T-Mobile Blocks Jailbroken iPhone Users From Sidekick Data Plan

T-Mobile has struck a blow to iPhone users that have brought their jailbroken or unlocked phones over to their service. The company has officially decided to block iPhone users from using the prepaid Sidekick plan. (or possibly any other prepaid data plans from the looks of it)

The announcement came from T-Mobile earlier this week via tweet on their official Twitter account.

It would appear as though T-Mobile decided there are too many people realizing a loophole. The prepaid Sidekick Data plan was previously available to any phone or device that was unlocked and able to use the network. The plan offered unlimited internet/data and text messaging within the U.S. for $1 per day on top of any per-minute charges for calls. As a prepaid plan with no long-term contract attached, unlocked iPhone users had flexibility combined with reasonable plan costs.

In response to Tweets from former data plan users T-Mobile has stated that they do not currently offer any data plans that will work with the iPhone. So this move essentially blocks all iPhone usage on their data network.

Here is a brief breakdown of the conversation between user @Neil_Dhanda and @TMobile_USA:

1. From @Neil_Dhanda to @TMobile_USA if i call customer support and tell them im running iphone on sidekick data plan will they care? 12:31 PM Aug 10thin reply to TMobile_USA from web
2. From @Neil_Dhanda to @TMobile_USA are fucking ass wipes why the fuck does it matter what phone i use when im paying for the damn sidekick plan you fuckers 12:34 PM Aug 10th from web
3. From @TMobile_USA to @Neil_Dhanda The Sidekick Data plan is meant for a Sidekick device. You may want to look into changing your data plan if ur using an iPhone12:38 PM Aug 10th from TweetDeck in reply to Neil_Dhanda
4. From @TMobile_USA to @Neil_Dhanda Yes. You will no longer be able to use an IPhone with the Sidekick data plan. 12:52 PM Aug 10th from TweetDeck in reply to Neil_Dhanda
5. From @Neil_Dhanda to @TMobile_USA ok well can i change my data plan iif i call??? will there be any extra charges? 1:02 PM Aug 10th from web in reply to TMobile_USA
6. From @TMobile_USA to @Neil_Dhanda To our knowledge, their is no other prepaid data plan that will work 1:05 PM Aug 10th from TweetDeck in reply to Neil_Dhanda

@Neil_Dhanda did eventually find a plan that would work with his/her iPhone however there is no mention as to what the plan is or at what rate.

There’s really little doubt that the T-Mobile offer was being abused, and being widely abused by a lot of people. But I think it’s a bit sad and a very alarming approach by T-Mobile that mobile carriers are willing to block certain exclusive phones. The companies are willing to charge a flat rate fees it really shouldn't matter which phone is used on the network, after all they are all using the same network and there is no preferential treatment to data from one phone versus the other.