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T-Mobile HSDPA Launch Markets Leaked
Several cities should see launch by end of week...

Excitement over the launch of the new HTC "Dream" phone with Google's Android OS is dulled slightly by the fact it's premiering on the wireless broadband network with the smallest footprint (T-Mobile). While T-Mobile's network has currently only been deployed in New York City and Las Vegas, there's a leaked HSDPA market launch list making the rounds that suggests this should change shortly.

quote:
Baltimore - Aug 18th

Houston – Aug 19th

Minneapolis – Aug 20th

San Diego – Sept 15th

Los Angeles – Sept 16th

Phoenix – Sept 16th

Sacramento – Sept 17th

Portland – Sept 18th

Seattle – Sept 23rd

San Francisco – Sept 24th
While Baltimore and Minneapolis appear to be no shows so far this week, it looks like HSDPA in Houston launched today. A flurry of additional cities should see HSDPA before the end of the year, including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Kansas City, Memphis, Miami, Orlando, Philadelphia, Tampa and Washington DC. Sorry, Cleveland and Cincinnati.
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baineschile
2600 ways to live
Premium Member
join:2008-05-10
Sterling Heights, MI

baineschile

Premium Member

Ahh

Cant wait for the launch in Good Ol Detroit, Michi....wait a second.....

pcdebb
birdbrain
Premium Member
join:2000-12-03
Brandon, FL

pcdebb

Premium Member

Re: Ahh

HTC phones that i've seen are usually crap, hopefully this one will be a step up. I'll see if i can squeeze some info from my tmobile buddies downstairs

Noah Vail
Oh God please no.
Premium Member
join:2004-12-10
SouthAmerica

Noah Vail

Premium Member

HTC != Feces

I'm not sure to which phones you are referring.

I carry the AT&T tilt aka TytnII aka Kaiser aka 8925 aka whatever.

It's a great phone. The call clarity is superb, the reception is a bit better than average and I have customized the snot out of it. I love the qwerty keyboard.

It's one of the few offerings from anyone that has full GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth OBEX transfer and true 3G. There's a ton of apps written for the WM6 platform that'll let me use it as a
WiFi sniffer
HSUPA router
Cell analyzer
GPS test unit
Skype phone

and about a dozen other geeky things. That's without the business and other apps.

Out of the box it has 3MP camera with 6MP panorama view. It snaps GPS stamped photos. It's got a VPN client. My desktop has an updated weather radar scrolling across it. The Remote Desktop client was missing but easily restored. I turned the PTT button into a voice recorder that stops and saves when the button is released. On and on it goes.

The downsides are that if I run GPS, WiFi, HUSPA, Bluetooth and other stuff simultaneously, the battery goes in 3 hours. So I manage my devices with an applet that turns what I need on and off on a schedule. I can last up to 2 days. I need a bigger battery.

Other downsides are a wimpy processor and a miserly RAM allocation. What was the point in that? My Dell Axiom from 6 years ago has a faster cpu. What's sad is that most PDA phones have similar processors. Doesn't Moore's law apply in the handheld world?

To make up for the ram I keep a MicroSD card in and save/install to that. That seems to work fine.

So far I haven't met anyone who didn't really like their HTC phone. I read the HTC forums with regularity and have found very little genuine dissatisfaction.

I'm sorry your universe isn't as kind to you.

NV

Nerdtalker
Working Hard, Or Hardly Working?
MVM
join:2003-02-18
San Jose, CA

Nerdtalker to pcdebb

MVM

to pcdebb

Re: Ahh

Pray tell which HTC phones you're talking about.

I've had an HTC Apache and an HTC Titan forever, and they're just about the best phones out there. The enthusiast software/firmware community is unrivaled, and HTC's Touch Diamond and Touch Pro are unmatched. Google went with HTC for the reference hardware "googlephone" because of their reputation.

Now, if you'd care to enlighten which HTC phones you've seen are "crap," I would be more than glad to oblige you with an audience.
ISurfTooMuch
join:2007-04-23
Tuscaloosa, AL

ISurfTooMuch

Member

As an AT&T customer...

...I'm glad to see this. Anything to add competition to the market is a good thing.

However, I wish this didn't have to be on the 1700/2100 AWS band. We can't even get phone manufacturers to include 850/900/1800/1900 GSM and 850/1900/2100 WCDMA on many of their phones now. How likely is it that we'll see a 850/900/1800/1900 GSM and 850/1700-2100-U.S./1900/2100-Euro WCDMA handset? Hell, some manufacturers still seem to think that the phones they sell abroad don't even need the 850 band for roaming here. Hello! GSM is on both 850 and 1900 here, and the 850 signal is usually superior.

I_Luv_Lucy
@charter.com

I_Luv_Lucy

Anon

Re: As an AT&T customer...

It wasn't too long ago that most GSM phones were Tri-band and excluded the 850 MHz band.

Chips are getting smaller and cheaper and it's becoming much easier to integrate several bands and multiple technologies in one.

Unfortunately, what we want and the time capable hardware comes to market is not always fast enough for the gadget nerds among us.

Just give it a year or so. You'll start to see more and more manufacturers placing more and more bands on new hardware.
patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY

patcat88 to ISurfTooMuch

Member

to ISurfTooMuch
said by ISurfTooMuch:

...I'm glad to see this. Anything to add competition to the market is a good thing.

However, I wish this didn't have to be on the 1700/2100 AWS band. We can't even get phone manufacturers to include 850/900/1800/1900 GSM and 850/1900/2100 WCDMA on many of their phones now. How likely is it that we'll see a 850/900/1800/1900 GSM and 850/1700-2100-U.S./1900/2100-Euro WCDMA handset? Hell, some manufacturers still seem to think that the phones they sell abroad don't even need the 850 band for roaming here. Hello! GSM is on both 850 and 1900 here, and the 850 signal is usually superior.
Never. Frequency bands are the new cellphone locks. ATT wont sell any phones with WCDMA 1700, and Tmobile USA wont sell any phones with WCDMA 800/1900, and Tmobile Europe wont sell any WCDMA America phones. You can use their phone rental service if your traveling to the USA.

So no manufacturer will make a phone that no carrier will carry by policy.

kgforce
join:2001-04-18
Tucson, AZ

kgforce

Member

Phoenix + Tucson?

Maybe they will include Tucson with Phoenix. If so, I see a Dream in my near future.

Cling On
@pacbell.net

Cling On

Anon

Usage

Out of curiosity, how difficult would it be for the powers-to-be to shut-off all cellular traffic?

Noah Vail
Oh God please no.
Premium Member
join:2004-12-10
SouthAmerica

Noah Vail

Premium Member

PtB?

And exactly who are the "Powers-to-be"?
Tri-lateral commission?
Skull and Bones?
World Bank?
911 Jews?
Cheney?

In your case amateur-zac may not be enough.

NV

Cling On
@pacbell.net

Cling On

Anon

Sorry PtB

I guess I should have looked here first:

"A statement released by the National Communications System (NCS) expands further on the protocol. "The Department of Homeland Security — through the department's NCS — has coordinated with state officials on a voluntary plan for cellular service disruption in the event of a specific threat," the statement reads. "The recommendation has been approved following review by the Department of Homeland Security and was sent through the Department's State and Local Government Office to State Homeland Security Advisors for implementation. Details of the plan are not releasable for reasons of national security." The statement goes on to say that members of the President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee addressed cellular service disruption via a series of recommendations for shutdown. These include a specific process to be followed after an order has been issued for disrupting cellular service.

In the future, Barry believes that the need to keep up with terrorist adaptations of cellular technology will push federal agencies to supply local agencies with jamming and other electronic countermeasures. "They might dispense it to attendees of hazardous device schools and training, or to agencies whose bomb technicians are on a list of certified personnel," he says. In other words, training everyone according to federal protocol will allow local agencies to retain some control over the equipment's use, but still meet their needs."

O.K. Keep POTS and pigeons.

K3SGM
- -... ...- -
Premium Member
join:2006-01-17
Columbia, PA

K3SGM

Premium Member

Re: Sorry PtB

said by Cling On :

......O.K. Keep POTS and pigeons.
Uh, and HAM RADIO!!

Better than POTS and Pigeons, try Hams with Assault Weapons.

You can have my Microphone when you pry it from my cold, dead hands.
patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY

patcat88 to Cling On

Member

to Cling On

Re: Usage

Just feed static/noise into a 1000watt amplifier set for the cellphone freqs and thats the end of cellphone service, until the white vans find you .

MineCoast
Premium Member
join:2004-10-06
Pensacola, FL

MineCoast

Premium Member

Bye T-Mobile

This is one of the reasons I am so glad I don't have T-Mobile anymore. They did not work well at my home, nor did they work well at my new office location. T-Mobile did not get EDGE here until years after Cingular did.

Now I have Sprint and pull broadband speeds everywhere I am at Unlimited Everything $99 a month. Can't beat it.

openupshop
join:2000-11-25
Chandler, AZ

openupshop

Member

Re: Bye T-Mobile

Oh please don't compare Sprint to T-Mobile.

Sprint is hemorrhaging customers more than McCain is losing this election LOL

And the customer service at Sprint is in India and horrible.

Please don't compare a Ford to a BMW you just can't do that!

MineCoast
Premium Member
join:2004-10-06
Pensacola, FL

MineCoast

Premium Member

Re: Bye T-Mobile

said by openupshop:

Oh please don't compare Sprint to T-Mobile.

Sprint is hemorrhaging customers more than McCain is losing this election LOL

And the customer service at Sprint is in India and horrible.

Please don't compare a Ford to a BMW you just can't do that!
Sprint isn't losing customers, Nextel is. Sprint has actually be gaining just as the other providers have. It's just Sprint and Nextel together are losing customers.

I never had any issues with their customer service. T-Mobile's was MUCH better, but Sprint seems to go the extra mile for the most part. I've got a couple phone calls to ensure I am happy with their service, including a few letters as well. T-Mobile never did that when I signed up.

I also use my phone A LOT more now that I actually get service. I used 3700 minutes last month (and that's not including mobile to moble, nights and weekends, that's just peak time) I also cancelled Vonage as I am able to use my cell phone at home now.

BTW, not that it matters, but I'm a fan of Ford I don't give a rats ass about BMW. People can have them.
DarnellP
join:2004-10-12
Las Vegas, NV

DarnellP to openupshop

Member

to openupshop
said by openupshop:

And the customer service at Sprint is in India and horrible.

No, their customer service is not in India. It's amazing how this bit of ignorance keeps getting regurgitated...

someguy1122
@verizon.net

someguy1122

Anon

Mass

No Boston?
EPS4
join:2008-02-13
Hingham, MA

EPS4

Member

Re: Mass

"New England" showed up on several other lists that I saw earlier (that did not have dates), but it seems to be conspicuously absent here. I wonder why, it seems like Boston would be a major cellular market.

Pv8man999
@wideopenwest.com

Pv8man999

Anon

Not even Chicago???

wtf? I've been had...

my crappy us cellular contract ends by the end of this month. I've been waiting for this for so long!!!
67845017 (banned)
join:2000-12-17
Naperville, IL

67845017 (banned)

Member

Re: Not even Chicago???

By the end of the year, says the original post.

keyboard5684
Sam
join:2001-08-01
Pittsburgh, PA

keyboard5684

Member

Not that I will ever see it..

But what is so good about T-Mobile? I have never heard anything good about them. The only time I ever really dealt with them is I bough a lot of unlocked phones that where used on the T-Mobile network so I could use them overseas.

So, What is the big deal? Again, I will never get the service let alone buy it if I could, but what is so great about them that people are willing to switch on every post just about that I have seen?

I switched from Verizon (850 band) to Sprint (1900 band) because Verizon did not work through my brick home walls. I understand why lower frequencies should work better but I have found that really id not the case. So other than that, what other arguments justify that they have something good to offer?

Sorry if I come off as flaming T-Mobile, I really just want to know what is so good about them. Clearly it sounds like you cannot get service anywhere, why use them?
58483323 (banned)
Gurt me
join:2003-06-23
Normal, IL

58483323 (banned)

Member

Re: Not that I will ever see it..

I get EXCELLENT service at a low price.

Plus you get superb customer service.

Yuppy_Guppy
@charter.com

Yuppy_Guppy to keyboard5684

Anon

to keyboard5684
You said so yourself that VZW is supposed to work better given the nature of their primary digital band, but for you they don't???

It shouldn't be so hard to understand that T-Mobile actually does work well in many urban areas.

The fact that T-Mobile doesn't work for you and many others just goes to show that:

1) Everyone's experience will vary
2) Coverage is location dependent
3) Paying more doesn't mean you are getting a better product
4) Coverage does and can improve even if it sucked 1,2,3 or 4 years ago
5) Some people keep their opinions stuck in the past no matter how irrelevant it is today

ferdeenand
Premium Member
join:2001-08-20
Orlando, FL

ferdeenand to keyboard5684

Premium Member

to keyboard5684
I've been hearing people bash their coverage for years. People are taking what was true five years ago, and applying it to now, as if they've made no effort to improve coverage. I have been with T-Mobile since it was VoiceStream in this area, and in the last seven years, I have never had an issue with coverage, call quality, dropped calls, or poor customer service. In the early T-Mobile days, I am sure some areas were less than desirable due to the network being a crunched up mess of smaller regional carriers, but they have put in the time and money to make a robust national network. From here to Maine, I have never encountered a point where I was not able to place a call. When I go to my parent's house, out in the middle of the forest, I am the only one who gets service. No Sprint, Nextel, Verizon, or AT&T. Their gaps in service are really only where there is no service from anyone, except maybe some old analog systems. Also, in the past seven years, I've never had a billing issue, and I've never had a problem that wasn't quickly fixed by a very pleasant rep that I got to speak to less than two minutes after calling. One call is all it ever takes. One call that I hang up from not in rage, but pleased with the outcome. Every time. Then there is all the talk about 3G taking so long. Yes, they are behind everyone else, but I know that it is starting to happen. I know that the wait will be worth it, because I know how they are about making sure things run properly before releasing them into the public. I've heard about the iPhone issues, about AT&T's 3G issues, and so on and so on, but I have yet to see anyone complain about a major issue with T-Mobile's network stability, or major phone issues, only about having to wait for new features. I have heard some complaints about their California network, but as I recall, that is the system they got from Cingular, and they are the one who have to upgrade what was built by Mr. More Bars in More Places.

As a long time customer, never once have I hesitated when asked to extend my contract for an upgrade, or any other reason. They are the longest standing phone or utility account I have, and I will continue to keep my relationship with them for many, many more years. Can't say I felt that way ever when with AT&T, Sprint, or BellSouth Mobility way back when. They are one of the few companies I will stand up for day after day, because they have earned my loyalty again and again, and every time I call and I am thanked for being a customer since 2001, I know that my loyalty is appreciated. I don't hold back one bit when recommending them to others as I know that anyone I recommend to them will have a great experience.
dsl_sutra
join:2003-12-25
united state

dsl_sutra

Member

Re: Not that I will ever see it..

I've had T-Mobile for years and am very pleased. I travel all over the US, and have no issues. T-Mobile data plan EDGE is inexpensive - $29.99 a month for data/e-mail, unlimited attachments included. UMA with Blackberry has some issues that I've read about, but no problems with my Curve and UMA. For no extra charge I can make calls and access the web using UMA with any access point that is open or provides a WEP or WMA key, so if there is wifi available I have 5 bars.

For example, in Death Valley there was no voice or EDGE, I was able to make calls and e-mail/access the web from the available WI-FI. The minutes are treated as regular calling plan minutes even though they use UMA. For an extra $10 a month voice and data over UMA is unlimited.

Most markets have roaming agreements with ATT, which may explain the decent coverage.

NetAdmin1
CCNA
join:2008-05-22

NetAdmin1

Member

Well, makes that decision easy...

I'm in the market for a new phone and carrier and T-Mobile is now off the list...

The following cities need 3G for me to consider them...

Baton Rouge
Buffalo
Mobile
New Orleans
Pensacola/Fort Walton Beach/Destin

Guess it is a toss up between Sprint and Verizon.

SLD
Premium Member
join:2002-04-17
San Francisco, CA

SLD

Premium Member

Re: Well, makes that decision easy...

We dont care.

NetAdmin1
CCNA
join:2008-05-22

NetAdmin1

Member

Re: Well, makes that decision easy...

said by SLD:

We I dont care, but I over estimate my importance and think I speak for everyone.
Corrected for you.

SLD
Premium Member
join:2002-04-17
San Francisco, CA

SLD

Premium Member

Re: Well, makes that decision easy...

No, really... WE don't care!

NetAdmin1
CCNA
join:2008-05-22

2 edits

NetAdmin1

Member

Re: Well, makes that decision easy...

n/m

Its not worth wasting the time and effort on some trolling kid.

••••••••••••

inteller
Sociopaths always win.
join:2003-12-08
Tulsa, OK

inteller

Member

Hi t-mobile

welcome to 2 years ago.

a333
A hot cup of integrals please
join:2007-06-12
Rego Park, NY

a333

Member

Re: Hi t-mobile

LOL, shouldn't they forget 3G and instead try their luck with LTE? I mean, by the time they finally have close to ~50% 3G coverage on their already-sucky network, AT&T/Verizon will be well into deploying LTE, and Sprint, as we all know, already has the ball rolling on WiMax with Xohm.
Wow, T-Mo's the new deathstar......=\
DarnellP
join:2004-10-12
Las Vegas, NV

DarnellP

Member

Re: Hi t-mobile

said by a333:

LOL, shouldn't they forget 3G and instead try their luck with LTE? I mean, by the time they finally have close to ~50% 3G coverage on their already-sucky network, AT&T/Verizon will be well into deploying LTE, and Sprint, as we all know, already has the ball rolling on WiMax with Xohm.
Wow, T-Mo's the new deathstar......=\
LTE isn't ready yet and won't be for a little while.

djrobx
Premium Member
join:2000-05-31
Reno, NV

djrobx

Premium Member

What does "Los Angeles" mean?

It's a big place. Does that mean LA City? LA County?
CMoore2004
Premium Member
join:2003-02-06
Jonesville, MI

CMoore2004

Premium Member

Re: What does "Los Angeles" mean?

Are the rest of them cities or counties?

Cheers.

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

en102 to djrobx

Member

to djrobx
I remember when AT&T deployed '3G' in Los Angeles.. it meant a small area of downtown L.A., and a strip in the east San Fernando Valley.

According to the T-Mobile store in Stevenson's Ranch, it should be here in Santa Clarita in September, but I'll believe it when I see it.

ftthz
If love can kill hate can also save
join:2005-10-17

ftthz

Member

HTC Dream

with a data only plan would be something I wouldn't mind testing

markyman
join:2003-10-06
Ashburn, VA

markyman

Member

Why can't we all get along ...

I always click on those headlines talking about 3g and such and right away the conversation turns to Mobile company bashing rather than talking about the technology or the phone itself.

Why can't people understand that Mobile service is dependant on the location your in. I've been a long time T-mobile customer- 7+ yrs- and have been happy with them. That doesn't mean I have anything against any of the other carriers but T-mobile is cheap and satisfy my needs. I've lived in Boston, Atlanta and the DC area and haven't had an issue with them. Yes in some areas while driving the signal isn't great but so what, in the the main places I need my service work.

I was thinking of switching to AT&T for the 3G services they offer but once I heared T-mobile is bringing their own service to the area I think I'll just wait for them.

Go with what works in your location, and be happy with it. If you have never tried another company's service, keep your opinions to your self cause you don't know what to expect from teh other carrier.

boomster
@northropgrumman.com

boomster

Anon

T-mobile

T-Mobile offers exceptional customer service. Better then any I've encountered with other companies. I've had them now for 3 years and have never had a dropped call or poor reception.

You see posts on here bashing the company, so I had to say at least for me, I wouldn't trade it for another company.