TMobile to get IPhone?

[PlatinumGold]

If Tmobile gets the IPhone this fall, doesn't it mean that the AT&T Apple exclusivity is out the window?

http://gizmodo.com/5592984/iphone-may-be-coming-to-t+mobile-this-fall

if so, doesn't it pretty much guarantee that Verizon will get the Iphone this fall?

 

[zerocool84]

There's always a new thread about this every other month. I never believe any of them.

 

[notposting]

And next month they'll be saying Spring again, then VZW again.
The T-Mobile idea makes the least sense to me. Even less coverage than AT&T.

Although I wonder if AT&T would continue locking down their Android phones and generally trying to pretend it doesn't exist if Apple had the iPhone on another network as well. Or would they suddenly promote it more?

 

[TheWart]

And next month they'll be saying Spring again, then VZW again.
The T-Mobile idea makes the least sense to me. Even less coverage than AT&T.

Although I wonder if AT&T would continue locking down their Android phones and generally trying to pretend it doesn't exist if Apple had the iPhone on another network as well. Or would they suddenly promote it more?

TMobile uses GSM though.

I do agree with Zerocool though....I'll believe this when I see the announcement.

 

[SpicyCurry]

And next month they'll be saying Spring again, then VZW again.
The T-Mobile idea makes the least sense to me. Even less coverage than AT&T.

Although I wonder if AT&T would continue locking down their Android phones and generally trying to pretend it doesn't exist if Apple had the iPhone on another network as well. Or would they suddenly promote it more?

T-Mobile makes the MOST sense. Since it's GSM-based like AT&T, it requires the least amount of work from Apple engineers. There's lots of T-Mobile customers running around with unlocked iPhones already. It would just be a matter of configuring so the phone so it's compatible with T-Mobile's 3G networks.

Verizon is CDMA based, so RF portion of the iPhone would have to be redesigned to that wireless standard. Not saying the iPhone won't come to Verizon, just saying T-Mobile would probably get it first.

 

[gsaldivar]

TMobile uses GSM though.

Swapping the radio chipset is trivial.

Apple will choose the carrier that gives them the most lucrative deal. Since other smartphones are now selling in greater numbers than the iPhone, Apple clearly wants to strike the best deal possible while they still can.

 

[Skel]

I hear it'll happen right after the PS3 price drop...

 

[TheWart]

Swapping the radio chipset is trivial.

Apple will choose the carrier that gives them the most lucrative deal. Since other smartphones are now selling in greater numbers than the iPhone, Apple clearly wants to strike the best deal possible while they still can.

I don't know. A number of people here on AT say that but I am not convinced that is the case. The recent Wires article on the whole Verizon-Apple thing claims that Apple engineers could not get a CDMA radio to fit in the iPhone form factor. They reportedly went so far as to get a special prototype from Qualcomm that would fit the bill (the mythical dual-radio chipset).

 

[Pliablemoose]

Yeah, I love to spread FUD, but am getting tired of the rumors.

It would be awesome for TMobile, and Apple could likely leverage a great deal with them, but I'll have to see it to believe it.

 

[Zebo]

I thought they had a 5 year contract which started in 2007.... 2012 seems to be earliest then. No way T will let Apple out early as it's their cash cow. #ATTFAIL will be remembered and T will lose a ton of business to even smaller carrier like T-mob. No way.

 

[Fingolfin269]

I thought they had a 5 year contract which started in 2007.... 2012 seems to be earliest then. No way T will let Apple out early as it's their cash cow. #ATTFAIL will be remembered and T will lose a ton of business to even smaller carrier like T-mob. No way.

Do people not understand that contracts can be renegotiated? Hell just look at your local professional sports team and find out how many people are trying to get their contracts reworks.

I'm not saying TMobile is getting the IPhone. I'm just saying that because a document surfaced showing a 5-year contract was agreed to back in 2007 doesn't mean the contract is still a 5-year contract or that the terms are the same.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Do people not understand that contracts can be renegotiated? Hell just look at your local professional sports team and find out how many people are trying to get their contracts reworks.

I'm not saying TMobile is getting the IPhone. I'm just saying that because a document surfaced showing a 5-year contract was agreed to back in 2007 doesn't mean the contract is still a 5-year contract or that the terms are the same.

The other thing is that I don't see where the 5 year contract was inked in 2007, Apple & AT&T worked together for some time on the development of the iPhone, and the contract may have been signed in early 05'.

 

[notposting]

From a technical standpoint, yes, T-Mo would make the most sense. From a business standpoint though, Apple would want the greatest return on the engineering and certification required to get it on a new carrier. That always leads back to VZW (in the US anyway) and on top of that, if they got CDMA working for VZW it wouldn't be hard to get Sprint involved as well. So VZW + Sprint > TMo = worth the engineering.

 

[akugami]

Do people not understand that contracts can be renegotiated? Hell just look at your local professional sports team and find out how many people are trying to get their contracts reworks.

I'm not saying TMobile is getting the IPhone. I'm just saying that because a document surfaced showing a 5-year contract was agreed to back in 2007 doesn't mean the contract is still a 5-year contract or that the terms are the same.

In the business world, contracts are negotiated differently from sports. Depending on the sport, contracts are not guaranteed such as the NFL where the owners can break the contract at will with little consequences. There are cases like the NBA where contracts are more iron clad and the owners will have to pay the full cost of the contract or negotiate a buyout.

Now, I'm not saying the AT&T and Apple contract hasn't changed terms with renegotiation but you can bet your rear end that there are penalties involved for either party breaking the contract. And that's why the contract will not be broken.

The other thing is that I don't see where the 5 year contract was inked in 2007, Apple & AT&T worked together for some time on the development of the iPhone, and the contract may have been signed in early 05'.

There were some unsealed court documents, I didn't bother looking at the original transcripts/copies, that showed Apple & AT&T's contract ending in 2012. This is why I find little plausibility in the iPhone coming to Verizon or T-Mobile until then. If anything T-Mobile is not a likely partner for Apple. Say what you will about Apple but they are not stupid. Arrogant SOB's at times but not stupid.

I'm still of the opinion that a LTE 4G based iPhone coming to Verizon makes the most sense since this will also work with AT&T and their LTE based 4G network. While Verizon will be releasing their LTE in some markets this year, waiting until Verizon works out most of the early issues as well as get the 4G network in more markets just makes too much sense. Which comes back to the 2012 date when the Apple/AT&T contract ends.

 

[Pliablemoose]

There were some unsealed court documents, I didn't bother looking at the original transcripts/copies, that showed Apple & AT&T's contract ending in 2012.

IIRC, the "documents" was an article in USA Today that referred to the contract. The actual contract has never seen the light of day. Apple provided the article, and didn't say it was accurate.

 

[akugami]

Hrm...did some searching and everything seems to point in circles on the iPhone exclusivity contract. Although it's interesting that Apple hasn't denied the date. Still, from a business perspective I think it makes too much sense for Apple to stay with AT&T until Verizon gets its 4G network up when Apple can make one chipset that'll work with both carriers.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Hrm...did some searching and everything seems to point in circles on the iPhone exclusivity contract. Although it's interesting that Apple hasn't denied the date. Still, from a business perspective I think it makes too much sense for Apple to stay with AT&T until Verizon gets its 4G network up when Apple can make one chipset that'll work with both carriers.

I dunno, it'll be interesting to see...

My take on the contract ending is that ATT & Apple collaborated extensively on the original iPhone development, I can't see ATT expending resources without a contract, thus I suspect the contract was inked in early 2005, and that coincides with the orig iPhone R&D starting. I could easily be wrong, but I suspect the contract is already expired.

Deutsch Telekom (TMobile's parent company) is pretty big, and Apple could leverage a hell of a deal out of TMobile, they're in a tough spot, and need something to save their ass.

Here's a map of DT's coverage worldwide:

I know what you mean about the contract and ending up chasing your tail, Apple's corporate culture about secrets is certainly different.

 

[tokie]

I don't know. A number of people here on AT say that but I am not convinced that is the case. The recent Wires article on the whole Verizon-Apple thing claims that Apple engineers could not get a CDMA radio to fit in the iPhone form factor. They reportedly went so far as to get a special prototype from Qualcomm that would fit the bill (the mythical dual-radio chipset).

Sorry, but you're wrong here. It is trivial to get the iPhone radio working on AWS (T-Mobile's 3G 1700mhz frequency).

Example: the Blackberry 9700 is manufactured as one model, and then flashed before shipment with either a 850/1900/2100 or 1700/2100 mhz 3G frequency setting. The corresponding units are then sent to AT&T/Telus/Bell/Rogers and T-Mobile/WIND, respectively. So it is definitely possible, it just adds an extra step during production where the radio setting would have to be changed to 1700mhz before shipment. No redesigning necessary for T-Mobile.

 

[sswingle]

I dunno, it'll be interesting to see...

My take on the contract ending is that ATT & Apple collaborated extensively on the original iPhone development, I can't see ATT expending resources without a contract, thus I suspect the contract was inked in early 2005, and that coincides with the orig iPhone R&D starting. I could easily be wrong, but I suspect the contract is already expired.

Deutsch Telekom (TMobile's parent company) is pretty big, and Apple could leverage a hell of a deal out of TMobile, they're in a tough spot, and need something to save their ass.

Here's a map of DT's coverage worldwide:

I know what you mean about the contract and ending up chasing your tail, Apple's corporate culture about secrets is certainly different.

That simply shows what countries they have a presence in. An actual coverage map would be far less impressive.

 

[TheWart]

Sorry, but you're wrong here. It is trivial to get the iPhone radio working on AWS (T-Mobile's 3G 1700mhz frequency).

Example: the Blackberry 9700 is manufactured as one model, and then flashed before shipment with either a 850/1900/2100 or 1700/2100 mhz 3G frequency setting. The corresponding units are then sent to AT&T/Telus/Bell/Rogers and T-Mobile/WIND, respectively. So it is definitely possible, it just adds an extra step during production where the radio setting would have to be changed to 1700mhz before shipment. No redesigning necessary for T-Mobile.

I was referring to the swap of a CDMA and GSM radio, not between two different GSM frequencies.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Now, I'm not saying the AT&T and Apple contract hasn't changed terms with renegotiation but you can bet your rear end that there are penalties involved for either party breaking the contract. And that's why the contract will not be broken.

Oh I'm sure there are penalties involved. My point is that the contract people keep pointing at may not even be real anymore. Heck, for all we know exclusivity could already be over from a contractual standpoint.

The bottom line is... we don't know anything with absolute certainty other than we will see a new rumor pop up on a weekly basis.

 

[cheezy321]

Swapping the radio chipset is trivial.

Apple will choose the carrier that gives them the most lucrative deal. Since other smartphones are now selling in greater numbers than the iPhone, Apple clearly wants to strike the best deal possible while they still can.

Which specific smartphone (not OS) is selling in greater #'s than the iphone?

 

[gsaldivar]

Which specific smartphone (not OS) is selling in greater #'s than the iphone?

I didn't claim any specific smartphone was. Cell phone platforms (with Apple as the exception) are not and never have been defined by a single phone.

Android-powered phones, in aggregate, are currently outselling the iPhone.

 

[Anubis]

That simply shows what countries they have a presence in. An actual coverage map would be far less impressive.

yea i was gonna say TMs coverage in the US is fucking crap

 

[akugami]

Which specific smartphone (not OS) is selling in greater #'s than the iphone?

I think that we'd have to group Android phones together. Now, no single Android phone is outselling the iPhone and iPhones are still selling amazingly well but when you're a developer and researching where to best spend your resources you'll be grouping Android as a whole, not Droid, N1, EVO, etc. The only thing that might muddy the water in developing for Android is the number of devices running on whatever OS version.

I think Apple will sell on different carriers eventually in the US. I also think Apple's market share will shrink even as sales increase because more and more smart phones will be sold as the dumb phones sales shrink.

Kind of a side issue but I find it amusing how fandroids are touting Apple's shrinking smartphone marketshare when spreading the hate. Even though Apple is reporting a 61% increase in iPhone sales compared to a year ago.