Official T-Mobile 3G Thread

[qbangringo]

Yeah I do apologize i did mean 2100 for the downstream! but they are going to use 1800 for upstream? I thought Tmo bought spectrum in the 1700 band?

[greenblood]

the upstream of AWS is 1700, and it's same as DCS upstream band

check AWS article on phonescoop, which will have clear explanation of my words

[armadill09]

They way the government is moving, you would think that would buy T-Mobile some time, and be able to roll out 3G all at once. 3Gamericas.org states that T-Mobile will have HSDPA up by March 2008, and HSUPA by Nov. 2008. Only time will tell. I don't see why they are putting the low UMTS on their new phones, instead of making them HSDPA. They could be playing mind games, and are only putting UMTS to through off AT&T so they won't know what version of 3G they are jumping to.


I originally thought the way you did with this, but since HSDPA/HSUPA are backward compatible to UMTS for voice service, it makes sense that they release a slew of UMTS 'dumbphones' at first and then roll out all the smartphones at once with HSDPA. These 6263, t639, t819 are simply being thrown out there to those who don't need higher speeds so tmobile can know if the infrastructure is in place before a widespread data phone release party... (maybe my hopes are too high :) )

[greenblood]

Wirelessly posted (Dell X50v and/or SE K790a: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 4.01; Windows CE; PPC; 240x320))

too bad that no more tier1 markets, it's likely that tens of markets will go active at once in April

[money69]

Anyone know what Phase Houston, TX would be in for 3g?

[greenblood]

a news from Cnet
3G will be active by Summer (actually, it's April)
T-Mobile promises 3G by summer; Android phone and Austrian iPhone by end of year | Crave : The gadget blog (http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9870059-1.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=Crave)

[antoine66]

a news from Cnet
3G will be active by Summer (actually, it's April)
T-Mobile promises 3G by summer; Android phone and Austrian iPhone by end of year | Crave : The gadget blog (http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9870059-1.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=Crave)
hopefully we can at least have a s60 phone announce with the aws band on it by the time t-mobile activates 3g.

[greenblood]

I have already settled with SE X1i
the only thing I lose is realplayer, it is dying anyway

[gapboi954]

T-Mobile promises 3G by summer; Android phone, Austrian iPhone by end of year | Crave : The gadget blog (http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9870059-1.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=Crave)

T-Mobile promises 3G by summer; Android phone, Austrian iPhone by end of year
Kent German 3 comments
Almost every U.S. T-Mobile customer wants to know when the carrier will be activating its 3G network. After all, it is the only major carrier in the United States not to offer 3G. Though it has slowly begun introducing 3G-capable handsets, the carrier has remained maddeningly vague on when the service will activate.

But a news conference at the GSMA World Congress, T-Mobile CEO Hamid Akhavan dropped a few hints. When I asked him when the magic day will come, he didn't give an exact date but he did promise it would happen by this summer. Akhavan said the carrier has had to work out quite a few spectrum issues (well, of course), and that the process took longer than expected. If you remember, the 3G network was set for 2007, so it must have taken a lot longer. Akhavan assured us that the issues have been resolved, and that the carrier is putting together a "robust" network that will kick off in major metro areas. He even went so far as to say it will be the best 3G network in the United States. Well, we'll see about that. Later, I spoke with Peter Dobrow from T-Mobile USA. He concurred that 3G would happen in the first half of this year. What's more, he said T-Mobile had to negotiate quite a bit with Uncle Sam to get the necessary approval. Why has the carrier introduced 3G-capable handsets without a 3G network? Well, Dobrow said they just wanted to be ready to go when the network is switched on.

In handset news, Akhavan said the carrier is promising a fourth quarter launch of a Google Android device. That's news to me, considering the last time I asked the carrier for a launch date, a spokesman wouldn't confirm if T-Mobile would even offer an Android phone. Unfortunately, Akhavan wouldn't say which regions would one.


Guten Tag to Austria

(Credit: Corrine Schulze/CNET Networks)On the iPhone front T-Mobile will bring the Apple device to Austria by the end of the year. T-Mobile already offers the iPhone in Germany, but Akhavan said he wants to bring it to all the carrier's markets. That's more than possible I'm sure in countries such as the Netherlands, Poland, and Hungary. However, I don't know how they plan on bringing the iPhone to T-Mobile USA, given AT&T's exclusive on the device. That's one where we'll have to wait and see what happens.


A gallery of T-Mobile phones

(Credit: Kent German/CNET Networks)I also got the chance to roam around T-Mobile's glass box of a booth and check out their European phones. Not surprisingly, even though I think T-Mobile offers a decent selection of handsets in the United States, it just about brought me to tears. Among the handsets I saw were a Nokia 5310, the LG KF600 (the GSM version of Verizon's LG Venus), the Sony Ericsson K550, and the Samsung J700. The Motorola Razr2 V8 (a T-Mobile USA phone) also was present, but it looked mighty out of place. Poor Moto.

[silk7]

We may get it sooner.from intomobile


T-Mobile's 3G network just got the green light and the "best 3G network" in the West is chugging along towards its rollout this summer. T-Mobile's CEO Hamid Akhavan said that we should be looking for the T-Mobile 3G network to go live in summer 2008 (http://www.intomobile.com/2008/02/14/t-mobile-set-to-launch-us-3g-network-in-summer-2008-android-handset-coming-in-q4-2008.html), but there's a possibility that the newly expanded (http://www.intomobile.com/2008/02/23/t-mobile-finalizes-suncom-acquisition-a-true-national-carrier.html) carrier will be loosing those AWS 3G airwaves even sooner.
A T-Mobile dealer tipped us off to some serious UMTS activity going on in Chicago. We're hearing that the T-Mobile corporate office was filled with frenzied engineers reportedly gearing up for the upcoming UMTS launch. Word is that we'll be seeing T-Mobile's 3G network up and running soon, "very soon." Does that mean T-Mobile will be lighting-off their 3G network before summer 2008? That would be a nice surprise.
In other news, an HTC rep at the same corporate T-Mobile office told our tipster to expect new variants on the HTC Shadow - HTC and T-Mobile has been planning to expand on the Shadow brand, so new variants make sense. We're going to go out on a limb and say that T-Mobile and HTC are working on a 3G-enabled T-Mobile Shadow variant.
3G handsets, Android smartphones (http://www.intomobile.com/2008/02/14/t-mobile-set-to-launch-us-3g-network-in-summer-2008-android-handset-coming-in-q4-2008.html), more Shadow variants

[Nwahs]

We may get it sooner.from intomobile


T-Mobile's 3G network just got the green light and the "best 3G network" in the West is chugging along towards its rollout this summer. T-Mobile's CEO Hamid Akhavan said that we should be looking for the T-Mobile 3G network to go live in summer 2008 (http://www.intomobile.com/2008/02/14/t-mobile-set-to-launch-us-3g-network-in-summer-2008-android-handset-coming-in-q4-2008.html), but there's a possibility that the newly expanded (http://www.intomobile.com/2008/02/23/t-mobile-finalizes-suncom-acquisition-a-true-national-carrier.html) carrier will be loosing those AWS 3G airwaves even sooner.
A T-Mobile dealer tipped us off to some serious UMTS activity going on in Chicago. We're hearing that the T-Mobile corporate office was filled with frenzied engineers reportedly gearing up for the upcoming UMTS launch. Word is that we'll be seeing T-Mobile's 3G network up and running soon, "very soon." Does that mean T-Mobile will be lighting-off their 3G network before summer 2008? That would be a nice surprise.
In other news, an HTC rep at the same corporate T-Mobile office told our tipster to expect new variants on the HTC Shadow - HTC and T-Mobile has been planning to expand on the Shadow brand, so new variants make sense. We're going to go out on a limb and say that T-Mobile and HTC are working on a 3G-enabled T-Mobile Shadow variant.
3G handsets, Android smartphones (http://www.intomobile.com/2008/02/14/t-mobile-set-to-launch-us-3g-network-in-summer-2008-android-handset-coming-in-q4-2008.html), more Shadow variants

This is damn good news!!!! Awesome post!
The time is getting close....:p

[gapboi954]

yes it is good news

[gapboi954]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8320/4.2.2 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

I can't wait for 3g. - hope they have a 3g enabled blackberry available @ launch.

[antoine66]

i cant wait for the highend tmobile compatible 3g phones.

[LolaGeek]

I was at the T-Mobile store yesterday talking to a saleswoman about the Samsung t819, which I liked because it's 3G capable. She said they don't have that service yet and I said, "But you'll have it this year, right?" And she said, "In June, but don't tell anyone I told you that." So... whoops.

[homobile]

I was in a T-Mobile store and the rep told me they would have an "iPhone like 3G device" by November of this year.

[DonutYankee]

Hopefully said "iPhone-like 3G device" is a US AWS band MDA Compact IV, probably being called Shadow2.

[volkl23]

Is the consensus that 3G at launch will only be UMTS and not HPSDA?

[frostycakes]

I have the suspicion that it'll be HSDPA, because the Qualcomm chipsets used in the T639 and T819 are by their very nature HSDPA capable, and the FCC tests don't differentiate between plain, vanilla UMTS and HSDPA on the phones that pass through testing (it's all WCDMA BC4 to them, they don't really care), and I doubt Samsung's gonna go through all that effort to disable HSDPA when even their midrange 3G phones for AT&T have HSDPA.

I just can't wait though, yesterday there were workers at the T-Mo cell site behind my house installing a new cabinet, which I presume is for 3G equipment. No new panels yet though, but it's been snowy for the past few days, so I doubt they want people climbing power poles and throwing up new, expensive panels when it's windy and blowing snow. :P

[silk7]

I have the suspicion that it'll be HSDPA, because the Qualcomm chipsets used in the T639 and T819 are by their very nature HSDPA capable, and the FCC tests don't differentiate between plain, vanilla UMTS and HSDPA on the phones that pass through testing (it's all WCDMA BC4 to them, they don't really care), and I doubt Samsung's gonna go through all that effort to disable HSDPA when even their midrange 3G phones for AT&T have HSDPA.

I just can't wait though, yesterday there were workers at the T-Mo cell site behind my house installing a new cabinet, which I presume is for 3G equipment. No new panels yet though, but it's been snowy for the past few days, so I doubt they want people climbing power poles and throwing up new, expensive panels when it's windy and blowing snow. :P

I'll go up the pole and turn on the 3g if they want me t0(snow, rain. ufo, woundn't stop me):D

[PortPowerKS]

I wish there was a good HTC phone that's 3G.. Getting tired of my girlfriend justifying her POS Sidekick and knocking my Dash when her sole broken-record of an argument is I can't get calls if I happen to be on PIE or streaming audio..

[gapboi954]

3g this spring?

T-Mobile USA, Leap ready to roll out AWS markets - RCR Wireless News (http://rcrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080314/SUB/421254844/1002)

[lp894]

There are some contract positions open here in Indianapolis that require installation of 3G boxes, and it says that the work needs to be done by June. Installation of 26 boxes city wide it seems. So....I don't know it YOU can say "T-Mobile" but I sure can. lol

[greenblood]

here is a pic I taken of 3G antenna at Bowery/Canal Street, near Manhattan Bridge, at the top of commerce bank

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/4122/20080329080zv3.th.jpg (http://img262.imageshack.us/my.php?image=20080329080zv3.jpg)

if you cap a pic of it, please post

[terryjohnson16]

here is a pic I taken of 3G antenna at Bowery/Canal Street, near Manhattan Bridge, at the top of commerce bank

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/4122/20080329080zv3.th.jpg (http://img262.imageshack.us/my.php?image=20080329080zv3.jpg)

if you cap a pic of it, please post

I see those same towers here throughout NYC. I am still wondering what that small thin antenna is for. They usually have either 2 or 3 white thick antennas with a red circle on the bottom, next to a really thin gray antenna. I wonder if that is for some type of TV service.

[gapboi954]

here is a pic I taken of 3G antenna at Bowery/Canal Street, near Manhattan Bridge, at the top of commerce bank

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/4122/20080329080zv3.th.jpg (http://img262.imageshack.us/my.php?image=20080329080zv3.jpg)

if you cap a pic of it, please post


nice find

[nchoma]

First T-Mobile 3G market will be New York. Official Launch Date is still August 25th. There will be no HSDPA available at the moment.
A city wide soft launch test finished on March 31st with satisfactory performance in Voice and Data @ 384Kbps.

[terryjohnson16]

First T-Mobile 3G market will be New York. Official Launch Date is still August 25th. There will be no HSDPA available at the moment.
A city wide soft launch test finished on March 31st with satisfactory performance in Voice and Data @ 384Kbps.

Say WHAT?! August 25th? I thought 3G was coming here to NYC in late April/early May. Are you sure?

[gapboi954]

Say WHAT?! August 25th? I thought 3G was coming here to NYC in late April/early May. Are you sure?


Yeh customer service told me the tentative launch is for the end of the year. that sux

[money69]

Several execs already said the first market (New york) would launch in late Spring. I would take that far more serious than some CS rep saying some date in August. Im 100% sure that it will launch in New York before August 25th. And not just that. It will also be HSDPA at launch.

[knytphal]

Several execs already said the first market (New york) would launch in late Spring. I would take that far more serious than some CS rep saying some date in August. Im 100% sure that it will launch in New York before August 25th. And not just that. It will also be HSDPA at launch.
Let's just hope they weren't counting the soft-launch test as a 'launch'.;)

[gemaster34]

Several execs already said the first market (New york) would launch in late Spring. I would take that far more serious than some CS rep saying some date in August. Im 100% sure that it will launch in New York before August 25th. And not just that. It will also be HSDPA at launch.
Thats a long time. If they're gonna take that long, I hope they offer some great phone by the time they make the official hard launch release, cause the Samsung t819, Samsung t639, and Nokia 6263 just ain't cuttin it for me.

[greenblood]

it's been alot of confusing info on launch in tri-state area
asked CS this morning when reported internet problem today morning
even CS has no definte clue, she only said "sooner or later"
well, with decent 3G service and phone, that T-Mobile will gain my contract
but until then, I'd keep OOC

[agv121]

I heard that Att and Verizon are working on their 4g network. Somebody
tell me this is not happening. Why the hek is T-mobile taking so long on their 3g. Every time i call to ask about 3g none of the T-mo cus reps don't know jack sh?t. why? why? why? :angryfire: AAAHHHHHH!!!! I am so close to leaving T-mobile.

[analogs]

It cracks me up that every post on Engadget.com relating to T-Mobile product launches, the first comment is guaranteed to be something like "No 3G? So why should I care about this?" And they continue from there, seldom even mentioning anything other than the lack of a 3G network. They could release a humanoid flying robot and people are just like "Well it's no iPhone."

[knytphal]

....humanoid flying robot? Does it have 3G? No of course not! Stupid humanoid flying robot...

:D

Not like the iPhone has 3G......yet anyhow.

[silk7]

The heck with 3G. I'll take a humanoid flying robot any day.:D

[lp894]

i'll stick to my courier pigeons thank u :-)

[knytphal]

i'll stick to my courier pigeons thank u :-)
Ohhhh, so you must be all about the tcp/ip over courier pigeon's (http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1149) then, huh? :D

[lp894]

Ohhhh, so you must be all about the tcp/ip over courier pigeon's (http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1149) then, huh? :D

the fact that that exists scares me LOL!

[greenblood]

here is the Top 25 Launch List found on Phonescoop
T-Mobile Forum (Phone Scoop) (http://www.phonescoop.com/carriers/forum.php?fm=m&ff=5&fi=1688958)

"Dear Leaders:



As discussed during the weekly Operations Call, our drive to 3G is on fast-forward, providing a platform for network efficiency and setting the stage for future innovations that will give customers new and exciting ways to stay connected to those who matter most.



The roll-out of our next generation UMTS network starts in New York City in May. Then we launch our next 25 markets by the end of the year. Below is a list of those targeted markets.



Markets


New York City


Austin


NJ & Long Island


Las Vegas


Minneapolis


Miami


Dallas


Chicago


Houston


Philadelphia


Denver


Detroit


Orlando


Kansas City


Atlanta


Los Angeles


New England


Portland


Sacramento


San Diego


Seattle


Washington DC


San Francisco


Birmingham


Memphis


Tampa


Phoenix





The launch of our 3G network is an important milestone for T-Mobile. More information about what the launch means for you and your teams will be coming your way next week. Let me know if you have any questions in the meantime."

[silk7]

New England:frolic:yes!!!!

[gapboi954]

New England:frolic:yes!!!!


lol. MIami... yay!!!

[volkl23]

How in the world did KC sneak in there and not St Louis??

[knytphal]

How in the world did KC sneak in there and not St Louis??

I don't know, but I do know that I am going to be singing "Happy Happy Joy Joy" if Lawrence sneaks into the KC market!

[Janice]

AUSTIN! woo HoOO!

[PortPowerKS]

KANSAS CITY (Topeka/Lawrence included, I hope) SAN FRANCISCO AND SACRAMENTO!!!
:21n::21n::21n:

[lp894]

so why the heck are Ericsson 3G boxes bein installed in indianapolis?!(someone should ask that question)

[knytphal]

so why the heck are Ericsson 3G boxes bein installed in indianapolis?!(someone should ask that question)

Wouldn't they need to install them at some point in time anyhow? Could be they are just trying to get ahead...

[frostycakes]

Wouldn't they need to install them at some point in time anyhow? Could be they are just trying to get ahead...

I think he's talking about how when the rollout was first being mentioned, T-Mobile was going to use Ericsson boxes only in CA/NV (probably because that's what the old Cingular network that T-Mo inherited in those markets used), but Nokia Siemens ones elsewhere in the country.

Who knows tbh, maybe they got a better deal or something, because I know they're using the Nokia Siemens ones here in CO, or maybe they had more people able to install those vs. the NSN ones.

Not like it really matters, it's all going to be 3G to our phones regardless. :D

[greenblood]

T-Mobile chose Nokia and Ericsson equipment
nokia flexi is module-based, can upgrade to LTE with ease
don't know about Ericsson
maybe that's why SE phones work rather well with T-Mobile

[greenblood]

btw
will T-Mobile 3G support video conference, which is standard in Europe and Asia
this is good for family

[knytphal]

btw
will T-Mobile 3G support video conference, which is standard in Europe and Asia
this is good for family

That would be cool if it did, there are quite a few nice phones out there with the front facing camera for video calls.

[gemaster34]

That would be cool if it did, there are quite a few nice phones out there with the front facing camera for video calls.
Yeah, quite the few. The Nokia 5610 has one. But, remember its only 2.5G only, and so does the HTC Dual (if it even gets to T-Mobile USA). But, i know most of the Google Android phone will have them cause their smartphones, and are much more advance than the currently lineup we see now.

[greenblood]

by this thread, UMTS will be activated May 1st in NYC
HowardForums: Your Mobile Phone Community & Resource - 3G turning on in NYC May 1st (http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1363985)

Posted on the customer care website today, so I am assuming its not 'secret' since its happening the day after tomorrow. I don't know how large of an area is included in "NYC", but looks like the first T-Mobile UMTS market goes live this week.

[silk7]

by this thread, UMTS will be activated May 1st in NYC
HowardForums: Your Mobile Phone Community & Resource - 3G turning on in NYC May 1st (http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1363985)

OMG:eek: if NYC gets it on may 1st than it's the start of :adance2:in the streets !!!!

Toda T-mo Toda !!!

[knytphal]

That would be nice to get the ball rolling, wouldn't it?

[gapboi954]

That would be nice to get the ball rolling, wouldn't it?

it sure would

[Nwahs]

Whats 3G?? :rolleyes:

[antoine66]

i wonder how long before it trickles to the detroit market?

[lp894]

I'm HOPING that MAYBE Chicago and Indianapolis are considered the same "Market"...but I doubt it lol...T-Mobile disappoints me yet again :(

[Detox702]

Network is LIVE in NYC. Confirmed by a speedtest screenshot from a member of Howard Forums. 424k down. Its finally here and its voice+DATA!

[knytphal]

Network is LIVE in NYC. Confirmed by a speedtest screenshot from a member of Howard Forums. 424k down. Its finally here and its voice+DATA!
Nice. I'd ask for a link but I'm pretty sure I can find that one.

[Game God]

AUSTIN! woo HoOO!
Austin is 2nd, Minneapolis is 4th.

Anybody in Austin got 3G yet?

[knytphal]

Austin is 2nd, Minneapolis is 4th.

Anybody in Austin got 3G yet?
Are you talking about the order in which they are getting 3G turned on? So who is third? And where did you see this at? I wouldn't mind seeing a whole list of when they are going to flip the switch....though honestly I'm mostly interested in Kansas City.

[greenblood]

Nice. I'd ask for a link but I'm pretty sure I can find that one.

there it is
too bad terry can't be convinced to get a 3G phone to tether

[knytphal]

there it is
too bad terry can't be convinced to get a 3G phone to tether

There what is? A link? Thanks, but it wasn't that hard to find over there ;)

On another note - I was thinking, wouldn't it make sense to move this thread over to the T-Mobile 3G forum? Just a thought.

[ordxpres]

KANSAS CITY (Topeka/Lawrence included, I hope) SAN FRANCISCO AND SACRAMENTO!!!
:21n::21n::21n:

So does this mean that I'll be able to finally call in and get a mobile video hatred calls from Rev. Phelps? Yippie...

[doctibby]

Spoke with a Customer Service rep yesterday who informed me all reps just had a meeting regarding 3G for T-Mobile. She said ALL MARKETS will have 3G by the end of the year. I also inquired about a high end touch screen smartphone and she said T-Mobile will be releasing on in March 2009.

[greenblood]

another headup
the 3G will be HSDPA
around 1000/350kbps
if you want data card now, call Stelera Wireless - Really Wireless Internet
(http://www.stelerawireless.com)
find CS number, and call
Option GT 307 is $305 sans shipping

[barkway]

Spoke with a Customer Service rep yesterday who informed me all reps just had a meeting regarding 3G for T-Mobile. She said ALL MARKETS will have 3G by the end of the year. I also inquired about a high end touch screen smartphone and she said T-Mobile will be releasing on in March 2009.

Wasn't it already supposed to have been launched this past Spring? Or was it Nov 2007? They've been promising for so long but not delivering that I can't remember now (and wouldn't trust any target date they throw out to us)

[gemaster34]

Spoke with a Customer Service rep yesterday who informed me all reps just had a meeting regarding 3G for T-Mobile. She said ALL MARKETS will have 3G by the end of the year. I also inquired about a high end touch screen smartphone and she said T-Mobile will be releasing on in March 2009.
That would be great.

[greenblood]

from what I know, it's mass market rollout
I don't think all markets can be activated by end of the year (e.g. Suncom markets)

[greenblood]

it's official
TmoNews T-mobile 3G launching on October 1st (http://tmonews.com/2008/07/t-mobile-3g-launching-on-october-1st/)

[Reyes2007]

Great, now lets make some 3G handsets official!

[Gridiron]

How far does 3G coverage extend? I live about an hour away from Minneapolis, so if I had a 3G capable phone, would I be able to use it on the 3G network?

[bigpapalogan]

Will it be launched in the Houston market?

[Matt]

It is already in the Houston area.

[BREATHE TMOBILE]

it will be nice to see t-mobile double its 3g coverage this year.....

[greenblood]

it's getting difficult because the economic situation, though the performance is decent

[wardobuffalo64]

Any word if 3g will be hitting Hawaii anytime soon?

[smizmiatch]

Employees at the T-Mobile store on Hotel St. in downtown Honolulu told me today (3/12) that 3G would be rolled out in Hawaii sometime this summer. They didn't know what 3G capable phones they would have besides the G1. They didn't have any information about 3G capable Blackberries.

[wardobuffalo64]

hey thanks for the update! If you hear anything else, please let me know...