T-Mobile USA has a lot going for it. They've been a leader in introducing advanced smartphones like the first Windows Mobile based phone (the Pocket PC Phone Edition), an early Nokia S60 phone (3650), and the first Android phone (G1). They provide highly regarded service (according to various surveys), and voice and data service prices generally lower than the competition. T-Mobile USA, however, lacked a 3G high speed wireless option until late last year and still does not have a footprint to compare with the other major carriers a year after their 3G rollout. This may be a contributing factor to this news from Fiercewireless...

T-Mobile loses 77,000 subs in Q3

What would shore up T-Mobile USA? One word: iPhone. They need the iPhone much more than Verizon needs it. And, it would be much simpler for Apple to provide another GSM phone to T-Mobile than a redesigned CDMA phone for Verizon. On the other hand, it is clear that Apple doesn't have much incentive to deal with T-Mobile USA.

As a long time T-Mobile USA customer, I hope they remain a viable service provider.