- T-Mobile has upgraded its network to “4G” promising up to 5x the speed of 3G – a new marketing campaign will tout “America’s largest 4G network.”
- The service is available in 75 metropolitan areas in the U.S.
- Two new 4G products are available today across T-Mobile stores: MyTouch 4G Android smartphone ($199) and Dell Inspiron Mini 10 4G netbook ($229).
4G it is then. Regardless of what European standards bodies such as the International Telecommunication Union claim — that only WiMAX 2 and LTE qualify as true 4G — U.S. carrier T-Mobile is full-on ready to market the new moniker.
In the race for speed and new subscribers it’s a bold and smart move.
Based on HSPA+ technology, the new network can scale up to 168 Mbps, although we won’t see that until 2011 or beyond. Initial speeds should clock in around 21 Mbps which is approximately 4 to 5 times faster than 3G. In a statement, T-Mobile claims the network already reaches over 75 metropolitan markets.
The company also announced the retail availability, starting today, of the T-Mobile myTouch 4G ($199 with 2-year contract) and T-Mobile’s first 4G netbook, the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 4G ($220 with 2-year contract, $449 no contract).
“4G is about performance and today T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network is delivering 4G speeds that match and often beat WiMAX and are readily comparable to what early LTE will deliver. Our 4G network is capable of theoretical speeds up to 21Mbps and we have seen average download speeds approaching five Mbps on our myTouch 4G phone in some cities with peak speeds of nearly 12 Mbps. Further, independent reviewers have seen average download speeds on our webConnect Rocket between 5 and 8 Mbps with peak speeds up to 8-10Mbps,” said Neville Ray, chief technology officer, T-Mobile USA.
Smartphone data plans from T-Mobile start at $10 per month, with no premium required for 4G service.
Major west coast regions with 4 service include:
California
- Anaheim
- Burbank
- Fresno
- Glendale
- Irvine
- Los Angeles
- Long Beach
- Oakland
- Ontario
- Palm Springs
- Sacramento
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
Oregon
- Portland
Washington
- Seattle
- Spokane
AT&T, Sprint, Verizon: your move.