T-Mobile Expands HSPA+, Readies 4G Phone

By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 7/21/2010

Bellevue, Wash. - T-Mobile expanded its HSPA+ data network to almost 50 markets, where a population of 85 million people are capable of receiving data wirelessly at what the carrier called 4G speeds.

The carrier said it's on track to double the geographic footprint of its HSPA+ network by year's end to 100 major metro areas, with a population of 185 million people. All users in HSPA+ markets will benefit from the technology's full potential because of investments made in the carrier's cell-site connections to the Internet, the company said.

As part of the rollout, the company plans summertime availability of its first HSPA+ phone and pointed out that 16 of its HSPA-equipped phones, including Samsung's Android-based Galaxy-class Vibrant, get a speed boost when used in the HSPA+ markets, though not to full HSPA+ speeds. The carrier also launched a second HSPA+ USB modem, the WebConnect Rocket 2.0.

  "T-Mobile's HSPA+ network now offers 4G speeds to more people than any other wireless network in the country," claimed Neville Ray, T-Mobile's chief network officer.

 HSPA+ technology delivers theoretical peak data speeds up to 21Mbps, compared with 7.2Mbps on the carrier's 7.2Mbps HSPA network, which reaches more than 206 million people.

Current 3G phones have the potential to double their peak theoretical speeds to 14.4Mbps, depending on their processing power, the carrier previously said.

Also as part of the expansion, T-Mobile widened availability of its two HSPA+ USB modems to all T-Mobile stores in its HSPA+ markets. The newest USB modem is the WebConnect Rocket 2.0 USB Laptop Stick, which adds a rotating swiveling form factor. The newest markets with HSPA+ technology in place include Austin, El Paso, Fort Worth, San Antonio and Waco, Texas; Baltimore; Baton Rouge and Lafayette, La.; Birmingham, Ala.; Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Dayton, Ohio; Fort Lauderdale and Jacksonville, Fla.; Greenville, S.C.; Honolulu; Indianapolis; Kansas City and St. Louis, Mo.; Milwaukee; Minneapolis; Portland, Ore.; and Wichita, Kan.

In addition, T-Mobile has expanded coverage in cities in previously announced metropolitan areas, including Los Angeles, New York and Washington. 4G speeds are now available for customers in Alexandria, McLean and Reston, Va.; Anaheim, Burbank, Glendale, Irvine, Long Beach and Ontario, Calif.; Annapolis, Bethesda and Chevy Chase, Md.; and Asheville and Hickory, N.C.

 In other T-Mobile developments:

• the carrier launched a back-to-school promotion in which customers can sign up for T-Mobile's Even More Family Plan with a two-year contract and get the Samsung Gravity 3 and Gravity T messaging phones for free after mail-in rebate.

• launched the LG dLite at $49.99 with a two-year service agreement. The 3G phone features bright Bubblegum and Electric Blue color finishes, hidden LED matrix that lights up on the outside of the phone, T-Mobile Social Buzz service, personal email and Visual Voicemail support.