t mobile usa logo
9 to 5 Mac reports that a spokesperson for T-Mobile USA has disclosed the carrier currently has over one million iPhone users on its network, despite the fact that Apple has not offered an unlocked iPhone in the United States until the past several weeks and that differences between T-Mobile's network and other GSM networks that mean that iPhones are unable to run at 3G speeds on T-Mobile.

In a meeting with T-Mobile spokespeople today ahead of the NYC Pepcom event, I received word that there are actively over a million Apple iPhones currently on T-Mobile's network. When asked for a breakdown, the spokesman said the majority were pre-iPhone 4 but that a significant amount of people had "taken the scissors" to their T-Mobile SIM cards. T-Mobile doesn't currently offer a Micro-SIM solution for Apple's iPhone 4 so people who want to use the iPhone 4 must modify their SIMs into MicroSIMs.

T-Mobile noted that it is planning to roll out micro-SIMs at some unspecified time in the future, but declined to discuss any possibility of the iPhone coming directly to the carrier's network.

AT&T announced back in March that it planned to acquire T-Mobile for $39 billion, although federal regulators are still assessing the impact of the potential merger before giving a final go-ahead on the plans.

Top Rated Comments

lehite Avatar
180 months ago
Hmmm. Maybe all these illegal jailbreakers should be prosecuted..
Jailbreaking is not illegal. At all.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tasset Avatar
180 months ago
The fact that 1 million people will live on the fringe with Edge data speeds, Tmobile coverage, and use older OS versions for fear of losing their unlocks, speaks volumes to the extent people will go to avoid AT&T.
The FCC/DOJ should consider this in assessing the damage a Tmobile acquisition will do to consumer choice and the strength being afforded to the Sister Bell's control over the market.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
reactions Avatar
180 months ago
Hmmm. Maybe all these illegal jailbreakers should be prosecuted..
And yet another troll..

I had run on the tmobile network and if you are single and want a good price per month tmobile is a great alternative to AT&T

I'm surprised there aren't more people

$5.99 unlimited Internet was nice while I had it ;)
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
goobot Avatar
180 months ago
The fact that 1 million people will live on the fringe with Edge data speeds, Tmobile coverage, and use older OS versions for fear of losing their unlocks, speaks volumes to the extent people will go to avoid AT&T.
The FCC/DOJ should consider this in assessing the damage a Tmobile acquisition will do to consumer choice and the strength being afforded to the Sister Bell's control over the market.
Just saying, most of the people that have an iphone on t-mobile are there because of the cheap data plans they can get. My friend was doing it for 2 years because it was cheap yet he always got no service. He finally switched to att and has perfect service. Im sure most wouldnt do it if t-mobile forced smart phone data plans on them.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nostaws Avatar
180 months ago
I am an iPhone user on T-Mobile. I don't have a data plan (I did in the past), I just have Wifi about everywhere I go.

When I did have EDGE data is was good enough to use google maps when in a pinch, check a blog, or get email. Not the fastest, but serviceable while out and about.

T-Mobile service is great where I live and I haven't had any problems.

I will admit, that it took me forever to upgrade to the latest OS because I don't like the hassle of jailbreaking. I let several updates pass.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
justinfreid Avatar
180 months ago
Technically, this is Unlocking, and it IS against the law in the US.

Really? Please cite your source.
I don't think it is: http://jstnfrd.com/mAZqzu.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro 3 4ths Perspective Aluminum Camera Module 1

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Sunday April 13, 2025 7:52 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Triad

Apple's 20th Anniversary iPhone May Finally Go All Screen

Tuesday April 15, 2025 6:31 am PDT by
Apple is preparing a "bold" new iPhone Pro model for the iPhone's 20th anniversary in 2027, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. As part of what's being described as a "major shake-up," Apple is said to be developing a design that makes more extensive use of glass – and this could point directly to the display itself. Here's the case for Apple releasing a truly all-screen iPhone with no...
iOS 19 Roundup Feature

iOS 19 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday April 15, 2025 7:37 am PDT by
The first iOS 19 beta is less than two months away, and there are already a handful of new features that are expected with the update. Apple should release the first iOS 19 beta to developers immediately following the WWDC 2025 keynote, which is scheduled for Monday, June 9. Following beta testing, the update should be released to the general public in September. Below, we recap the key...
CarPlay Hero

Apple Releases Wireless CarPlay Fix

Wednesday April 16, 2025 11:28 am PDT by
If you have been experiencing issues with wireless CarPlay in your vehicle lately, it was likely due to a software bug that has now been fixed. Apple released iOS 18.4.1 today, and the update's release notes say it "addresses a rare issue that prevents wireless CarPlay connection in certain vehicles." If wireless CarPlay was acting up for you, updating your iPhone to iOS 18.4.1 should...
Apple 2025 Thumb 1

10 Products Still Coming From Apple in 2025

Friday April 11, 2025 4:14 pm PDT by
Apple may have updated several iPads and Macs late last year and early this year, but there are still multiple new devices that we're looking forward to seeing in 2025. Most will come in September or October, but there could be a few surprises before then. We've rounded up a list of everything that we're still waiting to see from Apple in 2025. iPhone 17, 17 Air, and 17 Pro - We get...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Homescreen

Foldable iPhone Resolutions Leak With Under-Screen Camera Tipped

Monday April 14, 2025 3:12 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone (or "iPhone Fold") will feature two screens as part of its book-style design, and a Chinese leaker claims to know the resolutions for both of them. According to the Weibo-based account Digital Chat Station, the inner display, which is approximately 7.76 inches, will use a 2,713 x 1,920 resolution and feature "under-screen camera technology." Meanwhile, the...
iphone 16 pro models 1

17 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

Thursday April 17, 2025 4:12 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you skipped the iPhone...
iOS 18

Apple Releases iOS 18.4.1 With Bug Fixes

Wednesday April 16, 2025 10:11 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 18.4.1 and iPadOS 18.4.1, minor updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating systems that came out last September. iOS 18.4.1 and iPadOS 18.4.1 come two weeks after the launch of iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. There have been complaints about ...
Apple Bristol Current

An Apple Store in the UK is Permanently Closing Later This Year

Monday April 14, 2025 7:33 am PDT by
Apple has confirmed that it will be permanently closing its retail store in the heart of Bristol, England, and there is no replacement in sight. Apple Bristol in 2023 Apple Bristol will be closing its doors on Saturday, August 9, due to redevelopment plans at the Cabot Circus Shopping Centre, and the adjacent Bristol Shopping Quarter. According to news reports, and a building application, the ...