T-Mobile USA is the other major GSM operator in the US. Could it be that T-Mobile users are waiting to see if T-Mobile picks up the iPhone for their network? There would be no reason to jump to AT&T if that's the case.
Now Sprint and Verizon users, on the other hand ... I know several Sprint users that jumped to AT&T for the new iPhone. Perhaps looking at THOSE ports might yield a different result.
If the T-Mobile users are expecting to able to have an iPhone on T-Mobile's network (in the US) then they will be waiting a long time. Apple would need to develop a NEW phone to work on T-Mobiles incompatible 3G network. The odds of that happening are pretty remote.
Rumor has it that the first iPhone aka iPhone EDGE as I officially call it, was designed with a network with full EDGE in mind, as well as a Wi-Fi network base, so it could really be the phone to connect EVERYWHERE.
T-Mobile was that network. Has an EDGE service speed 30-50kbps on average FASTER then AT&T's so called "Fine EDGE", and at the time, a Wi-Fi network all over. Recent changes to "Starbucks" T-Mobile agreement means T-Mobile never fully owned the hotspots, nor planned to, as their 3G HSPA is launching at HSUPA 7.3mbps, killing the need for "hotspot" technically.
The problem with the T-Mobile plan, T-Mobile is much smaller in the USA then AT&T, and while its EDGE network was larger, its coverage area natively smaller Launching a phone that does everything on a small network was suicide for both T-Mobile AND Apple, customer churn would have been great, and income from the phone to T-Mobile would be minimal to offset the cost of customers leaving.
Apple was greedy and wanted more money, and AT&T could deliver and afford to easily hand over 40% of revenue, even if their network was mainly GPRS, and slower EDGE, and lacked an "all-over" aspect HotSpot. Customers dont care HOW fast it is, just if they can get "comparable coverage at reasonable speed" for what the phone is claiming to do. While FINE EDGE isnt all that, its comparable to the EDGE T-Mobile had, and it was the GPRS and voice coverage that were more beneficial to AT&T customers over T-Mobile. Not saying T-Mobile coverage sucks, but it does lack roaming into 850 areas where "native" T-Mo coverage should be offered....making it worthless for roaming in fringe areas.
I hope this makes SOME sense.... It did when T-Mobile and AT&T and Apple reps ALL explained it to me.
As for 3G - I see no need in extending a contract (which shouldnt have been granted in the first place for a non-subsidized phone they REFUSE to unlock.... its like leasing a car, but never getting the option to buy, or get the keys to the gas tank, expected to pay full price for the lease), for a phone that does a little more then the original. Ironically, stats show it to be THICKER by .02 MM over the original, where people are thinking its THINNER is beyond me. The GPS sucks on it, cant do turn by turn, and while HSPA is nice and fast, its lacking some serious benefit like Video Share, TV/RADIO - something Sprint has on its EV-DO.
If the iPhone 3G wants to be noted for being successful, it needs to be shown that over 1 Million people in the original launch for the iPhone EDGE countries is met with the 3G version after 74 days. And I dont mean, how many sold, but how many continued service after 30 days.
Guys, I've seen this misconception several times on this site:
The iPhone is NOT exclusive to AT&T for 5 years. Apple signed a 5-year contract with AT&T, but only 2 of the years are exclusive.
So AT&T will continue to sell the iPhone (or whatever models replace the iPhone) until at least June 2012, but other carriers in the USA will be able to offer it starting June 2009.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
T-Mobile USA is the other major GSM operator in the US. Could it be that T-Mobile users are waiting to see if T-Mobile picks up the iPhone for their network? There would be no reason to jump to AT&T if that's the case.
Now Sprint and Verizon users, on the other hand ...
I know several Sprint users that jumped to AT&T for the new iPhone. Perhaps looking at THOSE ports might yield a different result.
If T-Mobile users are waiting for the iPhone they are retarded because the iPhone will be exclusive to AT&T for 4 more years.
The iphone exclusive to at&t for 5 years so they will be waiting awhile for T-Mobile to pick it up.
The only people waiting for T-Mobile to officially get the iPhone are those who know absolutely nothing about the cellular industry.
If the T-Mobile users are expecting to able to have an iPhone on T-Mobile's network (in the US) then they will be waiting a long time. Apple would need to develop a NEW phone to work on T-Mobiles incompatible 3G network. The odds of that happening are pretty remote.
Rumor has it that the first iPhone aka iPhone EDGE as I officially call it, was designed with a network with full EDGE in mind, as well as a Wi-Fi network base, so it could really be the phone to connect EVERYWHERE.
T-Mobile was that network. Has an EDGE service speed 30-50kbps on average FASTER then AT&T's so called "Fine EDGE", and at the time, a Wi-Fi network all over. Recent changes to "Starbucks" T-Mobile agreement means T-Mobile never fully owned the hotspots, nor planned to, as their 3G HSPA is launching at HSUPA 7.3mbps, killing the need for "hotspot" technically.
The problem with the T-Mobile plan, T-Mobile is much smaller in the USA then AT&T, and while its EDGE network was larger, its coverage area natively smaller Launching a phone that does everything on a small network was suicide for both T-Mobile AND Apple, customer churn would have been great, and income from the phone to T-Mobile would be minimal to offset the cost of customers leaving.
Apple was greedy and wanted more money, and AT&T could deliver and afford to easily hand over 40% of revenue, even if their network was mainly GPRS, and slower EDGE, and lacked an "all-over" aspect HotSpot. Customers dont care HOW fast it is, just if they can get "comparable coverage at reasonable speed" for what the phone is claiming to do.
While FINE EDGE isnt all that, its comparable to the EDGE T-Mobile had, and it was the GPRS and voice coverage that were more beneficial to AT&T customers over T-Mobile. Not saying T-Mobile coverage sucks, but it does lack roaming into 850 areas where "native" T-Mo coverage should be offered....making it worthless for roaming in fringe areas.
I hope this makes SOME sense.... It did when T-Mobile and AT&T and Apple reps ALL explained it to me.
As for 3G - I see no need in extending a contract
(which shouldnt have been granted in the first place for a non-subsidized phone they REFUSE to unlock.... its like leasing a car, but never getting the option to buy, or get the keys to the gas tank, expected to pay full price for the lease),
for a phone that does a little more then the original. Ironically, stats show it to be THICKER by .02 MM over the original, where people are thinking its THINNER is beyond me. The GPS sucks on it, cant do turn by turn, and while HSPA is nice and fast, its lacking some serious benefit like Video Share, TV/RADIO - something Sprint has on its EV-DO.
If the iPhone 3G wants to be noted for being successful, it needs to be shown that over 1 Million people in the original launch for the iPhone EDGE countries is met with the 3G version after 74 days. And I dont mean, how many sold, but how many continued service after 30 days.
Guys, I've seen this misconception several times on this site:
The iPhone is NOT exclusive to AT&T for 5 years. Apple signed a 5-year contract with AT&T, but only 2 of the years are exclusive.
So AT&T will continue to sell the iPhone (or whatever models replace the iPhone) until at least June 2012, but other carriers in the USA will be able to offer it starting June 2009.
@DTemp: I assume you can back that up with real proof. Where?