T-Mobile webConnect Rocket available March 14, already blowing minds in Philly
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted March 11th 2010 10:14AM
posted March 11th 2010 10:14AM
It looks like T-Mobile's webConnect Rocket USB modem will be released right on schedule, even if you currently have to be in Philadelphia to enjoy those HSPA+ speeds (then again, if you're in Philadelphia you probably deserve a break). Accordingly, folks jumping on that March 14 release date can expect to pay $99 with a two-year contract that entitles you to monthly charges of $50 for 5GB or $20 for 200MB -- with a $0.20 / megabyte overage charge. Fun! Additionally, the kids at Mobile Burn got their hands on a unit for a review and were generally quite impressed with consistent download speeds ranging from 1780Kbps to 2797Kbps "on a couple of [DSLreports.com] East Coast servers." Hell, after moving to a location with "prime, perfect signal (-51dbm)" things picked up considerably, with, on average, 6480Kbps downloads and 2160Kbps uploads. Not bad, eh? Hit the source link to get into the nitty gritty. PR after the break.
T-Mobile webConnect Rocket USB Laptop Stick
When surfing the Web, downloading large files or watching video from a laptop on the go, customers in HSPA+ coverage areas will benefit from lightning-fast mobile broadband with a home broadband-like experience. Compatible with PC and Mac, customers simply plug the webConnect Rocket into their laptop and the built-in T-Mobile webConnect Manager software installs and automatically finds the best available Internet connection. Additionally, T-Mobile webConnect Manager enables customers to monitor how much data is being used and avoid overages.
Starting March 14, customers can purchase the T-Mobile webConnect Rocket USB Laptop Stick for $99.99 (plus taxes and fees), with a 2-year contract and Even More webConnect data plan at select T-Mobile retail stores in Philadelphia, online at http://www.T-Mobile.com or by calling 1-800-T-Mobile.
T-Mobile webConnect Service Plans
T-Mobile is bringing its suite of Even More and Even More Plus plans offering both annual contract and no annual contract options to our family of webConnect products. The new pricing plans include:
· Even More webConnect data plan (two year contract):
· $59.99/mo. for 5GB per month ($0.20/MB overage)
· $29.99/mo. for 200MB per month ($0.20/MB overage)
· Even More Plus webConnect data plan (no annual contract):
· $49.99/mo. for 5GB per month ($0.20/MB overage)
· $19.99/mo. for 200MB per month ($0.20/MB overage)
Unlimited nationwide T-Mobile HotSpot access is included in both plans and doesn't count toward monthly data usage.
T-Mobile 3G Network
Today T-Mobile's 3G high-speed data network is available in more than 273 U.S. cities covering more than 206 million people. HSPA 7.2 is now enabled across our entire 3G nationwide network and we're working to put the necessary backhaul in place to support these faster speeds.
While other carriers are waiting to deploy LTE, T-Mobile is the only national U.S. carrier upgrading its existing 3G network to support HSPA+, which is capable of delivering download/upload speeds that are significantly faster than T-Mobile's standard 3G network. With three times the speed capabilities of HSPA 7.2, HSPA+ offers theoretical peak throughput speeds of 21Mbps.
* T-Mobile recently became the first U.S. carrier to launch HSPA+ with a deployment in Philadelphia and is integrating HSPA+ into its 3G network now with broad national deployment planned for the end of 2010. In the coming months, we'll be lighting up HSPA+ in major cities on both coasts. Our network upgrade efforts are well underway and we'll share more details as the service becomes available to more customers.
When surfing the Web, downloading large files or watching video from a laptop on the go, customers in HSPA+ coverage areas will benefit from lightning-fast mobile broadband with a home broadband-like experience. Compatible with PC and Mac, customers simply plug the webConnect Rocket into their laptop and the built-in T-Mobile webConnect Manager software installs and automatically finds the best available Internet connection. Additionally, T-Mobile webConnect Manager enables customers to monitor how much data is being used and avoid overages.
Starting March 14, customers can purchase the T-Mobile webConnect Rocket USB Laptop Stick for $99.99 (plus taxes and fees), with a 2-year contract and Even More webConnect data plan at select T-Mobile retail stores in Philadelphia, online at http://www.T-Mobile.com or by calling 1-800-T-Mobile.
T-Mobile webConnect Service Plans
T-Mobile is bringing its suite of Even More and Even More Plus plans offering both annual contract and no annual contract options to our family of webConnect products. The new pricing plans include:
· Even More webConnect data plan (two year contract):
· $59.99/mo. for 5GB per month ($0.20/MB overage)
· $29.99/mo. for 200MB per month ($0.20/MB overage)
· Even More Plus webConnect data plan (no annual contract):
· $49.99/mo. for 5GB per month ($0.20/MB overage)
· $19.99/mo. for 200MB per month ($0.20/MB overage)
Unlimited nationwide T-Mobile HotSpot access is included in both plans and doesn't count toward monthly data usage.
T-Mobile 3G Network
Today T-Mobile's 3G high-speed data network is available in more than 273 U.S. cities covering more than 206 million people. HSPA 7.2 is now enabled across our entire 3G nationwide network and we're working to put the necessary backhaul in place to support these faster speeds.
While other carriers are waiting to deploy LTE, T-Mobile is the only national U.S. carrier upgrading its existing 3G network to support HSPA+, which is capable of delivering download/upload speeds that are significantly faster than T-Mobile's standard 3G network. With three times the speed capabilities of HSPA 7.2, HSPA+ offers theoretical peak throughput speeds of 21Mbps.
* T-Mobile recently became the first U.S. carrier to launch HSPA+ with a deployment in Philadelphia and is integrating HSPA+ into its 3G network now with broad national deployment planned for the end of 2010. In the coming months, we'll be lighting up HSPA+ in major cities on both coasts. Our network upgrade efforts are well underway and we'll share more details as the service becomes available to more customers.
What will those speeds look like when the network is saturated???
@thesafecigarette lol
I pay £15 ($25) for unlimited HSPA+3G+GPRS internet in the uk on T-moble on pay as you go, the prices they charge in the US are shocking
@OCEAN CLAK wait until you hear from our canadian neighbors ... sad but true.
Of course, they have their reasons.. I mean USofA is how many times larger than UK? It costs them to build that network..
@OCEAN CLAK
It's called Collusion.
It's when a small group of large companies secretly conspire to keep prices artificially high for their benefit while raping consumers. They might LOOK like they are competing against each other, but they really aren't. Notice how when one of them raised their TXTing rates last year, they ALL followed suit. And when one of them dropped their ridiculously high unlimited talk plans to a slightly less ridiculous price, the others followed suit again.
@Hazdaz: it could be explained a different way though. you could say that when text messaging plans go up, a company charging less might say "well, they're doing it, so maybe we can get away with a little bit more profit too" and in the same thread you could say that they dropped their unlimited calling plans because they thought this: "well, if they dropped their plans then we're going to lose customers. drop our prices too".
granted, mobile service in this country is a highway robbery rape-fest, but I don't think *everything* is a conspiracy.
Woot, +2 for me being already with T-Mobile and living in Philly!
But the data cap........
@shizbgby
same here, dood. by the way, what is your pic saying??
way too expensive
so Clear is still a better choice, for price.
but how fast is Clear in philly?
@dark star
And the fact that T-Mo is still on a 5GB cap vs. Clear/Sprint not having a 5GB cap for 4G.
Anyone from Philly with Clear care to do a speedtest?
@COCOViper And a latency test
@wupolo I'm pretty sure Sprint has a 5GB cap. I have the Overdrive and now I'm SUPER pissed that I didn't go with Clear. Same products (basically), same network, only they have an unlimited plan. If someone knows otherwise, please let me know.
@franktronic Sprint has a 5GB cap for when you call back onto their 3G network, while you're on the 4G WiMax network it is unlimited.
@Valicore Thank you. That appears to be correct although Sprint apparently doesn't want anyone to know. I did an online chat this morning and the rep confirmed it but said that she doesn't believe that it's posted anywhere on the site! See my chat transcript:
http://twitpic.com/1857pa
hey, don't knock Philly
@thr0ttles Yeah, really. Given our status as one of the fattest cities AND a high murder rate, we're in fighting shape to defend ourselves from slander. :)
@thr0ttles: I love your cream cheese with a good raisin cinnamon bagel.
FUCK T-mo. Seriously. FUCK them.
$50/month for 5GB
or
$20 for 200MB*
* + 20cents per extra MB
The plan should be on a sliding scale, so that customers don't find themselves paying $960 in overage charges, as opposed to the $30 extra it would have cost them to switch to the 5GB plan.
This is of course, on a "super fast" 3G connection, which will equate to more data being used.
Think we'll ever see $25/month "unlimited" 3G data plans?
@crawdad689
you do know every other carrier (not including clear) charges $60/month with that same 5GB cap right?
@crawdad689
It would be great if carriers offered truly unlimited mobile broadband for $25, but because of the small percentage of selfish, greedy individuals that would hammer the network by downloading torrents 24/7 and declaring it their right cos they've paid their fee, it is never going to happen.
I think the carriers should definitely raise their data caps though, especially for the price they're charging.
This does not look promising.
so apparently philly is the first to utilize the t-mobile pocket rocket??? my girlfriend calls shenanigans!
@doug: isn't that 3G dongle somewhere around 3 inches long and less than an inch wide?
I don't know if I'd compare myself to that "pocket rocket" if I were you...
its a tiny vibrator, not his wiener!
They greatly increase download speed, and then put a cap on how much data you can download. 5GB? I could go through that in a week. I'd rather have slightly slower speeds and unlimited data.
deserve a break? care to explain what you mean?
this is yet another reason i miss my n900... it could take advantage of the 3g upgrade and totally not have to buy this.
on another note... what up fellow philly engadgeteers!!! olney representin'!
@skyblaze East Falls in da hizouse!
@longcipher
South Philly in the house!
@skyblaze Southwest chiming in!
@skyblaze
Center City in da house!
more of that fine comedy writing from engadget.
:-|
I get about 1.6Mbps down and 1.23 up on my nexus one in NY. While thats pretty fast, hopefully they upgrade soon.
WOOOW that sure is great! Shame that I live in Finland and I have to pay a whopping 16 euros for unlimited and tethering capable 5 Mbit/s 3g-connection and 1000 texts + 1000 mms. It sure sucks :(
@JenZi Not to be a jerk or anything I'm just really curious. Is that 16 euros including tax? Even still that's great. Also what is your annual income tax percentage?
@wupolo Yeah with tax and so on. I'm otherwise piss poor so I pay like 10% taxes. So no prob :). How's your increased health insurance costs going on for you? Not wanting to be a jerk either.
@JenZi
Yeah, and I pay half as much for gas. What's your point?
I'm not going to move to Finland for cheaper mobile data/phone any more than you're going to move to the USA for cheaper energy prices. Some things are more expensive in some areas. I couldn't afford to live in a 900 sq. ft. apartment in Tokyo (or, for that matter, Manhattan) for example.
The point is, $50/mo vs $20/mo isn't really a huge deal. Everyone talks about broadband/TV/mobile phone prices in the US, but the reality is that they're low enough (relative to the median income) that cutting them in half wouldn't really make a material difference to most people. Most of us spend much more on food, transportation (owning a car is about $0.30-$0.50 per mile once you include gas, maintenance, and the cost of the car itself), and many other things.
@brianwsnetworknet Yeah, the cost of living in Finland is pretty outrageous, plus, there are more people in the city of New York than all of Finland, it's like saying "Oh we covered 95 percent of the population of the Bronx for 20 bucks a month, congrats, now how about the other 300,000,000 people in the country?"
philly!! gtown
Woah woah woah, watch what you're saying about Philly!!
@DeekoVB5
They can't help it man, they're from new york, they think they know it all.
But honestly, are they wrong?!
1GB for $30/mo, please
Those gigs are definitely expensive. I was in Turkey to work for 10 days last year and I walked into a Turkcell office in Istanbul and paid about $5 for 5 gigs (on top of about $10 for the sim card)...
There's nothing like stupid pricing to drive customers away from your product.
Im sure they will hit the 5gb cap quick with fast speeds!
When are they going to stop the insanity?
I recall when people charged for email and there were limits on dial up.
God I hope they make flat rates more common sooner than later.
Why bother?
Get an Android phone and tether.
Aw, yeah.
@Johnny Rockets
Could not say it better myself.
@Johnny Rockets Yep, I have been tethering both wired and wirelessly for a while now, works very well. The only downside is your using your phones battery up and if your in a emergency situation that could cause a problem.
@Johnny Rockets
Aw, Yeah.
Free Crack
I love Philly!