Evidence T-Mobile is inching closer to a 3G rollout

By Tim Conneally | Published May 1, 2008, 6:08 PM

Several pieces of evidence were found this week pointing to T-Mobile's launch of a 3G network in select markets today. However, it appears today's launch is only an early step toward a complete UMTS network.

TMO news posted a leaked internal T-Mobile document from April 29, announcing the launch as a part of the company's "Big 5 goal to Deepen Coverage and Begin High-Speed Service Rollout." It clarifies that this phase of 3G only affects the voice channel; all data transmission will still rely on T-Mobile's EDGE network.

The UMTS network will reportedly utilize the 1700/2100 MHz band and be launched in 20 US markets: New York City/New Jersey/Long Island, Austin,Houston, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Miami, Dallas, Chicago, Philadelphia, Denver, Detroit, Orlando, Kansas City, Atlanta, Los Angeles, New England, Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, Washington D.C., Birmingham, Memphis, Tampa, and Phoenix.

Unfortunately, T-Mobile only offers four handsets which even support 3G voice connectivity: Samsung T639, Nokia 6263, Samsung T819, and the Nokia 3555.

Comments

View comments by with a score of at least

Neat...sort of.

Score: 0

|

The UMTS network is handling data based on posts made by people on HOFO. They are getting data speeds faster than EDGE while simultaneously taking phone calls.

I think they are saying no data in order to avoid confusion with the eventual HSDPA which will be marketed as 3G data.

Score: 0

|

I kindof was hoping that Tmobile would skip 3G and spend all their resources on 4G development... as I dont think that 3G is that much of an improvement over EDGE anyway, but 4G is a HUGE boost when it comes to data speeds, which would also allow tmobile to become a internet provider if they developed small USB dongles to plug into USB ports and that way people would get wireless internet everywhere with speeds up to 100Mbit.

Score: 0

|

It depends. If your phone only has a 1.8mbps 3G chipset then you are correct, there is no noticeable improvement in data speeds. The only advantage is being able to use the wireless internet while simultaneously being on a voice phone call. If your phone contains a 3.6mbps 3G chipset then it's like going from dial up to cable internet.

Score: 0

|

In the Fatherland T-mo sell such usb and other add-on cards for a long time...

Score: 0

|

T-Punkt!

Score: 0

|

Yeah, I know but no 4G in Fatherland either... by the time 3G is deployed by T-mo other companies in different countries, mainly Japan will have completed 4G rollout.

Score: 0

|

That's easy since Germany is a lot smaller than the U.S.A.

Score: 0

|

Betanews Podcast: Transportation security, Facebook sensitivity, and you

Putting a big, black rectangle around stuff you don't want people to see, isn't exactly making it private. Facebook's equivalent is perhaps no better.

The PDF redaction problem: TSA may have been using old software

Betanews tests and research reveals that if the Transportation Security Administration was using modern software, it might not have a security issue now.

Google Maps doesn't prevent car accidents, only search accidents

This week, Google updated Maps for Android 3.3.1, adding topography, nearby points of interest, and error reporting.

The $1 DVD rental debate: LA group says Redbox will lose movie makers $1B

A report from the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation says cheap Redbox DVD rentals could seriously damage the movie business.

iTunes gets cloudy: Will a web-ified future save iTunes or kill it?

Carmi Levy | Wide Angle Zoom: Apple reportedly wants customers to consider trading in a pod for a cloud.

Third-party mobile browsers Skyfire and Bolt give Opera a run for its money

Opera may be the biggest name in third party mobile browsers, but Skyfire and Bolt are charging forth with compelling updates.

In a peace offering to newspapers, Google offers a new news format

It's probably not a solution to the woes of major news publishers, but Living Stories may gather a few of those publishers together in search of one.

DOJ: Microsoft interop docs are now 'substantially complete'

A major milestone in the US Government's oversight of Microsoft is passed, as the Justice Dept. is now saying the company's protocol documents make sense.

First impressions of Droid: Easy, breezy, friendly, if a little fat

Though it's not quite as well-polished as Apple's iPhone OS, the version of Android that Motorola's Droid phone sports is still a breeze to use.

After telling US to mind its own business, Kroes slaps caps on Rambus royalties

The holder of many patents worldwide pertaining to DDR memory offered to reduce its royalty stake in that technology, and today the EU said yes.

EC's Kroes to US senators: Mind your own business on Oracle + Sun

UPDATED The EU's antitrust chief told the United States Senate Tuesday that any merger that takes place in the world is more her affair than theirs.