We were already
pretty sure this would be happening, but it's looking real now, if 8.5 x 11-inch pieces of paper taped to a window is any indication: T-Mobile is rolling out its 3G service on October 1 to 27 select cities. The above poster was spotted by TmoNews "outside a meeting" and, as you can see, it says, "10.1.08 3G is Coming." As far as those launch cities, we have a handy little list for you after the break. By the way, it's entirely possible T-Mobile 3G is already live in your market, though, so don't let this confuse you too much. It could just mean you're next, or, at least by October 1.
- New York City
- Austin
- NJ and Long Island
- Las Vagas
- Minneapolis
- Miami
- Dallas
- Chicago
- Houston
- Philadelphia
- Denver
- Detroit
- Orlando
- Kansas city
- Atlanta
- Los Angeles
- New England (whatever that means)
- Portland
- Sacramento
- San Diego
- Seattle
- Washington DC
- San Francisco
- Birmingham
- Memphis
- Tampa
- Phoenix
posted Jul 30th 2008 5:23PM
only 6 years after sprint?
HUH?????
WTF? There is no 3G with Sprint. It's a totally different system.
"WTF? There is no 3G with Sprint. It's a totally different system."
Uh, no. 3G is just short for 3rd Generation. It doesn't have anything to do with CDMA or GSM. CDMA (sprints) would be EV-DO and GSMs (T-mobile) would be UMTS. They're both 3G systems, just different underlying technology.
3G is not technologically specific and is based on data rates and protocol standards as per the ITU. You need to meet specific criteria. Yes, Sprint's 3G has been around for about 5 years. Sprint is actually at 3.5G right now with EVDO Rev. A.
Matt is exactly right.
@ tande
GSM isnt UTMS, its HSUPA/HSPA/HSDPA. CDMA in foreign countries is UTMS, but i dont know if in the US EV-DO is considered UTMS or not.
You can not roll out a 3G network if you don't have the spectrum. Until last year's AWS they got the spectrum so they could deploy. Sprint, Death Star and Verizon have a surfeit of 3G there was no problem for them to deploy it.
This "kjb434" character is pissing me off today.
Makes me wanna lay a little BSOIP on his face.
@techietriumph
no, GSM 3G is UMTS, the HSDPA/HSUPA/HSPA is considered 3.5G
Is it really that important as to who is right or wrong!!
@techietriumph
Most of what you said is wrong.
3G does not refer to any specific technology, rather it is an ITU definition which refers to high bandwidth mobile phone systems.
GSM is a 2G technology, and GPRS and EDGE are 2.5G (EDGE is sometimes called a 2.75G technology, although it's technically fast enough to be considered 3G).
IS-95 (CDMAone) is also a 2G technology. IS-95 is now obsolete, and it has been replaced by CDMA2000 (which is fully compatible). CDMA2000 1x-RTT is technically a "3G" technology, but, like EDGE, it's usually considered a 2.75G technology because it's not as fast as "true" 3G technologies.
CDMA2000 1x-EvDO is a 3G data-only technology that compliments CDMA2000 voice services. It operates at up to 2.4Mbps (downstream), or up to 3.1Mbps (revision A).
UMTS is the 3G successor to GSM. It includes both voice and data support. Phones use either GSM/GPRS/EDGE or UMTS at one time, not both. Phones can switch between UMTS and GSM at any time, including during a call (if the network supports it). UMTS data operates at up to 384kbps.
HSDPA is a data-only technology which compliments UMTS. It operates at 1.8Mbps, 3.6Mbps, or even higher, and is sometimes referred to as a 3.5G technology.
NOTE: In the following sections, I use "T-Mobile" to refer to T-Mobile's US division. T-Mobile also operates many other mobile networks around the world.
AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM/GPRS/EDGE and UMTS/HDSPA. Sprint (non-Nextel), Verizon, and Alltel use CDMA2000 (including 1x-RTT and 1x EV-DO).
AT&T and T-Mobile us different bands for both GSM/GPRS/EDGE and UMTS/HSDPA. T-Mobile use the PCS band (1900MHz) for GSM/GPRS/EDGE and the AWS band (1700MHz) for UMTS/HSDPA. AT&T uses the Cellular band (850MHz) and the PCS band (1900MHz) for both UMTS/HSDPA and GSM/GPRS/EDGE.
Most modern GSM phones are "quadband", supporting both European bands (900MHz/1800MHz) and both North American bands (850MHz/1900MHz). That means they work equally well on AT&T's and T-Mobile's GSM/GPRS/EGDE networks.
Unfortunately, there are no phones that support both T-Mobile's UMTS/HSDPA bands (AWS) and AT&T's bands (Cellular/PCS).
Just for clarification, didn't T-Mobile USA purchase half the 1700 MHz and 2100 MHz band in the US for 3G? That'd be awesome as all European phones seem to operate on 2100...
Actually T-Mobile had 3G running in some places now, but it was UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System). What they are going to offer now, according to this article at http://www.internetevolution.com/author.asp?section_id=617&doc_id=153164&f_src=flffour is HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access)
You are going to need a cellphone that has HSDPA capabilities, and not just "3G".
@Brian: come again?
Whenever I want to announce something big I always use an inkjet printer that's nearly dry & then use "wall safe" tape to stick it to a window.
About dang time
It is like it is never going to happen......think of when you want time to fly fast but the more you keep looking at the short n long hand, the slower the time gets....
Yeah, but good luck getting service. It's T-Mobile!
Chuckles, I've had T-Mobile for about 6 years and have never had a problem with service or coverage. I used to have Sprint, and it suuuuucked. My friends with AT&T HATE its coverage... not to mention T-Mobile has really good customer service, and AT&T has one of the worst reputations for customer service.
But way to hate without knowing what the f&$k you are talking about
I completely agree with Mikey I've had T-Mobile for 3 years and its been around 6 months since i dropped a call due to network issues, plus the customer service is unbeatable.
To be fair, that may be 11x17".
i was thinking it might 8.5x14... but yeah... def. not 8.5x11 unless there's really freaky light distortion between the glass and the camera lens.
i think nolan says it best. im a loyal t mobile user but i just have to agree. "about dang time"
It's about time. Let's see if it's true.
Wooo denver 3g, gotta actually look at getting a decent phone now.
In other news, round wheels for automobiles are coming to select cities this October...
1 market, 27 locations.
Woohoo! Finally... So many times I thought about jumping ship... but I really like T-mobile. This pleases me!
probably new england, because they want to include boston and rhode island, but nobody would think providence mattered on a list of cities
He's making a joke. In the article they spelled Las VEgas Las VAgas.
Ah crap. Wrong reply button. Forget the previous comment.
Where are the acknowledgments for the past few articles to Engadget?
Sorry, ignore that comment. It's late here and I'm obviously not awake enough to understand what's going on around me! I'll go take the medication now...
So I wonder if this will be on the new bands that Tmo just bought or on the standard 3g frequencies...
Looks like this guy just owned himself.
Yeah pretty much.
Selfpwn
Remember when they changed the ranking system because of your name "Lowest Rank" ?
lol, I'm pretty sure that had absolutely nothing to do with me dude.
WOW!! So the iPhone 3G is coming to T-Mobile now? Sweet.
hahaha. Sorry, I had to. The engadget team didn't.
Haha.
No, really, you didn't have to.
what a joke, I don't know why anyone uses tmobile to begin with. If you really want GSM cell service in the US use ATT. Verizon and Sprint both have had awesome evdo coverage for a really long time now
Because I like their customer service, they have competitively priced plans, and I haven't had a single coverage issue in over a year with them.
They fit my needs perfectly well.
Their prices are great, many people don't need 3G (regardless of what Engadget readers will tell you) & who doesn't like purple? I mean, magenta.
What's more important, 3G or UMA? I say UMA. ATT&T doesn't have that, T-Mobile has had it for well over a year.
Actually "good" coverage is relative. T-Mobile has better coverage for ME than AT&T in San Diego. I think a lot of SoCal is the same way.
I'm using my iPhone 2G on T-Mobile for $50 a month. And that's because I'm playing it safe and going with the $20 data plan. Theoretically you can use the $6 data plan instead (with some clever script trickery) and get the same thing. So potentially you're looking at $36 vs. $60 a month... Assuming they don't raise data prices when 3G rolls out, that's $36 vs. $70 a month!
And their customer service has always been great. My reception sucks in my office, but that's the only pain point for me so far with T-Mobile. ATT definitely has better coverage in Seattle, but for the cost you can't beat T-Mo.
@ potato
I'm curious, what features do you lose by using an unlocked iPhone on T-Mobile vs. using it on AT&T?
Yeah, I have no idea why I stay with T-mobile... I mean it just has better coverage and reception with better customer service at a cheaper price. What the heck am I thinking?
T-Mobile has much better coverage than AT&T in most of the markets they service, hands down. In my area AT&T customers have problems with dropped calls, or no coverage, all of the time. T-Mobile on the other hand has rock solid coverage with extremely few dropped calls.
Plus T-Mobile offers much better rates. If I was to switch to AT&T from my current T-Mobile plan, it would cost me about $300/mo instead of $125/mo (4 phones, 1000 minutes, 3 with unlimited data, all with unlimited SMS). And with the superior coverage, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out which is the better choice.
Man, this is too bad... The service is coming to Las Vagas and I live in Las Vegas. Damn, so close!
Did this make sense to anyone?
I must be a retard.
ha.. i just got it. man, that's obtuse!
He's making a joke. In the article they spelled Las VEgas Las VAgas.
oh shit, here i thought he was implying he _bet_ that it wouldn't come to Vegas. yknow, living there and all.
I see.
*slaps self*
How many more years until Cleveland gets added to the list?
They've got two years until my contract is up, if they don't get their 3G together and FLAWLESS by then, I'm getting the heck out.
Cleveland isn't a market where 3G demand is needed.
Please remember 3G isn't coming out so you can surf the web faster. It's meant for data heavy business users who provide the most of the money to cellphone carriers.
Funny.. my friend was just wondering if t-mobile's gonna have 3g. If not, she was gonna switch to at&t.
Damnit! 2 hours away from me!
Damn you Phoenix!
Well, you officially live in the middle of nowhere.
That or Tucson or Flagstaff, same difference I suppose.
Good god, this might actually keep me on T-Mob!
Although, I might never leave with the deal I've got now. I got in on the unlimited messaging for families when it was only $10/month and it's great. With a sister that blows through 8 to 10 thousand texts per month, we need it!
I have to call and see if they offer an educational discount, and it might convince me to upgrade my smartphone to something 3G and buy the data plan! If someone wouldn't mind replying to this, what 3G phones are available for T-Mobile?
Thanks!
Nokia 3555
Nokia 6263
Samsung t639
Samsung t819
there's another rumor going on that the HTC Dream will launch on Oct. 1
I hope Nokia releases some good phones w/ T-mobile compatible 3G. I want to replace my N76 and (prob next year or so) my wife's N82.
what Nokia, sony E phones will work for the 3G network?
Anyone at Engadget heard of the alphabet? It's a great way to organize things like lists of cities making it much easier to sift through.
How exactly do you use this 'alphabet'?
You asked... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collation#Alphabetical_order
The question is....what 3G phones will T-Mo offer? It better be a selection of good ones.
It doesn't matter what ones they get, all the cool ones around the world would be available for your use as long as you unlock the phone or buy it unlocked!
That's what is great about ATT and T-Mobile. All the cool phones from around the world are available.
@kjb434:
not necessarily. tmo usa is using different bands for 3G than most of the rest of the world. it also means that phones specific to att 3G are not compatible with tmo's 3G.
@kjb434
did you use a random name generator to get that alias?
@phanbouy
Could be his HAM radio handle?
Mesa FTW! HAHAHAH!
With Pheonix last on the list, I had no problems???
oh you still had problems...
@ kjb434
That's not true with T-Mobile's 3G because they don't use the standard 2100mhz band like everyone else for 3G, they use 1700mhz :(
I was going to totally wait for iPhone to be offered without contract then jump the AT&T ship and go back to T-Mobile until I found that out!
Actually T-mobile will also have 3G service on the 2100 MHz band but you will only be able to get 2.5G speeds. While there are many parts of the world that use the 2100 MHz band, T-Mo USA's 2100 MHz band is not exactly compatible because true 2100 MHz it is in use by the military.
That's what I heard...
"...8.5 x 11-inch pieces of paper taped to a window..."
Yep, that's the way T-Mo rolls... classy and pro-fesh-uh-null, all the way!
So what type of 3G are they doing? I wanna know which phones can be used.
T-Mobile is too little too late for my brother, sister and I. The 3 of us switched from T-Mo to AT&T. Any day now my Dad will also switch to AT&T. There will be a limited selection of smartphones that will work on TMo's 3G network. Most unlocked 3G GSM phones won't work.
Hailing from the UK, I'm still absolutely amazed at how different the US market is. Why is there such a lack of (or lack of demand for) 3G? It doesn't make any sense to me!
I wonder that myself.
I mean, I get by fine with EDGE on my BlackBerry, but I'm not doing any heavy surfing or tethering to need super high speed internet.
A few websites, check my email, pretty much it.
Any heavy surfing I prefer to do on an actual computer as opposed to a handheld.
I would assume the fact that most Americans have already signed a contract could explain why America's wireless landscape is so different to our counterparts across the pond, as well as the fact that we don't have a wireless standard and the largeness of America's geographic footprint.
And also it has to do with to surfeit of older networks already deployed. Since the US was early to the cell phone game in general the companies here tend to hold on to deployed networks as long as possible to milk every single dime out of them.
Also, since there is an abundance of land line infrastructure in the US compared to other countries, for a long time it was much cheaper and simpler to get a land line. In other countries were the infastructure wasn't available, it was a lot easier to deploy cell towers using the most recent technology. With that happening, most people stated going wireless exclusively in other countries, and when companies aren't subsidizing phones they have to compete by offering the best and fastest service.
The list of factors goes on...
Will T-Mobile ever offer a data plan to those of us that use prepaid?
Will this 3G service be only for voice? I rememner reading on engadget that 3G was only for voice and not data.
T-Mobile America - welcome to the rest of the world.
wooooo hooooo.. finally.. san diego.. i cant wait..
I think I am going to stay with T-Mobile since 3G is right around the corner for me (SoCal) even though I could get out without ETF because of the messaging rate increase.
The SE TM506 aka SE Z780 is coming in September/October and the HTC Android-based phone (please let it be the HTC Dream) is coming in October.
I am happy TMO user. I will wait.
I was on AT&T for quite a while. They are USDA grad-a asshats if you ever have to talk to them on the phone and their data plans nickle and dime you up wazoo.
TMO customer service is awesome.
Sprint is getting ready to launch WiMax and T-Mo is barely getting ready to launch 3G...SAD>>>>>>
Not T-Mo's fault that the bands needed to launch their 3G network were only recently made available to them.
SPRINT IS DYING HAVENT you HEARD?
Actually the Sprint WiMax deployment is going way too slow in my opinion. Isn't it only in like 3 cities this year? That's not even worth getting if you're in one of those cities, if you travel at all.
If this T-Mobile 3G deployment is true, and I can find something close to the HTC Touch/Diamond Pro that uses their 3G, I may well switch from Sprint to T-Mobile this year -- even though historically their coverage isn't as good in my area.
Here is my ranking of the US big 4, by least to most evil: T-Mobile, Sprint, ATT, and most evil Verizon. These rankings are based on known policies, and each carrier's past attempts at ripping off myself or friends with false charges. But here's the order of customer service from best to worst: ATT, T-Mobile, Sprint, and worst Verizon. Unfortunately, evil to me is a bigger detractor than bad customer service, and both are secondary to data speed, which is why I ever tried Verizon (returned phone within trial period because they inflated minutes to double charge on the very first bill), and I'm on Sprint now. If T-Mobile catches up to EVDO speed at all, they may be on the top of my overall rating list now.
Will the iPhone 3G work on T-Mobile's 3G? I thought is was a different band...
Did anyone else read the date on that pic and wonder what type of ip it was :p
Its not coming to New Orleans!!!!!!!! oh well sprint here i come
Just when I was thinking of switching to AT&T for the Blackberry Bold, T-Mobile gives me a deal killer cause I just so happen to live in Orlando. Got now to start saving the $600 for an unlocked Bold.
-LeiTxo