T-Mobile's First 3G Phone Goes on Sale

By the Betanews Staff | Published October 12, 2007, 2:40 PM

Although it has yet to launch its high-speed wireless network, T-Mobile is selling its first 3G-capable phone - but only in select New York City stores. The Samsung T639 handset, which supports GSM/EDGE and WCDMA 1700 networks, was approved by the FCC in July.

T-Mobile is the only major wireless provider in the United States not to offer a 3G network; rivals Verizon, AT&T and Sprint have been building out their networks for years. But sales of the T639 may be the first real indicator that T-Mobile is preparing to finally launch its high-speed offering in some markets. T-Mobile acquired wireless licenses for the 1700 MHz band in a 2006 auction.

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Obviously in Europe it's a different situation, where T-Mobile has offered 3G (both the service, and capable phones, dunno about data cards) for years now.

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so customers pay the premium for the device but get no access to the 3g network... kinda like the iphone.

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iphone has wifi. tmobile phones have... swivel screens and... paris hilton ads

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ha... most don't have swivel screens.

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My T-Mo Curve phone has wifi. do most T-Mo phones not have it?

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Depends on the manufacturer. The latest Nokias are now coming with Wifi and you can get them on T-Mobile (e.g. N95).

iPhone is a particular phone, T-Mobile is a network (with lots of phones), so not really comparable.

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Samsung P400 had a swivel screen over 3 years ago.

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