Can the iPhone 4/S/5 work with T-Mobile's $30 plan?

amdhunter

Lifer
May 19, 2003
23,332
249
106
I've had it with Android. It's fun to ROM all the time, but when it comes to usability, it drives me nuts when the most basic things don't work.

Right now, I can't get AVRCP via Bluetooth on my Nexus 4 to work, to send media information to my car stereo head unit because it's not supported in Jellybean. (Despite documentation saying it is...)

I don't want to pay a ton for a monthly plan, so I was wondering if the T-Mobile $30 plan will work with any iPhone? I'm hoping to just move my SIM card from my Nexus 4.

If you guys don't know what I mean, check this video of media info being streamed to my radio with a Lumia 920. BTW, the Lumia completely freezes dead after 2 minutes or so, but it's my work phone and I couldn't care less about using it daily.

EDIT: It does, but most likely at EDGE speeds.
Annoying...
 
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dagamer34

Platinum Member
Aug 15, 2005
2,591
0
71
Sure, it can work, though if you ever hope to get anything above EDGE speeds consistently on T-Mobile's 3G network, I'd only bother getting the iPhone 5 since it supports 1700Mhz AWS LTE and Apple can unlock 1700Mhz AWS WCDMA on current unlocked iPhones once they officially start selling them officially on T-Mobile's network.
 

amdhunter

Lifer
May 19, 2003
23,332
249
106
Yeah. I'm in such a screwed up place right now with my new receiver.

I have a Nexus 4 which cannot display media information.
I have a Lumia 920, that displays media information, but freezes hard after 2 minutes.
I have an iPhone 4, that works perfect, except it has no service.

Really...I can't win.

No wonder people still burn CDs for their cars.
 

ImDonly1

Platinum Member
Dec 17, 2004
2,357
0
76
Yeah. I'm in such a screwed up place right now with my new receiver.

I have a Nexus 4 which cannot display media information.
I have a Lumia 920, that displays media information, but freezes hard after 2 minutes.
I have an iPhone 4, that works perfect, except it has no service.

Really...I can't win.

No wonder people still burn CDs for their cars.

FYI, t-mobile is converting their network to 1900mhz 3g bands. So the iPhone will work with their 3g. A lot of areas are already converted. The conversion will be done by mid 2013 I believe.

Here is a user generated map of 1900mhz areas
http://airportal.de/

The coverage may be spotty since they don't fully complete the entire city with 1900mhz conversion. They do it piece by piece.

T-mobile offers free SIMs from time to time (otherwise they are like $1). If you have $30, you can try it out.
 
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AkumaX

Lifer
Apr 20, 2000
12,643
3
81
Yeah. I'm in such a screwed up place right now with my new receiver.

I have a Nexus 4 which cannot display media information.
I have a Lumia 920, that displays media information, but freezes hard after 2 minutes.
I have an iPhone 4, that works perfect, except it has no service.

Really...I can't win.

No wonder people still burn CDs for their cars.

I would have studdered playback w/ BT A2DP + AVRCP when streaming from my android device to my car - never had such problems with an iPhone...

Anyways, you can easily unlock AT&T iPhones for use with T-Mobile.

T-Mobile started the re-farm, rearranging their network to accommodate their new 3G/4G HSPA+ band - 1900MHz, so they can start phasing out HSPA AWS 1700/2100 and use that bandwidth for LTE AWS

... but guess what? That makes them 100% compatible w/ existing AT&T 3G/4G HSPA+ phones that use AT&T's 1900Mhz band... such as the iPhone 3G / 3GS / 4 / 4S / 5 :p

Find out if 1900MHz is available in your area!

edit: haha imdonly1 beat me by 1 minute :p
 

bearxor

Diamond Member
Jul 8, 2001
6,605
3
81
It's my understanding that TMobile is going to start kicking things in to gear with regards to reframing this year, and that most of the network will be 1900mhz HSPA+ by the end of the summer.

But yeah, go ahead and check out airportal.de. I'm still waiting here in Charlotte.

And if you think you might want to sell your N4, PM me.
 

vshah

Lifer
Sep 20, 2003
19,003
24
81
which app are you using to play music on android? from what I understand, it is up to the apps to send avrcp metadata.
 

amdhunter

Lifer
May 19, 2003
23,332
249
106
Hmmm. T-mobile seems to be blanketing my area, but I travel a lot to Jersey and they don't. I'll ask my boss if she'll let me contact AT&T to unlock my iPhone 4, then test my SIM in my Nexus on it. I might need an adapter from Nano-Micro SIM.

As for which app I am using, that's actually a good question. I've read the phone does support AVRCP data, but Google Music jacks it when installed. I'll test it in a few hours and let you know.

It's annoying, but would be workable. Honestly, after thinking about it for a few hours and heating myself up, do I really need to see the information for music I already know? lol.
 

bearxor

Diamond Member
Jul 8, 2001
6,605
3
81
The iPhone 4 and Nexus 4 both use MicroSIMs.

Look on eBay for one of those unlocks. Unpaid $12 and had both my iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 unlocked in a few hours. iPhone 5 works just fine with a tmobile SIM in it.
 

AkumaX

Lifer
Apr 20, 2000
12,643
3
81
Hmmm. T-mobile seems to be blanketing my area, but I travel a lot to Jersey and they don't. I'll ask my boss if she'll let me contact AT&T to unlock my iPhone 4, then test my SIM in my Nexus on it. I might need an adapter from Nano-Micro SIM.

As for which app I am using, that's actually a good question. I've read the phone does support AVRCP data, but Google Music jacks it when installed. I'll test it in a few hours and let you know.

It's annoying, but would be workable. Honestly, after thinking about it for a few hours and heating myself up, do I really need to see the information for music I already know? lol.
Actually since you're only going to iPhone 4, the Nexus 4, Lumia 920 and iPhone 4/4S use MicroSIM, so no adapter needed (iPhone 5 is NanoSIM, so you'd have to cut your Nexus' SIM down from Micro to Nano - not recommended :p)

ATT iPhone unlocks (for 2/3G/3GS/4/4S/5) are super cheap on ebay!