T-Mobile to debut 3G as voice-only. No data. We're over it.
By Ryan Block 
posted April 30th 2008 4:24PM
posted April 30th 2008 4:24PM
Well screw us -- T-Mobile's 3G network debut tomorrow? It's going to be voice only. That's right, you heard us, VOICE ONLY. So trepidatious is this company to actually get their 3G data rollout, um, rolled out, they're launching first with kneecapped voice-only service, keeping only EDGE for those demanding data. Here's the snippet from the memo we received:"3G is the next generation of our wireless network, following our current GSM network. In this early phase of our network evolution, 3G is a new technology for carrying wireless voice calls and supporting existing data capabilities on our network. In future phases, this next generation network will power 'high-speed' (3G) products and services that connect customers in new and exciting ways. ... Inform customers who are interested in high-speed data that the first phase of our 3G roll out supports voice only." [Emphasis ours]
No word on when T-Mobile actually plans to turn on the faster data, but for everyone who hasn't already jumped ship -- hoping against hope -- the wait continues.
P.S. -Don't believe everything you hear about this kind of thing being status quo. Every single major US 3G network -- including Cingular, Verizon, and Sprint -- went live as either data card-only (with phones added later), or data and voice together.
T-Mobile, you never cease to disappoint
People, this doesn't mean everything you think it does...they just are not going to be pushing data, but you will see UMTS Rel 99 type speeds of @ 250-300 Kbps (Rel 99 data speeds is topped out @384 Kbps). They just don't have any HSDPA devices yet, so nothing more than what you get today with EDGE. You will get 3G data, just not HSDPA. Will it be what people want? Hell no. First HSDPA device will come out later in the year.
One note, they do disable the 3G icon, so there isn't a way to know you ever are in 3G coverage unless you enable the debug mode.
I believe that is HSDPA which is 3.5G
sorry supposed to be a reply to _ram-jaane'. Fucking need an edit button
Glad I dumped TMo!
Can't they at least do video calls?
ugh!
They do currently have 3g devices, but like someone else said, the 3g icon is disabled in all their phones, so you wouldn't know anyway. They will be getting HSDPA phones pretty soon, and their upgraded networks are not R99, they are mostly R5... And UMTS Does give higher voice quality, quite a bit compared to 2g actually....
SCREW YOU T-MOBILE!!!
Time to switch to AT&T. Or maybe Sprint.
well to be fair T-Mobile have done a great job of customer service and low plan pricing, especially for Blackberry plans.
They just have focused on different priorities than high-speed data.
I'm sure the NSA will be happy then ...
That a damn shame
that's it, i was going to wait for it but this puts it over the top. as much as i don't want to, i'll be switching my services to at&t next week. it's just too little too late.
I wonder what T-Mobile shareholders have had to say about the company having the physical assets for 3G for so long without implementing?
Another Engadget author who takes another internal memo and blows it out of proportion.
The reality is that there are no aircards or smartphones to take advantage of the UMTS spectrum as it stands. The low end 3G capable phones do not support high speed / full HTML browsing so the only benefit to using these handsets as it stands is the increase of voice coverage thanks to 3G airspace over the 1700 MHz band.
The verbiage is that the 3G network at the moment is for voice but that it is ready for data as soon as devices become available.
For those readers who are planning on selling your DT stock, yelling at the DT board or jumping off a bridge over this article, consider the source. Engadget is being irresponsible by posting this article without any credence this time around.
Damn you T-Mobile, daaaamn you!
going 3G with voice only still benefits them - it's more bandwidth efficient for voice calls than GSM. no doubt they'll get the high speed data done, but in the meantime they get more voice capacity, which at the end of the day represents 80% or more of their revenue.
totally agree it sucks and that they need to move forward with hspa data.
And where is Video Call that others in the world has been using for a few years already?
Edge? EDGE ??????
This is a joke right? The rest of Europe went past UMTS light years ago and is using HSDPA. Even I'm connected right now with my HSDPA modem and have no trouble doing so on a train, bus, etc..... At 7.2Mbits/s, that's about 30 times the transmission speed of EDGE.....
Nice one. Ha ha ha......
I think this 3G voice, is for the N95 that i have that can do Video CALLS, but if you ask me, i need 3G Data now!!!
As someone pointed out for me, he said they even with 3g on t-mo we wouldn't be able to have 3g speed with our n95s. =[
Anyway i've been waiting and nothing.
I am glad my contract ends 3 days after my birthday on june 1st.
Hopefully iphone 3g will be available around that time.
t-mobile promised for two freaking years and nothing, way to go.
How about getting the existing proven technology up and running (the one supported by all the handsets!) rather than skipping that for a future experimental one with no retail hardware available?
Trust me LTE is a long way off, hence the name *Long* Term Evolution :)
@Danny
"The reality is that there are no aircards or smartphones to take advantage of the UMTS spectrum as it stands."
And which reality would this be? Dr Spok's or Little Red Rdinghood's?
Devices which allowed taking advantage of the UMTS transmission rates have existed for several years now (outside Germany). These include (very) numerous internal phone modems (i.e. connecting your computer up directly with your phone), as well as dedicated PCMCIA and USB devices.
As stated earlier, these have already been superseded (outside Germany) by HSDPA. The latest statistic for the Italian market, just as an example, is that 42% of GSM users use HSDPA. HSDPA USB modems are available TODAY in France, Spain, Italy, UK etc etc etc
Hm? I don't get it... What's the point of 3g voice only? I use my 3g for video calls and downloading and streaming all kinds of ting on my N95, what's 3g voice calling?!?!
I have T639, $20 internet plan. Internet is x2 faster today - 320kb/s, tethered, Brooklyn. So, 3G works with data. Just my humble experience.
Perhaps TMO needs to understand the real implication here- hundreds (thousands maybe?) of customers have left them for high speed data. I left 22 months ago! That is way too far behind the times. I was a long time loyal customer too- almost 12 years with them (can you say VoiceStream and Aerial? :-p). FWIW- I get tested download speeds of 2.2 Mbps on Sprint here in Minneapolis, and the voice quality is great.
I love T-mobile. They make all my dreams come true.
*cries*
Data and voice are active in NYC. This is a fact, the topic of this post is not! Sadly, it still hasn't been edited.
You guys might want to update your post. 3G HAS to be VOICE AND DATA. Together. You can't just do one...
TmoNews got it accurate...they were the only ones.
People ARE getting 3G speeds in New York City
T-Mobile - this company is dead in the U.S. They're so far behind in terms of phones and network services, it's pathetic.
All the more reason to switch to AT&T.
Data on such small screens counters all logic, anyway.
hahaha so basically since tmobile customers with 3g coverage for VOICE only will be burning their battery ALOT faster seeing that WCDMA Coverage can kill your battery 25% faster than regular gsm or edge during data transfer! way to suck Tmobile. i've been with them too since voicestream but because of my parents. i'm about to switch to att....