T-Mobile US adds iPhone to prepaid, expands distribution

With Apple expected to announce new iPhone models in the coming weeks, wireless carriers and retailers have begun to cut pricing and expand the reach on current models in a move to trim inventory.
T-Mobile US announced that it would be expanding its iPhone models to the carrier’s prepaid service, with those customers also receiving $50 off the full price of the device. To get that discount, customers must also purchase $50 or $70 worth of prepaid wireless services. T-Mobile US currently sells the iPhone 5S 16GB for $648 at full retail and the 5C 16GB at $550 full retail.
T-Mobile US also extended the distribution of iPhone models, noting that customer could now purchase and activate a device in more than 250 Apple locations and at Costco location. The Costco deal includes the iPhone 5S 16GB in silver or gray, iPad Mini 16GB with Retina display in silver and iPad Air 16GB in gray.
T-Mobile US began offering Apple product early last year, becoming the last of the four nationwide operators to sell the iconic product line. The carrier had previously targeted AT&T Mobility’s iPhone customers to unlock their devices and sign up for T-Mobile US service.
Walmart has also jumped on the iPhone price cut bandwagon, announcing that it was slashing the price of the iPhone 5S 16GB by $50 and the iPhone 5C 16GB by $20 when purchased in a retail location. The 5S is now priced at $99, while the 5C can be had for $29. Walmart had previously cut prices on iPhone products.
While no one appears to be commenting, the timing of the price cuts has increased expectations that Apple was set to unveil the latest iterations of its iPhone line up. Most analysts expect those new models to show up on the market sometime in the fall. Apple unveiled the current 5S and 5C models last September.
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