T-Mobile's Phone Selection

[aeroplane]

I've been with T-mobile for about 5 years now and I am really happy with their call quality, network coverage, pricing, and customer service. Having said that, their phones stink. T-mobile is the ONLY major carrier who doesn't have a touchscreen type 'fashion' phone. Besides this, the pricing on the phones they do have is out of line with their competitors. I have been purchasing unlocked phones, but it's not the same as having a phone that it supported and subsidized by your carrier.

Of course, this is not true of T-mobile europe where they have the likes of the MDA Compact IV and even the iphone. Why does T-mobile neglect this US market in this aspect? There is plenty of cool GSM hardware out there, why doesn't T-mobile get with it? Now with AT&T offering $199 iPhones, I can't help but think that they're going to have quite a few customer's jumping ship...

[Mobile Mike]

Originally Posted by aeroplane

I've been with T-mobile for about 5 years now and I am really happy with their call quality, network coverage, pricing, and customer service. Having said that, their phones stink. T-mobile is the ONLY major carrier who doesn't have a touchscreen type 'fashion' phone. Besides this, the pricing on the phones they do have is out of line with their competitors. I have been purchasing unlocked phones, but it's not the same as having a phone that it supported and subsidized by your carrier.

Of course, this is not true of T-mobile europe where they have the likes of the MDA Compact IV and even the iphone. Why does T-mobile neglect this US market in this aspect? There is plenty of cool GSM hardware out there, why doesn't T-mobile get with it? Now with AT&T offering $199 iPhones, I can't help but think that they're going to have quite a few customer's jumping ship...

Aeroplane, welcome to Wireless Advisor and thank you for echoing what I feel as well. It was a few years ago they had only about 10 phones available, now it's at least 30+, which is a good thing, BUT I completely agree with you that their current selection is lousy.

I don't know why they're not getting better phones. I have a hard time believing AT&T has THAT many exclusives...

I think there are many other T-Mobileites out there who agree with us.

[aeroplane]

Glad to know that I'm not alone. I sent an email to T-mo about the MDA Compact IV and was told that there has been no internal talk of releasing this phone. I sent a subsequent email basically echoing what I said in my original post here. I doubt they'll have anything meaningful to say in reponse, but I can hope, can't I?

If you head over to gsmarena.com to see the vast selection of devices that T-mobile dosn't offer but could, it really boggles the mind as to why their selection is so poor. I'm really not kidding when I say that every other carrier has a better selection, often at better prices. It almost seems like a form of business suicide...

[Telekom]

Originally Posted by aeroplane

Glad to know that I'm not alone. I sent an email to T-mo about the MDA Compact IV and was told that there has been no internal talk of releasing this phone. I sent a subsequent email basically echoing what I said in my original post here. I doubt they'll have anything meaningful to say in reponse, but I can hope, can't I?

If you head over to gsmarena.com to see the vast selection of devices that T-mobile dosn't offer but could, it really boggles the mind as to why their selection is so poor. I'm really not kidding when I say that every other carrier has a better selection, often at better prices. It almost seems like a form of business suicide...

This is an old saw that keeps being repeated over and over and over and over. Face it, if you want a better selection find another carrier if that's what's important to you. Even AT&T doesn't have everything either. They have maybe one or two Nokia models.

[Eric47]

Originally Posted by Telekom

This is an old saw that keeps being repeated over and over and over and over. Face it, if you want a better selection find another carrier if that's what's important to you. Even AT&T doesn't have everything either. They have maybe one or two Nokia models.

i think thats what people do is find another carrier quiet honestly.

[Telekom]

Originally Posted by Eric47

i think thats what people do is find another carrier quiet honestly.

You go with what's important to you. Some people think that the selection of carrier provided phones is the most important thing while others think that the quality of the service you receive is more important. It does no good for anyone to have a great selection of phones if the service doesn't work for you.

[nKrypteD1]

Originally Posted by Telekom

You go with what's important to you. Some people think that the selection of carrier provided phones is the most important thing while others think that the quality of the service you receive is more important. It does no good for anyone to have a great selection of phones if the service doesn't work for you.

I just got a Samsung Katalyst, when I was in the store yesterday they had a fairly wide selection of phones most of them up to date and excellent. The killer for me at the moment is the lack of 3g access here in GA.

On a side note, there are touchsreen pda's that tmobile has currently.

[Eric47]

Originally Posted by Telekom

You go with what's important to you. Some people think that the selection of carrier provided phones is the most important thing while others think that the quality of the service you receive is more important. It does no good for anyone to have a great selection of phones if the service doesn't work for you.

this sounds like opinion more than fact. but you are definetly entitled to that.

but i must say that to some people phone selection is important and other companys tend to offer better ones.

In my opinion, trying to imply that TMOB's service is any better quality than any other company is quiet bold. i will say that the service is inexpensive, but then again it is barely nationwide and 2G service only (3G is coming but its about 2 years late).

For me personally i like having a good service and a cool phone. both can be had, depending on your area may depend on what company offers the combo of service and phone selections.

i figured since we are all voicing are opinions id throw my hat in the ring

[scotsboyuk]

Originally Posted by aeroplane

Of course, this is not true of T-mobile europe where they have the likes of the MDA Compact IV and even the iphone. Why does T-mobile neglect this US market in this aspect? There is plenty of cool GSM hardware out there, why doesn't T-mobile get with it?

I took a quick glance at T-Mobile's phone selection and you're quite correct, frankly it's pathetic (AT&T's selection is a bit of a poor showing too I have to say, but somewhat better than T-Mobile's). What sticks with me though is the prices they are charging! $50 for a Nokia 5310 on contract! Sweet Moses!

The problem is old boy that much of that nice looking kit won't do you much good on T-Mobile USA. Most 3G handsets are out since they are built for 2100 MHz or 850 MHz networks. Tri/quad-band 2G handsets would be fine of course, but some manufacturers simply concentrate on other markets that they deem more important. Of course one can take some comfort from the fact that even though you can't get them from T-Mobile, you can still get and use such handsets SIM free.

[aeroplane]

Originally Posted by Telekom

Even AT&T doesn't have everything either. They have maybe one or two Nokia models.

How can you say that? AT&T has many unique phones including the venerable iPhone as well as the LG VU, the Pantech Duo, the Moto Q Global, the Blackjack, the Tilt, a couple Sony Ericsson's (T-mo has none), and several devices by both Palm and Blackberry. And not that the selection of Nokia's is the litmus test for overall phone selection (unless you're totally in the bag for Nokia's), but they have 5 Nokia models.

All I'm saying is that T-mo's phones are few, expensive, and out of step with consumer demand compared to other carriers. I had Sprint PCS prior to T-mobile and it was a constant nightmare on all fronts so I am reluctant to switch carriers again especially when I am happy with every other aspect of T-mobile. If phone selection were all that was important to me, I would've switched long before now. I honestly believe that I am trying to help T-mobile by voicing these complaints. As I said before, the hardware exists, why is it so difficult for them to re-brand a couple and beef up their selection?

[Telekom]

Originally Posted by Eric47

this sounds like opinion more than fact. but you are definetly entitled to that.

but i must say that to some people phone selection is important and other companys tend to offer better ones.

In my opinion, trying to imply that TMOB's service is any better quality than any other company is quiet bold. i will say that the service is inexpensive, but then again it is barely nationwide and 2G service only (3G is coming but its about 2 years late).

For me personally i like having a good service and a cool phone. both can be had, depending on your area may depend on what company offers the combo of service and phone selections.

i figured since we are all voicing are opinions id throw my hat in the ring

I'm not here to make excuses for T-Mobile. It should be noted that the other big players namely AT&T and Verizon have a big advantage over T-Mobile. Not only did they have a thirteen year advantage over T-Mobile, but had no say that they would be relegated to use only 1900 "PCS." They have licenses to serve the majority of the US. However, it's easier said than done to cover "everything." T-Mobile has never had any pretensions that they were as good as the big boys like Verizon and AT&T. That's part of the reason why they try to compete based on other things such as price and level of customer service. Consider that if it had not been for Sprint PCS buying Nextel they would possibly be smaller than T-Mobile. T-Mobile has done quite well for themselves and have added over 10 million subscribers in the last few years. Despite their lackluster offerings of phones they've still managed to do quite well for themselves. As far as 3G you cannot offer what you don't have spectrum for. Verizon and AT&T are awash in spectrum so of course they don't have any problem rolling out 3G. T-Mobile is rolling out 3G only now because those who occupied the spectrum (the government) was in no hurry to vacate the space.

And service both the ability to have a signal and the customer services to service your subscribers is very important to many people.

[Mobile Mike]

Originally Posted by aeroplane

How can you say that? AT&T has many unique phones including the venerable iPhone as well as the LG VU, the Pantech Duo, the Moto Q Global, the Blackjack, the Tilt, a couple Sony Ericsson's (T-mo has none), and several devices by both Palm and Blackberry. And not that the selection of Nokia's is the litmus test for overall phone selection (unless you're totally in the bag for Nokia's), but they have 5 Nokia models.

All I'm saying is that T-mo's phones are few, expensive, and out of step with consumer demand compared to other carriers. I had Sprint PCS prior to T-mobile and it was a constant nightmare on all fronts so I am reluctant to switch carriers again especially when I am happy with every other aspect of T-mobile. If phone selection were all that was important to me, I would've switched long before now. I honestly believe that I am trying to help T-mobile by voicing these complaints. As I said before, the hardware exists, why is it so difficult for them to re-brand a couple and beef up their selection?

Once again, I completely agree with you.

[tmobileman]

if you sign up with tmobile through an authorized agent you can usually get just about any GSM phone with a subsidy for activation because they all sell for the most part unlocked models. I work for tmobile and agree the phone selection while it's always getting better leaves something to be desired. I do think to with the Nation Wide launch of our 3g network you will see a lot more options coming before the end of the year.

[SteveW]

Originally Posted by aeroplane

All I'm saying is that T-mo's phones are few, expensive, and out of step with consumer demand compared to other carriers.

Originally Posted by tmobileman

I work for tmobile and agree the phone selection while it's always getting better leaves something to be desired. I do think to with the Nation Wide launch of our 3g network you will see a lot more options coming before the end of the year.

Well, as tmobileman says, supposedly T-Mo is going to make a 3G marketing push later this year and release some HSDPA phones. I'll believe it when I see it, but that's the rumor.

That reminds me that bobolito started a thread in the Cingular (now AT&T) forum a while ago where we discussed upcoming phones. I'm not asking him to do this again, but it surprises me that none of the insiders here have advance info on T-Mo phones. Do we even have a list of what they are releasing in July and August?


SW

[RJB]

If you are a hater of samsung do not use tmobile. That is alot of their phone selection.

[tmobileman]

currently there are 16 phones offerred through the web site for No Cost just FYI

[tmobileman]

Originally Posted by RJB

If you are a hater of samsung do not use tmobile. That is alot of their phone selection.

LOL is there such a thing as a lover of samsung?...If so I am sure it is just because these are the free phone users, you know the kind that will take anything as long as it is free.

[Mobile Mike]

Originally Posted by tmobileman

LOL is there such a thing as a lover of samsung?...If so I am sure it is just because these are the free phone users, you know the kind that will take anything as long as it is free.

Good one!

[tmobileman]

Originally Posted by Mobile Mike

Good one!

I thought you might like that one Mike, since I know you're such a FAN of samsung. Lol