Apple expands iPhone to regional US carrier nTelos Wireless

Posted:
in iPhone edited January 2014


nTelos Wireless, a Virginia-based wireless company with more than 400,000 subscribers, will become the fifth U.S. carrier to sell Apple's iPhone when it launches on April 20.



nTelos is the second regional carrier to partner with Apple, as the company began expanding to smaller U.S. carriers last October when it struck a deal with C Spire Wireless, which has about 900,000 customers.



The 8-gigabyte iPhone 4 will be available through nTelos for $50, while the 16-gigabyte iPhone 4S can be had for $150, 32 gigabytes for $250, and 64 gigabytes for $350. Those contract-subsidized prices are all $50 cheaper than the offerings from the company's competitors.



nTelos offers unlimited voice, text and data for one line for $100 per month. Two lines can be purchased for $140 per month, and additional lines after that cost $50 each.



Availability of the iPhone to nTelos is possible because the carrier relies on a CDMA network, similar to the technology that powers Verizon and Sprint's wireless networks.



As of Wednesday, the iPhone 4S is listed as "coming soon" on the nTelos Wireless website. Sales will officially begin at 7 a.m. on April 20 through nTelos retail stores, at the company's website, or by calling 1-888-427-8858.











"As a wireless service provider well-known for delivering the best value in wireless, we're pleased to offer the amazing new iPhone 4S to our customers," said Jim Hyde, president and CEO for nTelos Wireless. "iPhone 4S offers an abundance of new features, and with our industry-leading, nationwide smartphone plans, customers can now enjoy the nation’s best networks for less."



nTelos offers nationwide voice and data coverage for subscribers based in Virginia and West Virginia, along with portions of Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky.



When the iPhone launches with nTelos, it will join AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and C Spire as one of five official U.S. carriers. The one glaring omission from the list of official Apple partners is T-Mobile, which is the fourth-largest wireless carrier in the U.S. with 34 million customers.



T-Mobile's lack of access to the iPhone is a result of the company's 3G service relying on the uncommon 1700MHz and 2100MHz bands, which are not supported by Apple's smartphone. Users who operate an unlocked iPhone on T-Mobile's network are restricted to much slower "EDGE" speeds.



[ View article on AppleInsider ]

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 10
    zarenzaren Posts: 49member
    I'm still waiting on VM to get the iPhone in the States. They've had it in Canada for a while now.
  • Reply 2 of 10
    mrmj2umrmj2u Posts: 34member
    My first cell phone was on nTelos... My father actually switched to AT&T to get an iPhone... I'm almost certain that he will switch back to nTelos because of this news...
  • Reply 3 of 10
    ghostface147ghostface147 Posts: 1,629member
    I wonder how much they had to pay to get it. Surely they can't afford 15 billion like Sprint paid.
  • Reply 4 of 10
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ghostface147 View Post


    I wonder how much they had to pay to get it. Surely they can't afford 15 billion like Sprint paid.



    If I had to guess the price they pay is relative to the total number of subscribers they have, but I have no idea.
  • Reply 5 of 10
    oberpongooberpongo Posts: 182member
    Instead of Waiting for the iPhone to support 1700 and 2100 T-Mobile will refarm some of their PCS 1900 spectrum currently used for GSM 2G to 3G and 4G HSPA allowing any iPhone to work on their network at full speed and a lot faster than crowded AT&T or lame CDMA.
  • Reply 6 of 10
    When are MetroPCS and US Cellular going to get it? Seems strange to me that they haven't yet, I think that the iPhone 4/4S support the correct cellular bands for them, and they are much bigger than nTelos. I can't believe they aren't interested in getting the iPhone.
  • Reply 7 of 10
    rot'napplerot'napple Posts: 1,839member
    Like OMG! This is great news for that nTelos pushing little red headed Valley Girl and with the $50.00 discount off phones she can go shoe shopping again and move from 'Smartphonia' to that country's capital, 'iPhonia'!



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Beerstalker View Post


    When are MetroPCS and US Cellular going to get it? Seems strange to me that they haven't yet, I think that the iPhone 4/4S support the correct cellular bands for them, and they are much bigger than nTelos. I can't believe they aren't interested in getting the iPhone.



    As of the current iPhone offerings, US Cellular says this...

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  • Reply 8 of 10
    charlitunacharlituna Posts: 7,217member
    According to previous articles C Spire got the iPhone because they just rent service from Sprint. So no additional model was needed. This might be another similar game.
  • Reply 9 of 10
    swssws Posts: 44member
    I have T-Mobile and a HTC sensation android phone. I have been with them for over 10 years. As soon as my contracts up this August I'm leaving for the iPhone on Verizon. Cannot wait.
  • Reply 10 of 10
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Beerstalker View Post


    When are MetroPCS and US Cellular going to get it? Seems strange to me that they haven't yet, I think that the iPhone 4/4S support the correct cellular bands for them, and they are much bigger than nTelos. I can't believe they aren't interested in getting the iPhone.



    Getro will never get the iPhone.
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