T-Mobile Expansion to Include iPhone Compatibility

T-Mobile plans to improve its 4G coverage in the United States during 2012, and in some markets will also add support for the HSPA+ radio frequencies the iPhone uses. The announcement doesn’t, however, mean the cell service provider has signed a carrier deal with Apple.

“Rolling out 4G HSPA+ services in the 1900 MHz band will also provide customers with the ability to use a broader range of devices, including the iPhone, on T-Mobile’s 4G network,” the company said in a statement.

T-Mobile plans iPhone compatibility for 2012T-Mobile plans iPhone compatibility for 2012

T-Mobile hasn’t said which markets will get iPhone compatibility first, or how quickly it will add new markets once the initial rollout has been completed.

That expansion could make it easier for T-Mobile to get an official iPhone deal with Apple. Currently, T-Mobile is the only major carrier in the U.S. that isn’t offering the iPhone.

Despite T-Mobile’s omission from Apple’s carrier list, the company still has over a million unlocked iPhones on its network that are limited to using slower EDGE wireless data speeds. Once T-Mobile rolls out its new HSPA+ coverage, however, those subscribers will be able to take advantage of faster wireless data, which for them will be like getting a free performance upgrade.