Unlimited data, limited SIMs —

Got an unlocked iPhone 5? T-Mobile has your nano-SIM card

T-Mobile: Cheaper, no data caps, but network coverage still a problem.

Got an unlocked iPhone 5? T-Mobile has your nano-SIM card

T-Mobile is the only major US carrier not selling the iPhone, but even before the launch of the iPhone 5 it had more than 1 million Apple phones running on its network. With the iPhone 5 using the new nano-SIM cards, T-Mobile wasn’t quite ready to lure users en masse when the phone launched. But yesterday, T-Mobile stores began receiving nano-SIM cards compatible with the new iPhone.

A YouTube user posted a video showing T-Mobile’s nano-SIM card being installed into an iPhone 5 purchased from Verizon, which is selling iPhones unlocked. More details on the rollout to T-Mobile stores come from TmoNews and The Verge. Since nano-SIM availability at T-Mobile stores has just started, it sounds like not all stores have them yet, and stocks are limited in those that do.

While T-Mobile is trying to woo customers with lower monthly prices and unlimited data, its network coverage lags behind rivals. The Verge notes that in many areas of the country, iPhone 5 users on T-Mobile will fall back to 2G speeds, but that the device should work on T-Mobile’s 3G network in some areas. T-Mobile intends to deploy LTE services next year and says it has launched HSPA+ 4G service in the 1900MHz band that’s compatible with unlocked iPhones in Seattle, Las Vegas, Washington, DC, and the New York City area. The company plans to expand HSPA+ to further markets later this year.

This past week, T-Mobile announced a proposed merger with MetroPCS to expand LTE coverage and further target no-contract customers. But the latest rumors are that Sprint will make a counter-bid to try to block the T-Mobile deal.

Channel Ars Technica