T-Mobile Prepaid for iPhone 5?

[NoStateofMind]

Link

I want to use this service with an unlocked iPhone 5. Has anyone tried it?

Here's what has me asking:

The $30 Unlimited Web & Text with 100 min talk plan works only with T-Mobile Phones purchased from a Walmart store or from Walmart.com.

Is this true? Seems to me like as long as it can access their GSM network it shouldn't be a problem. Just looking for confirmation. Thanks in advance.

 

[shortylickens]

Am pretty sure iphone 5 does not work on Tmobiles 4g service, in fact it might not work on their 3g.

 

[s44]

The $30 plan works with any phone compatible with T-Mobile's network and not locked to another carrier.

However, the iPhone doesn't support AWS (1700/2100 combo), which is T-Mobile's baseline 3G/4G service. *However*, T-Mo has switched on 1900-band service, which iPhones do support, in a bunch of markets including NYC. Eventually all their HSPA will be on 1900 and AWS will be used for just LTE.

So the answer is: depends where you live.
unofficial coverage map
official announced markets (bottom of page)

 

[A5]

Yeah, you have to live in a market where T-Mobile has switched their 1900 MHz spectrum to HSPA for it to be remotely worth it.

As far as the iPhone 5 in particular, T-Mobile won't sell you a Nano-SIM on its own. You'll have to get one of their Micro SIMs (http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-phones/prepaid-sim-cards) and cut it down yourself. Once you have it, you just activate it on the website to the $30 plan. They don't care what phone you have.

 

[bearxor]

Once I had a plan tied to the SIM card, even the $30 prepaid plan, I was able to go in to a TMobile store and have them switch the MicroSIM for a NanoSIM without issue or cost.

 

[ImDonly1]

Once I had a plan tied to the SIM card, even the $30 prepaid plan, I was able to go in to a TMobile store and have them switch the MicroSIM for a NanoSIM without issue or cost.

This. T-mobile does have nanoSIM cards, but they won't let you order them online? You can only order one online if signing up for a contract plan. Maybe you can do it over the phone.

I wouldn't buy an iPhone 5 to use on T-mobile, since they are releasing a T-mobile iPhone with support for their LTE (not sure if current one will work with their LTE). If you already have an iPhone 5, then I would use T-mobile.

 

[bearxor]

Yes, they are not available to order online yet for the prepaid plans. You can order them for the Value Plan. You can also not go in to a TMobile store and buy one without already having service, which is what I tried to do at one point.

There's not been any details on what TMobile's iPhone will look like yet. Suffice it to say that the AT&T version does support AWS LTE, even though AT&T hasn't rolled it out yet. So an AT&T iPhone 5 _should_ work on TMo's LTE network.

What remains to be seen is if TMobile's carrier-specific version of the iPhone will support HSPA+ on AWS, or if it will only support it on the PCS band like the current AT&T version and Apple is relying on TMo to refarm their PCS spectrum to HSPA. I'm kind of hoping we see a version that supports AWS HSPA. If I were a betting man, I'd put the money on Apple making no changes whatsoever and relying on TMo to finish refarming.

Shouldn't have to wait too much longer. They said it would be about a quarter or so @ CES. Should know by the start of the summer, hopefully.