T-Mobile USA Announces Major 4G Coverage Expansion in 14 Markets, Solavei MVNO Targets iPhone Users

[MacRumors]

T-Mobile USA today announced that it has made significant enhancements to its 4G network in 14 areas, signaling continued efforts to support the iPhone on its fastest 4G networks. T-Mobile has announced that it will officially begin offering the iPhone sometime next year.

Today, we're announcing technology advancements in 14 new metro areas to close out 2012, underscoring our rapid enhancements to the already powerful 4G experience we offer. This has been a busy year for T-Mobile's network -- we announced a $4 billion plan to advance the network, secured vendors and quickly got to work installing new equipment across the country. Only 10 months after announcing our plans, we've already enhanced coverage for more than 100 million people!

Alongside T-Mobile's announcement, mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Solavei, which operates using T-Mobile USA's network, has officially launched a major push to attract iPhone customers.

Launched on September 21, 2012, Solavei has already attracted more than 100,000 members nationwide to take advantage of the only mobile phone service offering a $49 per month unlimited voice, text and data plan, along with the unique opportunity to earn recurring monthly income by sharing with friends and family.

"The network enhancements give our current and future members the ability to use their unlocked iPhones and other AT&T/4G smartphones at the highest possible speeds in even more cities," said Ryan Wuerch, founder and CEO of Solavei. "The time is right for the more than 4 million AT&T iPhone customers who initially signed contracts in 2010 to cut their phone bills in half and gain the opportunity to earn income by sharing Solavei with their friends and family."

Solavei notes that T-Mobile's network enhancements now allow it to support the iPhone in 37 new markets.

The network enhancements allow Solavei members to use iPhones and other AT&T/4G smartphones to access its $49 per month unlimited voice, text and data in areas including New York City, Newark, Boston, Philadelphia, Detroit, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Tampa, Baltimore, Houston, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Washington DC, Atlanta, Seattle, Minneapolis, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Diego, Central and Southern Arizona, San Francisco Bay Area, Central Valley California and South Florida.

T-Mobile is the last of the four major U.S. carriers to officially offer the iPhone, and while T-Mobile itself will not begin offering the iPhone until next year, Solavei's announcement suggests that T-Mobile's 1900 MHz 4G buildout is far enough along to support a major rollout of iPhone service.

Article Link: T-Mobile USA Announces Major 4G Coverage Expansion in 14 Markets, Solavei MVNO Targets iPhone Users

[Xgm541]

Putting their AT&T earned money to use.

[itr81]

Originally Posted by Xgm541

Putting their AT&T earned money to use.

No surprise there!

[SnowLeopard OSX]

I wonder if T-Mobile decided to merge with AT&T knowing that there was little to no chance of the merger being approved by federal regulators -- leading to a multibillion break up fee -- free $4B added to their assets.

Originally Posted by TheRealTVGuy

T-Mobile: Wake me up when you offer actual 4G LTE. Nice try with marketing HSPA+ as "4G", but I'm not buying it...

I do like me some Carly Fuchs though...!

Isn't HSPA+ technically just as fast at 4G technology speeds, though?

[bleaknik]

One of the T-mobile technicians I spoke to in the area had told me that, as far as he knew, they were deploying LTE equipment right alongside the HSPA+ equipment. They plan on testing it, making adjustments, and then activating it at some indeterminate time in the future. He seemed optimistic for Q1 or Q2 of 2013.

[coolweirdo]

i wonder will tmobile allow the wifi uma calling on the iphone soon?? if so this will be a bread winner for some

[neuropsychguy]

Originally Posted by SnowLeopard OSX

I wonder if T-Mobile decided to merge with AT&T knowing that there was little to no chance of the merger being approved by federal regulators -- leading to a multibillion break up fee -- free $4B added to their assets.

Isn't HSPA+ technically just as fast at 4G technology speeds, though?

Technically? No. Practically (meaning in actual practice)? Yes, generally.

[winston1236]

Now on to their 200mb of 4g speed...

[golgo1313]

instead of wasting time and resources for HSPA+ redeployment on 1900mhz, they should instead that towards deploying LTE band 4.

[Chocolatemilty]

Originally Posted by golgo1313

instead of wasting time and resources for HSPA+ redeployment on 1900mhz, they should instead that towards deploying LTE band 4.

I'd hardly call rolling out the 1900 band for HSPA+ as a fallback for the eventual LTE rollout when they received $4 billion "wasting time and resources," not to mention the increased revenues from the MVNOs using their network and the expected increase of unlocked phone subscribers.

[ConCat]

Originally Posted by golgo1313

instead of wasting time and resources for HSPA+ redeployment on 1900mhz, they should instead that towards deploying LTE band 4.

Even on LTE, you have to use 4G (or 3G) for voice. It's still needed. Also, HSPA+ is much easier to roll out on an existing HSPA network than LTE is.

[theBB]

"along with the unique opportunity to earn recurring monthly income by sharing with friends and family."
Huh?

"$49 per month unlimited voice, text and data plan"
I'd prefer a cheaper plan with limited voice, text and data.

By the way, is this considered a pre-paid plan, meaning $49 is all you pay including all taxes and fees?

[OriginalMacRat]

Originally Posted by theBB

"$49 per month unlimited voice, text and data plan"
I'd prefer a cheaper plan with limited voice, text and data.

You should look at the "4G plans" for other options.

For example the 100min/5GB data and unlimited texts for $30/mo.

[durruti]

The "Solavei Compensation" is a poor business model, imo.
http://www.solavei.com/how-it-works/compensation

[Tiger8]

Originally Posted by OriginalMacRat

You should look at the "4G plans" for other options.

For example the 100min/5GB data and unlimited texts for $30/mo.

Another MVNO T-Mobile operator seems to hit a good spot for $40: Simple Mobile - unlimited text and talk, unlimited web with the first 250 MB at HSPA+ speeds. T-Mobile's 100 min / 5 GB takes away from talking, their other plan for 1500 talk/text and 30 MB is just too small even for casual data user.

[OriginalMacRat]

Originally Posted by Tiger8

T-Mobile's 100 min / 5 GB takes away from talking, their other plan for 1500 talk/text and 30 MB is just too small even for casual data user.

The 100min/5GB was only an example of ONE of the plans.

If you want more minutes, pick one of the other plans.

[rohitp]

So I'm in Austin and getting 3G data on my iPhone 4S with T-Mobile. However, my daughter with her iPhone 3GS (3G data turned on) still only shows EDGE. Does anyone know why?

[OriginalMacRat]

Originally Posted by rohitp

So I'm in Austin and getting 3G data on my iPhone 4S with T-Mobile. However, my daughter with her iPhone 3GS (3G data turned on) still only shows EDGE. Does anyone know why?

Does she have 3G enabled in her settings?

Settings -> General -> Cellular -> Enable 3G

[AAPL addict]

Originally Posted by rohitp

So I'm in Austin and getting 3G data on my iPhone 4S with T-Mobile. However, my daughter with her iPhone 3GS (3G data turned on) still only shows EDGE. Does anyone know why?

You might want to contact T-Mobile tech support for this question. I find it interesting on all the T-Mobile press releases I've read as it relates to upgrading their data speeds to work with iPhone they consistently state up to 70% faster data speeds than AT&T when tested with the iPhone 4S. I have yet to see them mention any other iPhone models as it relates to this. It makes me want to think that the faster data speeds might not work for an iPhone 4 or iPhone 3GS but only guessing by reading their press releases.

[mrkramer]

Originally Posted by rohitp

So I'm in Austin and getting 3G data on my iPhone 4S with T-Mobile. However, my daughter with her iPhone 3GS (3G data turned on) still only shows EDGE. Does anyone know why?

Because the 3GS doesn't support HSPA+ the iPhone 4S, maybe the 4 was the first to support it.

[coolfactor]

Originally Posted by theBB

"$49 per month unlimited voice, text and data plan"
I'd prefer a cheaper plan with limited voice, text and data.

$49 for unlimited voice, text and data is CHEAP, and you want cheaper????

[Rot'nApple]

Originally Posted by coolfactor

$49 for unlimited voice, text and data is CHEAP, and you want cheaper????

Apparently the rest haven't been paying their fair share so this individual can get the price they feel is right for them regarding overpriced telco plans!
/
/
/

[Amazing Iceman]

Anyone in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties who has been able to confirm 3G/4G service availability?

Also, does FaceTime over cellular work? How about Internet Tethering?

Thanks!

[theBB]

Originally Posted by coolfactor

$49 for unlimited voice, text and data is CHEAP, and you want cheaper????

Yes, I want a cheaper plan, as I don't need unlimited data or unlimited voice mins or unlimited texts. A couple hundred minutes, a few tens of texts and 1 or 2GB of data is all I need.

To put that into context, I pay just over $50 per month right now after occasional texts, corporate discount, taxes and fees, but I only get 200MB of data. Considering their plan does not include a phone subsidy, they can offer a cheaper bare bones plan.

[Mr.Mo]

Originally Posted by theBB

Yes, I want a cheaper plan, as I don't need unlimited data or unlimited voice mins or unlimited texts. A couple hundred minutes, a few tens of texts and 1 or 2GB of data is all I need.

To put that into context, I pay just over $50 per month right now after occasional texts, corporate discount, taxes and fees, but I only get 200MB of data. Considering their plan does not include a phone subsidy, they can offer a cheaper bare bones plan.

T-Mobile Value Packages

You might want their Value Plan: 500 Talk + 200 MB Data for $40, or add unlimited text to that and it's $45 before taxes/discounts.

You still have to sign a new contract, whereas the no-contract plans are $10 more per month. In addition, contract plans are eligible for Corporate discounts while I believe no-contract plans are ineligible (I just switched last month so I researched this a lot).