According to a tantalizing rumor, T-Mobile is selling an iPhone cable in select corporate stores. This should raise some eyebrows as T-Mobile is not an official carrier for Apple’s prized smartphone in the US. This unusual appearance has led to widespread speculation that this is an early slip and the wireless carrier may be preparing for the upcoming launch of an Apple smartphone.
Recent iPhone rumors have focused on the CDMA variant which is almost a given when you consider the breadth and the depth of the rumors. Equally persistent but not as frequent have been rumors about an AWS-friendly iPhone. One of the most recent rumors pointed to the 3GS as the launch device for America’s #4 wireless carrier. Of course, these rumors are not always correct. Another recent rumor pointed to a fall launch of the T-Mobile iPhone, a scenario that never materialized.
While the idea of a T-Mobile iPhone is enticing, the presence of an Apple cable at a corporate story has several other less exciting explanations. T-Mobile may be indirectly acknowledging that it has a large number of iPhone owners on its network. Exact numbers are not available but a lot of AT&T customers are thought to have unlocked their Apple handset to work on Magenta. Each one of these customers could potentially buy a cable when they visit their local retail store.
The carrier may also be capitalizing on the popularity of these iOS devices by trying to grab some impulse sales. A customer looking to upgrade his or her phone may be inclined to snag a cable on a whim. An Apple cable is also a nice conversation piece that leads to free, widespread coverage for Magenta.
Right now, the presence of this cable in T-Mobile stores is a mystery and will remain so until the wireless carrier comes forth to debunk this rumor or Apple comes forth to confirm it. Any wagers on which way it will go?
[Via Engadget]
