T-Mobile the last major US carrier to sell the iPhone, announced yesterday that it has already sold 500,000 units since the phone launched on April 12.

 

That’s pretty good, considering most other smartphones don’t come close to those sales numbers in such a short time, even if they’re offered on multiple carriers. It’s also impressive because the iPhone 5 launched about eight months ago.

 

In previous earnings statements, T-Mobile has blamed the fact that it didn’t carry the iPhone for losing subscribers to other carriers that did. T-Mobile has also changed the way it charges for service plans, eliminating contracts and letting customers pay month to month instead.

 

The carrier no longer requires customers to sign a two-year contract to get a subsidized smartphone. Instead, customers can make a down payment on a phone and pay it off gradually over two years. For example, T-Mobile sells the iPhone 5 for $100 down plus $20 per month for 24 months.

 

T-Mobile also reported $1.2 billion in earnings for the first quarter of 2013 before taxes, interest, depreciation, and amortization.