By 
Samsung really knew how to handle things with the Samsung Galaxy S3: Much quicker release, on-time announcement and all American carriers will be selling the same variant. It all seems like great news, but then the carriers start doing their thing. More than bad news, this is a bit of a hiccup, but it should still get many of you a bit upset.
In order to “ensure customers receive the best possible experience,” T-Mobile has decided to split the release of Samsung’s new flagship device in two phases. The highly anticipated device will be in select retail and branded locations right on schedule for June 21st. This is only for the top 29 markets in the US, though, as well as the T-Mobile website. Others will have to wait until the 27th to jump in the action.
To ensure customers receive the best possible experience, the Samsung Galaxy S III launch will now be broken into two phases. T-Mobile will still be the first carrier to offer the device in-store but the rollout will be in two phases instead of one.
Select Retail and Branded locations in the top 29 markets will launch as scheduled on June 21. In addition, a limited amount of Samsung Galaxy S III devices will be available on T-Mobile.com.
Due to the excitement surrounding the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S III, customer demand will exceed the expected launch quantity available on June 21 T-Mobile anticipates the remaining Retail and Branded locations will launch on June 27. Stores that do not receive the initial distribution, and stores who sell out of their initial stock, should use the GSIII Call Back List and contact customers when the devices are available.
Pricing will be as follows:
$629.99 Full Retail, $229.99 down on Value Plans with $20 EIP, $279.99 Classic plan after $50 mail-in rebate (2 year contract required)
As one can see, T-Mobile has also given us full price information. This follows our expectations for any new high-end device, but we do wish the full-retail price was just a tad lower. We are sure many of you will still be lining up at your local T-Mobile stores on the 21st. Granted, you live in one of the top 29 markets:
- LosAngeles,CA
- Chicago,IL
- Phoenix,AZ
- Houston,TX
- SanDiego,CA
- NewYork,NY
- Seattle,WA
- Miami/Ft.Lauderdale,FL
- Dallas/Ft.Worth,TX
- SanFrancisco,CA
- SaltLakeCity,UT
- Denver,CO
- Minneapolis,MN
- Tampa/St.Petersburg,FL
- Philadelphia,PA
- SanAntonio,TX
- Portland,OR
- Austin,TX
- Atlanta,GA
- KansasCity,MO
- Boston,MA
- Sacramento,CA
- Orlando,FL
- Detroit,MI
- WashingtonDC*
- Cleveland,OH
- Jacksonville,FL
- Charlotte,NC
- McAllen,TX
If you do not live in (or around) one of these cities, you will simply have to wait until the 27th, next week. Are any of you planning to get the Galaxy S3 on launch date? Will you be able to get it this Thursday, 21st?
[Via: TmoNews]
I’m not getting this as I love my one s, but seriously wtf? Let the T-Mobile bashing begin.
Most likely has to do with demand for the phone, aren’t the canadian models the same as AT&T and Tmo?
I don’t know about the Canadian models but all of the US variants get the dual S4 at 1.5GHz with 2Gigs of RAM.
I think it’s BS T-Mobile is doing this. Even AT&T(my carrier) is getting their act together. Sprint is trying hard too. Verizon on the other hand….
They are all S4, yes. BUT the CDMA versions have different radios than each others, as Well at AT&T’s and Tmo’s doesn’t even hate LTE so again, it’s different as well.
The same thing is happening in europe. They misinterpreted the excitement of the phone
i would have to drive down to philly >_> hmmm.
Hahaha I would have to drive 45 minutes away to get my phone? Good thing I’m holding out for Big Red’s anyway. T-Mobile SUCKS in Ohio.
Wise choice, Big Red will treat you right, because you get what you pay for.
Well if Sprint does the same thing I should still be good since I’m in Houston.
Hopefully Orange County gets it so I don’t have to drive to LA to get one. I hate driving to/from/in LA…
I’m pretty sure it means all of the LA market and not just the city. So you can just drive to say Lakewood or Long Beach and pick one up.
My friend that works at a T-Mobile in Garden Grove told me that they got an email stating that only 7 stores in Southern California will be getting it tomorrow, and they’ll have a very limited supply. Guess I have to wait til next week…
$20 more than when I got a Galaxy S 2, Doesn’t seem t bad, Plus in a month there will be an online deal at the website, so just wait.
It’s $130 more than every other carrier releasing at the same time. So it is bad.
Shutup and take my money! $630 is a good price for an off contract killer phone. If you want to save money, wait 6 months. The iPhone 4S unlocked is $650 from the Apple Store.
630 without tax would be a good price but with? hahaha thats dang prett close to $700 the gs3 is not worth $700
No, it’s not a good price. Samsung isn’t Apple, plain and simple. That much was apparent at the unveiling of the S3 where they tried their cringe inducing apple-esque unveil (Designed for Humans!!!) I was planning on buying this phone, but I’m not going to pay a premium for it just to stay on t-mobile.
I think what he means is that T-Mobile offers steep discounts on their Value Plans when you pay full retail price and also none of those $36 upgrade fees every other national carrier charges.when you upgrade. You especially save if you have a Value family plan.
You have to think of plan times 24 month contract plus price of phone and all upgrade fees if they apply. THAT’S what you’re really being charged a contract. On the value plans, T-Mobile lets you finance the phone interest free on your bill and you STILL come out cheaper.
Well said. I save about $70/month on a value plan, so do the math. I can buy a new phone every 9 months or I can save my money. The bottom line I’m not getting robbed by the carrier on my phone.
right Samsung is better than Apple.
wait are u being sarcastic here? i wasn’t quite sure but if you are i have to vote down i hope you were being serious LOL
No I was serious.
I’ll be waiting for the next Nexus… S3 is a letdown, and TMO didn’t make it any better.
No Las Vegas Market, D’Oh
LA is about an hour in a half away. But I’m done with Samsung since they don’t upgrade in a timely manner.
umm i think they are getting better than before look at Samsung Galaxy S II and the Note they upgraded to ICS in a timely manner HTC sometimes doesn’t upgrade the software in a timely manner (i said sometimes) and i personally think LG & Motorola doesn’t upgrade their software in a timely manner
Am I reading this correctly? $199 for the 16GB on Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon with a 2 year contract, and $279 for the same phone on T Mobile (actually $329 and then a $50 mail in rebate)?
That is correct. Look on the bright side, since T-Mobile offers lower monthly rates than the competition, they subsidize their handsets less (although not always the case).
Meh might as well just buy it straight up and not have to renew. Probably what I’ll do.
Paying $130 more for the fourth wireless carrier is ridiculous.
45 to dc….I guess Bmore didn’t make the cut.
Cleveland… Seriously?
Wow Tx cities took up a lot of spots by itself. No love for New Orleans?
McAllen TX is top 29 market from TMO? That is a bunch of horseshit
The last one on the list but still surprising seeing as there is only two TMo stors in McAllen, Then again it is the best priced compared to AT&T/VZW/Sprint and as they always say, ‘only in the valley’.
right? I’m in Vegas and apparently we aren’t in the top markets.
How can I order it off the site? It doesn’t show anywhere to pre order or anything.
You have to purchase in person.
Sucks to be in the T-mobile camp today….
Most likely it is 32gb. They aren’t that stupid
Its not man. Its the 16gb version. I was just at T-Mobile today and was speaking with my rep… I’m pissed its so expensive compared to the other carriers.
Well i guess it sucks however looking at the big picture the plan i cheaper than say verizon. However this sucks even more for whoever was looking to get this phone but now can’t afford the steep contract price. But then again it is great that they allow epuipment installment payments, whuch can be applied to the classuc plan pruce of the phone.
Classic Plans are not eligible for the equipment installment payments anymore, only Value Plans
I don’t live in a small city and I’m excluded. Lame.
who knows tmobile might have a July 4 sale , oh did I just speak some words of wisdom, wishful thinking !
Detroit, baby!…oh, wait, Im not getting this phone…cuz, see, I can’t buy every single phone that comes out…damn. :(
I see my comment was removed. For saying one cuss word? I been down with phandroid for years now. But this the first time I’m having sour feeling toward y’all. We all man right? Anyway if it’s true about the $329 price tag for a 16gb model, i might have to drop t mobile
But wouldn’t you pay more monthly if you go somewhere else?
I just called 5 stores between Queens and Manhattan, and all 5 said that they are getting theirs on the 27th. So i think big cities are affected also and it is not even on the site.
Remember the article on here a few weeks ago saying that there were some defects on the Pebble Blue S3 back cover? I bet inventory constraints have led them to decide on the two phase release rather one grand release nationwide.
Will the phone be available online at midnight tonight? Or will it be a surprise sometime tomorrow, were I will have to sit in front of the computer all day hitting the refresh button….”limited supply online”…..lame.