Before Apple's official preorder window even opens, America's largest carriers have begun competing loudly for the loyalty of consumers eyeing the iPhone 18 — a ritual that reveals how deeply the smartphone has become a battleground for long-term revenue rather than a simple transaction. T-Mobile's early 'On Us' promotion, promising a fully subsidized device, reflects not generosity but strategic urgency in a market where growth now means taking customers from rivals rather than finding new ones. The foldable iPhone Duo, priced at $1,999, has become the symbolic centerpiece of this contest, wi