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.

Comments

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.

Score: 0

|

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

Score: 0

|

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

Score: 0

|

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

Score: 0

|

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

Score: 0

|

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.

Score: 0

|

Samsung P400 had a swivel screen over 3 years ago.

Score: 0

|

Silverlight 3 goes live on Microsoft's servers

Microsoft's answer to Adobe's Flash is (unofficially) here, with prospects of higher-speed, higher-resolution video and for the first time, 3D.

Three Android phones on the way from T-Mobile in 2009

T-Mobile's myTouch 3G, launched Wednesday, will be followed by two more Android phones later this year, but neither of them will be HTC's Hero.

Best Buy-brand TVs to get TiVo

A new alliance will place the retailer's own brand alongide the manufacturers, and could also lead to future partnerships on services.

LTE still lacks a voice

The 4G Wireless standard that Verizon hopes to show off before this year is out is still at a loss for (spoken) words.

Data sharing among online advertisers: Is sanity in sight?

Lockdown with Angela Gunn In the middle of a 15-page plea not to get regulated, a spark of smart thinking.

T-Mobile's strategy to combat Apple's iPhone with Android

With a trio of Android phones now in the pipeline for 2009, T-Mobile hopes to break the iPhone's emerging stranglehold.

EC's Reding: Government should act as broker for media downloads

If Internet media services don't step up and build an attractive way for users to start paying for downloads, a commissioner says, government may do the job instead.

Sony TVs get Netflix, still no PS3

Though it's coming in behind LG, Samsung, and Microsoft, Sony will begin to offer Netflix streaming, too.

Google Chrome OS: Too little, too early

Carmi Levy: Wide Angle Zoom Don't start the revolution just yet, says Carmi, who isn't so certain Chrome OS will be the "Windows Killer."

GAO pen test brings the hammer down on federal rent-a-cops

But are the computers to blame for the contract-guard fiasco at FPS?

What's Next: Chrome OS will have at least some friends in high places

Also: South Korea takes another round of DDoS abuse, and Neelie Kroes and Steve Ballmer may shake hands before she exits stage left.

Report: Evidence of further creativity with Windows 7 upgrade prices

A ZDNet blogger did some serious digging for clues as to a reported price break on multiple Windows 7 Home Premium licenses, and may have found it.