Did T-Mobile Leak iPhone 5 Release Date?
A leaked T-Mobile memo preps employees to start "selling against the iPhone" on Sept. 21 - the date widely rumored as the day Apple will launch its new iPhone.
Could T-Mobile have confirmed a piece of the Apple iPhone puzzle via leaked information about the wireless service provider's September sales agenda?
Color us highly skeptical, but in an image acquired by unofficial T-Mobile blog TmoNews, the company seems to be prepping its employees to "sell against the iPhone," starting on Sept. 21 – the same date rumored as the release date for the so-called iPhone 5.
The document, which also includes details about a Sept. 9 kick-off meeting, discusses a Grab & Go suite that will be available on T-Mobile's electronic training system beginning on Friday, Sept. 21.
But there's an alternative explanation for the memo. The carrier doesn't currently sell the iPhone and TmoNews suggested the memo indicates T-Mobile won't be selling the new iPhone, either.
"Perhaps it's coincidence, but we can't envision a scenario in which T-Mobile would prepare their employees to sell against a product they are about to receive," the blog noted.
If so, without an inside track on Apple's planning, T-Mobile itself may simply be operating based on the pervasive rumors of a Sept. 21 launch to prep staff for what's likely to be another onslaught of iPhone competition.
Rumors began circulating last month that Apple will debut its next-gen device at a special event on Sept. 12, then release the phone nine days later. Cupertino has not confirmed the reports, leaving the world to count down the next 15 days in anticipation.
Last week, a Verizon employee told TechCrunch that the wireless company has blacked-out vacation time between Sept. 21 and Sept. 30 –in line with the possible release of a new iPhone, which past history suggests will fill stores with excited customers.
Meanwhile, TmoNews reported that T-Mobile may not be selling the new iPhone as an official Apple partner but could be rolling out 4G LTE service for unlocked iPhones in the coming weeks and months.
Based on the receipt of Monthly4G microSIM kits for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S which will allow customers to attach their unlocked iPhones to the T-Mobile network beginning on Aug. 29, TmoNews is expecting a near-future announcement.
Earlier this year, T-Mobile to roll out its 4G LTE network next year, which will bring with it the installation of new equipment at 37,000 cell sites and the refarming of spectrum.
T-Mobile's leaked memo also mentions a mobile game to help employees practice their sales skills.