T-Mobile Carries iPhone 5 SIMs; Here's How To Unlock Your iPhone 5

T-Mobile has been experiencing a rapid loss of customers over the past year due largely to the fact that the carrier does not offer its own version of the iPhone. To combat the loss that was sure to come with the recent iPhone 5, T-Mobile did something interesting: the company said, "go buy your iPhone 5 somewhere else, then come to us."

How exactly did they implement this? Website TMONews reports that T-Mobile stores are starting to carry NanoSIMS, which currently only work with the iPhone 5. 

T-Mobile offering a SIM card for a smartphone it does not even offer may sound strange, but its an excellent way for T-Mobile to open its doors to customers who can go pick up the iPhone 5 via other carriers, and then come use T-Mobile's network. 

Currently, unlocked AT&T and Verizon iPhone 5s are the only ones to work with T-Mobile's HSPA+ network. If you're interested in unlocking either one of those carriers' versions and bringing your iPhone 5 over to T-Mobile, here's how to do it.

For Verizon iPhone 5 owners, there's nothing you need to do. Verizon's iPhone 5 comes fully unlocked out of the box, and Verizon has stated that there is no intention to change this. This means all you need to do is pick up a Verizon iPhone 5 without a contract, head over to a T-Mobile store and stick your new NanoSIM in. 

For AT&T iPhone 5 owners, all you have to do is plug in your phone, open up iTunes, and restore your phone. You should be greeted with the message "Congratulations, your phone has been unlocked." Now just plug your T-Mobile NanoSIM card in. 

Sprint's iPhone 5, sadly, will not work on T-Mobile's network, so you'll have to purchase one through Verizon or AT&T for this to work.

The suggested contract-free prices for an Apple iPhone 5 is $649, $749, and $849, depending on whether you opt for the 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB version. Keep in mind that supplies are extremely limited, and that going through third-party retailers can run you over $1,000.

If you're a T-Mobile customer, how do you feel about this plan? Would you still rather have your own variant available for cheaper through a contract, or is this a satisfactory solution?