Apple's iPhone originally released through only AT&T, then began hitting Sprint and Verizon stores in later generations. T-Mobile customers still don't have their own variant, but T-Mobile stores have now started carrying NanoSIM cards for their customers that are used in only one existing phone: the Apple iPhone 5.
The move is part of T-Mobile's efforts to have customers bring in their unlocked phones from other carriers to use on their network instead.
If you wish to use an iPhone 5 on T-Mobile's HSPA+ network, then all you need is an unlocked Verizon or AT&T iPhone 5. The Verizon iPhone 5 comes unlocked out of the box, while the AT&T variant can apparently be unlocked via iTunes. Then all you need to head over to a T-Mobile store and pick up your NanoSIM card.
The move by T-Mobile shows that despite their constant insistence that the Android phones the carry are more-than-capable iPhone competitors, the carrier still recognizes the market dominance of Apple's smartphone. Hopefully, by essentially opening their network up to two variants of the iPhone 5, T-Mobile can start reversing the disturbing trend of customer loss over the past year.
Apple's iPhone 5 comes with a 4-inch Retina display and the new A6 processor running iOS 6. The latest iteration of Apple's mobile operating system offers over 200 new features according to Apple, including Facebook integration and an improved Siri. Oh, and let's not forget the much-hated Apple Maps.
The iPhone 5 comes with an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera for FaceTime HD.
You can pick up the 16B iPhone 5 for $199.99, the 32GB model for $299.99, and the 64GB iPhone 5 for $399.99. These are all with standard two-year contracts, so you'll have to spring more for a contract-free iPhone 5 and then bring it over to T-Mobile. The suggested retail price for the unlocked iPhones are $649, $749, and $849 depending on how much storage you opt for.