Long-suffering T-Mobile customers rejoice — you can finally buy the iPhone 5 from your favorite carrier. T-Mobile on Tuesday announced that it would start selling Apple’s (AAPL) popular iPhone 5 for just $99 starting on April 12th. While there’s no standard two-year service agreement, you will have to pay T-Mobile an extra $20 over a 24-month span to fully pay off the cost of the device. At the same time, such gradual payments should prove to be very attractive to customers especially since they’re letting you pay less up front. Customers also have the option of paying the full price for the device up front and not paying T-Mobile any extra fees afterward. T-Mobile’s full press release is posted below.
T-Mobile Un-leashes iPhone 5 With Incredible New Pricing and No Annual Contracts
Becomes first major wireless company to eliminate service contracts; debuts 4G LTE network in seven major metropolitan areas
New York, N.Y. — Mar. 26, 2013 —
Consumers will have a new affordable, unrestricted and hassle-free way to buy an iPhone 5 when T-Mobile USA, Inc. begins offering the revolutionary phone on Friday, April 12.
T-Mobile announced today that qualifying customers can get an iPhone 5 for $99.99 down, plus monthly payments. T-Mobile is the only major U.S. wireless company to offer iPhone 5 with no annual service contract plus unlimited talk, text and Web on a screaming-fast nationwide 4G network. And because there are no annual contracts, customers make the decision when to upgrade their devices — not the carrier.
“This is an important day for people who love their iPhonebut can’t stand the pain other carriers put them through to own one,” said John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile USA. “We feel their 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.”
iPhone 5 is the thinnest and lightest iPhone ever, completely redesigned to feature a stunning 4-inch Retina display, an Apple-designed A6 chip for blazing fast performance and ultrafast wireless technology1 — all while delivering even better battery life.2 iPhone 5 comes with iOS 6, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 new features, including Shared Photo Streams, Facebook integration, all-new Maps app and Passbook organization, and even more Siri features and languages.
With compatibility on T-Mobile’s 4G network, iPhone 5 customers will enjoy a consistently outstanding wireless experience, seamlessly connecting to both T-Mobile’s existing nationwide 4G and growing 4G LTE networks. Today, the company launched 4G LTE service in seven major metropolitan areas, including Baltimore; Houston; Kansas City; Las Vegas; Phoenix; San Jose, Calif.; and Washington, D.C. T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network is expected to reach 100 million people by mid-year and 200 million nationwide by the end of 2013. The company’s 4G HSPA+ network reaches 225 million people in 229 metropolitan areas.
In addition to a great 4G network experience, T-Mobile offers iPhone 5 customers one of the simplest and most competitive consumer rate plans in the industry. Rather than providing a dizzying number of consumer rate plans, T-Mobile is offering iPhone 5 with just one.
T-Mobile’s new Simple Choice Plan starts with a base rate of $50 per month for unlimited talk, text and Web with 500MB of 4G data.3 Consumers can add 2GB of 4G data for $10 per month per line or get unlimited 4G data for an additional $20 per month per line. Customers can add a second phone line for $30 per month, and each additional line is just $10 per month. There are no caps and no overages.
Additional Benefits
In addition to the Simple Choice Plan’s reasonable terms and powerful nationwide network, iPhone 5 customers can take advantage of several free premium benefits from T-Mobile, including:
- HD Voice – delivering nationwide crystal-clear high-definition calling and significantly reduced background noise. T-Mobile is the only U.S. carrier offering nationwide HD Voice for iPhone 5.
- T-Mobile Smartphone Mobile HotSpot for on-the-go tethering Internet access. Through Simple Choice, T-Mobile offers an additional 500MB of 4G data for tethering, enabling customers to tether from their iPads, Macs and other devices.
- Talk and surf at the same time — without limits. Through T-Mobile’s Simple Choice Plan, customers can opt for totally unlimited 4G data on a nationwide network, something no other major U.S. wireless company offers for iPhone 5.
Pricing & Availability
iPhone 5 will be available for qualifying customers with T-Mobile’s Simple Choice Plan for $99.99 down and $20 per month for 24 months. Qualifying customers can get iPhone 4S through the Simple Choice Plan for $69.99 down and $20 per month for 24 months. iPhone 4 will be available for qualifying customers through the Simple Choice Plan for $14.99 down and $15 per month for 24 months. Financing is available on approval of credit online and in participating locations. iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 will be available in select markets. iPhone 5 will be available nationwide on Friday, April 12, at T-Mobile retail stores and through select dealers and national retail stores, as well as online at http://www.T-Mobile.com. Customers can pre-order iPhone 5 beginning Friday, April 5. For more information, visit the pre-registration page.
