T-Mobile's HSPA+ blankets 85 million Americans in warm '4G' comfort
By Tim Stevens 
posted July 21st 2010 7:04AM
posted July 21st 2010 7:04AM
T-Mobile® HSPA+ Network Now Delivers Broadest Reach of 4G Speeds in U.S.
Customers also will benefit from speed boosts on 16 of T-Mobile's available 3G devices and expanded availability of mobile broadband products in nearly 50 markets
BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, T-Mobile USA, Inc. announced the continued expansion of its super-fast mobile broadband network to more than 85 million Americans-the most pervasive network to offer 4G speeds1 in the country. T-Mobile® is on track to deliver HSPA+ speeds in 100 major metropolitan areas with backhaul in place, covering 185 million people in the U.S. by the end of this year.
"The aggressive pace of our HSPA+ network rollout means our customers can enjoy a better mobile broadband experience on more devices in more places today-but we're not done yet. Our first HSPA+ smartphone is coming soon and our footprint will double between now and the end of the year."
Now HSPA+ network service is available in nearly 50 major metropolitan areas across the country, with the newest additions including Austin, El Paso, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Waco, Texas; Baltimore, Md.; Baton Rouge and Lafayette, La.; Birmingham, Ala.; Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Dayton, Ohio; Ft. Lauderdale and Jacksonville, Fla.; Greenville, S.C.; Honolulu, Hawaii; Indianapolis, Ind.; Kansas City and St. Louis, Mo.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Portland, Ore.; and Wichita, Kan. In addition, T-Mobile has expanded coverage in cities in previously announced metropolitan areas including Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C. 4G speeds are now available for customers in Alexandria, McLean and Reston, Va.; Anaheim, Burbank, Glendale, Irvine, Long Beach, and Ontario, CA; Annapolis, Bethesda and Chevy Chase, Md.; and Asheville and Hickory, N.C.
In addition, 16 of T-Mobile's current 3G devices, including more than a dozen smartphones,2 can benefit from enhanced speeds when they're on the super-fast HSPA+ network in all of these major metropolitan areas, including the newest smartphone available from T-Mobile-the Samsung Vibrant. And later this summer, T-Mobile will unveil its first HSPA+-capable smartphone. More details will be available in the coming weeks.
"T-Mobile's HSPA+ network now offers 4G speeds to more people than any other wireless network in the country," said Neville Ray, chief network officer for T-Mobile USA. "The aggressive pace of our HSPA+ network rollout means our customers can enjoy a better mobile broadband experience on more devices in more places today-but we're not done yet. Our first HSPA+ smartphone is coming soon and our footprint will double between now and the end of the year."
Complementing the network expansion is wider availability of the T-Mobile® webConnect® broadband products in T-Mobile retail stores in all HSPA+ areas including the webConnect Rocket™ USB Laptop Stick, the first HSPA+-capable device from a national U.S. wireless carrier and the Dell™ Inspiron™ Mini 10 with T-Mobile webConnect, T-Mobile's first netbook.
Also beginning today, T-Mobile is introducing the webConnect Rocket 2.0 USB Laptop Stick, an updated form factor of its first HSPA+-capable device. Featuring a new rotating swivel USB form factor, the webConnect Rocket 2.0 is designed to deliver the same home broadband experience on the go as its predecessor, so customers can surf the Web, download large files or watch video from a laptop anytime on-the-go with a blazing-fast connection. The webConnect Rocket 2.0 enables customers to take full advantage of T-Mobile's HSPA+ network in areas where the service is available-delivering 4G speeds.
T-Mobile network service is currently available in the following major metropolitan areas: Albany, N.Y.; Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Baltimore; Baton Rouge, La.; Birmingham, Ala.; Buffalo, N.Y.; Charleston, S.C.; Charlotte, N.C.; Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus, OH; Dallas/Ft. Worth; Dayton, Ohio; El Paso, Texas; Fayetteville, N.C.; Ft Lauderdale, Fla.; Greensboro, N.C.; Greenville, S.C.; Hartford, Conn.; Honolulu; Houston; Indianapolis; Jacksonville, Fla.; Kansas City, Mo.; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Memphis, Tenn.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Minneapolis, Minn.; New Orleans, La.; New York; Oklahoma City; Orlando, Fla.; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Portland, Ore.; Providence, R.I.; Rochester, N.Y.; San Antonio; Seattle; St. Louis, Mo; Syracuse, N.Y.; Tampa, Fla.; Tulsa, Okla.; Waco, Texas; Washington, D.C.; and Wichita, Kan. The HSPA+ network expansion is on track to reach 100 metro areas by year end. For more information, please visit http://t-mobile-coverage.t-mobile.com/coverage.
The Dark Knight reference = WIN
Begun these 4G wars have. So now theres
1) Console Wars
2) Provider/4G Wars
3) Phone Wars
Love it
@BrookLynnsFinest I think the 4G war is the silliest one.
Who cares if it's not "true" 4G? It's fast as lightning.
@JONNNathannn
I don't care to be honest. Where did I ever say that it wasn't? However I have heard that exact statement from other people on Engadget.
And just like its typical to find people saying that WiMax isn't 4G (I'll defer to the truly informed people) to decide that one .From the little I know though I don't believe WiMax qualifies as 4G. I've heard it explained as just wider and bigger WiFi.
What's even more amusing though is that in the latest spread of verizon articles you've got commentators saying that that even LTE isn't 4G...
So what the heck is 4G?
@BrookLynnsFinest
Also:
[Name of Middle East Country] War
War on Drugs
War on Poverty
War on Famine
War on Sexism
War on Racism
War on War
War on Child Porn
War on Human Trafficking
War on the Internet
War on Net Neutrality
Am I the only one who hates war and wished that Humanity could just, not be dumb?
I took this way too seriously.
@BrookLynnsFinest
Correct. WiMAX and even the first LTE networks aren't 4G (maybe to a marketer but certainly not a wireless engineer). The technical term being touted is "3.9G".
To be truly 4G it needs to be capable of 100Mbps - 1Gbs and have a fully IP-based core.
@BrookLynnsFinest I like this side of you normally I just downrank you for your blind love of Apple. As long as its fast who cares about if its real or not you can only expect so much from a mobile provider
@BrookLynnsFinest some council has to approve something as 4g if its submitted to them. One of the standards is 100mb download mobile and 1gb fixed location. Wimax 2 will cover the 100mb.
@xbit Bingo. Which means that 4G is just a cool sounding name that makes marketing easier.
@BrookLynnsFinest LTE and WiMax use the same hardware, it's just the software that makes them different.
@BrookLynnsFinest
My friend... None of them are 4G. They use that for marketing purposes. They all 3G. It's just a new hardware that boost 3G that's all. It's just to catch peoples attention that's all. And it's also a stepping stone towered 4G.
@Teslanaut
since you got serious then this is the solution to the war problem
its long but interesting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9rLpHt3bL4&feature=related
@xbit, I have no idea why you're being ranked up, you do not know what the heck you're talking about. the speed of the network has nothing to do with 3G, 4G. By that logic, At&t's 3G isn't really "3G" since it is less consistent than Sprint's and Verizon's 3G and is slower. 4G is the next generation wireless, NETWORK, just like 3G was the then next generation wireless, NETWORK. Who cares what some random engineer thinks, 4G was certified by the wireless commission. By the way, Wimax in general IS capable of 100Mbps, Wimax-2 (802.16m) which is the next version is backward compatible with 802.16e which is the current Wimax. Software will enable 802.16m. Just like EVDO Rev-A was backward compatible with the "slower speed" EVDO Rev-O, via software.
@SarnGate, NOT TRUE! LTE 700Mhz is GSM, the old analog radio frequencies. Wimax is new infrastructure, 2.5Ghz. LTE-Advanced which is 2.5Ghz as well, (Sprint and Clear are interested in LTE-Advanced) is similar to Wimax.
@Teslanaut War is part of Humanity. DEAL WITH IT.
From day 1, Babamomo hit Yayamomo over the head with a stick because he wants his cave.
War is everywhere. You go to WAR every time you fight with another person.
@BrookLynnsFinest
"The Dark Knight"
You called?
@Freddy2Fred Your wrong, they're not 3G. They're pre-4G. They aren't certified as 3G anymore than they are 4G.
@JONNNathannn AT&T can't say anything about it not being true 4g their 3G coverage is junk
@cloud858rk
My friend... They are 3.9G. It's too early for 4G anyways... It dosent exist. It's gonna be couple of years from now to have 4G. Research it buddy.
woooooo tmobile
it's not as fast, but it sure is cheaper!
Sprint will like to challenge you on that "cheaper" comment
@ComboBreaker
Sprint's "4G" isn't as fast as TMo's HSPA+, at least currently.
@ComboBreaker
Sprint also has a 4G tax of $10, even if your city doesn't have 4G yet.
@ComboBreaker I looked for Sprint to take that challenge, since my TMobile contract is over and there's better Sprint coverage in my area. I was hoping they could be cheaper...
Unfortunately, they lost.
Unless there's some secret plan offerings they have (or if you have a grandfathered-in deal), I haven't found anything less expensive than TMO
@ComboBreaker I think you are solely referencing unlimited pricing. I think none of the big 4 get as cheap as tmo does with their bottom tier pricing and even better their prepaid pricing (I am excluding whatever sprint subsidiaries because I forget their names and how competitive their prices are)
@madison540
The $10 "tax" isn't just for 4G. It also includes true unlimited data and USB tethering. The 4G service is good enough in my area that I'm contemplating canceling Comcast and using my Evo as the primary internet connection at home. $80 a month for cell service, home broadband and 3G/4G mobile data is an amazing deal, and no other carrier is even close.
@jakep82 I've been tethering with my rotted G1 for nearly 2 years. And I'd like to see someone say T-Mobile's data isn't truly unlimited. I've used mega amounts of data with downloads over tethering and I have never been capped. I pay $45 unl minutes (half of family plan) + $25 data and $3.99 for 400 texts. I've been getting 3G for more than a year and with this HSPA in my city (St. Louis) I will def be upgrading to a capable phone in a few months to take advantage of it!
@brigini I tether with my palm pre. Sprint 450 unlimited text. Web. An everything in between with unltd mble to mble 69.99. How is that nt cheaper then tmbles?
Soooo can't wait till it comes to the UK!
@yeoldgreat1
I meant 4G
Too bad t-mobile doesnt advertise their amazing speed upgrades
@inspiron41
you mean like in my speed test from my phone in chicago???????
CUZ I AINT SEEING IT!
DL .27 Mb UL .12 Mb ping 117 ms
I request, NAY, demand a refund
@lowdrag I live in small town outside of Austin and am getting 3.5-4.2Mbps down and 0.4-0.6 up. My friend lives about 3 miles away and has 4G coverage at his house and doesn't get that with his EVO.
i'll take a 3g network with 4g speeds that will work on current phones right now then (theoretically) faster down the line 4g network that need new cell radios ANYDAY OF THE FUCKING WEEK
@jazir5
The network T-Mobile is working with will also provide faster speeds to those on 3G. It won't be 4G speeds, but there's a speed increase. They have it in Philadelphia where I live and it's pretty fast.
@jazir5 Which of their current handsets are + compatible? I'm hearing different things from "none yet" to "all current 3G models". Anyone know?
@MBN
None of the current handsets are technically hsdpa+. But ALL of their 3g handsets will benefit from the speeds. Sweet indeed.
according to Tmo-news, magenta is already disscussing LTE. death of WiMAX seems imminent. At least before the EVO will be the next G1 before this is actually happens
@Lee1019 The death of an equally fast and probably mergable network from a strong competitor "imminent". Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight
if one of the 4g networks dies it'll be as long and bloody as hd-dvd vs bluray
@Lee1019 oh also nice engrish. this is actually happens right?
@jazir5 When I say Imminent I mean the next five to eight years. WiMAX is convertible to LTE by software. HSPA+ just seems like old news already. I'll watch my grammar in future posts.
You can't call it 4G if it's, you know, *not* 4G.
Sent from my HTC Evo 4G
@ThundaChunky but you can call it pathetic.
@ThundaChunky
Then you can't call LTE or WiMAX 4G cause, you know, neither of them conform to 4G standards...
Dumbass.
HSPDA+ has just as much right to call itself 4G as WiMAX and LTE. And in case you start shouting "Fanbois dendz teh t-mobilez!!1!" I am from the UK, so it doesn't affect me in any way, I just hate it when misinformed idiots talk down to strangers due to incorrect information
@vidoardes
Relax sunshine, I'm very much well aware that 'true' 4G has to be rolled out and I don't believe I said anything about LTE or WiMAX being 'true' 4G either. I was merely commenting on what was reported because I got an ironic chuckle out of it. No need to get your knickers in a twist, mate.
(Sorry about that, but I couldn't pass on an *imitate what I think a Brit would say* opportunity)
Sent from my HTC Evo 4G
@ThundaChunky
what is funny is though that your message tags says you sent from your Evo 4G which is not 4G.. how ironic is that :)
When is tmobile going to deploy an EDGE network that covers everyone? You can't leave a major city without dropping to a G after about 15 miles.
@Heavy Metal Machine I wonder how far you have to drive out of a major metro area till CDMA providers drop down to 1xRTT? which falls somewhere between GRPS and EDGE speed wise. Do many CDMA phones even indicate that they've dropped down to 1xRTT?
The company I work for has Sprint "broadband" PCMCIA cards and even INSIDE the Tampa metro area i have seen these cards drop to 1xRTT. I haven't taken one outside of the metro area.
@Heavy Metal Machine Also have to wonder how good ATT's 3G coverage. I don't own an iphone. but screen shots i have seen of them don't have any kind of indication to tell you if you are in GRPS, EDGE, UMTS, HSPA, HSPA+ coverage. I wonder how many complaints about ATT's network stems from dropping back down to GPRS/EDGE
@d0ug If you are in an edge area an E will be displayed.