T-Mobile reportedly stocking iPhone 5 compatible nano-SIM cards
Less than one month after Apple's iPhone 5 went on sale through official U.S. partner carriers AT&T, Verizon and Sprint, the nation's fourth-largest wireless company T-Mobile has reportedly taken shipment of nano-SIM cards capable of bringing the hot-selling handset to the telecom's network.
T-Mobile's iPhone 5-ready nano-SIM card. | Source: TmoNews
According to T-Mobile blog TmoNews, the iPhone 5-ready nano-SIM cards started showing up at the carrier's stores on Saturday, allowing unlocked versions of the handset to be activated on T-Mobile's HPSA+ network. The appearance of the nano-SIM cards comes as a bit of a surprise, as the first batch of chips were expected to arrive later this month.
While Apple does not sell any iteration of the iPhone to T-Mobile, the newest version of the smartphone supports the telecom's 4G HSPA+ and LTE bandwidths, which are being built out across the country. This means any unlocked AT&T or Verizon iPhone 5 will recognize and operate on T-Mobile's network, including unlocked units sold directly from Apple.
Shortly after launching the handset in September, Apple revealed U.S. pricing for out-of-contract, or factory unlocked, iPhone 5s would be $649, $749 and $849 for the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB versions, respectively. Non-contract units purchased from AT&T and Verizon would carry comparable prices.
Unlike the micro-SIM card used in last year's iPhone 4S, supply of the iPhone 5's nano-SIM card is somewhat strained as Apple's device is the first smartphone in the world to use the newly-minted standard.
In June, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute chose Apple's nano-SIM design to be the official fourth form factor (4FF) SIM card, with the design beating out a rival proposal from RIM and Motorola to become the successor of the micro-SIM.
The nano-SIM is 40 percent smaller than the third-generation micro-SIM architecture, and was supposedly needed to maximize space in the iPhone 5's cramped uni-body chassis.
T-Mobile's iPhone 5-ready nano-SIM card. | Source: TmoNews
According to T-Mobile blog TmoNews, the iPhone 5-ready nano-SIM cards started showing up at the carrier's stores on Saturday, allowing unlocked versions of the handset to be activated on T-Mobile's HPSA+ network. The appearance of the nano-SIM cards comes as a bit of a surprise, as the first batch of chips were expected to arrive later this month.
While Apple does not sell any iteration of the iPhone to T-Mobile, the newest version of the smartphone supports the telecom's 4G HSPA+ and LTE bandwidths, which are being built out across the country. This means any unlocked AT&T or Verizon iPhone 5 will recognize and operate on T-Mobile's network, including unlocked units sold directly from Apple.
Shortly after launching the handset in September, Apple revealed U.S. pricing for out-of-contract, or factory unlocked, iPhone 5s would be $649, $749 and $849 for the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB versions, respectively. Non-contract units purchased from AT&T and Verizon would carry comparable prices.
Unlike the micro-SIM card used in last year's iPhone 4S, supply of the iPhone 5's nano-SIM card is somewhat strained as Apple's device is the first smartphone in the world to use the newly-minted standard.
In June, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute chose Apple's nano-SIM design to be the official fourth form factor (4FF) SIM card, with the design beating out a rival proposal from RIM and Motorola to become the successor of the micro-SIM.
The nano-SIM is 40 percent smaller than the third-generation micro-SIM architecture, and was supposedly needed to maximize space in the iPhone 5's cramped uni-body chassis.
Comments
The ATT version, I think. The Verizon is unlocked and can pick up GSM but it won't do T-Mobile's LTE, when they get it, from what I read. Someone elaborate if I am wrong
Cramped? Poor choice of words...
Is it that the iPhone 5 comes unlocked when you sign up on a contract unlike the iPhone 4 and 4s? I know it is unlocked when you buy it for the full purchase price. I thought there was an article here that mentioned it would be unlocked automatically when you sign up on a contract.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tylerk36
Is it that the iPhone 5 comes unlocked when you sign up on a contract unlike the iPhone 4 and 4s? I know it is unlocked when you buy it for the full purchase price. I thought there was an article here that mentioned it would be unlocked automatically when you sign up on a contract.
The Verizon iPhone 5 is GSM unlocked whether you buy it on-contract or off-contract. The AT&T iPhone 5 is GSM locked to AT&T network. I've read here that you can buy it from Apple Stores at full price if you don't want to sign new contract with AT&T but I called Apple yesterday and they have told me you need to sign a new contract when you buy it from them! I know some people who bought AT&T iPhone 5 off-contract but Apple reps said that's not possible.
I know you can buy it from Verizon (online or at the Verizon stores) unlocked and without contract for full price. The catch is that you will need to activate it, which I believe means $36 activation fee + at least one month of service with them.
It was possible to buy the AT&T iPhone 4S off contract from Apple for the full list price in the U.S.. It is not yet possible to buy the iPhone 5 that way - although that is probably due to the overwhelming demand rather than a change in policy. Once supply starts to catch up, I expect that they'll offer unlocked phones again. Of course, in many countries, you can buy unlocked phones by law - but that creates additional complexity.
it would be nice if apple offers unlocked phone network
Originally Posted by fatusmiles
it would be nice if apple offers unlocked phone network
They'd have to support all phones from all manufacturers. They don't want to do that.
All unlocked phones for a particular network architecture, not all phones as that would require supporting all architectures.
But that's not even the biggest reason it would make it infeasible for Apple to tackle.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rot'nApple
The ATT version, I think. The Verizon is unlocked and can pick up GSM but it won't do T-Mobile's LTE, when they get it, from what I read. Someone elaborate if I am wrong
The Apple iPhone will only work on LTE carriers with an arrangement with Apple, after pulling the OS apart in the last iPad LTE, Apple disables the LTE option in the default carrier package so unless there is a package (which is determined by the IMSI of the SIM), it won't work even if it supports the bands. It won't work on LTE unless Apple adds the configuration, of course when the jailbreak comes out , then ones that would be jailbroken would be able to be reconfigured. The new iPhone will work however on TMO's 3G network on the PCS band , the same as the iPhone 4 does.
Originally Posted by Rodent
Will also work on Walmarts 50 buck a month network which beats all the others.
Straight Talk isn't Wal-Mart itself (just exclusive to them for now, also available online standalone), and it's $45 a month (unless you pay a year at a time, and then it's $40) for unlimited/unlimited/2GB.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
Straight Talk isn't Wal-Mart itself (just exclusive to them for now, also available online standalone), and it's $45 a month (unless you pay a year at a time, and then it's $40) for unlimited/unlimited/2GB.
Rodent was talking about the T-Mobile nano SIMs working with the WalMart plans which are powered by T-Mobile.
So this is great news for the folks who want to use the iPhone 5 on their WalMart plans.
Just curious; what complexity? Do you perhaps mean CDMA/GSM and all those different bands across the globe? I ordered from Apple's website, and will come unlocked here in The Netherlands.
Might be unusable on CDMA when I'm in the States, but the US has GSM as well; never had a problem.
Originally Posted by Bwinski
Another quick query... Does ANYONE have a clue when Apple is going to start selling the UNLOCKED IPHONE 5 in their retail stores ? thanks in advance for the assist...
Apparently they already are. Can't confirm. Same with Verizon and AT&T.