T-Mobile Now Selling iPhone And iPad Compatible SIM Cards
July 22, 2011
Could T-Mobile USA be hinting at a future iPhone and iPad on their network? There are rumors surfacing that suggest the devices are being tested on Sprint and T-Mobile, and this may be further proof that T-Mobile users may be in luck.
On the T-Mobile website, they are currently advertising a microSIM card that is ready to go with any unlocked iPhone. It's even available for free with a 2-year contract. Could this be a sign of greater iOS things to come for T-Mobile? Here is what their website says about this new product:
Already have a GSM phone or iPhone that you need to activate - or have an unlocked GSM phone you want to use on the T-Mobile network? Just get a Micro SIM card and choose a plan. Slip the ready-to-use Micro SIM Card into your phone and you’re ready to go.Apple has recently begun selling an unlocked iPhone in their stores starting at $649. An unlocked iPhone (either unlocked through jail breaking or by purchasing through Apple) can run on the T-Mobile network, but there are limitations. One being the iPhone uses a microSIM card, so the standard T-Mobile SIM needs to be trimmed to fit. There are some factors that seem to make sense about the iPhone running on T-Mobile and some that don’t. First, AT&T is merging with T-Mobile so it seems logical for them to unify their devices. Also, there is buzz about a prepaid iPhone coming this fall and T-Mobile happens to have a new monthly no-contract plan. There is uncertainty regarding the network though. There would need to be some changes to either the network or the iPhone. Right now, the iPhone does not work well on T-Mobile's GSM network and is limited to the slower EDGE speeds. It seems the easier solution would be to make the iPhone compatible with T-Mobile, but who knows if Apple is willing to make that modification? No one knows what these two companies are up to. This new offering on the T-Mobile website may only indicate they are addressing the microSIM card issue. Now consumers can purchase a SIM card that will fit in the legally unlocked iPhones sold at the Apple Store. However, there is a drawback to consider regarding this deal. T-Mobile locks you into a 2-year contract with this microSIM card, without even selling you a device. We are not really sure which way this one will go. What are your thoughts?
