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T-Mobile to remove the iPhone from its BYOD marketing campaign

By: , IntoMobile
Tuesday, October 9th, 2012 at 9:40 PM

According to a report in TmoNews, T-Mobile is no longer allowed to use the Apple iPhone name when marketing its “Bring Your Own Device” program. The BYOD program offered discounted rates to iPhone owners who switched to T-Mobile. This policy change was announced in a leaked internal memo obtained by TmoNews.

T-Mobile is the only major US carrier that does not sell the iPhone, but that didn’t stop the carrier from trying to jump on the Apple bandwagon. The wireless carrier courted iPhone owners  by advertising that it could save these Apple customers $1200 over the course of the lifetime of their contract. The carrier also trained their employees on the iPhone and even carried nanoSIMs for customers who wanted to make the switch.

We have no idea why T-Mobile decided to remove the iPhone name from its marketing efforts. The request to remove the name could have come from Apple, which may have been unhappy with T-Mobile using its brand in advertising, or it could have been from a rival like AT&T, which may be upset with T-Mobile trying to lure away its customers.

[Via TmoNews]

About The Author

Kelly Hodgkins

Kelly spent the last four years covering mobile technology at places like BGR, Gizmodo and The Unofficial Apple Weblog. Before writing, she spent a few years working with and teaching others how to use Adobe Flash and Macromedia Director. Even earlier than that, she spent several years as a Ph.D student in Microbiology. When she's not writing, she can be found fishing the lakes and hiking the mountains of Western Maine with her husband and tribe of children. You can follow her on Twitter @kellyhodgkins.

  • http://Gnarlodious.com/ Gnarlodious

    Probly afraid of a lawsuit. iPhone is not see anywhere on the T-Mobile website or mentioned in the stores.