T-Mobile Announces LTE Network

MrSeb writes "In a beautiful twist of fate, T-Mobile USA has announced that it will be launching an LTE network in 2013 using the money and AWS spectrum that it obtained from AT&T after its failed acquisition. According to T-Mobile, this upgrade comprises of a three-phase process: free up 2G spectrum, move HSPA+ to formerly 2G spectrum, and deploy LTE on formerly HSPA+ spectrum. The end result will be a much faster network that can compete with AT&T and Verizon, and download speeds of up to 74Mbps in 75% of the top 25 markets in the US. International visitors should enjoy better roaming thanks to the deployment of PCS HSPA+, too — and finally, an AT&T LTE iPhone would also work on T-Mobile's upcoming network."

Comments

The US market is really confusion

[Jack Malmostoso]

I will visit the US this summer from Europe. Can anyone point me to a link where I can get some maps/explanations about roaming in the US?
I am horrendously confused about the US market and their current standards.
I will come with a N9 and an iPhone so I should be fine, but I'd like to be sure ahead of the time.

Re:The US market is really confusion

[QuasiSteve]

There is barely any 'roaming' in the U.S. You might get some plans that will give you free calling to other people on the same network, but unless you send all the people you interact with while there a survey indicating what network they're on and basing your decision on that... well.

You're coming from Europe with an N9 and an iPhone that, presumably, take SIM cards and run on the GSM networks. This is what limits you mostly - to AT&T and T-Mobile - if you want to stick to those phones and want to pick up a local SIM card. And yes, you'd want to pick up a local SIM card unless your European cell company doesn't gouge customers for actual roaming costs from using your European SIM in the U.S.

The reason I mention "if you want to stick to those phones" is because you have a much greater choice if you just pick up a plan+phone, or prepaid phone, from any provider you please, and use it to make actual calls - keeping your N9/iPhone around for chatting, internetting, etc. on e.g. WiFi networks (your hotel / place you stay, starbucks, mcdonald's, book stores, whatever).
You can then keep that phone and just bring it with you every time you visit the U.S. (note that prepaid options expire after a while (at least at AT&T) unless you top it off, so if you visit again in a year, you might have to pick up a new prepaid SIM/plan and deal with having to send people new U.S. numbers each time).

If you do pick up an AT&T Go Phone or SIM, please note that topping up is best done at an AT&T store location. The reason for this is that, as recently as January, their web interface does not accept non-American Credit Cards and their call-in service puts you first through a speaking menu, then a 'press # to...' menu, then finally decides to also not accept your credit card, puts you on hold for a queue to an actual person, and by the time you get through to them, will be out of the credits that were left (yes, calling the top-up service costs you credit.) Maybe they fixed that, maybe mashing buttons to get through to a person asap works as well, but in my opinion.. just go to one of the stores, much less hassle and they can help you out better with options in case your usage indicates a better plan, too.

That's my personal experience - a simple search query will yield many sites that give advice to travelers, though.

Re:The US market is really confusion

[Anonymous Coward]

You are coming with what is possibly the best phone to have for international roaming N9 with pentaband. That'll work on both AT&T and T-mo with 3G. No point buying a phone + plan here. T-mo has some pretty good prepaid plans http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-plans. If you are coming for just a couple weeks you could also go with the $2 or $3 per day plans. That's probably going to be the cheapest option. If you don't need data then you can also just use the pay as you go plans.

LTE iPhone?

[mspohr]

I didn't think iphone offered LTE or 4G. Maybe someday?

Re:LTE iPhone?

[Andrio]

T-Mobile needs to get ready for when Apple invents 4G, like the other carriers are doing.

Re:LTE iPhone?

[uvajed_ekil]

I'm unsure of the alphabet soup jargon, but it would certainly be nice if devices built and sold for AT&T networks would work at full speed on T-Mobile's network. I've been a fairly happy TM customer for a few years but have been frustrated by the selection of phones, while most of the ones I want are AT&T only. This is especially true of second-hand phones. I would love to be able to find something nice to upgrade to (used) without paying an arm and a leg so I can switch to SimpleMobile (T-Mobile's network) to save a few bucks. Hard to find good used TM phones at a reasonable price, and I absolutely do not want to sign another 2-year contract. Maybe this will all change, but I sure don't want to wait another year+.

Re:LTE iPhone?

[Chuckstar]

iPhone is not LTE, but it is compatible with what AT&T is calling just plain 4G.

I don't know the right terms for the underlying technologies, but AT&T refers to "4G" as 4x the speed of 3G and "4GLTE" as 12x the speed of 3G.

75% of the top 25 markets

[AmiMoJo]

"75% of the top 25 markets" sounds like they mean there will be almost no coverage. A "market" could just mean a city, say the city centre. Assuming one enabled mast that could work out as about 18 square miles for the entire country.

Presumably their plans are a bit grander than that, but it still sounds like they are saying their network has terrible coverage and won't be getting any better.

Re:75% of the top 25 markets

[Anonymous Coward]

Presumably their plans are a bit grander than that, but it still sounds like they are saying their network has terrible coverage and won't be getting any better.

Yes, but it will be FASTER terrible converage!

Re:75% of the top 25 markets

[PReDiToR]

What use is 74Mbit/sec data if you're unable to download more than 500MB/month?
Might as well stick to ISDN speeds and seem like you're downloading all day every day.
Only when you're in a City though, nobody ever uses their mobile phones outside the City, do they?

They need to do something!

[Prod_Deity]

Their corporate headquarters in is Factoria, just outside of Bellevue, Washington

It is pretty much impossible to get a signal in it's general area. The surrounding stores & restaurants are a dead zone.

If they build the network so you can actually get a signal, I will gladly leave AT&T for them.

Re:saw this coming a mile away

[amRadioHed]

It wasn't that stupid on AT&T's part, compensation for failed mergers are normal. Think of all the business T-Mobile due to FUD during the pending merger. There had to be something in the deal for T-Mobile to not get completely screwed when the merger failed or else they wouldn't have agreed to it.