Late last month, T-Mobile announced that they would officially be carrying the iPhone, with the company also releasing a software update for users of unlocked iPhones, which added LTE and Visual Voicemail. Upon announcing that the company would carry the iPhone, the company also stated a release date of April 12th.

On Friday, T-Mobile released the iPhone 5 across the country, and the iPhone 4S and 4 in certain areas that support the technology. T-Mobile released the iPhone with its new “Uncarrier” plans, which start at $50/month with no contract. T-Mobile set up the plans differently than other carriers, separating the subsidized prices and included them into a 24 month payment plan.

Alongside the official launch, T-Mobile also released an ad highlighting the availability of the iPhone.

It’s the phone that’s revolutionizing phones. Make sure it’s running on the carrier that’s revolutionizing wireless. Introducing iPhone 5 on T-Mobile. With our advanced nationwide 4G network, and no more restrictive annual contracts required, only T-Mobile lets your iPhone 5 be as great as an iPhone 5.

Verizon’s CEO Lowell C. McAdam has talked of Verizon having the potential to unveil contract free plans, although it is unclear if the company will do so in the near future.

{Via MacRumors}

According to a report from O Globo, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has reduced the price of the iPhone in Brazil by a substantial amount, lowering them down to over 25%. The Cupertino company lowered the price of the 8 GB iPhone 4 to R$ 1099 (US$544) from R$ 1499 (US$741) and also dropped the 16 GB iPhone 4S from R$ 1999 (US$989) to R$ 1699 (US$840).

In Brazil, AAPL does give customers the option for 12 month financing, however, if a customer pays up front, they will be awarded a bonus 10% discount, lowering the price of the iPhone even more. After bringing some of Foxconn’s operations to Brazil, and lowering the company’s overall costs, the price of the iPhone is likely reflecting the change. It is unclear however, if the the new price reduction will affect the iPhone 5 as it is not sold in Brazil’s online store.

In the US, the 8GB iPhone 4 is available unsubsidized for $450 before taxes, which could easily bring it up to over $500. Even so, it appears that with the 15% discounts, Brazilians are still paying a higher amount for unlocked iPhones, as opposed to their US counterparts. Apple has begun hiring for employees at its retail locations in Brazil, ensuring that customers in the country recieve the same experience as all others do around the world. It remains unclear if the price reductions will reflect in other markets around the world.

{Via MacRumors}

Only a day after releasing the iOS 6.1.3 software update to the public, Apple appears to have yet another issue with its mobile OS. iOS 6.1.3 patched an passcode lock bug on the iPhone, and also delivered a number of Maps enhancements for Japanese users. However, on Wednesday, a YouTube user “videosdebarraquito” discovered yet another bug on the iPhone 4, similar to the one addressed in the update.

The bug allows for access to a locked iPhone’s photos and address book by ejecting the SIM card, with voice control activated to make a call. While Voice Control is activated, quickly removing the SIM card unlocks the phone for access to a user’s contacts and photos. The bug only appears to be replicated on devices without Siri but does raise security concerns over Apple’s popular iOS, which has been ridden with bugs since the release of iOS 6. Issues with iOS 6, in part, also led to the ousting of iOS chief Scott Forstall from Apple late last year.

With the previous passcode lock bug, it took Apple about a month to isolate, test the issue, and release iOS 6.1.3 to address it. However, it is unclear if Apple will quickly push out a iOS 6.1.4 update to address this latest bug discovery. Until then, iPhone 4 users can avoid the flaw and protect their iPhone from unauthorized users by disabling Voice Control in Settings.

{Via AppleInsider}

According to a report from Telecoms.com, Apple is testing LTE network quality on carrier’s that sell the iPhone. Apple is doing this to ensure that its customers are given the data speeds that they are promised when they buy an iPhone with LTE connectivity. Carriers that pass Apple’s quality test, will have the feature enabled on the iPhone 5 for that specific network. This means that, users may have to wait quite some time in certain areas as their carriers are tested or if their carrier does not pass the quality test and does not get LTE enabled right away.

Swisscom launched its LTE network this week although the iPhone 5 was not available as an LTE device at launch. “Apple will provide a software update in due course,” the firm said in a press release.

Carriers normally run tests to make sure that the device would operate on theri network, however, phone manufacturers typically don’t conduct such tests. This shows Apple’s control over the carrier’s and their dedication to making sure customers are satisfied. Due to this quality test, unlocked iPhone 5’s will not operate on networks that are not approved by Apple.

Users with unlocked iPhone 4/4S’ are able to connect to other networks that do not sell the iPhone such as T-Mobile. However, with this new test, Apple has gained complete control over which carriers will be allowed LTE access on the iPhone 5.

{Via iMore}

Further lawsuits also challenged Apple’s right to control what software you could put on your iPhone, and alleged that Apple and AT&T were dishonest when they sold 2 year contracts to customers for iPhones, when they knew that they had an exclusive 5 year deal to sell the device together.

Over the past few years a few of these lawsuits have built up, and Apple has sold some 50 Million iPhones.

Today a Judge in California has disallowed some of the claims (pertaining to more spurious arguments), and said that others can be consolidated into one class action suit. Furthermore, anyone who bought an iPhone with a 2 year contract on AT&T since 2007 can also join the action.

The ultimate aim of the lawsuit is to stop Apple selling locked mobile phones in the US, and also controlling what software is installed on them.

All this seems a little bit like bolting the stable door after the horse has bolted as the iPhone will more than likely be on other carriers in the US early next year.

I am guessing that somewhere along the line lawyers and customers will be looking to line their pockets with some kind of compensation for “pain and suffering”, or other similar ludicrous claim. And at the end of the day this is another “financial fishing trip” at Apple’ and AT&T’s expense.

Do you think this will open iPhone contracts up for other carriers? Or do you think this could bring Apple’s App Store tumbling down? Let us know your thoughts in the comments…