According to a recent article from MacRumors T Mobile USA is prepping employee training to lure in iPhone users with unlocked handsets. Branded as the “Bring Your Own iPhone” initiative the plan seeks to lure in iPhone users not tied down by contracts by offering unlimited data, faster network speeds, and lower cost plans (touted to be up to $50 per month less than AT&T).
Along with this push T Mobile USA is currently working to expand their HSPA+ network, currently live in only a handful of major cities. I had T Mobile before I switched to AT&T for the first iPhone and had a mixed experience. The customer service was outstanding, but the actual cell coverage was awful. I counted several dead areas along my short commute to work, and would lose my signal when crossing any of the multiple bridges downtown. Even with the superior customer service I’ve had and the promise of better/faster cell connections, I would be unlikely to switch without being afforded a subsidized iPhone (the current providers offer a significant discount on your phone if you sign a contract binding you to their service, typically for two years). I love my smartphone, but it would take quite some time to offset the much higher price of an unsubsidized iPhone 5.
