We'd heard a couple of times in the past that T-Mobile was planning to begin branding its HSPA+ network as "4G," and today they've done just that. Today T-Mobile announced that "America's Largest 4G Network" has expanded to six new locations, bringing the total number of markets covered by their HSPA+-enabled 4G network up to 75. The newly-blanketed areas are: Chicago, Ill.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; Ft. Wayne, Ind.; Louisville, Ky.; and Raleigh-Durham and Wilmington, N.C. “4G is about performance and today T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network is delivering 4G speeds that match and often beat WiMAX and are comparable to what early LTE will deliver," said Neville Ray, T-Mobile's chief technology officer. Network speed isn't the only thing that Ray is confident about, as he added that, “The footprint of our 4G service is not something that competitors are going to match anytime soon."
Along with the expansion and new ad campaign, T-Mobile announced the availability of two new devices that can take advantage of their 4G network. First up is the myTouch 4G, available for $199.99 with a two-year contract and $50 mail-in rebate. Besides surfing the web with HSPA+ speeds, the myTouch 4G is able to use its front-facing camera for video chat with Qik or Yahoo! Messenger over 4G. T-Mobile is also selling the Dell Insprion Mini 10 4G, a netbook with Windows 7 Starter pre-loaded and, obviously, built-in access to T-Mo's 4G network. Alongside the two new products in Magenta's lineup, both the T-Mobile G2 and webConnect Rocket 2.0 laptop stick are currently available and capable of harnessing Magenta's 4G speeds. You can check out the full press release below.
Like I've said in the past, there has been quite a bit of controversy about whether or not T-Mobile should be calling their network 4G. Some feel that since the HSPA+ network isn't technically "4G" according to the ITU, T-Mo should avoid branding it as such. Then again, according to the ITU's definition of 4G, Sprint's WiMAX network and Verizon and AT&T's upcoming LTE networks aren't 4G, either. Considering that T-Mobile's HSPA+ network has been shown to provide speeds similar to both WiMAX and LTE in some areas, and the fact that neither WiMAX nor LTE are technically "4G," others feel that Magenta should be free to market their network however they want. If its providing speeds comparable to the "4G" of other carriers, I don't see why T-Mobile can't advertise their HSPA+ network as 4G. After all, Sprint and Verizon have gotten away with it this long, so why not T-Mo, too? Regardless of what we all think, T-Mobile is going forward with their "America's Largest 4G Network" branding. Now we'll just have to sit by and see how others in the industry, especially the other carriers, react.
T-Mobile 4G Service Now Available in More Markets and on New Devices
T-Mobile HSPA+-Enabled 4G Network Now Reaches Over 75 Metropolitan Markets
New T-Mobile myTouch 4G and 4G Netbook
Take Advantage of Blazing-Fast Wireless Broadband Speeds
BELLEVUE, Wash. — Nov. 2, 2010 — T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced the expansion of its 4G mobile broadband network to six additional metro areas, and introduced two new products designed to tap into its 4G service. Tomorrow marks the national retail availability of the T-Mobile® myTouch® 4G and T-Mobile’s first 4G netbook, the Dell™ Inspiron™ Mini 10 4G. With typical download speeds that are on par with or faster than competing 4G technologies, and service availability in 75 metropolitan markets throughout the United States, the T-Mobile network now offers a super-fast, next generation mobile broadband experience to more people than any other wireless network in the country.
“4G is about performance and today T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network is delivering 4G speeds that match and often beat WiMAX and are 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 5 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. “The footprint of our 4G service is not something that competitors are going to match anytime soon, and starting today, we will begin marketing our network advantage with TV commercials advertising ‘America’s Largest 4G Network’ from T-Mobile.”
The “America’s Largest 4G Network” message will be communicated in an iconic, arresting and memorable way through national TV and digital advertisements that will begin airing today on major TV networks and cable TV stations, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and TNT, and appearing on websites, including AOL, MSN, Amazon.com and easily viewable on T-Mobile’s YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/tmobile.
T-Mobile expanded the availability of its 4G network to six additional metropolitan areas, including Chicago, Ill.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; Ft. Wayne, Ind.; Louisville, Ky.; and Raleigh-Durham and Wilmington, N.C. T-Mobile customers with 4G devices in 75 metropolitan areas can now enjoy faster Web browsing, uninterrupted video streaming and quicker downloads at no additional cost.
“Consumers do not understand the technical alphabet soup of technologies involved in 4G, but for our purposes we define WiMAX, LTE and HSPA+ as 4G technologies,” said Chris Nicoll, distinguished research fellow, Yankee Group. “HSPA+ is evolving a far more ambitious and long-term road map than was originally envisioned. T-Mobile is using an upgrade to HSPA+ to deliver faster 4G speeds today and is quickly bringing a number of HSPA+ devices to market that greatly enhance the mobile data experience for its customers.”
In addition to the network expansion, T-Mobile continues to broaden its lineup of products that tap into its 4G network. Available today is the stylish and powerful T-Mobile myTouch 4G smartphone. Designed to access faster speeds on T-Mobile’s 4G network, the myTouch 4G also includes a front-facing camera for Video Chat through Yahoo! Messenger or QIK, HD Camcorder with Screen Share by Twonky™, 5-megapixel camera with flash, Android 2.2, and additional exclusive T-Mobile features such as Genius Button™, powered by Dragon Dictation from Nuance Communications, myModes and Faves Gallery™. The myTouch 4G is appearing in a national ad campaign beginning today and will be the featured device at T-Mobile retail stores nationwide this holiday season.
Also available today is the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 4G, T-Mobile’s first netbook to feature built-in access to T-Mobile’s 4G mobile broadband network. It also includes Windows 7 Starter Edition — Microsoft Corp.’s latest operating system — and a fast processor for easy Web surfing, communication, photo sharing and multimedia playback in one small, ultraportable device.
“With an upgrade path that continues to provide room for considerable speed enhancements, T-Mobile’s 4G network is purpose-built for continued growth. We are now on pace to increase our 4G footprint — reaching 200 million people by the end of this year — with plans to offer 42Mbps theoretical speeds in 2011,” added Ray. “As customer demand for wireless data increases, T-Mobile is well-positioned to compete based on the speed, breadth and evolution path of our mobile broadband service.”
Additional 4G products already available from T-Mobile and designed to take advantage of the faster 4G service include the T-Mobile webConnect® Rocket™ 2.0 laptop stick and the high-powered T-Mobile G2™ with Google™ smartphone. T-Mobile’s 4G smartphones, the myTouch 4G and the T-Mobile G2, are powered by the Android 2.2 operating system, which provides tethering and Wi-Fi Sharing capabilities. Beginning this holiday season, T-Mobile will offer a Tethering and Wi-Fi Sharing service plan that allows customers to use their smartphone as wireless modem for connecting laptops and other devices to the Internet through the T-Mobile mobile broadband network. Customers can add the Tethering and Wi-Fi Sharing plan to their Web – Unlimited $30/monthly plan for an additional $14.99/month.
Product Availability
T-Mobile plans to offer a selection of affordable data plans for both smartphones and broadband products, with smartphone data plans starting as low as $10/month. T-Mobile customers do not pay a premium for access to its 4G network. For more information on T-Mobile products, services, pricing and promotions, visit http://www.t-mobile.com.
The myTouch 4G is available nationwide tomorrow through T-Mobile retail stores, online at http://www.t-mobile.com, at select third-party dealers, and at leading national retailers including Best Buy, Costco, RadioShack, Sam’s Club and Target. Customers can visit http://mytouch.t-mobile.com for more information about the myTouch family of smartphones including the myTouch 4G.
The Dell™ Inspiron™ Mini 10 4G is available tomorrow at http://www.t-mobile.com.
About T-Mobile USA, Inc.
Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is the U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG. By the end of the second quarter of 2010, approximately 131 million mobile customers were served by the mobile communication segments of the Deutsche Telekom group — 33.6 million by T-Mobile USA — all via the world’s most widely-used digital wireless standards. T-Mobile USA’s innovative wireless products and services help empower people to connect to those who matter most. Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile USA among the highest in numerous regions throughout the U.S. in wireless customer care and call quality. For more information, please visit http://www.T-Mobile.com. T-Mobile is a federally registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG. For further information on Deutsche Telekom, please visit www.telekom.de/investor-relations.
Google, Android, and Android Market are a trademark of Google Inc. Yahoo! and Yahoo! Messenger is the trademark and/or registered trademark of Yahoo! Inc. The names of companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
