Big Surprise: No iPhone 5 for T-Mobile

In September 2011, Softpedia ran a Personal Thoughts piece noting that America’s T-Mobile was ruining its chances of ever carrying Apple’s iPhone. An allegedly internal document from the carrier has now leaked out, seemingly confirming that theory.

In February this year, T-Mobile sadly reported having lost roughly 700,000 contract customers because of the iPhone 4S, which debuted in late 2011.

The operator had previously acknowledged that there were over a million T-Mobile customers using unlocked iPhones on the company’s network. The numbers speak for themselves.

T-Mobile is now reportedly instructing staff to “sell against the iPhone” beginning September 21, the rumored launch date of Apple’s elusive new handset.

The information stems from what is said to be a leaked internal memo (pictured above) from the operator that instructs employees on how to maximize profits.

Needless to point out, the American operator is not getting the iPhone 5. And it’s hardly a surprise anymore.

Although T-Mobile’s wireless services may be the culprit, there’s a slight possibility that some of the operator’s previous blunders are coming back to haunt it.

In September 2011 Cole Brodman, chief marketing officer, T-Mobile USA wrote in a blog post, “We’ve heard from many customers who love their T-Mobile service, but are disappointed that we don’t carry the iPhone.”

“Apple knows that we’d like to add it to our line-up,” Brodman said, proposing an alternative – Android.

“Android has evolved quickly from geek to chic,” he said. “In many ways, Android is rivaling and even outpacing the iPhone, including consumer adoption, market share and capabilities like support for faster 4G networks," he boasted.

Brodman added that, unlike Apple’s iPhone, Android phones “offer consumers the freedom of choice.”

Considering that Apple has plans to wage a “thermonuclear” war on Android, Brodman's last statement may have permanently sealed T-Mobile's fate regarding any future iPhone developments.

Even small regional operators like C-Spire are official iPhone-carriers. Clearly, T-Mobile is getting on Apple’s bad side with something.

It’s one thing to just say Apple won’t do business with you (hoping it might change its mind next year). It’s a different matter altogether to work against it.