T-Mobile to announce 3G plans soon?

According to an article published late yesterday in eWeek, T-Mobile is expected to hold a press conference on Friday where the company will supposedly announce its first foray into UMTS, finally catching up with its rivals on the 3G bandwagon. However, assuming these rumors are true, T-Mobile will allegedly announce UMTS and/or HSDPA on paired 1700MHz and 2100MHz bands -- part of the spectrum that it snatched up just a few weeks ago. But despite a relatively quick announcement, Phil Redman, a Gartner analyst, says that it will take T-Mobile a year and half to roll out UMTS service nationally. Even still, given that a small number of Engadget editors are T-Mobile subscribers, we can't wait to really feel the difference between the existence we're ekeing out on EDGE and that new UMTS or HSDPA über-hotness.

[Ben @ Oct 4th 2006 1:19PM]

The FCC is the reason they can't get 1900. Its already being used.

[Some One @ Oct 4th 2006 1:20PM]

I have an unlocked E61 with T-Mobile service and sometimes in my apt (City of Los Angeles) I get the 3G icon in the upper left hand corner of the device. I just thought it was by accident?

[Totalfixation @ Oct 4th 2006 1:22PM]

Forgive me if im wrong, but T-mobile cannot use just 1700mhz in some areas and some in 2100mhz area, they have to use both as one is for uplink and the other is for downlink, this is the main reason why UTMS phones from overseas cannot be used on Tmobile's network because they use 1900mhz and 2100mhz for there uplink and downlink. Similiar to Cingular as they use 1900mhz and 850mhz for there UMTS/HSDPA. But it is possible for T-mobile to use 1900mhz and 2100mhz in some areas if 1900mhz bands are Abounded.

[ryan bean @ Oct 4th 2006 1:42PM]

How do you know that Engadget readers do not use T-Mobile?? I love the blog but sometimes you guys say some incredably stupid things.

[unsigned-int @ Oct 4th 2006 1:49PM]

uhh... editors != readers.

[Jordan @ Oct 5th 2006 8:38AM]

ryan bean - If by Engadget editors say incredibly stupid things, you mean that you say incredibly stupid things, than you are absolutely correct.

[OlivierB @ Oct 4th 2006 1:49PM]

Here in the UK, T-Mobile sells "Web-n-walk" 3G plans which are all you can eat 3G data for an extra ~$12/month.
It's da bomb!

[Jose Cruz @ Oct 4th 2006 2:00PM]

I love the wording of this article. Or should I say wordiness? Exactly how many transitional phrases are necessary to make a blog sound professional? This is my favorite part:

"However, assuming these rumors are true, T-Mobile will allegedly..."

Not only can we enjoy the illogical use of the transitional word "however", but also the redundancy of "assuming these rumors are true" with "allegedly".

Ah, you silly Engadget bloggers, always hiding these easter eggs in your articles! You Americans have such witty humor!

[doppler @ Oct 4th 2006 2:01PM]

EDGE is very much teh suck. Many of my co-workers switched over to Tmo for the Pearl, and we're all awaiting future UMTS berries.

[Me @ Oct 4th 2006 2:03PM]

Its about freading time

[PEZ @ Oct 4th 2006 2:05PM]

T-Mobile has been beta'ing 3G in a few markets for quite some time now.

And of course the 1700/2100 is for HSPDA.

[chuck @ Oct 4th 2006 2:24PM]

Does anyone have any info on TMo in Manhattan? Have they been beta-ing 3G in Manhattan? I'm about this close to cancelling my TMo account and switching to something that provides a useable signal (3G or not) but this might keep me around for a bit longer...

[Stephen Neal @ Oct 4th 2006 3:50PM]

Just to point out that this is T-Mobile USA specific. In Europe, T-Mobile are already running 3G networks, and in many countries are now offering HSDPA data. (In the UK the T-Mobile Vario II now offers HSDPA access - and they have a few decent flat-rate tarrifs)

[YukonDawg @ Oct 4th 2006 4:37PM]

Will my new Nokia E61 work with T-Mobile USA 3G or am I going to need a new phone???

[mike s. @ Oct 4th 2006 4:45PM]

In my opinion, 18 months is way too long to get full deployment, seeing that Verizon has had a 3G network for a few years now and Sprint & Cingular have been at it for awhile as well. Hopefully it'll be 70% deployment in a few months and the balance will take the remaining time. I was under the impression the only thing holding them up was the spectrum and they were ready to roll it out. I guess we'll find out on Friday.

[RJ @ Oct 4th 2006 5:41PM]

I currently have a Nokia 6630 smartphone. I bought it last year at this time thinking that T-Mo would do well in this year's auction. Well they did, but then I get hit with this crap. I read this site almost daily and you do not have to be a smartman to figure out...we will get sub par phones. Yes..I said it. We will not get cool Nokia's, Samsung, and other cool phones like they get in Europe. And if anyone thinks that Nokia will offer several cool phones they should think again. I am sure (b/c of opportunity costs) they will make a phone that will work on these jacked up frequencies.

RJ

[PEZ @ Oct 4th 2006 6:57PM]

Mr Jose Cruz, it would seem your "americans" quote is rideling the working of one cyrus farivar, the writer of the article.

Maybe you should talk to him about that?
http://cyrusfarivar.com/blog/

[Jose Cruz @ Oct 5th 2006 12:04AM]

Mr. Pez,
What is "rideling"? I do not find that in my dictionary. And what is the meaning of "working"? Do you not mean "work"?

[vincent @ Oct 4th 2006 8:34PM]

Sort of bitter-sweet news. Sure UMTS is coming to the unwashed massess on T-Mo, which is nice. But basically, this means that there is a third UMTS variant, two of which being in the US. I can't imagine how much incentive there will be for handset manufacturers to build 2100/1900 (UMTS2000 spec), 1900/850 (Cingular), and 2100/1700 (T-Mo USA) compatible phones. It seems like this will just fragment the market more and make it more difficult to use non-network phones.

[Insider @ Oct 4th 2006 11:30PM]

To New York residents:

Do not drop T-Mo if signal is your only issue. NYC is the absolute #1 priority for the company once the spectrum is released. That market should be rock solid very soon. Second priority is Miami. Afterthat, bring on 3G buildout!

[resource @ Oct 4th 2006 11:58PM]

I'm glad I stuck with them.

2007 is going to be great for T-Mo.
I miss Zeta-Jones though.

[Jordan @ Oct 5th 2006 8:52AM]

I wonder if someone will build a septuple-band world phone with 850/900/1700/1800/1900/2100/2400 GSM/UMTS/HSDPA?

So much for GSM being standard, 'eh?

[Sam K @ Oct 5th 2006 2:14PM]

Jordan, I was thinking the same thing. From what I understand it's hard enough to make an antenna for quad band phones. I wonder how difficult it's going to be to make one for all those bands.

[Jason Chapa @ Oct 5th 2006 12:11PM]

Rolling out UMTS? They don't even have EDGE implemented in all their markets yet.

[hek @ Oct 6th 2006 12:34AM]

does this mean I can finally use my unlocked 02 XDA EXEC'S 3g capabilities? someone also have this phone? i'm using t-mobile right now. but only gprs can be used.

[Keith @ Oct 6th 2006 10:34PM]

I'm not quite up on the different bands 3g/UMTS/etc.. this means in order to get the 3g network we will have to have a compatible phone correct? Would they completely phase out it's current lineup of phones? I've been a T-mobile customer for some time, I normally get unlocked phones from over seas (SE), I recently got a blackberry pearl that I plan on keeping for awhile.

[Richard @ Jan 22nd 2007 12:34AM]

I just bought a new Motorola V3x phone from Ubid which has 3G using UMTS 210/GSM 900/1800/1900.
The phone still has not arrived yet. But my plans are to use it with my original simm from T-mobile. I am going to have trouble using it in the USA spectrum?