T-Mobile Prepares For HSPA+ Rocket Liftoff

By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 3/11/2010

Bellevue, Wash. - T-Mobile plans to launch the first HSPA+ device from a national cellular carrier on March 14, when the WebConnect Rocket USB Laptop Stick goes on sale for use in the carrier's single HSPA+ market in Philadelphia.

HSPA+ delivers theoretical wireless-download speeds of 21Mbps compared with 7.2Mbps HSPA, which is deployed throughout T-Mobile's network. The carrier, however, said it's still "working to put the necessary backhaul in place to support these faster [7.2Mbps HSPA] speeds."

In the coming months, the carrier continued, T-Mobile turn on HSPA+ in major cities on both coasts, followed by a "broad national deployment" planned for the end of the year.

The PC- and Mac-compatible laptop stick also incorporates Wi-Fi, and unlimited free use of T-Mobile Hot Spots is included in the stick's data plans.

The stick will retail for $99.99, plus taxes and fees, with a two-year contract and WebConnect data plan at select carrier-owned stores in Philadelphia, online at www.T-Mobile.com and at (800) T-Mobile.

WebConnect data plans requiring two-year contracts are the $59.99/month plan with included 5GB/month and $29.99/month for 200MB plan. Overage charges for both are 20 cents/MB.

The new no-contract Even More Plus WebConnect data plans are $49.99/month for 5GB and $19.99/month for 200MB. Overage charges are 20 cents/MB.