Will the iPhone Come to T-Mobile?

At the same time, they agreed to help customers wishing to bring an unlocked phone onto their network. This settlement is limited to the state of California and to Sprint only, but it begs the question: Is the tying of a phone to one network anti-competitive and should companies be required to unlock phones for customers or to sell unlocked phones, should they request one?

This could have huge implications for the industry if this type of settlement and sentiment spread. Currently, it is not exactly easy or obvious on how to bring a compatible, unlocked phone to the network of your choice. Equally difficult is to take your phone to another carrier after you’ve satisfied your contract, or paid an early exit penalty. To spur innovation in the industry (and competition), people should be able to buy a phone with no contract, and they should be able to easily move their phones between compatible networks once they have satisfied any existing contract.

If people finally revolt against locked phones and terms of this Sprint settlement spread, then in a year and a half, there could be a market opportunity for T-Mobile to entice Apple iPhone owners to leave AT&T for their GSM network. Would this be good for competition? Would all iPhone owners benefit?

Will consumers rise up to demand easier switching and the sale of unlocked phones? Will state attorney generals or legislatures support them?

What do you think?