T-Mobile wants iPhone, appeases customers with Android alternatives
In a blog posting to its customers, T-Mobile' s chief marketing officer Cole Brodman noted that many of its customers are "disappointed that we don?t carry the iPhone," answering that "Apple knows that we?d like to add it to our line-up" while offering Android-based alternatives in the meantime.
Brodman stated that T-Mobile now hosts over one million unlocked iPhones on its network, but because it is unable to officially sell Apple's popular smartphone, it recommends Android alternatives, which it says it is confident will "rival or beat any smartphone out there in terms of functionality, speed, overall experience and features ? including the iPhone."
T-Mobile specifically recommends Samsung's Galaxy S II or HTC's Amaze, both of which support T-Mobile's 4G service plans. None of Apple's existing iPhone models support T-Mobile's 4G or even its non-standard 3G service in the US, leaving its million iPhone users stuck with EDGE-style mobile service.
Apple has filed for worldwide injunctions barring the sale of Samsung's Galaxy S II, and has already won a preliminary injection in the Netherlands, on the basis that the Galaxy S II appears to violate Apple's proprietary patents related to how it displays and navigates photos.
"Android is rivaling and even outpacing the iPhone," Brodman wrote, "including consumer adoption, market share and capabilities like support for faster 4G networks. Moreover, Android offers consumers the freedom of choice. You can choose from a variety of colors, screen sizes, slide-out keyboards, price points and customization options, as well as enjoy the numerous benefits of open source innovation, cloud services and amazing apps."
If Android's freedom of choice were actually winning over T-Mobile's customers, Brodman wouldn't have needed to beg his customers to consider the alternatives his company can actually sell as opposed to the iPhone, which T-Mobile can't currently sell via its official sales channel.
While Apple is rumored to soon bring the iPhone to Sprint, America's third largest network, there have been no credible reports of an iPhone model that will support T-Mobile's non-standard UMTS 3G frequencies, which are unique to T-Mobile's US market and not used by any other GSM-type carrier worldwide.
AT&T hopes to acquire T-Mobile and repurpose the fourth largest US carrier's radio spectrum to deliver LTE service in the US. Apple's existing iPhone do not yet support 4G but will likely adopt the new "4G" LTE networks being rolled out by Verizon and AT&T over the next year.
Brodman stated that T-Mobile now hosts over one million unlocked iPhones on its network, but because it is unable to officially sell Apple's popular smartphone, it recommends Android alternatives, which it says it is confident will "rival or beat any smartphone out there in terms of functionality, speed, overall experience and features ? including the iPhone."
T-Mobile specifically recommends Samsung's Galaxy S II or HTC's Amaze, both of which support T-Mobile's 4G service plans. None of Apple's existing iPhone models support T-Mobile's 4G or even its non-standard 3G service in the US, leaving its million iPhone users stuck with EDGE-style mobile service.
Apple has filed for worldwide injunctions barring the sale of Samsung's Galaxy S II, and has already won a preliminary injection in the Netherlands, on the basis that the Galaxy S II appears to violate Apple's proprietary patents related to how it displays and navigates photos.
"Android is rivaling and even outpacing the iPhone," Brodman wrote, "including consumer adoption, market share and capabilities like support for faster 4G networks. Moreover, Android offers consumers the freedom of choice. You can choose from a variety of colors, screen sizes, slide-out keyboards, price points and customization options, as well as enjoy the numerous benefits of open source innovation, cloud services and amazing apps."
If Android's freedom of choice were actually winning over T-Mobile's customers, Brodman wouldn't have needed to beg his customers to consider the alternatives his company can actually sell as opposed to the iPhone, which T-Mobile can't currently sell via its official sales channel.
While Apple is rumored to soon bring the iPhone to Sprint, America's third largest network, there have been no credible reports of an iPhone model that will support T-Mobile's non-standard UMTS 3G frequencies, which are unique to T-Mobile's US market and not used by any other GSM-type carrier worldwide.
AT&T hopes to acquire T-Mobile and repurpose the fourth largest US carrier's radio spectrum to deliver LTE service in the US. Apple's existing iPhone do not yet support 4G but will likely adopt the new "4G" LTE networks being rolled out by Verizon and AT&T over the next year.
Comments
That's T-Mobile right now.
If Android's freedom of choice were actually winning over T-Mobile's customers, Brodman wouldn't have needed to beg his customers to consider the alternatives
Get a Mac?
I knew it was a Digler the moment I read "appeases".
Me too!
T-Mobile? ?will? ?be eaten up by? ?Sprint
Who isn't even attempting to buy T-Mobile?
?paid major money for the iPhone ?Sprint?
Who doesn't even have the iPhone?
Seriously, people, are you reading what you're typing?
IF, he is really 'waiting for " that call" from Apple', then he should be fired immediately. If I was a stockholder in ANY PART of T-Mumble I would be screaming for hie replacement.
Seriously, what are you complaining about?! Especially considering that no carrier has a 4G iPhone, and your 3G is non-standard.
Headlines are comical, so buttery toward apple. It's funny, which is good, but hurts credibility and legitimacy.
The headline seems fairly accurate to me.
I think that T-Mobile is the only major carrier in the US to not offer the iPhone and they'd obviously kill to have it. They're not stupid and businesses are usually in the business of making money. Since they can't currently offer their customers what many of them want, they have to try and entice their customers with some lesser choices, such as a few different Android models.
People who want iPhones are not going to be happy with some second rate Android phone. They want the silky smoothness of iOS, they want Apple's appstore along with the huge selection and they want Apple's industrial design.
Who isn't even attempting to buy T-Mobile?
Who doesn't even have the iPhone?
Seriously, people, are you reading what you're typing?
Read the reason why they are opposing the AT&T and T-Mobile merger. Sprint believes an AT&T buyout is anti-competitive but a Sprint buy-out would make Sprint competitive with the big two.
Sprint is almost certainly getting the iPhone (vacation blackouts, rampant rumors, etc.). It's not a fact yet, but welcome to rumors websites.
Read the reason why they are opposing the AT&T and T-Mobile merger. Sprint believes an AT&T buyout is anti-competitive but a Sprint buy-out would make Sprint competitive with the big two.
And they'd go bankrupt dismantling T-Mobile's infrastructure and replacing it with LTE/CDMA or they'd go bankrupt dismantling their infrastructure and replacing it with LTE/GSM, so I don't really see how that makes any sense.
Sprint is almost certainly getting the iPhone (vacation blackouts, rampant rumors, etc.). It's not a fact yet, but welcome to rumors websites.
Except they don't have it until it's said by Apple.
I knew it was a Digler the moment I read "appeases".
Guess I'm a little slow. It took me until "If Android's freedom of choice were actually winning over T-Mobile's customers, Brodman wouldn't have needed to beg his customers to consider the alternatives" to think DED.
Guess I'm a little slow. It took me until "If Android's freedom of choice were actually winning over T-Mobile's customers, Brodman wouldn't have needed to beg his customers to consider the alternatives" to think DED.
Guys, why does any of this matter? Who is this guy? Who gives a frick? Seriously, this is as annoying as that one guy who doesn't post anything but "OH TYPO HERP DERP".
US consumers are screwed. In most of the rest of the world, multiple carriers share the 2100 band happily. In the US, not only are there only two GSM carriers, but also one of them has to use an uncommon band. Essentially there is no portability at all; if you switch carrier you pretty much have to change your phone unless you don't use 3G data. And now at&t is saying buying T-Mobile will provide more competition.
Guys, why does any of this matter? Who is this guy? Who gives a frick? Seriously, this is as annoying as that one guy who doesn't post anything but "OH TYPO HERP DERP".
We have many DED stalkers here.
It doesn't, however, make sense for Apple to open the flood gates to all carriers at once. By opening it up to one carrier at a time, Apple can 1) better manage inventory; and 2) better sustain growth. If Apple goes Sprint this quarter it will get a sales bump, which will translate into earnings. If it then goes T-Mobile next quarter, it then will get another sales bump next Quarter. For earnings purposes that is better.
Also having carriers initially come on board in different Quarters also manages future sales better because people's contracts expiring will be spread out into different Quarters over the networks. For instance, the iPhone was introduced on Verizon and AT&T's networks in different Quarters so Apple can expect renewals to be spread out.
Apple benefits from their being as many carriers as possible as it provides it more leverage when negotiating subsidies. It only makes sense for Apple to bring Sprint on board first considering the uncertainty with T-Mobile's future. Apple doesn't want Sprint's customers fleeing. T-Mobile will come on board last if AT&T doesn't buy it.
T-Mobile is acting short-sighted in this case or just doesn't care anymore knowing it will either be eaten up by AT&T or Sprint. AT&T paid major money for the iPhone, as did Verizon, and likewise with Sprint. If T-Mobile wanted to survive, it would cough up the money to Apple and take a temporary loss for a MAJOR long-term gain.