The time has finally arrived, on April 12th, T-Mobile finally made the iPhone available on their network, which means that the iPhone is now officially available on all major US carriers (AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile), as well as many smaller carriers.
With news of the T-Mobile iPhone release, many are now considering whether or not this is the final of the many, many pushes over the years that they should heed to finally join team iPhone. If you are one of those individuals finally taking iPhone into consideration, check out our article covering everything you need to know about the T-Mobile iPhone.
More on the T-Mobile iPhone
One aspect that sets T-Mobile apart from the other carriers offering the iPhone is the fact that the device is offered from the major carrier without the need for a contract. Yes, you may mention the fact that you can get a no-contract iPhone from Apple. However, Apple isn’t a cellular carrier, and you have to pay a hefty price for it. With T-Mobile, there’s no contract and no hefty cost. We will go a bit into the cost factor in a bit.
What T-Mobile is Saying
T-Mobile rightfully felt that their move would increase interest and customer base with T-Mobile. The service provider had their best sales period yet after the iPhone became available on T-Mobile. “We feel [the customer’s] pain. I’ve felt the pain. So we’re rewriting the rules of wireless to provide a radically simple, affordable iPhone 5 experience – on an extremely powerful network.”
Cost of a T-Mobile iPhone
The T-Mobile iPhone is the only iPhone that is offered by a major carrier without the need of a service contract. How much are consumers saving by not being tied down? First, let’s look at how much it costs to have a T-Mobile iPhone. First off, for an iPhone 5, you’ll have to pay $99.99 the day you go to the store to pick up your iPhone, that’s it on that day. If you want an iPhone 4S, you’ll pay $69.99 upfront that day. Still looking for a device even cheaper? The iPhone 4 is available for $14.99 from T-Mobile. From there, your monthly payment will be $70 a month for unlimited everything (talk, text, and data). The base monthly plan is unlimited talk and text, plus 200MB, for $50. Add a line for $30 a month. They is all apart of the T-Mobile Simple Choice Plan.
The Good and the Bad
The good that comes out of this is that it offers an official way for individuals to get an inexpensive iPhone. However, this isn’t a free ride. If that was the case, anyone would be able to just go out, pay the $99, then pay $50, and get a no-contract iPhone for $149 without having to pay another cent. T-Mobile stipulations mention that “Device loan balance due on service cancellation.” The full price is $579.99. So that price, minus what you’ve already paid in monthly payments before 24 months, is what’s due!
Should You Make the Switch?
The T-Mobile iPhone is, overall, great for those who don’t want to sign a contract and pay a bundle for an unlimited plan. Also, $100 off what others are offering is a nice touch as well. It is also great for those who still would like a contract option while still having a device as well. It is a situation, when done according to the rules, where you can have your cake and eat it too. Additionally, T-Mobile has a special until June 16th. If you are a former iPhone user making the switch, you can get a credit of up to $120 that goes toward iPhone costs of all type (device, accessories, and monthly payments).
Is a T-Mobile iPhone a good choice or does it ultimately feel like the same old, same old? Let us know in the comments below.
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