Deutsche Telekom-owned T-Mobile USA this morning sent out invites for a March 26 event in New York, where the telco should announce some big news and update us on its technology and business.“We’re still a wireless company,”reads the invitation,“We’re just not going to act like one anymore”.
We knowthat the carrier, as part of its system-wide modernization effort, is planning to finally flip the switch on 4G LTE before the end of this month in Las Vegas and Kansas City (plus, it’s beenspotted in New York City). Another thing we know is that Apple’s iPhone isofficially landingon T-Mobile’s network this year…
The biggest change in the way the carrier conducts business should be a push toeliminate handset subsidiesin favor of monthly installments. We have no doubt in our minds that both Verizon and AT&T are going toclosely watchT-Mobile’s announcements in that regard.
T-Mobile CEOJohn Legere told Reutersback in December his company would start selling Apple products in 2013. A subsequent media release confirmed that“T-Mobile USA has entered into an agreement with Apple to bring products to market together next year.”
And in January 2013, theCEO additionally told Reutersthat T-Mobile will start selling Apple’s iPhone“in about three to four months,”re-iterating plans to get rid of cellphone subsidies in a similar timeframe.
It all aligns conveniently so expect a strong media event for the German wireless company. AT&T today launched its now30/40/50GB data sharing tiersso a response from T-Mobile is expected sooner than later.
The press conference could also see T-Mobile execs take afew pot shotsat AT&T and itsanti-T-Mobile ad campaign.
T-Mobile’s merger with MetroPCS has recently beenapprovedby The Federal Communications Commission, although the transaction is currently pending an approval by MetroPCS shareholders, which are scheduled to vote on the merger on April 12.
Apple, of course, should be the biggest beneficiary from any iPhone distribution agreement with T-Mobile.
The carrier hostsmore than two millionunlockeddevices on its iPhone-friendly speedy 3G HSPA+ radio technology and offers free support and Nano SIMs as well.
