T-Mobile to announce 3G plans soon?
According to an article published late yesterday in eWeek, T-Mobile is expected to hold a press conference on Friday where the company will supposedly announce its first foray into UMTS, finally catching up with its rivals on the 3G bandwagon. However, assuming these rumors are true, T-Mobile will allegedly announce UMTS and/or HSDPA on paired 1700MHz and 2100MHz bands -- part of the spectrum that it snatched up just a few weeks ago. But despite a relatively quick announcement, Phil Redman, a Gartner analyst, says that it will take T-Mobile a year and half to roll out UMTS service nationally. Even still, given that a small number of Engadget editors are T-Mobile subscribers, we can't wait to really feel the difference between the existence we're ekeing out on EDGE and that new UMTS or HSDPA über-hotness.
Filed under: T-Mobile
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Rob M. @ Oct 4th 2006 1:17PM
Tasty tasty 3G...any chance this might also include a UMA announcement/rollout?
Mina @ Oct 4th 2006 1:22PM
The article says "Now of course, if you're sitting up and saying: "But wait a sec, UMTS already operates worldwide at 1900MHz," then you'd be right."
But I thought that the U.S. (cingular) was the only one using UMTS 1900 I thought the rest of the world was on the 2100 MHz band
Michael Oryl @ Oct 4th 2006 1:23PM
'Now of course, if you're sitting up and saying: "But wait a sec, UMTS already operates worldwide at 1900MHz," then you'd be right.'E
Except, of course, that you'd really be wrong, not right.
UMTS is 2100MHz worldwide, except for the US. The US is the only place where 1900MHz is used for UMTS. If T-Mobile were to use 2100MHz here in the States, it would mean that UMTS devices meant for Europe would work here. Since there are already a ton of those, that's very good news, not bad news. The only down side is that Cingular UMTS devices wouldn't work on T-Mobile's network.
Kappy @ Oct 4th 2006 1:24PM
I think so too. 2100 would rock as I'm on T-Mo and I have a Nokia N73. I'm also in the SF Bay Area so it's possible we would get one of the initial roll outs. Unfortunately I heard some rumors that it will recieve on 2100 but transmit on 1700. This would basically render my 3G useless :(
-Kap
Some One @ Oct 4th 2006 1:25PM
I posted on Engadget and I will do it hear.
I have an unlocked Nokia E61 with tmobile service, and on two occasions i saw the 3G icon in the upper left hand corner of the device. I thought it was just an accident.
tnkgrl @ Oct 4th 2006 1:38PM
I use a Nokia N80 (with UMTS 2100) on T-Moile USA for my primary line so this is great news! Since I upgrade phones often and generally import phones (with UMTS 2100) this is even greater news...
In the meantime, I also use a LG CU500 (with HSDPA 1900/850) on Cingular for my second line.
mroach @ Oct 4th 2006 2:36PM
When they guy said UMTS 1900 was used elsewhere in the world, he may have been referring to the uplink band. With traditional GSM and GPRS, the uplink and downlink frequency ranges are quite close. Example) GSM 1900 uses 1850 - 1910 for uplink and 1930 - 1990 for downlink.
With UMTS, they're separated. Outside of the US on UMTS 2100, 1885-2025 MHz is used for uplink and 2110-2200 MHz for the downlink. T-Mobile's new spectrum will use 1700 MHz for the uplink and 2100 MHz for the downlink. This means existing UMTS 2100 devices won't work on T-Mobile's new network, unfortunately. Our only hope is that manufacturers start making UMTS devices support 1700 MHz and 1900 MHz uplink frequencies for global UMTS support.
R Herrera @ Oct 4th 2006 2:57PM
"Even still, given that a small number of Engadget editors are T-Mobile subscribers"
Are you being sarcastic?
Chris @ Oct 4th 2006 3:19PM
I concured with 'some one'. I too own an e61 and I woke up one morning and saw a 3G sign on my phone. Most likely doing some random testing around the south bay/san jose area.
paolo @ Oct 4th 2006 7:20PM
T-MOBILE 3G is NOT COMPATIBLE with EUROPEAN/ASIA SPEC!! why cant anyone understand that??
Vince @ Oct 4th 2006 8:25PM
I don't know about anyone else, but I was pretty disappointed when I read this. T-Mo going with 2100/1700 flavoured UMTS means that there is a third standard. I dunno. I guess I was really naive in thinking that they would start converting their 1900 bandwidth so they could support the 2100/1900 standard. Bah.
Anyway, for some of you guys...I don't really think that seeing the 3G icon on your Nokia in NYC or LA means that there was actually a 3G operating within range of your phone. Most likely your GSM signal dropped out long enough for your phone to search for available bands. Add enough interference and voilla 3G icon.
c.chris @ Oct 5th 2006 9:10PM
i think it would be nice if t-mobile gets UMTS im not sure or do not remember if it is established in the u.k , besides siemens unveiled NGMN in t-mobiles home land
strangerthanfiction @ Oct 6th 2006 12:50AM
What is the difference between Uplink and downlink. What if you dont care if you're uploading and your download speeds still are accellerated for web browsing and your phone is 2100 compatible? i think im retarded on this, cause i get excited sitting here with my nokia n80 and then read these posts and all my hopes are shot down... lol. Anyone with some more detailed description of what this all means as far as working with both 1700 and 2100??? Either way T-Mobile is bada$$ and is going to take over the world at one point or another.. eventually. woot woot.
juancho @ Aug 30th 2008 11:01PM
2 years later.......
what happened? in USA are still with UTMS 1900 ?
HSDPA in USA will be 2100 ?