T-Mobile clears everything up: 3G rollout (with data) is on in NYC

T-Mobile USA Begins Commercial 3G Network Rollout
Company Launches UMTS/HSDPA Network in New York City on its AWS Spectrum;
Plans 3G Network Launches in Major Markets Across the Country in the Coming Months
NEW YORK and BELLEVUE, Wash. – May 5, 2008– T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced that the company has taken the first commercial step in the rollout of its third-generation (3G) wireless network by launching its UMTS/HSDPA network in New York City. T-Mobile plans to continue the rollout of its 3G network across major metropolitan markets through the year. By year's end, T-Mobile expects its high-speed data network will be available in those cities where a majority of its subscribers currently use data services.
"The launch of our 3G network comes at a time when 3G phones and services are more affordable, capable and appealing to our consumer marketplace than ever before," said Cole Brodman, chief development officer, T-Mobile USA. "We benefit not only from the economic scale of 3G, but also from the extensive commercial experience of 3G in our European markets. Today, T-Mobile USA customers already have among the highest adoption of data and messaging services in the industry. Through our 3G network, we look forward to delivering a rich portfolio of new and meaningful services to enrich our customers' lives."
T-Mobile's 3G network supports voice and data services consistent with available service and handset offerings. The company today offers multiple phones that are able to operate on the UMTS network. The phones are designed to automatically connect to the best available network (3G or GSM/GPRS/EDGE) to provide the great call quality and rich communication services customers expect from T-Mobile.
Customers using a 3G-capable handset from T-Mobile will also experience faster data speeds when accessing the Web, or downloading content from the T-Mobile t-zones content portal, for example.
In the coming months, T-Mobile plans to offer its first HSDPA device, along with new and compelling data-centric, all-in-one devices that help make the most of T-Mobile's high-speed data network.
The launch of the 3G network also enables T-Mobile to accommodate and serve more customers more efficiently through the use of its AWS spectrum, effectively doubling T-Mobile USA's spectrum position, and laying the foundation for the company's future growth. T-Mobile and the U.S. government, namely the Department of Defense and the Department of Justice, continue to work closely and effectively together to make available AWS spectrum that will give consumers access to the 3G network.
As the 3G service rolls out in targeted major markets, T-Mobile will continue to build upon its
T-Mobile® HotSpot Wi-Fi network - its wireless high-speed Internet offering that launched in 2003 - and its nationwide voice and data network, to empower customers to effortlessly stay connected using the best available network.
- more -
T-Mobile International is following a common technology path across all of its markets in Europe and the United States, from GSM/GPRS/EDGE to UMTS/HSDPA. T-Mobile USA greatly benefits from
T-Mobile International's 3G experiences in Europe, where adoption of non-messaging mobile data is growing dynamically; and with more than 120 million customers worldwide, T-Mobile International is able to generate significant global procurement synergies.














Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Phil Hodgen @ May 5th 2008 12:50PM
Cool. I'll be able to use that 3G iPhone I plan to buy and unlock in June, right? Oh, wait. . . .
No. I'll be able to get 3G on that European Treo 750 I have, right? Oh, wait . . . .
Well, cool. I'll be able to get 3G on that BlackBerry Curve I bought from T-Mobile a coupla months ago, right? Oh, wait . . . .
Sigh. At least Apple, HTC, Palm, and everyone else will be climbing all over this to ship fancy phones with fancy nonstandard 1700 MHz 3G, and T-Mobile will be stocking all of them. Oh, wait . . . .
Roger Alford @ May 5th 2008 2:08PM
My how quickly we forget that GSM/UMTS 850 DIDNT EVEN EXIST 5 YEARS AGO!
And you wanna sit here and complain that 1700GSM/UMTS is some fancy spectrum? Ironically, for someone thinking that 1700 is "nonstandard", you should do more research to know that majority of North and South American countries are clearing out 1700 to use for networks themselves.
Additionally, 1700 and the 2100 T-Mobile purchased are the MOST SIMILAR MATCHED 3G spectrum to European 3G. Do research on Phonescoop. Im not going to explain it.
So before you talk about how fantastic another networks 3G is, know that the 3G phones we currently have on "AT&T" are lacking a ton of things (not to mention speed), that T-Mobile and Manufacturers are bringing to the table soon enough.
Mobile Phone Diva @ May 7th 2008 12:43AM
That may be true for the future, but right now, the other poster is correct. 1700 is nonstandard. Most 3G phones don't even have that band as an option. And the US T-Mobile 2100 is supposedly not the same as the Europe/Asia one.
Many people are thinking about what's out there NOW, and what's out there now are barely any AWS capable handsets. Perhaps that will change by next year.
Prelvu @ May 5th 2008 2:53PM
Hey Guys. I'm in NYC and i have Nokia E61i
can somebady tell me where is the 3G, coz i cant get any of that speed.
and i have problems with EDGE, many times i can't connect.
>>> But when i can't connect via t-zones, it connects in the MMS profile.
and i'm not shure if i can use upcoming T-Mob 3G with Nokia E61i ???
If Somebady has any info please let me know. Thanx...
dee @ May 5th 2008 3:12PM
Nokia E61i use European 3g(2100) not att(850/1900) or tmobile( 1700/2100) so it would not work.
John F. @ May 5th 2008 5:56PM
Can anyone in NYC confirm by actual experience that any of the T-Mobile USA's 3G phones (Nokia 3555, Nokia 6263, Samsung t639, Samsung t819) can use that new network bandwidth a 3G modem/tether?
mingkee @ May 5th 2008 10:05PM
it works rather good, the coverage is complete everywhere I go
the speed is around 250-375kbps, 420kbps peak
Lukass @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:07AM
Technically both Mobile phone Diva and Roger are correct. The 1700/2100 spectrum that was purchased is STRICTLY USA and is new for Tmobile USA. However in reference to those specific frequencies many other countries have been using them for years. It all depends on how that government decides to divide spectrum. If you have a phone that is 3g capable from Europe or Japan that is 2100mhz it will not work. As of right now, yes 3g for tmobile is a new thing for Sim operated phones (i realize that verizon is already working on 4g for THEIR network) but that is what technology is all about, developing new products to enhance peoples lives. Sometimes it takes a little time for manufacturers and cel phone companies to catch up.Does anyone remember the fact that you had to purchase a new phone in order to go from "analog" to "digital" this is no different. The entire benefit of T-mobile rolling out 3G the way they did is incredibly smart because it allows them to piggy back off their current network and continually make changes to increase quality and speed.