T-Mobile might be busy expanding its
we-swear-it's-like-4G HSPA+ network to all sorts of metro areas in the US, but those theoretical 21Mbps speeds have been limited to those wielding
WebConnect Rocket data cards, not any actual phones. It looks like that's about to change, though: a spokesman for T-Mobile parent company Deutsche Telekom told
Light Reading that an HTC-built Android phone capable of HSPA+ speeds will launch in September, followed by another device in the fourth quarter sometime before the holidays. That lines up with what we've been hearing, as we've been told that the first device will actually be the
leaked HTC Vision QWERTY slider (pictured above) that's been
popping up in the wild lately. We're not so sure what the second phone will be, but we'll get there -- for now we're just stoked that another high-end Android set with a hardware keyboard will be making the scene.
[Thanks, Rod]
posted July 7th 2010 5:06PM
Nice to see this but does anyone know if they are gonna have to "build another network" for it like Sprint did for 4G?
@KlassiK
Nope, people are already getting those speeds on rocket sticks. The limitations were entirely the phone's hardware.
@KlassiK
Wow and I just switched from t mobile to sprint to get the Evo
@KlassiK
That's a lot of internetz.
Awesome this means I will reach my 10GB fair use cap in 80 minutes. great....
@HotDog
We'll see how fast it is in the real world. Anybody have a youtube video of HSPA+ getting faster than 8mbps on speedtest.net?
@KlassiK - agree! I bet one of those phones is for replacing the sidekick brand - as previously mentioned.
GarryTEED! (yes)
@KlassiK
*jizz*
@KlassiK
Too late T-Mobile I already canceled & are awaiting my Droid X.
Reasons:
1) Too late on the high-end phones
2) LTE > HSPA+
3) Better Verizon network: I know how you play the game T-Mobile. You update every other one of your 2G towers to 3G, with giant holes in your network.
This phone is NOT THE HTC VISION.
This is the Nexus Enterprise that Andy Rubin said was in the works on day one. Everything about this design screams Nexus and Desire.
The HTC Vision is a 4.3" Pixel Qi phone with a dual core processor, probably Tegra-based. It is also the "first 21 mbps" device the article is talking about.
I hope the keyboard on the Vision is better than the one on the Nexus Enterprise (pictured), at least make it as good as the Epic's, which is really epic.
@SiXiam to bad ur Droid X wont work on Verizons LTE.
@adamgetzendanner Very True LOL!
@KlassiK Mr. Blurrycam upgraded but forgot to turn the flash off "High as Fu@#" while indoors ten inches away..
@N900androidOS
T-Mo haven't get their 3g right, talking about HSPA+. I leave T-Mo because the 3g suck and I live in a hugely covered area.
@benthe1
I saw someone on pocketnow.com show results of just over 8 Mbps, I believe it was on a Nexus One, but I don't remember. But I haven't seen speed any higher than that. But that is still better then most people experience with Wimax.
Do want! Although I'm not really feeling that 3-row qwerty slider =/
@strawe im loving this keyboard, this could be my dream phone like the htc pro 2 but andriod !
@strawe Don't worry, I'm sure it's not the final design. They should try a 4 row like on their Touch Pro 2.
@strawe
Same the keyboard just looks too cramped but hopefully they'll change it anyways by the time it's released.
@strawe
Maybe I'm blind but I see 4 rows....
@Plazmic Flame Yeah, you do, but the 4th row is just characters. We're relating 4-row to characters and numbers, like on the TP2 or the LG GW620
@N900
That is a 4-row keyboard and the Touch Pro 2 has a 5 row keyboard.
T-Mobile you are becoming a torrent's dream provider
@MattsZ
dont forget tethering no need to pay time warner for home service.
NOICE!, I've been waiting for a new htc with touch and a keyboard for AGES!
Only if at&t and Verizon were improving this quickly, Sprint and T-mobile budget plans and speed ftw!!!
why not go for just 4g?
@Antiapple because at 21mbps this year and 42mbps next year, why bother just yet. heck T-Mobile is already faster than 4G anyways. I'm very happy right now with these speeds and 6 new android phones coming this year. very impressed T-Mobile very impressed for sure.
@Antiapple because HSPA+ is faster than any 4g available right now. Going 4G also means rebuiling your network from the ground up. With HSPA+ they just had to add a few upgrades to there existing tower hardware. HSPA+ is actually faster than LTE but LTE is better in the long run because it can handle a larger spectrum. LTE speeds won't surpass HSPA+ speeds until 2013-2014.
@ObsceneJesster You are Wrong there, HSPA+ is slower than LTE but faster than WiMax
LTE is offering 100 mbits in its current specification
@Antiapple
Because it will be a world phone, unlike the EVO 4G and the EPIC 4G.
@Antiapple
"HSPA+ is actually faster than LTE"
Why does so many clueless people spread bullshit?
the docs for 3GPP release 8 aka LTE (which is actually 3.9G, "LTE Advanced" will be the first real 4G service) specify:
* Peak download rates of 326.4 Mbit/s for 4x4 antennas, and 172.8 Mbit/s for 2x2 antennas (utilizing 20 MHz of spectrum)
* Peak upload rates of 86.4 Mbit/s for every 20 MHz of spectrum using a single antenna.
HSPA+ is a great incremental step because converting all the UMTS towers to LTE is a major undertaking, but it is not even close to what LTE and LTE advanced will be capable of.
@SParklingCYaNide "heck T-Mobile is already faster than 4G anyways"
You sure buddy? You haven't obviously try Sprint/Verizon and ATT 3g for say. It's much faster than T-Mo 3g and 4g kill all the 3g in-term of speed.
@looselycoupled @simvalue
Ok, you guys pull out your LTE phones, and then @ObsceneJesster can pull out his HSPA+ phone and we'll see which one is the fastest.
OK, GO!
Wait...whut? You don't have LTE phones? Oh, then I guess there is a difference between Actual > Lab > Theoretical speeds eh? Clearly he states that LTE would pass HSPA+ and that it supports more bandwidth.
Just not today.
Please don't try to race your theoretical vs. real life ponies: Pegasus always beats Secretariat, but also loses since only one of them was real.
@cdf74dc9 Yes I'm sure, I've used them all. T-Mobile's 3G is consistently faster than Sprint/Verizon/Att 3G.
Sorry buddy, you're wrong about your assumptions. yeah maybe you should try all of them out for yourself before you comment cd.
@SParklingCYaNide I respectfully disagree. In my experience in the several major cities that I have been in, tmobile has consistently provided poor speeds (less than 600kbps) and severely terrible coverage.
i have used all four carriers, and the other 3 best tmobile in both speed and signal. just my 2c
T-Mobiles HSPA+ is actually faster than Sprint's Wi-Max. Check out DSL Reports if you need proof. HSPA+ will be able to hold T-Mobile over until 2014 when there LTE network will roll out. LTE speeds aren't expected to surpass 21 MB/s until then anyway.
On Android Centrals podcast last week they said they spoke to HTC and T-Mobile reps about the device coming out in Q4. They revealed that it would be the first device to ship with Gingerbread and the first to pack a duel core CPU. They also said the screen would be 4.3 in.
@ObsceneJesster
Nexus 2? Would be nice...
@Rick Astley But Rick, they already gave up on the Nexus 2, and let us down in the process :(
http://androidandme.com/2010/07/news/google-ceo-nixes-nexus-two/
@JCrooz
Yeah, I have no idea why Engadget didn't pick up that story because it's pretty informative.
3 Motorola's and 3 HTC phones by November, I'd say that is pretty good!
@Rick Astley "Nexus 2? Would be nice..."
Sadly, Google reply "hell no".
@ObsceneJesster
Yes, HSPA+ is faster now, but GSM tech fails when it scales. As more people get on HSPA+, the speeds will come to a crawl compared to WiMax as it scales better.
Geez, if Tmo offers early upgrades from a G1, then Vibrant (this month) vs. Vision (next month) -- hummingbird, gorgeous screen + smooth video or tegra, 2x download speeds, and a keyboard!!!
DECISIONS DECISIONS#$!%?
Then again, if Tmo does NOT offer early upgrades, all of us early adopters are nearing the end of our 2yr contract (Nov): that 4th qtr device better be one helluva phone.
@TareG
Thats maybe becuase it is still not official, maybe its just a fake.
Certainly can't see pulling the trigger on the Vibrant now (it may come down to pricing, etc. once these are all on the table)
@pavvy Dude, get the Vibrant and pay retail. Once the new devices come out then sell the Vibrant on Ebay. In September the Vibrant will only be 2 months old and it's value will only decrease by about 75 bucks. So in the end you will only lose $75. Right?
@ObsceneJesster -- that is tempting, but I must exercise fiscal discipline in these troubled times...
I see a $10 Premium tacked on for this service (ie sprint evo) that only a few cities will have - What do you think?
@Gabe All of T-Mobiles HSPA+ networks if available in your area are the same price regardless of speed at this time.
I am sure the phone pictured is NOT the correct phone they speak of for this release... The phone pictured is for ATT
Wow.... sure is Ugly but T-Mobile always takes a crap on my current Carrier AT&T... AT&T SUCKS!! Pass it on.