T-Mobile 3G service coming October 1 to 27 markets

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

[matt @ Jul 30th 2008 5:26PM]

only 6 years after sprint?

[Wicker24 @ Jul 30th 2008 5:43PM]

HUH?????

[kjb434 @ Jul 30th 2008 5:52PM]

WTF? There is no 3G with Sprint. It's a totally different system.

[tande @ Jul 30th 2008 5:57PM]

"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.

[cluckman @ Jul 30th 2008 6:04PM]

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.

[TechieTriumph @ Jul 30th 2008 8:24PM]

@ 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.

[Joseph Singer @ Jul 30th 2008 6:57PM]

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.

[rock99rock @ Jul 30th 2008 8:24PM]

This "kjb434" character is pissing me off today.

Makes me wanna lay a little BSOIP on his face.

[justanotherperson @ Jul 30th 2008 8:44PM]

@techietriumph

no, GSM 3G is UMTS, the HSDPA/HSUPA/HSPA is considered 3.5G

[Steve @ Jul 30th 2008 9:23PM]

Is it really that important as to who is right or wrong!!

[Brian @ Jul 31st 2008 1:52PM]

@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).

[nyuhsuk @ Jul 31st 2008 9:04AM]

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...

[Josh @ Jul 31st 2008 11:33AM]

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".

[OneLove @ Jul 31st 2008 1:06PM]

@Brian: come again?

[Anthony @ Jul 30th 2008 5:28PM]

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.

[Nolan @ Jul 30th 2008 5:28PM]

About dang time

[Jimmy Jones @ Jul 30th 2008 5:30PM]

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....

[Chuckles McGee @ Jul 30th 2008 6:50PM]

Yeah, but good luck getting service. It's T-Mobile!

[Mikey @ Jul 30th 2008 11:13PM]

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

[XIYL @ Jul 31st 2008 2:51AM]

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.

[Ryan Trevisol @ Jul 30th 2008 5:30PM]

To be fair, that may be 11x17".

[Fozzy Bear @ Jul 30th 2008 6:14PM]

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.

[PHILLIP @ Jul 30th 2008 5:32PM]

i think nolan says it best. im a loyal t mobile user but i just have to agree. "about dang time"

[Survivalism @ Jul 30th 2008 5:33PM]

Wooo denver 3g, gotta actually look at getting a decent phone now.

[Atenlaugh @ Jul 30th 2008 5:33PM]

In other news, round wheels for automobiles are coming to select cities this October...

[FuzzyCat @ Jul 30th 2008 5:34PM]

1 market, 27 locations.

[jorgeao @ Jul 30th 2008 5:34PM]

It's about time. Let's see if it's true.

[anonymouspimp @ Jul 30th 2008 5:34PM]

Woohoo! Finally... So many times I thought about jumping ship... but I really like T-mobile. This pleases me!

[az_runner @ Jul 30th 2008 5:36PM]

WOW!! So the iPhone 3G is coming to T-Mobile now? Sweet.

hahaha. Sorry, I had to. The engadget team didn't.

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 30th 2008 5:51PM]

Haha.

No, really, you didn't have to.

[bob cobb @ Jul 30th 2008 5:37PM]

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

[dvsbstrd @ Jul 30th 2008 5:47PM]

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.

[Anthony @ Jul 30th 2008 6:00PM]

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.

[Matthew @ Jul 30th 2008 6:06PM]

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.

[Havanahjoe @ Jul 30th 2008 6:14PM]

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.

[potato @ Jul 30th 2008 7:39PM]

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.

[dvsbstrd @ Jul 30th 2008 9:32PM]

@ potato

I'm curious, what features do you lose by using an unlocked iPhone on T-Mobile vs. using it on AT&T?

[Mikey @ Jul 30th 2008 11:16PM]

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?

[Doug @ Jul 31st 2008 3:46AM]

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.

[James @ Jul 30th 2008 5:37PM]

Where are the acknowledgments for the past few articles to Engadget?

[James @ Jul 30th 2008 5:39PM]

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...

[Jeff Farmer @ Aug 5th 2008 12:15PM]

So I wonder if this will be on the new bands that Tmo just bought or on the standard 3g frequencies...

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 30th 2008 5:52PM]

Looks like this guy just owned himself.

[James @ Jul 30th 2008 5:59PM]

Yeah pretty much.

Selfpwn

[Doug @ Jul 30th 2008 6:01PM]

Remember when they changed the ranking system because of your name "Lowest Rank" ?

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 30th 2008 6:23PM]

lol, I'm pretty sure that had absolutely nothing to do with me dude.

[andrew @ Jul 30th 2008 5:39PM]

probably new england, because they want to include boston and rhode island, but nobody would think providence mattered on a list of cities

[crazym0nkey01 @ Jul 30th 2008 6:24PM]

He's making a joke. In the article they spelled Las VEgas Las VAgas.

[crazym0nkey01 @ Jul 30th 2008 6:26PM]

Ah crap. Wrong reply button. Forget the previous comment.

[Scott @ Jul 30th 2008 5:43PM]

Man, this is too bad... The service is coming to Las Vagas and I live in Las Vegas. Damn, so close!