T-Mobile Pulls iPhone 4S, iPhone 5 From Its “No Money Down” Promotion

If you want to get the iPhone 5 or iPhone 4S as part of T-Mobile’s “no money down” offer, you’d better make some plans to head to a store pronto.

T-Mobile confirmed to AllThingsD that, starting Saturday, neither device will be available as part of that promotion. (The iPhone 4 will still be available for no money down.)

“As is the nature of promotions, pricing moves are temporary,” a T-Mobile representative told AllThingsD. Starting Saturday, those wanting an iPhone 5 will have to pay at least $145.99 down, with that price augmented by 24 monthly payments of $21 per month.

The company did not give a reason why the iPhone models were being pulled, even though most other smartphones remain available for no upfront payment.

“However, combined with our Simple Choice plan, it’s easily one of the most affordable ways to purchase the latest iPhone,” T-Mobile said.

The abrupt move was somewhat of a surprise given comments this week from CEO John Legere, who said on a conference call that the no money down promotion would run through the summer.

Word that the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S were being pulled was earlier reported by TmoNews, a blog that specializes in news about T-Mobile goings-on.

AT&T, meanwhile, notes that customers can still get an iPhone for no upfront payments with its Next program, which has the benefit of a lower upfront cost but requires users to forego a subsidy and still requires customers to pay standard monthly plan rates.

With AT&T Next, customers pay $27 a month for the 16 gigabyte iPhone 5 with no down payment or fees.

T-Mobile no longer subsidizes any of its phones; however, it has also lowered its monthly fees.