T-Mobile clears everything up: 3G rollout (with data) is on in NYC

Great news, T-Mobile USA fans -- the roller coaster ride is finally over. After we thought T-Mobile's 3G network was but moments away from launching, we soon found that data may be left out. Oddly enough, a few reports hailing from the Big Apple claimed that data actually was included. At long last, the carrier is coming clean and announcing its official 3G rollout in the States. Unfortunately, the UMTS / HSDPA network is initially launching in New York City alone, but the good news is that data will be included and the operator expects the high-speed data network to "be available in cities where a majority of its subscribers currently use data services" by the year's end. Yeah, it's safe to celebrate now, we promise it's not a(nother) false alarm. Full release posted after the jump.

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.

[orlandoreyes07 @ May 5th 2008 12:09PM]

Great, now they need to bring it out to the rest of the nation so we all can enjoy it.

[webon @ May 5th 2008 12:13PM]

sorryI don't know how to use google

can some one explain bout the data included/not included thing? wht does it mean?

[dimsum05 @ May 5th 2008 12:37PM]

Really?
What's so hard about typing something into the search field and clicking the "Google Search" button?

[Kris @ May 5th 2008 12:25PM]

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.

[p3t3b2 @ May 5th 2008 12:45PM]

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.

[bachviet @ May 5th 2008 12:47PM]

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.

[Kris @ May 5th 2008 12:50PM]

@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.

[p3t3b2 @ May 5th 2008 1:13PM]

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.

[Neoprimal @ May 5th 2008 1:32PM]

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.

[p3t3b2 @ May 5th 2008 1:42PM]

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?

[Kris @ May 5th 2008 1:44PM]

@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?

[p3t3b2 @ May 5th 2008 1:55PM]

@ 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.

[john @ May 5th 2008 2:02PM]

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.

[p3t3b2 @ May 5th 2008 2:18PM]

@ 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!

[john @ May 5th 2008 2:24PM]

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").

[p3t3b2 @ May 5th 2008 2:39PM]

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.

[Kris @ May 5th 2008 2:59PM]

@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.

[Brian @ May 5th 2008 3:32PM]

@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.

[bachviet @ May 5th 2008 3:34PM]

@ 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.

[Kris @ May 5th 2008 3:52PM]

@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.

[john @ May 5th 2008 3:53PM]

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.

[bachviet @ May 5th 2008 4:11PM]

@ 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.

[Nando @ May 5th 2008 12:28PM]

FINALLY!!!!!!!!! :PULLS HAIR OUT!!!:

[aaron @ May 5th 2008 12:30PM]

Remind me when they have a handset worth using it with.

[aaron @ May 5th 2008 12:33PM]

Let me also clear it up before those with unlocked iPhones get excited...


You still will not have 3G with T-Mobile.

[Ryan Worrell @ May 6th 2008 10:58AM]

Yes with the CURRENT iPhone we will not get 3G. But....

[7on @ May 5th 2008 1:46PM]

Because current iPhones don't have 3G

...and because a future 3G iPhone is 1900/2100Mhz 3G
T-mobile is 1700/2100Mhz 3G

[aaron @ May 5th 2008 4:05PM]

@Ryan


I wouldn't count on it with the version either.

[Vit @ May 5th 2008 12:37PM]

Great! Now, all we need is a nice smartphone that would work on T-Mo 3G, SE Experia, I hope?

[bethel03 @ May 5th 2008 12:38PM]

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...

[aaron @ May 5th 2008 12:40PM]

no, yes, yes

[7on @ May 5th 2008 1:47PM]

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)

[Satur9nine @ May 5th 2008 2:33PM]

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.

[bachviet @ May 5th 2008 12:46PM]

Now bring on the SE Xperia X1 (if has AWS), Velocity Mobile 103/111, and Nokia E71.

[john @ May 5th 2008 2:10PM]

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.

[Vit @ May 5th 2008 12:47PM]

Actually, T-Mo Nokia 6263 has 3G, but that's it alas, kaput

[bachviet @ May 5th 2008 12:49PM]

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).

[Vit @ May 5th 2008 12:54PM]

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

[xman @ May 5th 2008 1:15PM]

@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.

[xman @ May 5th 2008 1:18PM]

@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.

[palehorse @ May 5th 2008 1:51PM]

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...

[john @ May 5th 2008 2:19PM]

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.

[ManoloDF @ May 5th 2008 1:47PM]

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?

[john @ May 5th 2008 2:07PM]

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)?

[bronxnative @ May 5th 2008 2:49PM]

First Post
I'll definitely be jumping on this once rolled out, hopefully they continue to offer good prices as well

[Kris @ May 5th 2008 12:26PM]

Fail

[Nando @ May 5th 2008 12:29PM]

"First Dumbass" you mean.

[Tyson @ May 5th 2008 2:56PM]

BX thats whats up

[Tyson @ May 5th 2008 2:55PM]

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?

[Tyson @ May 5th 2008 3:07PM]

What about the BB9000, it has 2100 can you use that when it drops