with my product and/or carrier = "desperate" and "not good enough".
I would be on my way to T-Mobile right now if they were giving some kind of promotion where it did not require me giving them the iphone, and only switching to their service if i owned one. i mean i can still sell it on ebay used for over $350, so its not really a "deal" for me.
Cant really wait to get rid of the iPhone though.
@SmilinGoat I do agree with the sales part, but you have to consider there are precedents here based on convenience such as: cars (somewhat illiquid so not a great comparison), computers/laptops, video game systems, etc. Sometimes people just go for this either for convenience and/or ignorance. Plus I'll assume you have a 3GS and this doesn't seem to be limited to the 3GS, so people with a 3G are actually be getting a better deal if this is for the first 2 generations.
@juanvaldez
Yeah i have the 3GS (voided warranty because i picked it up with a damp hand and triggered the exterior water indicator strip, still works 100% fine though)
anyway, i guess i just assumed when they said $50-$350 it would probably depend on the age of the phone, and in what kind of shape it was in. so if its a first gen iphone, maybe only $50-$100, a 3G maybe $200, and a 3Gs $350. in which case you could get more money for any of them...
either way an interesting deal.
@SmilinGoat
It's at least $100, so it's kind of a wash on a first gen, especially if you have marks on it.
I wonder what they plan on doing with the iPhones....
@xolan99 Using them as iPods touch (pluralized like attorneys general makes sense to me).
@Zhuzhu using each as an iPod touch :). Oh gotta love that English language.
P.S. please consult Steve in the future when taking any chances with his flagship products.
P.P.S Apple TV is fair game.
@futurerheza
Yeah but....it's not Windows 7 T__T
@futurerheza
i agree. takes some epic cajones to pull this one. whether it works or not is yet to be seen, but here's hoping t-mo can pull something off. either way... you gotta give it to them for originality.
it sucks though... a really good friend of mine who's been wanting the HD2 since like... forever actually FOUND a 3GS when he was visiting the shore like a week ago. like new and everything. granted... he (like me) doesn't sip the apple cool aid... plus he's on t-mobile too... so he gave it to his nephew who went off to college across the country. i can see the look on his face when he gets around to reading this 0_0 . . . .
@NaeemTHM
Oh whoops! I didn't see that link in the article. Very nice looks like the HD2 might get WinMo7 after all.
Why do you guys ALWAYS have to throw in some slant about how much you love Apple and even here, you tell people you doubt many will take them up on it... well, I for one am dropping off an old iPhone for this. And while I was in the store when it first came out I saw several people say they were leaving their iPhone for this. Please, show some neutrality and quit kissing Apple's butt every chance you get.
@tdogdfw
You are kidding right?
iFanboys don't have a very good handle on reality. Something made by apple has been successful for awhile outside the fanboy scene, so it must be the best thing ever.
Meanwhile.. In the real world. The droves of people who bought the first or second generation are feeling that the new iPhones are the same as the one they already have, and are ready for a change.
If it means a big discount, even better. If it is for a supplier with better coverage in their area, no thinking necessary.
Not every owner of an apple product is an Apple fanboy.
"Great 'new' for Apple iPhone customers"?
Spellchecker anyone?
@Tristram Spellchecker wouldn't have caught that.
My friend has a iPhone, and I know she would jump ship for this. Only reason she has one is because the G1 she bought and was using got damaged and had to go back to using it.
I canceled my AT&T contract, unlocked my iPhone, and for eight months now have been using it with a cheap T-Mo prepaid account (costs me less than $5/month). Had been planning to get a MiFi to restore data in a more versatile way, but am now tempted to get an iPad 3G instead. $5 (voice) + $15 (data) sounds a lot better than the $70 iPhone plan. Wouldn't make sense for a heavy user, or someone who wants convergence at any cost, but it would work for me.
On the other hand, if the iPad WiFi really sucks as bad as Arrington is reporting, I'll give it a pass—even with 3G, I'd still want fast WiFi when it was available. Perhaps another carrier will offer a cheap data plan in the face of competition from AT&T.
i like my iphone too much to switch.
Do T-Mobile even have enough stock JUST IN CASE they get a horde of Apple sheep wanting to swap for the a better phone?
Isn't this phone completely sold out?
@futurerheza Definitely a good deal if you have a 1st gen iPhone 2G 4GB or 8GB and want to make that switch. If they allow you to buy it off contract for $449 - $350, that's a great deal.
Tmobile is not doing this because I called the number and asked. It's a fake!!
Someone find a way to run Android on this device, and I may be able to live with the coverage (which I must say has gone better over the years .. I have a Pay as you Go number with them for the times I'm unable to make a call on AT&T's network...)
@BigB: it'll probably happen soon enough on XDA.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=5968843#post5968843
@Alan Strangis Thanks
I have been following the development already
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=651632
I've had the 3GS since launch and I'm actually going to consider this if it comes through at a local TMo store. It is a bit hard to swallow since I've been waiting for the EVO and/or Desire to land and the offer reeks of desperation, but there are a couple of reasons why I like this promotion.
First, the document says no data plan is required. I'm one of those that is practically always around a WiFi connection. I've only used around 20MB worth of data from AT&T in the past 30 days, so a $30 data plan is not necessary for me whatsoever. Second, I look forward to what XDA can pull off with the HD2. Third, hopefully buy this device unlocked with no TMo contract and still be able to look forward to a new phone a year from now or so. The only negative I would (hopefully) experience is canceling my AT&T contract for $175 or less.
All I know is that I've been very eager to buy a new phone that isn't from Apple and get away from AT&T. I like the cheaper plans from TMo and Sprint, but the former has better coverage in my area. I may just end up selling my 3GS on eBay, but I'm definitely going to look in to this TMo offer.
@hx3
If I was going to switch to Sprint or TMO to save a few bux, and hey thats fine, I think I'd wait for the EVO this summer then the HD2 right now.
I have a spare 3G, 2G iPhone that I saved up for App development/testing. Could someone suggest the asking price for an HD2?
Who can pass up "Great new" like that? It's always smart to proofread, but hey, if T-Mobile employees were smart, they wouldn't work at a carrier that offers "payday loan" as a billing method.
@futurerheza
Yes! The plan for T-Mo to sell refurb iPhones on their network is working! Muhahahahhaha!!!
That probably translates to 100$ for 1st gen, around 200$ for second gen and the full 350$ for 3rd gen iPhones. Notice they accept all generations. And the iPhone has to be in nearly mint condition to be accepted, which makes me doubt that the credits you get are much tied to the condition of the iPhone.
First off, sounds like BS! Why would they want my 3Gs? It's not gonna run 3G on there network anyway. And there not getting the iphone anytime soon. Regardless of that, I wouldn't do it anyway. I got the HD The day it came out, and while it's an awesome device and I love the sense UI, it's sadly going back today. Mine just basically went from working so smooth, to just being plain unusable. Glitches and freezing started Sat nite, and I would have to say it's prob Windows rearing it's ugly head, because it's bringing back bad memories of my Palm 700w. And I must say, after being so spoiled with so many good working Blackberries, and a pretty solid iPhone 3G, and 3Gs, There is no way I will go down the windows ave. Maybe I'll try 7 when it's out and working. But this HD with 6.5 is just not for me, HTC should have deff put Android on it as the OS. Back to sexy Nexy wit Android. Just my 2 cents.