samsunggalaxys4T-Mobile customers ready to get their hands on the Samsung Galaxy S4 will need to wait a few more days after an inventory delay has pushed back online sales.

Originally scheduled to be available to purchase online today, T-Mobile announced that Samsung’s new flagship smartphone will instead be available five days later on April 29.

The device is still set to be available at T-Mobile’s retail stores on May 1.

Sprint also announced Galaxy S4 delays today, citing similar “inventory challenges” from Samsung. The carrier is still expected to launch online sales on April 27, but there now is a delay for retail store availability.

T-Mobile announced pricing plans last week for the Galaxy S4. You can order the device for $149 up front and pay $20 per month for 24 months thereafter.

It’s part of T-Mobile’s new Simple Choice Plan, which separates the cost of wireless service from the purchase of a phone — no longer subsidizing the cost of the device as part of the service plan.

t-mobile-logo-hugeT-Mobile is offering similar payment plans for the iPhone 5, which the carrier just released last week. It’s part of the company’s mission to change the way consumers think about wireless service, and shake up its own business in the process. T-Mobile outlined the new strategy earlier this year and explains in this FAQ:

“Just like all other wireless carriers, T-Mobile has to charge enough to cover the cost of the phone. The difference is that, with Value Plans, T-Mobile separates the cost of the phone from the cost of the service. That means T-Mobile Value Plan customers finish paying for their phone as soon the actual cost is paid off—and their monthly bill automatically drops.”

The Galaxy S4 will run on T-Mobile’s new LTE network and also be available on six other U.S. carriers.

Earlier this morning, MetroPCS shareholders approved the merger with T-Mobile this morning, bringing its 9.3 million customers to the T-Mobile network.

T-Mobile USA is based in Bellevue.

Previously on GeekWire: T-Mobile customers wait in line, swap Androids for iPhone 5

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