T-Mobile Launches 3G Network In New York
“T-Mobile lights up New York as rumors swirl about its parent company’s interest in Sprint Nextel.”
Well behind the curve and with few handsets to support it, T-Mobile customers in New York City are the first to be able to enjoy its long-awaited third-generation (3G) wireless service, the company announced Monday.
T-Mobile said it aims to continue the 3G rollout to 20 to 25 major U.S. markets by the end of 2008 in addition to introducing new phones to take advantage of the high-speed network.
Whereas T-Mobile, one of the last major carrier on board with 3G UMTS/HSDPA network in New York City, the technology that it introduced is still relatively new in the U.S. and there are still many customers to be had.
By the end of the year, T-Mobile looks ahead to its high-speed data network would be available in the cities where a “majority of its subscribers currently use data services,” the company said.
“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 for 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.” He said T-Mobile USA will deliver a “rich portfolio of new and meaningful services to enrich our customers’ lives.”
T-Mobile has yet to unveil the latest phone, along with new devices. The 3G network runs on a new AWS spectrum, which T-Mobile said doubles its spectrum and offers a basis for the future. AWS also relieves T-Mobile’s existing network.
T-Mobile it appears that is not aiming to provide high-speed data transfers over its new network but rather to provide more efficient voice service to its customers.
T-Mobile offers four handsets — two Nokia models and two Samsung models — that run on the midspeed UMTS technology, but none of them have full Web browsers.
T-Mobile’s 3G offering uses UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) and HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology. It also supports voice and data services “consistent with available service and handset offerings,” the company said.
The four basic 3G phones that presently supports the same voice and data services available with T-Mobile’s GSM handsets, the company said, but which will also provide faster data speeds when accessing the Web, for example.
T-Mobile said its technology will primarily enhance Web speeds for customers by about four times. Those compatible phones — the Nokia 3555, Nokia 6263, Samsung t819 and Samsung t639 — will “automatically connect to the best available network,” T-Mobile said.
The phones are designed to automatically connect to the best available network, be it 3G or GSM/GPRS/EDGE (Enhanced Data for Global Evolution). After the company introduces HSDPA phones later in 2008, T-Mobile said, the speeds will double to approximately 600K bps.
The 3G technology has significant advantages over the 2G network, which enable higher voice quality, more phones to operate in the same area and much more. T-Mobile’s UMTS 1700 is not compatible with standard 3G networks used by its competitors. However, the phones will be able to connect in 2G GSM mode to other networks as well as T-Mobile’s where there is no 3G coverage yet.
While rivals AT&T, Verizon and Sprint Nextel have already introduced third-generation wireless services, T-Mobile, a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom, has been slowed by efforts to clear the airwaves for spectrum T-Mobile bought in 2006 for $4.2 billion. The rollout comes as rumors swirl that Deutsche Telekom may be interesting in purchasing struggling carrier Sprint.
But the Wall Street Journal reported late May 5 that while Sprint Nextel is considering spinning off its Nextel unit, the likely buyer could be Morgan O’Brien, a co-founder of Nextel, who wants the spectrum to create a national wireless network for public safety.
Launching 3G years later than its competitors does not necessarily mean that T-Mobile missed the wireless data opportunity, said one industry analyst. “We are currently in the first years of a long opportunity,” said Jeff Kagan, an independent telecommunications analyst, by e-mail. If T-Mobile offers quality, easy-to-use services at the right price, it could be successful, he said.
T-Mobile also offers a service that lets customers use a combined Wi-Fi and cellular phone. Customers can use the phone to make and receive voice calls in their homes over a Wi-Fi connection. Using Wi-Fi for calls may offer a higher-quality service than trying to make calls indoors over the wide-area cellular network.
T-Mobile and Nokia unveiled a new partnership last week, when they announced their plans to enhance European customers’ mobile Internet experience by bringing T-Mobile’s web‘n’walk Internet services and Nokia’s Ovi Internet services on a wide range of mobile phones, the two companies said in an official statement.
“Pricing details on the 3G services have not yet been revealed.”
With 28.7 million subscribers, T-Mobile USA is a subsidiary of Germany-based Deutsche Telekom.