<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26

                              Warrant Certificate

                                                             CUSIP No. 449804115

No. 1

                                  iPCS, Inc.

THE WARRANTS EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE INITIALLY ISSUED AS PART OF AN
ISSUANCE OF UNITS (THE "UNITS"), EACH OF WHICH CONSIST OF $1,000 PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT AT MATURITY OF THE 14% SENIOR DISCOUNT NOTES DUE 2010 OF iPCS, INC. (THE
"NOTES") AND 300,000 WARRANTS (THE "WARRANTS") INITIALLY ENTITLING THE HOLDER
THEREOF TO PURCHASE 9.94233 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $.01 PER SHARE, OF
iPCS, INC.

PRIOR TO THE EARLIEST OF (I) 180 DAYS AFTER THE CLOSING OF THE OFFERING OF THE
UNITS, (II) THE DATE ON WHICH A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WITH RESPECT TO A
REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER FOR THE NOTES IS DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE ACT,
(III) THE DATE A SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE NOTES IS
DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (IV) THE OCCURRENCE OF A CHANGE OF
CONTROL OR AN EVENT OF DEFAULT (EACH AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THE
NOTES) AND (V) SUCH DATE AS DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE SECURITIES CORPORATION
IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION SHALL DETERMINE UPON NOTICE TO THE COMPANY, THE WARRANTS
EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OR EXCHANGED SEPARATELY
FROM, BUT MAY BE TRANSFERRED OR EXCHANGED ONLY TOGETHER WITH, THE NOTES.

THIS GLOBAL WARRANT IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE WARRANT
AGREEMENT GOVERNING THIS WARRANT) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF
THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE WARRANT AGENT MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON
AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.5 OF THE WARRANT AGREEMENT, (II) THIS
GLOBAL
<PAGE>

WARRANT MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.5(a) OF
THE WARRANT AGREEMENT, (III) THIS GLOBAL WARRANT MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE WARRANT
AGENT FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.8 OF THE WARRANT AGREEMENT AND (IV)
THIS GLOBAL WARRANT MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR
WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.

          THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) AND THE WARRANT SHARES TO BE ISSUED
UPON ITS EXERCISE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED,
SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR
THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE NEXT
SENTENCE.  BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE
HOLDER:

          (1)  REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS
DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (A "QIB"), (B) IT HAS ACQUIRED
THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OR (C) IT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" (AS
DEFINED IN RULE 501(A)(1),(2), (3) OR (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT (AN "IAI"),

          (2)  AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS
SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (B) TO A PERSON
WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QIB PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR
FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QIB IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A,
(C) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 903 OR 904 OF
THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN IAI THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES
THE WARRANT AGENT A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND
AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY (THE FORM OF WHICH CAN BE
OBTAINED FROM THE WARRANT AGENT) AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN
AGREEMENT PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF SECURITY LESS THAN
<PAGE>

$250,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS
IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT, (F) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION
FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN
OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY) OR (G) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE
SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE
JURISDICTION,

          (3)  AGREES NOT TO ENGAGE IN HEDGING TRANSACTIONS UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE
WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND

          (4)  AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY
OR AN INTEREST HEREIN IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF
THIS LEGEND.

AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS "OFFSHORE TRANSACTION" AND "UNITED STATES" HAVE THE
MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY RULE 902 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.
THE WARRANT AGREEMENT CONTAINS A PROVISION REQUIRING THE WARRANT AGENT TO REFUSE
TO REGISTER ANY TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY  IN VIOLATION OF THE FOREGOING.
<PAGE>

                              Warrant Certificate

                                  iPCS, INC.

          This Warrant Certificate certifies that Cede & Co., or its registered
assigns, is the registered holder of Warrants expiring July 15, 2010 (the
"Warrants") to purchase Common Stock, par value $.01 (the "Common Stock"), of
iPCS, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company").  Each Warrant entitles the
registered holder upon exercise at any time from 9:00 a.m. on July 15, 2001
referred to below (the "Exercise Date") until 5:00 p.m.  New York City time on
July 15, 2010, to receive from the Company 9.94233 fully paid and nonassessable
shares of Common Stock (the "Warrant Shares") at the initial exercise price (the
"Exercise Price") of $5.50 per share payable upon surrender of this Warrant
Certificate and payment of the Exercise Price at the office of the Warrant
Agent, but only subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant
Agreement referred to on the reverse hereof.  The Exercise Price and number of
Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants are subject to adjustment
upon the occurrence of certain events set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

          No Warrant may be exercised after 5:00 p.m., New York City time on
July 15, 2010, and to the extent not exercised by such time such Warrants shall
become void.

          Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant
Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof and such further provisions shall
for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

          This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid unless countersigned by
the Warrant Agent, as such term is used in the Warrant Agreement.

          This Warrant Certificate shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.
<PAGE>

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, iPCS, Inc. has caused this Warrant Certificate to
be signed below.


Dated: July 12, 2000

                                      iPCS, Inc.



                                      By:/s/ Timothy M. Yager
                                         ------------------------------
                                         Name:  Timothy M. Yager
                                         Title: President and Chief Executive
                                                Officer


Countersigned:
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.
as Warrant Agent


By: /s/ Kenneth V. Franke
    -----------------------------
    Authorized Signatory
<PAGE>

          The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate are part of a duly
authorized issue of Warrants expiring at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on July
15, 2010 entitling the holder on exercise to receive shares of Common Stock, and
are issued or to be issued pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated as of July 12,
2000 (the "Warrant Agreement"), duly executed and delivered by the Company to
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., a New Jersey limited liability
company, as warrant agent (the "Warrant Agent"), which Warrant Agreement is
hereby incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is
hereby referred to for a description of the rights, limitation of rights,
obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Warrant Agent, the Company
and the holders (the words "holders" or "holder" meaning the registered holders
or registered holder) of the Warrants.  A copy of the Warrant Agreement may be
obtained by the holder hereof upon written request to the Company.

          Warrants may be exercised at any time on or after the Exercise Date
and on or before 5:00 p.m. New York City time on July 15, 2010; provided that
holders shall be able to exercise their Warrants only if a Registration
Statement relating to the exercise of the Warrants is then in effect, or the
exercise of such Warrants is exempt from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and such securities
are qualified for sale or exempt from qualification under the applicable
securities laws of the states in which the various holders of the Warrants or
other persons to whom it is proposed that the Warrant Shares be issued on
exercise of the Warrants reside.  In order to exercise all or any of the
Warrants represented by this Warrant Certificate, the holder must deliver to the
Warrant Agent at its office designated for such purpose this Warrant Certificate
and the form of election to purchase on the reverse hereof duly filled in and
signed, which signature shall be medallion guaranteed by an institution which is
a member of a Securities Transfer Association recognized signature guarantee
program, and upon payment to the Warrant Agent for the account of the Company of
the Exercise Price, as adjusted as provided in the Warrant Agreement, for the
number of Warrant Shares in respect of which such Warrants are then exercised.
No adjustment shall be made for any dividends on any Common Stock issuable upon
exercise of this Warrant.

          The Warrant Agreement provides that upon the occurrence of certain
events the Exercise Price set forth on the face hereof may, subject to certain
conditions, be adjusted.  If the Exercise Price is adjusted, the Warrant
Agreement provides that the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
exercise of each Warrant shall be adjusted.  No fractions of a share of Common
Stock will be
<PAGE>

issued upon the exercise of any Warrant, but the Company will pay the cash value
thereof determined as provided in the Warrant Agreement.

          Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the office of the Warrant
Agent by the registered holder thereof in person or by legal representative or
attorney duly authorized in writing, may be exchanged, in the manner and subject
to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, but without payment of any
service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like
tenor evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants.

          Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of this Warrant
Certificate at the office of the Warrant Agent a new Warrant Certificate or
Warrant Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number
of Warrants shall be issued to the transferee(s) in exchange for this Warrant
Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement,
without charge except for any tax or other charge imposed in connection
therewith.

          The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the registered
holder(s) thereof as the absolute owner(s) of this Warrant Certificate
(notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by
anyone), for the purpose of any exercise hereof, of any distribution to the
holder(s) hereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the
Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.  Neither the
Warrants nor this Warrant Certificate entitles any holder hereof to any rights
of a stockholder of the Company.
<PAGE>

                        [Form of Election to Purchase]

                   (To Be Executed Upon Exercise Of Warrant)

          The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right,
represented by this Warrant Certificate, to receive _____________ shares of
Common Stock and herewith tenders payment for such shares to the order of iPCS,
Inc., in the amount of $__________ in accordance with the terms hereof.  The
undersigned requests that a certificate for such shares be registered in the
name of _______________, whose address is __________________ and that such
shares be delivered to ___________, whose address is ______________________. If
said number of shares is less than all of the shares of Common Stock purchasable
hereunder, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing
the remaining balance of such shares be registered in the name of
______________________, whose address is ____________________, and that such
Warrant Certificate be delivered to whose address is ____________________.


     ________________________________________
     Signature
Date:



     ________________________________________
     Signature Guaranteed


Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" meeting the
requirements of the Warrant Agent, which requirements include membership or
participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such
other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Warrant Agent in
addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
<PAGE>

                      SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS

                             OF GLOBAL WARRANTS/1/

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Warrant have been made:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              Amount of
              decrease in    Amount of
              Number of      increase in          Number of                   Signature of
              warrants in    Number of            Warrants in this Global     authorized
 Date of      this Global    Warrants in this     Warrant following such      officer of
 Exchange     Warrant        Global Warrant       decrease or increase        Warrant Agent
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>           <C>            <C>                  <C>                         <C>
</TABLE>

___________________________

     /1/ To be included only on Global Warrants