Past iPhones have been unable to access T-Mobile’s 3G network due to a difference in frequencies between AT&T and T-Mobile, AT&T using the 1900MHz frequency, and T-Mobile using the 1700/2100MHz frequencies.  Since AT&T uses the 1900MHz frequency for 3G, this is what iPhone’s have been manufactured with the ability to support, meaning that an unlocked iPhone operating on T-Mobile’s network only had access to EDGE speeds.  The new iPhone 4, however, may be able to bravely go where no iPhone has gone before: T-Mobile 3G.

How is this possible if the frequencies are different, you ask?  While looking through the technical specifications of the iPhone 4, I found that it supports Quad-Band UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA ranges (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz).  Previously, that “2100 MHz” was not included in the list of supported frequencies.  Now, with its inclusion, my limited technical knowledge assumes that the iPhone 4 is capable of unlocking and jumping to T-Mobile while retaining full speed functionality.

If I am incorrect, please comment and let me know, citing some sort of documentation or factoid proving me wrong.  Thanks in advance.

-[insert T-MOBILE FAN NERDGASM here]

It’s about god damn time.  Yesterday morning the announcement was made that, come summer, the iPhone comes complete with MMS, cut/copy/paste, landscape keyboard functionality in Mail/Notes/SMS/etc, and more thanks to the 3.0 software update!

Unfortunately, we still don’t have the freedom to run background processes, and the camera is still comparatively sub-par, but hey, can’t win ‘em all.

Back to the topic at hand, though.  In all honesty, I believe that if the iPhone had been anything other than the hype-machine it was when it was first released, or if it didn’t have such a beautiful and seamless user interface, or such a perfect marriage of phone, toy, internet device, media player, etc, the lack of MMS, background applications, copy/paste, etc, would have been very detrimental to its success.

I know when I say it that way, it sounds kind of stupid, but in my defense, most phones nowadays (even the cheaper ones) come standard with MMS functionality and a much better camera.  Then when you look at smartphones, serious communications devices that are supposed to have a wide range of functionalities, you expect to be able to run background processes.  In a nutshell, the iPhone lacked many basic features that most people take for granted on the majority of cell phones being produced.  Some of the major detractors of the iPhone have held up the aforementioned lacking features as their rallying banner for why the iPhone is terrible.

At least they still have background processes and camera resolution to keep them cohesive.

Back to the happy notes, however, these minor updates will be making a major difference in the usability and functionality of the iPhone.  It’s a great time to be an iPhone owner!

-Because I said so