Report: T-Mobile to drop subsidies, sell iPhones in three to four months
Wireless carrier T-Mobile USA may offer Apple's iPhone to its customers in just a few months, Reuters reports.
Apple's iPhones will be offered by the telecommunications company in about "three to four" months, T-Mobile USA chief executive officer John Legere told Reuters at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Currently, the iPhone is available from T-Mobile competitors AT&T, Verizon and Sprint.
Legere also spoke out about getting rid of cell phone subsidies to lower the cost of monthly service plans. It's fairly common practice for major wireless carriers to offer discounted or free phones in exchange for a two-year contract.
Eliminating the relationship between subsidies and contracts could free T-Mobile to serve customers who want cheaper or more flexible cell phone plans. Combined with more affordable mobile phones, the move away from industry standard could set T-Mobile apart from its competitors.
Legere tells Reuters that it could give T-Mobile a 5 percent boost in market share by making the move away from subsidies.
