In a recent interview with 9to5Mac.com, a T-Mobile rep let slip that they are now supporting one million iPhone users.
If you’re thinking to yourself, “Wait, I didn’t know T-Mobile carried iPhones,” you’re right; they don’t. But Apple recently began selling unlocked versions of the iPhone. An “unlocked” version means that you can use the phone with other carriers; though they have to use the same type of network (sim-card based GSM). Before the release it wasn’t impossible to get your iPhone unlocked, though most people would probably want to tackle the process.
The unlocked iPhone doesn’t come cheap, either. A quick search online shows that the least expensive unlocked iPhone (the 3G with 8 gigs) is available for $290. An unlocked iPhone 4 will cost you at least $649.
If that wasn’t enough, an iPhone won’t even run to its full capability on T-Mobile’s network. While T-Mobile does run 3G and 4G networks, the iPhone cannot properly connect to these due to radio frequency compatibility issues. This means you’d be running the phone at 2006 speeds. That must be some fun!
One million users apparently don’t mind, or maybe they prefer T-Mobile’s call quality, or maybe they just wanted to thumb their noses at AT&T and Verizon. One million sounds like a big number, but it is pretty much a drop in the iBucket – Apple has noted that they have produced 200 million iPhones.
It will all likely be a moot point, anyway, as by March of next year AT&T plans to go ahead with its acquisition of T-Mobile.
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