Finally, The T-Mobile Girl Could Be Getting The iPhone
July 10, 2012
It seems that everyone is selling the iPhone these days, except T-Mobile USA. However, that could soon change, according to Bloomberg.
Beginning next year, the nation’s fourth-largest wireless carrier could finally sell Apple’s handset. This could be thanks to an agreement signed by Cupertino and T-Mobile’s parent company, Deutsche Telekom, according to Sanford C. Bernstein’s Craig Moffett.
The analyst, writing in a new research note, states it is “increasingly likely" an agreement will soon allow T-Mobile to sell iPhones in the U.S. next year.
In March, we reported that T-Mobile's new LTE service, which will just happen to come online in 2013, could be the catalyst for the company to get the next iPhone.
Long game
T-Mobile’s absence from the iPhone game comes at a time when an increasing number of U.S. carriers have recently signed agreements with Apple to do so. This year alone, regional carriers like Alaska Communications, Appalachian Wireless, C Spire, Cellcom, GCI and nTelos have become iPhone resellers. In addition, Cricket Communications and Boost Mobile are now offering the handset prepaid. In total, 11 U.S. carriers now carry the iPhone. Meanwhile, T-Mobile’s woes have only continued during this time. The carrier lost 510,000 monthly subscribers in the first quarter while rivals AT&T and Verizon Wireless together added 688,000 so-called post-paid customers. More than half of the smartphones sold at AT&T and Verizon in the first quarter were iPhones. Says Moffett:The iPhone availability at T-Mobile USA would likely reduce contract losses at that company, and push Deutsche Telekom U.S. to a net revenue growth position much sooner than the market expects.If T-Mobile does get the iPhone, it will come over a year after AT&T's attempt to acquire the Bellevue, Washington company fell through. Will you wait for the T-Mobile iPhone? Source: Bloomberg
