14 DAY TRIAL // Gone are the days when T-Mobile was the only major North American mobile operator without a 3G network, because the "magenta carrier" went live and official with its very first UMTS/HSDPA network in New York (the city, not the state).
After several delays and rumors regarding T-Mo's 3G network deployment, the carrier's subscribers all around the US can finally be happy, as they will be soon able to browse the Web and download content at high speeds. By the end of 2008, T-Mobile plans to "spread" the 3G connectivity in other major cities besides New York, including: Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Denver, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Sacramento, Tampa and Washington DC.
Cole Brodman, Chief Development Officer at T-Mobile USA, proudly declared: "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. 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 says its new 3G network will support both data and voice services, which makes sense. At the moment, T-Mo doesn't offer too many phones with 3G capabilities (though we do have Samsung T819 or Nokia 3555, for example), but it will start bringing more 3G devices as the network is extending. According to the company, its first HSDPA phone will be released in the next few months, while other advanced handsets are also "on the road".
With around 30 million subscribers, T-Mobile is currently the fourth largest mobile operator in the US, behind AT&T, Verizon and Sprint. The roll-out of a nationwide 3G network will probably have little impact on the carrier's subscriber number, but the more important aspect is that those existing ones will be able to benefit from the advantages that 3G brings.