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

By Tim Conneally, BetaNews

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.

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By Pixelsmack

edited May 2, 2008 - 5:14 PM

Neat...sort of.

Score: 0

By absoluteevel

posted May 2, 2008 - 1:01 AM

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

By Daddy_Spank

posted May 2, 2008 - 12:41 AM

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

By preinterpost

posted May 2, 2008 - 11:47 AM

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

Score: 0

By bousozoku

posted May 3, 2008 - 8:20 AM

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

Score: 0

By Daddy_Spank

posted May 3, 2008 - 8:15 AM

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

By Pixelsmack

posted May 2, 2008 - 5:14 PM

T-Punkt!

Score: 0

By God Dammit

posted May 2, 2008 - 5:02 AM

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

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