T-Mobile clears everything up: 3G rollout (with data) is on in NYC
By Darren Murph 
posted May 5th 2008 12:00PM
posted May 5th 2008 12:00PM
T-Mobile USA Begins Commercial 3G Network Rollout
Company Launches UMTS/HSDPA Network in New York City on its AWS Spectrum;
Plans 3G Network Launches in Major Markets Across the Country in the Coming Months
NEW YORK and BELLEVUE, Wash. – May 5, 2008– T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced that the company has taken the first commercial step in the rollout of its third-generation (3G) wireless network by launching its UMTS/HSDPA network in New York City. T-Mobile plans to continue the rollout of its 3G network across major metropolitan markets through the year. By year's end, T-Mobile expects its high-speed data network will be available in those cities where a majority of its subscribers currently use data services.
"The launch of our 3G network comes at a time when 3G phones and services are more affordable, capable and appealing to our consumer marketplace than ever before," said Cole Brodman, chief development officer, T-Mobile USA. "We benefit not only from the economic scale of 3G, but also from the extensive commercial experience of 3G in our European markets. Today, T-Mobile USA customers already have among the highest adoption of data and messaging services in the industry. Through our 3G network, we look forward to delivering a rich portfolio of new and meaningful services to enrich our customers' lives."
T-Mobile's 3G network supports voice and data services consistent with available service and handset offerings. The company today offers multiple phones that are able to operate on the UMTS network. The phones are designed to automatically connect to the best available network (3G or GSM/GPRS/EDGE) to provide the great call quality and rich communication services customers expect from T-Mobile.
Customers using a 3G-capable handset from T-Mobile will also experience faster data speeds when accessing the Web, or downloading content from the T-Mobile t-zones content portal, for example.
In the coming months, T-Mobile plans to offer its first HSDPA device, along with new and compelling data-centric, all-in-one devices that help make the most of T-Mobile's high-speed data network.
The launch of the 3G network also enables T-Mobile to accommodate and serve more customers more efficiently through the use of its AWS spectrum, effectively doubling T-Mobile USA's spectrum position, and laying the foundation for the company's future growth. T-Mobile and the U.S. government, namely the Department of Defense and the Department of Justice, continue to work closely and effectively together to make available AWS spectrum that will give consumers access to the 3G network.
As the 3G service rolls out in targeted major markets, T-Mobile will continue to build upon its
T-Mobile® HotSpot Wi-Fi network - its wireless high-speed Internet offering that launched in 2003 - and its nationwide voice and data network, to empower customers to effortlessly stay connected using the best available network.
- more -
T-Mobile International is following a common technology path across all of its markets in Europe and the United States, from GSM/GPRS/EDGE to UMTS/HSDPA. T-Mobile USA greatly benefits from
T-Mobile International's 3G experiences in Europe, where adoption of non-messaging mobile data is growing dynamically; and with more than 120 million customers worldwide, T-Mobile International is able to generate significant global procurement synergies.
Great, now they need to bring it out to the rest of the nation so we all can enjoy it.
First Post
I'll definitely be jumping on this once rolled out, hopefully they continue to offer good prices as well
Fail
"First Dumbass" you mean.
BX thats whats up
sorryI don't know how to use google
can some one explain bout the data included/not included thing? wht does it mean?
Really?
What's so hard about typing something into the search field and clicking the "Google Search" button?
I used to be a T-Mobile customer but their data service is more expensive than many other carriers (I spend $15 a month for unlimited 3G EVDO Rev A access through Sprint; I was paying $25 a month for unlimited 2G EDGE when I was with T-Mobile) and it's slow.
Sure, T-Mobile has great prices for voice calling but other than that... I'm not impressed.
Thats the thing people are hearing 3G and are getting their panties in a bunch. Verizon and sprint have been there done that. Whereas sprint in still one up with their EVDO REV A and soon to be released wimax. What folks do not realize is that 3G is most compatible on CDMA than it is on GSM because of the faster transfer between CDMA towers. That is why Sprint and Verizon have the faster networks.
Still can't talk and tether/surf at the same time with EvDO.
That's when GSM 3G (UMTS/HSPA) has advantage. BTW, HSUPA is way faster than EvDO rev. A.
@bachviet, are you sure? I thought EVDO Rev A introduced this ability as I've IMed people on AIM via IM+ while talking on speaker phone.
Either that or my phone has super powers.
I was able to talk and tether on my mogul, also, wait until EVDO REV B and wimax roll out!
This is the speed I am getting on REV A: http://www.dslreports.com/im/50348393/1263.png
I am downtown in Los Angeles in an underground parking garage in the U.S. Bank Tower . That is why 3G CDMA is superior.
T-Mobile Internet rounds out at about the cheapest right now. You get internet on your cell and anything your cell is connected to be it laptop/pc, etc., hotspot access (wherever you can find it now), email access, and unlimited data for 19.99 a month. That's not to bad. You can't find a similar plan on any of the other networks for that amount of money. You may find PIECES of it, but not the entire thing. Hopefully the prices stay this low once 3G hits everywhere.
How is TMO the cheapest when you can't access 3G on any TMO phones? I get 2000 mins, free unlimited text, free nights and weekend, free nationwide long distance for $85 , unlimited EVDO REV A for $25 a month. Again, who needs "hot spot" when you have EVDO REV A?
@Neoprimal, if you knew how to read you would have saw that I'm paying $15 a month for unlimited 3G data access via Sprint. This even works with tethering.
$20 for 2G Edge? No thanks. Is $5 more a month for wifi hotspot access worth it? Especially since it'll go away in the next few years and the constant data connection is significantly slower?
@ Kris
Do you get that access on your phone or on an access card or usb modem. Mine is on the U720 usb modem (I should have been more clear). As for data within my phone plan I don't pay anything for unlimited EVDO data. I have a corporate acct, the primary line doesn't pay anything for EVDO.
Kris:
$15/mo on sprint gets you no tethering (no phone as modem). Which means you're just doing unlimited web from your handset. The comparable price for T-Mo is $6/mo.
If you want tethering, with sprint you pay an extra $40/mo for the "phone as modem" add-on. With T-Mo, all plans include tethering. $6/mo for just the web, $20/mo for "total internet" (not just the web).
If you want unlimited everything, including tethering, you can't do it with Sprint. Unlimited everything doesn't include tethering, and sprint doesn't allow you to add-on phone-as-modem to unlimited everything. With T-Mo, it's $120/mo for unlimited voice/sms/mms/im/email/total-internet ($99/mo for voice/sms/mms/im/email, $20/mo for total internet). Or $106/mo if you just want web and not total internet.
How is Sprint cheaper, again? Every option I gave is cheaper with T-Mo when compared to Sprint. Sure, Sprint is ABSOLUTELY better, in terms of price, than Verizon or AT&T ... but T-Mo is better than Sprint. T-Mo is the best of the nation-wide's in terms of price. Terrible on speed, terrible on device selection. Best on price.
Now, if you want to talk _speed_, sure, Sprint is a lot faster than T-Mo. EVDO revA is a lot faster than basic UMTS (and a hell of a lot faster than EDGE). But you were asserting price, not speed.
@ John
You don't know what you're talking about, when I had the mogul I was able to talk, txt while it was tethered. I didn't have a PAM plan and I didn't get charged additionally. Also, I know of many sprint customers who get the PAM for free. You are still trying to compare a 2G network with 3G. It's like trying to compare a nissan to a benz, you make a no sense!
p3t3b2:
If you're tethering without a PAM add-on, you're in violation of your terms of service agreement, and will get terminated if/when they find out. T-Mo _always_ lets you tether, it's just a matter of how expensive it is to do so (per unit, $6/mo, or $20/mo). And that still leaves the fact that you can do the same thing on T-Mo for $6/mo that Sprint charges $15/mo for (if all you need is the web).
I never said anything at all about being able to voice+text while tethering. Perhaps you should review the thread of conversation.
And, my statements are all based upon reading sprint's docs, and talking to sprint reps (I directly asked about being able to get unlimited everything + PAM, and they directly said "no, tethering isn't included, and you can't get the PAM add-on for unlimited everything").
John
Let's look at this, 3G EVDO REV A very-very fast, 2G EDGE much-much slower, do you think TMO will continue to allow Ulimited voice/sms/mms/im/email 'whatever' when they upgrade to 3G?... Your phone is not even 3G compatible, If you were (not likely 3G too expensive to maintain) to get those same features on a 3G TMO then i will submit to you that TMO has a better data plan. Until then, stop with the bs!!
As for me in violation of terms, hahahaha... Sprint knows about the free tethering, that is why many-many customers pay nothing for the PAM plan.
@john, You are incorrect If you take a look at T-Mobiles pricing page for internet plans it ranges from $29 a month to $90 a month (my initial estimate of $20 was too low, wow). See here: http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/plans/Default.aspx?plancategory=7#Voice%2c+E-mail+%26+Internet
$6 a month is absolutely not true. You are paying a minimum of $29 for 2G access.
Also, I'm not so sure about T-Mobile's tethering policy as they only say you can do it on their internet-only plans. Regardless, Sprint does allow you to tether for no additional cost depending on your phone. phones like the Mogul can do this at no additional cost (and i only pay $15 for unlimited 3G). While the person who tried to sell me the phone wanted me to pay for their all inclusive $40/month for tethering, sprint TV and sprint radio as well as unlimited data, the customer service rep I talked to on the phone stated you were allowed to do this.
So overall, you get more features and more speed for MUCH less money with Sprint than T-Mobile in terms of data. I'm not sure how far you went into your ass to pull your figures from but I grabbed them from T-Mobiles website so stop spreading FUD.
@John
You're flat out wrong. T-Mobile's Total Internet (HotSpot + EDGE) is $20 per month with a voice plan, and there are no blocked ports. I use this on my Dash all the time.
T-Mobile's "T-MobileWeb" is $6/month. This is a more limited service that has ports blocked and requires the use of a proxy. It is OK for WAP/web browsing, and for IM and other services that can run over an HTTP proxy.
Sprint's $15 plan:
- Can't be used with smartphones (the smartphone plan costs $30)
- Doesn't allow tethering (that plan costs $40)
Now, I'm not going to argue over whether you can get your phone to tether. There are many, many people who do this on AT&T as well, and there are some people who have been busted for it. But it's against the TOS.
The whole idea of having "separate" plans for smartphones or tethering is stupid, precisely because Sprint/AT&T can't really tell how you are using their service.
Show me an unlimited 3G data card plan for under $50/mo.
@ Kris
You don't know what you are talking about in regard of T-Mobile data plan. I break it down for your here:
1. T-Zones aka T-Mobile Web: $5.99 with proxy and some restriction but tethering is allow. I'm using this with my Nokia 5700 and tether using my Nokia N800.
2. Total Internet: $19.99 fully open with WiFi hotspots
3. BB data plan: $19.99
4. BB BES data plan: $29.99
These plans are available with any voice plan.
Data only plan is more expensive as shown on your page.
@bachviet, T-Zones is NOT the internet. It's a filtered and optimized version for your phone. Not quite the samething. It also does not have all of the ports open so you can't use many of your internet enabled applications with it.
@Brian, This is wrong. Sprint's $15 a month internet plan works on _all_ of their phones. I talked with several customer service reps when the store clerked tried to get me to pay for the $20 and $30 plans but you don't need them. If you want unlimited internet, on any phone with Sprint, the $15 works and is perfectly OK under their TOS. Anyone who tells you otherwise is just trying to earn additional commission. The $20 and $30 plans get you unlimited Sprint TV, Sports, TeleNav and other additional features you _do not_ have to buy.
Brian: how does that contradict what I've said, at all?
Kris: are you talking about the entire package, or just the data add-ons? Because I don't believe you in any way shape nor form if we're talking about access to 3G data (without any regard to voice plans). Name the plans and/or add-ons (for both T-Mobile and Sprint) which you're referring to.
p3whatever: You're speaking nonsense. I specifically said I was talking about price, and not speed. I specifically said that sprint is better when you talk about speed. And, yes, I can currently get a 3G phone from T-mobile ... the Samsung t819, IIRC, is an UMTS compatible phone (one of the Sammy's is). And, speaking of speed, you need to stop doing it so that you can read/think clearly.
@ Kris
Optimized for my phone? May be the T-Mobile branded phone but I could load any website (WAP or full HTML) on my Nokia 5700 using Nokia built-in browser or Opera Mini. There are some restriction and blocked ports but it work fine for what I need (Google Maps Mobile, weather checking, and etc). I could also tether so I don't know if you could beat the $5.99 price.
FINALLY!!!!!!!!! :PULLS HAIR OUT!!!:
Remind me when they have a handset worth using it with.
Let me also clear it up before those with unlocked iPhones get excited...
You still will not have 3G with T-Mobile.
Yes with the CURRENT iPhone we will not get 3G. But....
Because current iPhones don't have 3G
...and because a future 3G iPhone is 1900/2100Mhz 3G
T-mobile is 1700/2100Mhz 3G
@Ryan
I wouldn't count on it with the version either.
Great! Now, all we need is a nice smartphone that would work on T-Mo 3G, SE Experia, I hope?
But only people with unlocked phones from other carriers will be able to use it since none of the phones that Tmo carries has a 3G radio built in. Too bad my Vox isn't 3G...
no, yes, yes
Unlocked phones use the 1700Mhz radio? Learn something everyday...
(and for people who don't interact with other humans I'll add the [/sacasm] tag)
You think T-Mobile would launch a whole network that doesn't work with any of their own handsets? Not quite. Take a look here for just a few examples:
http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=1393
http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=1324
It is funny however that the Sidekick people don't get to partake, neither the LX nor Slide has 3G of any kind.
Now bring on the SE Xperia X1 (if has AWS), Velocity Mobile 103/111, and Nokia E71.
Meh. I'm waiting for an Android phone. If the E71 ran Maemo instead of Symbian, I'd go for it. But I'm definitely not going to waste my money on a Win-Mo phone.
I'd consider an E71, or 3G blackberry with bluetooth DUN, but I'd really rather have a linux phone.
Actually, T-Mo Nokia 6263 has 3G, but that's it alas, kaput
T-Mobile offers 4 low-end/midrange phones with AWS: Nokia 3555, Nokia 6263, Samsung SGH-T639, and Samsung SGH-T819.
No smartphone or data device with AWS is available at this time.
The first HSDPA handset is coming in July in the form of SE Bella (Z780).
And what makes it even worse, no data card for 3G data. It's like a carrot infront of a jackass, can see, but can't eat
@kris
I think you can talk and txt with CDMA. But I here the full internet will not work such as browsing or downloading at the same time with voice.
And that was the big advantage of GSM phones. Not sure if Rev A allows the duplex function. I heard it really made a big difference for increased upload speeds.
@aaron
you are correct!! iphone users can forget about 3G on T-mobile. But so can everyone else with 3G AT&T phones who wants to switch.
Until the release quad band HSDPA phones, only phones specifically designed for T-mobile 3G network will work at the higher speed.
I think that's worth repeating in all-caps...
"UNTIL THE RELEASE OF QUAD-BAND HSDPA PHONES, ONLY PHONES SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR T-MOBILE 3G WILL WORK AT THE HIGHER SPEED."
In other words, the iPhone 3G will NOT work on Tmobile USA's 3G network.
Tmo customers have to wait for the Xperia X1 or Android phones to grace Tmobile's lineup for anything comparable to an iphone...
I'm sort of thinking that the best plan, for me at least, is:
1) get a data card for use with a cradlepoint device for use as my data feed (and then choose which carrier has the best network for that; I'd like it to be T-mo, but they're really REALLY being a pain about 3G deployment ... it'd probably be Sprint, because AT&T and Verizon suck for unlimited data plans).
2a) for now, stick with MetroPCS for my voice/txt device
2b) maybe get a samsung blast, with the T-Mo $1/day prepaid plan, for use as my phone and TXT device, if I start doing enough travel that the MetroPCS phone's limitations start to be a pain.
A bit more expensive (maybe $80ish/mo), but a ton more flexible.
Anyone think there is any possibility of connecting to UMA (Hotspot@Home) through HSDPA on a phone perhaps, maybe a workaround on WinMo to trick it into talking via UMA?
Is T-Mo rolling out new devices in NY as well? Like, a new 3G data card (pref. all 3 types: PC-Card, Express Card, and USB). Even better: an Express Card and/or USB modem that are compatible with the CradlePoint devices?
And, how long before T-Mo releases 3G in the SF bay area (specifically San Jose and Santa Cruz)?
Great I'm moving home to N at the end of this month, now what phones can I use/ buy unlocked or whatever that will have 1700/2100 or whatever?
What about the BB9000, it has 2100 can you use that when it drops
Hi, Engadget. I thought that readers at Engadget made it absolutely clear. They want ALL T-Mo news to be published in Bright Magenta. Why do I still see black fonts and white backgrounds?
Hi All,
Would the N95-8gb (n95-4 NAM) works on tmobile 3G network? The spec of the n95 say for US 3G compatibility (850/1900 MHz UMTS/HSDPA).
No since the N95-3/-4 3G only works with AT&T/Fido/Rogers 3G. Since it was released before T-Mobile has its 3G up and running, it was listed as US 3G. It should have been listed as AT&T 3G.
Damn.. I just got the n95 last week and this phone kick a$$. I guess I have to jump over to AT&T in about 3 months after my contract is over with tmobile which I really dont want to do. I been with tmobile for more than 6 yrs and the plan I got is awesome. 600 mins with free mobile to mobile plus unlimited texts and internet for $62 a month including all of their taxes and fees. Hopefully AT&T offers something like this.
Wow you guys... Just wow. I can't beleive I read so much. I couldn't even get through the first whole page. I just wasted 15 minutes of my life. Shut up. Bunch of whiners. This is about TMO and they are rollin out the 3g, say, "cool" and continue with your lives... Bye bye.
Call me when 3G comes over to Chicago
Does anyone else think that T-Mobile might have a hard time in getting a lot of good 3G phones out to the market compared to AT&T? I mean, they're the only ones in the world who are using WCDMA 1700/2100 for their 3G. With WCDMA 850/1900, you've GSM carriers in North America using it (Rogers in Canada, AT&T in the US, and Telcel in Mexico), and many carriers in South America use it too. Also, doesn't Telstra in Australia use WCDMA 850 for their 3G services?
True, T-Mobile USA is in a 3G world of it's own. I've always said it was bad for T-Mobile to get such a weird band for 3G. I also understand the 2100 band may not be the same one as used in Europe and parts of Asia, and that makes for another problem with possible confusion from overseas visitors thinking their phones will work here. Manufacturers may not want to spend too much time servicing such limited bands, and the 3G T-Mobile USA branded sets they have now are hardly earth shaking IMO. Maybe that'll change, but for now the options are too limited.
I just saw a post on the EMobile site(same topic) about North and South America trying to make 1700 standard for the future. If that's true, then we will see more and better 1700 phones, but probably not for a while.
3G with tzone $5.99 plan? Woot. Who can beat that?
i was holding on for this news so dearly through seemingly two years of rumors. im on at&t now.
Why no two way video calling t-mobile? Why is the US so far behind the world on this feature?
T-Mobile is THE best wireless service, customer service and reliabilty is astonishing!
Wow, reading this thread....
John and Bryan are correct (Bryan simply rebutted the wrong person).
Also keep in mind, that if you aren't able to see the plans or prices someone else is talking about, it's possible they are "grandfathered" in. I, for example, get free T-Mobile paper billing even though I use EasyPay, but if I decide to stop getting paper bills, and decide to get them again later, it will start costing me a few cents in fees. The zero-fee paper bills are grandfathered in for long-time T-Mobile customers.
There are also corporate discounts from certain providers to employees of companies they contract with.
I have a 3G phone (the most under-appreciated PDA phone, the XDA Flame) -- I've had it over a year. It should work on T-Mobile's 3G network when it rolls around in my area.
Unlocked GSM phones have had 3G for over a year as a standard feature. Most of HTC's phones are quad-band and 3G, for example.
The really exciting wireless broadband to come, is ClearWire/Sprint's mobile WiMax. It will allow you to have DSL speeds almost anywhere -- no hotspots needed!!! Whether it will allow unlimited data, I don't know yet.
My recommendation:
Buy an unlocked GSM phone that suits your tastes and needs. Don't buy services or choose providers based on their phones. That's like only buying gas from your car dealer, or choosing a Pinto because you like Ford Gasoline.
Use T-Mobile total internet and a voice plan on your phone, or if you only want web (ports 80/443) and email (ports 110/143) , use T-Zones/T-MobileWeb (if you're technically sophisticated and run a server, you can even set up SSH tunneling to work around the blocked ports).
For laptop mobile broadband, use Sprint or its upcoming partner ClearWire. I'd jump on ClearWire, except that they don't support ExpressCard 34 yet, only 54. ComSys only recently came out with WiMax ExpressCard 34 cards, and they aren't available to consumers yet.