T-Mobile's iPhone 5 is a Tweaked Model A1428 Phone with AWS Support
Tuesday March 26, 2013 12:24 pm PDT by Juli Clover
The iPhone 5 that will be sold through T-Mobile is a modified version of the A1428 iPhone 5 that is currently produced for AT&T;'s network, among others. The new version of the A1428 has been tweaked on the hardware side by Apple to support Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) bands for T-Mobile's network.
According to an Apple representative that spoke to Engadget, existing A1428 phones cannot be updated to add AWS support.
Apple plans to phase out the existing A1428 hardware in favor of the new version, which means future phones from AT&T; might also ship with AWS support included. While the current A1428 phone works with T-Mobile's network, it is notably slower than the modified version.
Apple's iPhone 5 with AWS included will be available at 12:01 a.m. on April 12 from 24-hour locations, and phones ordered from Apple's Online Store can be unlocked (after full payment) through T-Mobile.
According to an Apple representative that spoke to Engadget, existing A1428 phones cannot be updated to add AWS support.
Apple's enabling support of the AWS bands from the factory on the new guy - and sadly, Apple affirmed to us that it's not something that can be enabled via a simple software update for A1428 iPhone units already in circulation. To say that another way, existing iPhone 5 owners on AT&T; cannot simply apply a software patch to have AWS support added. You'll need to buy a new phone next month.On April 12, which is the date that T-Mobile's iPhone 5 launches, Apple will be selling the new version of the A1428 iPhone. This phone will be available unlocked at full retail price through Apple, and will function with both the T-Mobile and AT&T; networks, as well as on many LTE bands around the world.
Apple plans to phase out the existing A1428 hardware in favor of the new version, which means future phones from AT&T; might also ship with AWS support included. While the current A1428 phone works with T-Mobile's network, it is notably slower than the modified version.
Apple's iPhone 5 with AWS included will be available at 12:01 a.m. on April 12 from 24-hour locations, and phones ordered from Apple's Online Store can be unlocked (after full payment) through T-Mobile.
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Top Rated Comments
(View all)Not giving a #%@$ as im stuck with ATT
Then why did you post in the thread?
I would say that you should care, because it means that not only is this version of the iPhone 5 now to be more sought after, you could now take it to another non-CDMA carrier without suffering any degradation of service due to the same bands being supported.
BL.
i thought verizon has always been considered the best. :confused:
lol!
As an Apple supporter since ~1992 when I got my first computer this is one of their first moves that has royally pissed me off.
Glad I get to sell my unlocked iPhone a1428 and go buy the exact same phone again.
The built in radio already supports these frequencies I fail to see how they cannot update the baseband in a future iOS to save me from paying 8% tax on $749 again ($59.92). Plus the added joy of whatever loss I take from reselling an iPhone 5, doubt I'll be getting a full $749 for my used phone.
This is the first thing to piss you off in 20 years?? Adding another wireless frequency to the iPhone? lol
Tweaked A1428?
This is going to cause a nightmare ... so much hardware fragmentation.:mad:
Hopefully 5S has world-phone capabilities
I don't think that word means what you think it means...
Had to be. Adding 1700MHz band to LTE seems like a nice maneuver.
Current AT&T phone already supports 1700 LTE. This "tweak" is adding 1700 3G.
as well as on many LTE bands around the world.
It also seems they are adding more bands LTE bands though? Wondering if they are adding 1 (2100 MHz), 3 (1800 MHz) and 5 (850 MHz)? Essentially combining Model A1429 and Model A1428?
BL.
Does anyone know why Verizon's network speeds are slower than those of AT&T or T-Mobile???
I thought Verizon has always been considered the best. :confused:
In my experience with Verizon in a rural area, they are the best at giving it to their customers over a barrel.
Existing A1428 on T-Mobile
--------------------------
- Will be 3G in refarmed (1900Mhz support) areas
- Will be EDGE in non-refarmed areas
- Will work on LTE once deployed (Band 4 LTE supported)
New A1428 on T-Mobile
-----------------------
- Will be 3G in all areas (due to AWS 1700 Mhz 3G/4G support added)
- Will work on LTE once deployed
So, it looks like the existing unlocked iPhone 5 users on T-Mobile won't have to buy new hardware to get LTE. The only difference is they will be stuck with EDGE in non-farmed areas, whereas the new iPhone 5 owners will get 3G everywhere.
Why is it a red herring when build quality, resale value are also part of premium product benefits.
Because the discussion is about whether or not the hardware is capable and a simple software tweak can add further functionalities. Although some people might buy a product for the sake of resale value, that isn't the topic under discussion and I don't see how it is relevant to the discussion. I'm open to being persuaded otherwise, but it seems to me simply an attempt to change the topic.
Apple simply said it's not a simple software update. If it is doable and they have time to rev another 6.x update, they may eventually do it ? My guess is they will be hot on the next phone and OS first.
Right, Apple told the media it required a hardware update, yet told the FCC that no hardware changes were necessary, implying only a software update was required. Those two assertions are incompatible and inconsistent, so Apple is lying to someone (whether intentionally or not). My bet is its the media that was misled not the FCC.
Even Mac firmware updates are not that frequent.
Doesn't matter. They demonstrate it's possible to issue these types of updates without any problems creeping up.
Why would AT&T absorb bandwidth consumption of AWS update alone if it doesn't benefit them anyway ?
That's a fair point, but it is easily solved. Tethering is enabled on the hardware/software by default on all unlocked phones, yet the carriers can disable the feature when they install their carrier profiles into the phone. If ATT wants to turn off AWS, they are free to do so. But that shouldn't preclude Apple from issuing the update to the firmware so that any iPhone 5 can take advantage of the feature if the carrier chooses to enable it. In other words, right now the issue is with Apple, not with ATT.
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Yup. It's just a baseband update. Same hardware. It's probably imposed by AT&T so current customers with current A1428 will not ever be able to take them to T-Mobile..
That would be anti-competitive. Plenty of people purchased unlocked iPhones. AT&T shouldn't have a say what is allowed or not on those phones. Again the carrier profile should enable or disable the feature. So far as Apple is concerned, they should turn it on, for all capable devices.
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