Filed under: Rumors, Internet Tools, Apple, Leopard
T-Mobile hearts Apple. Deal in the works?
MacRumors cites an ABC News [via PC Magazine] report that T-Mobile's CEO (USA), Robert Dotson, spent a bit of time at a press conference last Friday discussing what a shining example of innovation Apple is and how "Apple's and T-Mobile's visions seem to be aligned." Dotson refused to comment on the possibility or likelihood of a T-Mobile/Apple partnership on any upcoming products or services, and even downplayed the importance of mobile music and video in the 3G (mobile broadband) marketplace, although he did speak highly of Apple's upcoming Mac OS X Leopard and more specifically the trend toward dynamic, image-rich email communications, which Mail 3.0 will be optimized for.
Perhaps there's a mobile Mail-enabled phone coming soon to a T-Mobile kiosk near you? Maybe all these years of iPhone rumors have gotten it all wrong and the future isn't about cramming MP3s onto your cell phone, but making your cell phone more useful as a text-based communication device! I don't think I'll be giving up my Blackberry any time soon, but the prospect of a better cellphone mail interface is appealing.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matthew said 12:09PM on 10-09-2006
News like this troubles me. Apple should not partner with any single carrier, but ship an unlocked iPhone.
If you're not familiar with how well unlocked mobile phones work in the marketplace, research Sony Ericsson's unlocked phones.
I'm only posting this view again on TUAW because I think it's both possible and critical to the success of the iPhone that Apple's (rumored) mobile be unlocked.
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Mitchell said 12:34PM on 10-09-2006
I think this is a good plan. However, I would like to see some easy integration with the sidekick 3 and my mac. Mark/Space has some software to sync my phone with my address book and iCal, however, they have will be stopping support support. What am I going to do then? If their visions are aligned, why do they not offer any options? Bluetooth is crippled on the phone so I cannot sync via BT.
I realize that problem is not with TMobile, but Danger. It would just be nice not to have to buy 3rd party software with EVERY phone that I purchase (any network).
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Matt said 12:49PM on 10-09-2006
Here is what I want in an apple phone/service, and an explanation of why I want it.
I want an apple phone with evdo connectivity via bluetooth/bt2/usb2 so that I can connect to the internet wherever and whenever.
I could also use the handset to browse the web. It should also be constantly connected to my email and IM (not just .mac, but gmail too).
I could visit the itunes store, and buy tracks from the phone.
The evdo is important because I see more and more corporate internets getting more and more restrictive, and I for one am getting to the point where I will just bring my own internet ;-)
I wanna pay about $60 a month for unlimited broadband internet via evdo/on phone and a standard allotment of voice minutes with rollover.
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Trish M. said 12:52PM on 10-09-2006
I'm jazzed. I use T-Mobile because I can use my Sony-Ericcson phone overseas (I asked them to unlock it and it was no problem). The customer service is great. I'm willing to hang on a while longer with my aging phone if they do something with Apple - a dream come true.
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hugacrv said 1:05PM on 10-09-2006
I'd love to get an iPhone (assuming it's coming AND assuming it's got a good feature set) as my T-610 is getting old and I want email and better organizer synchronization.
I've been looking hard at the Blackberry Pearl since Pocket Mac 4.0 is now available. It seems to come very close to the Mac/Phone integration that I desire (though it appears to have some rough spots).
Anyone have experience with the BB Pearl and Pocket Mac?
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matthew said 1:20PM on 10-09-2006
hugacrv,
I have the SE W810i (unlocked, with TMobile as my provider) and it does it all, and it plays well with iSync (iCal, Address Book, iPhoto). It does MP3's, email, Web, calendar, contacts, movies, 2mp camera, etc, etc. Check it out.
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Brona said 1:45PM on 10-09-2006
This is rather probable if you look at Apples history. If they are gonna make a new portable device, it should be Newton but taken to the next level. Mobile phone are first and foremost communication devices, not media devices. Most of us already have iPods (or iPod-like devices) and really can live without a extra mp3-player. What most of us don't have is a phone where you easily can talk, chat, surf and email. I hope the iPhone (if it really is in the works) get IP-phone functionallity as this really is the future.
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Ken C said 2:15PM on 10-09-2006
@ #1
I think you definatly make a valid point. But I think there is a possibility that Apple would semi-partner with them. Meaning that T-mobile might have an exclusive iPhone, But I definatly think they could do that and sell the unlocked ones as well, Possibly those with or going to t-mobile could get the iphone at the subsidized price, and would have some extra stuff that maybe the unlocked one might not have (nothing comes to mind other than T-moibles new "myfaves"
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tnkgrl said 2:28PM on 10-09-2006
I'm with T-Mobile for my primary phone, a Nokia N80, which I'm planning to replace with the Nokia N95... I'm also with Cingular for my secondary phone, an LG CU-500, which I use for high-speed (HSDPA) data!
That being said, since I'm into mobile phones and into Apple products, I'm planning to get the iPhone if it's ever released, as long as it's equal to or better than my former Sony Ericsson W800i.
That's the bar I'm setting, and that's assuming that the iPhone is quad-band GSM with EDGE. As for an Apple/T-Mobile partnership, I'd be pretty disappointed if the iPhone was subsidized/locked.
Then again, T-Mobile is the only carrier that exists in some of Apple's biggest markets, the US and parts of Europe (Germany & the Netherlands, anyway), so maybe a partnership makes sense.
Also, since most people don't like spending money on mobile phones, opting for subsidized/locked models, maybe an Apple/T-Mobile partnership makes sense in order to sell more iPhones.
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mrtotes said 7:08PM on 10-09-2006
Number 1:
Although I'd too like the freedom of an unlocked phone if the 'iPhone' is to be a success it must be tied in to a single service provider. The iPod wouldn't have been a success with the ease of interaction with iTS and iTunes.
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david_UK said 3:00AM on 10-10-2006
I take this from another angle: perhaps it will induce t-mobile to support OS-X. Athe moment I have a t-mobile MDA Pro which I cannot get connected to my powerbook. No 3rd party scripts work & t-mobile support will just tell you to f**k off if you say you aren't using Winduhs.
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