T-Mobile planning network compatibility with Apple's iPhone by end of year

[ceredon]

Figured I'd post this here since so many iPhone owners have been wanting to have TMobile as a option:
http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/07/t...pa-42-bobsled/
http://allthingsd.com/20120507/t-mob...e-users-by-q4/
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...d_of_year.html
From their press release:

As part of the company's network modernization effort, T-Mobile also plans to launch 4G HSPA+ service in the 1900 MHz band in a large number of markets by the end of the year. Network modernization trials have shown up to a 33 percent increase in HSPA+ data speeds as well as improved in-building coverage. Rolling out 4G HSPA+ services in the 1900 MHz band will also provide customers with the ability to use a broader range of devices, including the iPhone, on T-Mobile's 4G network.


T-Mobile also announced that its nationwide HSPA+ network has expanded to deliver a competitive 4G experience to well over 220 million people in 229 markets. In addition to an expanding 4G footprint, the 4G experience T-Mobile provides is pervasive among its customer base.


"In contrast to our competitors, nearly half of T-Mobile's postpaid smartphone customers are using a 4G device," said Ray. "Not only are we delivering a fast 4G experience to a higher percentage of our customers, we're also making it more affordable to step up to 4G. Whether you're purchasing one of our latest 4G superphones -- or bringing your own device, you can get better value with T-Mobile."


Beginning today, customers in Little Rock, Ark.; Hattiesburg, Miss.; Springfield, Mo. and Madison, Wis. can experience the fast speeds available on America's Largest 4G Network. Customers in Fayetteville and Little Rock, Ark.; Lake Charles, La. and Springfield, Mo. can experience the faster speeds offered by our HSPA+ 42 network with devices such as the recently launched HTC One(TM) S. Current customers are experiencing average speeds approaching 8 Mbps with peaks up to 22 Mbps using T-Mobile's HTC One S.

I've always used AT&T when I visit the US, but with their recent changes to their goPhone data eligibility I've been thinking of used TMobile even it is EDGE speeds. When this rolls out TMobile completely becomes my network of choice.

The only downside for us up here in Canada is that this probably means any chance of an AWS iPhone is completely dead. Our new (and much, much cheaper) carriers are AWS and have no EDGE fallback, so iPhones are completely unusable with them. Many were hoping Apple would do AWS for TMob and we would be beneficiaries. Guess no chance any more if TMobile is expanding to compatible frequencies.

For those in the US, this opens up a much less expensive option when their AT&T contracts expire and they get them unlocked. It should also mean the resale value of older iPhones goes up, since you can now get them unlocked and sell them to both AT&T and TMobile customers.