T-Mobile has long been advertising their HSPA+ network as giving "4G speeds," but they have always stopped short of referring to it as a 4G network.  That may all be changing soon, as the folks over at Android and Me claim that T-Mobile will begin advertising their HSPA+ network at "America's Largest 4G Network" beginning next month.  The carrier has said several times in the past that they plan to have 100 major metropolitan areas and 200 million people covered with HSPA+ by the end of the year, which would top Sprint's 120 million people.  Additionally, it's believed that T-Mobile's new myTouch will be branded as the "myTouch 4G" when it launches later this year.  The new 4G branding on both the HSPA+ network and myTouch is said to be the mysterious Project Emerald that we've been hearing about for months.

Sprint's ad campaign for its WiMAX network has been based around it being the "first and only 4G network," so it looks like they may have to change their adverts soon.  Some people may take issue with T-Mobile calling their HSPA+ network as 4G, but the fact is that many customers won't know the difference.  After all, HSPA+ may not mean much to a lot of people, but 3G/4G does.  Besides, the way that carriers use the term 4G is mostly as a marketing term, so it makes sense that T-Mo wants to advertise their speedy new network with a name that people would understand.  What do you all think of T-Mobile referring to their HSPA+ network as a 4G network?

Via TmoNews, Android and Me