At the 2025 Mobile World Congress, T-Mobile, a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom (DT), announced a collaboration with AI search startup Perplexity, alongside partnerships with Google Cloud, Picsart, and ElevenLabs, to launch an "AI-powered smartphone."

This device is expected to debut in the second half of 2025 and go on sale in 2026, priced under $1,000. Perplexity's intelligent assistant will operate directly from the lock screen, aiming to address the challenges posed by the overwhelming number of apps. Additionally, T-Mobile plans to introduce an app called "Magenta AI," designed to serve its existing iOS and Android user base, though limited to T-Mobile's 300 million subscribers.

For years, telecom operators have watched Apple and Google build ecosystems while their role has diminished to providing basic network services. Now, T-Mobile appears to see AI as the key to reclaiming its market position. A board member of Deutsche Telekom responsible for technology and innovation stated that while the company isn't focused on building large language models, it is dedicated to developing AI assistants.

This initiative builds on T-Mobile's partnership with Perplexity, which began in April 2024. The concept of an "AI phone" was first discussed by Deutsche Telekom at the previous year’s Mobile World Congress.

Notably, Perplexity is expanding its scope. The company's co-founder and CEO explained that Perplexity is transitioning from a simple question-answering machine to an action-oriented one, capable of tasks such as booking flights, sending emails, texts, and making calls.

Although specific details remain undisclosed (concept images suggest an Android-based device), T-Mobile emphasized that AI will be deeply integrated into the system, allowing users direct access from the lock screen. For those not ready to purchase new hardware, T-Mobile will offer the "Magenta AI" app.

This collaboration holds significant importance for both parties. Perplexity has innovative advantages in AI search but faces stiff competition from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google. Partnering with T-Mobile could provide Perplexity with an alternative distribution channel, bypassing traditional search entry points.

For T-Mobile, the AI phone represents an attempt to break free from commoditization. However, the smartphone market is highly competitive, dominated by giants like Apple and Samsung, with even established manufacturers like LG having exited. Thus, T-Mobile faces substantial challenges.

As AI capabilities evolve from simple Q&A to more proactive services, both telecom giants and startups see opportunities to redefine human-computer interaction. While the success of T-Mobile's AI phone remains uncertain, it is undoubtedly a noteworthy effort to leverage AI in redefining the boundaries between telecom operators, hardware manufacturers, and software providers.