Is there an iPhone in T-Mobile's future?

We've reported in the past on a few stories about the iPhone coming over to a new carrier, usually Verizon, and the source of the story is usually a tipster who hears something from his Uncle whose best friend's mail man knows someone that is friendly with a rep at Big Red. But the story takes on a much higher degree of believability when it is coming from the CEO of the parent company of one of the top four of the nation's carriers. When the Financial Times sat down with the CEO of Deutsche Telekom, Rene Obermann, the talk started moving in the direction of DT's U.S. subsidiary, T-Mobile. The Executive told the paper that despite talk of a spin-off, the German company was committed to turning around it's American division and continuing to build up its 3G service. The conversation turned to the iPhone, and the Financial Times wrote, "T-Mobile USA is hoping to start selling the popular smartphone later this year or next year." Obviously, the comment leaves plenty of room for interpretation. Was it the comment of an "in-the-know" executive who has explicit knowledge that the nation's fourth largest carrier will be soon offering Apple's touchscreen device? Or, is it just the wishful thinking of a executive whose U.S. division needs the shot in the arm that a product like the iPhone would bring. What is interesting about the comment is the way it dovetails with a story we reported on in January about an Investment Banker who expects the iPhone to become available at T-Mobile by this coming summer. So is Mr. Obermann giving us a clue about a tie-up between T-Mobile and the iPhone? Inquiring minds want to know.

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source: FinancialTimes via Engadget