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T-Mobile's iPhone Is Unique Variant of AT&T's Model

Article Comments  19  

Mar 26, 2013, 1:03 PM   by Rich Brome   @richbrome

T-Mobile's version of the iPhone 5 has the same model number (A1428) as the one sold by AT&T, yet has unique tweaks that make it compatible with T-Mobile's WCDMA/HSPA+ network in the 1700 MHz AWS band. Unlocked A1428 iPhone 5s sold by AT&T and Apple will be able to work with T-Mobile's LTE 1700 and WCDMA/HSPA+ 1900 networks with a minor software update, but will never work with T-Mobile's WCDMA/HSPA+ 1700 network, according to an Apple product manager at today's T-Mobile event. That means only iPhone 5s sold by T-Mobile will have full high-speed data coverage from day one. Unlocked iPhone 5s used with T-Mobile will have limited high-speed data coverage at first, improving as T-Mobile makes progress with its network modernization this year.

source: Phone Scoop / Apple

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djdanska

Mar 26, 2013, 8:41 PM
edited

NOT quite Unique!

It's a firmware update. Not even a hardware change. All they did was file a change with the FCC. Same iphone 5, new firmware!! That's all..
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6860/apple-to-ship-upd ... »

But yes, you must buy a new t-mobile iphone 5 to get the AWS HSPA+ support. I'd bet at&t pushed against a firmware update on existing iphones.
greedy like aways 😁 😁 😁
PhoneMaster

Mar 26, 2013, 4:03 PM

Not exactly accurate

From what I understand, once AT&T exhausts its on-hand stock of the A1428, it will start selling the "new" A1428 that T-Mobile will be selling as well. In other words, Apple will only be producing the "new" A1428 from now on. The new A1428 will be fully compatible with all of AT&T and T-Mobile's GSM, WCDMA and LTE bands.
The 1700, 1900 thing will eventually be ironed out. This is what happens when LTE comes further into the picture so to say. Interoperability.
...
Guys, all of you are "[n]ot exactly accurate."

The A1428 iPhone 5 variant has always possessed the physical capability for W-CDMA 2100+1700 (i.e. AWS). However, Apple implemented a software lock out to appease AT&T. The software lock out is being...
(continues)
mikkej2k

Mar 27, 2013, 6:46 AM

Will wifi calling be available?

I have read all the info that I can find and see no references to this T-Mobile feature on the updated GSM variant.
andy2373

Mar 26, 2013, 2:30 PM

Thanks

For clearing that up. 😉
The clarification helps a lot. It can get complicated with different encoding schemes and multiple bands and some overlapping.
If TMO's iPhone 5 will have their Wifi calling?
...
 
 
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