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T-Mobile USA Testing iPhone-Compatible 4G HSPA+ Service at Moscone West

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macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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Yesterday, 9to5Mac reported that an iPhone user running on T-Mobile's network had observed the curious phenomenon of 3G connectivity showing up on his device when in the immediate vicinity of the Moscone West convention center where Apple is holding its Worldwide Developers Conference next week. The user, who frequently passes by the convention center, had never seen 3G network support there before.

t-mobile_usa_logo.jpg



iPhone users on T-Mobile USA have historically been limited to the carrier's slower EDGE network due to frequency incompatibility, but late last year the carrier began refarming its spectrum in select areas to move 3G service over to the 1900 MHz frequency band compatible with the iPhone. Just one month ago, T-Mobile announced that it would be taking the initiative nationwide, making the carrier ready for the iPhone by the end of 2012.

In response to the observation of 1900 MHz 3G service showing up specifically at Moscone West to beef up service for its users and speculation that Apple could make some sort of announcement about a T-Mobile iPhone at the event, the carrier issued a statement acknowledging the testing but calling its alignment with Apple's WWDC keynote "coincidental".
While upgrading coverage inside the West side of the Moscone Center, T-Mobile has also deployed 4G HSPA+ service in the 1900 MHz band to test the live network on a small scale. As part of the company's previously announced $4 billion network modernization effort, T-Mobile plans to launch 4G HSPA+ service in the 1900 MHz band in a large number of markets by the end of the year, which will make our 4G network compatible with a broader range of devices, including the iPhone.

NOTE: The time and location of this test is just coincidental.
Click to expand...
T-Mobile is the only one of the four major U.S. carriers to not offer the iPhone, due to its current frequency incompatibility, and the carrier has been increasingly disadvantaged as even small regional carriers and prepaid networks have begun rolling out the device to an increasing number of customers.

Article Link: T-Mobile USA Testing iPhone-Compatible 4G HSPA+ Service at Moscone West
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2012/06/08/t-mobile-usa-testing-iphone-compatible-4g-hspa-service-at-moscone-west/
K

Kevtech1

macrumors member
Sep 10, 2009
59
4
Charlotte
Omg

TotallyLate-Mobile is finally getting into the game. I think US Cellular might be the last (largely known) US cell provider left. The iPhone may finally be able to compare to Droid FAIRLY!
 
CrAkD

CrAkD

macrumors 68040
Feb 15, 2010
3,180
255
Boston, MA
Pretty sad the hoops Tmobile has jumped thru to get the iPhone. All well begging for it in public and insulting it in ads.
 
M

mike5411

macrumors regular
Jan 15, 2008
135
0
CorporateFelon said:
Can you point me where you can find the $30 monthly plan on the site? I swear they make it as hard as possible to find and compare the plans.
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They're probably referring to the prepaid plan that is available on their website and from walmart. Here is a screen shot. Good deal if you can live with the low minutes!
 

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C

Chief Pilot

macrumors newbie
Feb 17, 2012
16
0
angemon89 said:
Aren't a big percent of their commercials anti-iPhone? Or am I mistaken?
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YES! But they tried to blame AT&T using the iPhone as "the object". Those commercials have existed when AT&T had the only right for selling the iPhone.

I don't know what's the case now. But when I was in the states nearly one year ago, it wasn't that easy to get an iPhone without an AT&T contract...

Cheers

PS: I hope the iPhone gets free for all carriers finally!!!
 
B

bozzykid

macrumors 68020
Aug 11, 2009
2,431
492
Verizon knocked the iPhone all the time too. Who cares? I don't think any customers have hurt feelings over it.
 
M

Macclone

macrumors 6502
Mar 13, 2012
257
0
Come on TMO, take my money!!

I pay 30 a month for 5Gig and mobile hotspot. Sweet deal.
 
Roessnakhan

Roessnakhan

macrumors 68040
Sep 16, 2007
3,518
510
ABQ
mike5411 said:
They're probably referring to the prepaid plan that is available on their website and from walmart. Here is a screen shot. Good deal if you can live with the low minutes!
Click to expand...

Wow, I would love that plan on my carrier. I barely even break 100 minutes a month.
 
Noctilux.95

Noctilux.95

macrumors 6502a
Jan 20, 2010
556
354
LA
The more, the merrier. I hate the fact AT&T and Verizon have such a stronghold on the industry.
 
R

Ryth

macrumors 68000
Apr 21, 2011
1,591
157
CorporateFelon said:
Can you point me where you can find the $30 monthly plan on the site? I swear they make it as hard as possible to find and compare the plans.
Click to expand...

I have a $30 plan with T-Mobile. I just click the $30 top up button every month when I refill. Got the plan off a brochure in the store when I bought a Samsung phone there for like $29.99.
 
SeaFox

SeaFox

macrumors 68030
Jul 22, 2003
2,619
954
Somewhere Else
jasonxneo said:
Great to see more carriers configuring their network to comply with the iPhone :)
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You know, that's not really how it's supposed to work. The carriers run the network, it's the device makers who are supposed to design their products to be compatible.

To use your logic, it's like saying Sony should change the PS3 to fix a bug in one specific but highly popular game.
 
trife

trife

macrumors 6502a
Apr 16, 2012
565
714
angemon89 said:
Aren't a big percent of their commercials anti-iPhone? Or am I mistaken?
Click to expand...

Not necessarily anti-iPhone. Just AT&T and their data speeds.

Personally, I'm looking forward to when the refarming is finished. While I'm usually in range of WiFi somewhere, it'd be nice to have the reassurance of faster data speeds should I not be. Using EDGE isn't that bad for how I use my phone, but for some situations it just isn't a viable option.
 
B

btcutter

macrumors 6502
Jun 19, 2008
357
0
Ryth said:
I have a $30 plan with T-Mobile. I just click the $30 top up button every month when I refill. Got the plan off a brochure in the store when I bought a Samsung phone there for like $29.99.
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$30 option on T mobile

1. 100 min with unlimited text and web :(
2. 1000 min with unlimited text and 30mb of web. :(

VM $30
300 min with unlimited text and web but GSM locked :mad:

No great options.
 
D

davjaxn

macrumors newbie
Jun 22, 2011
29
0
seafox said:
you know, that's not really how it's supposed to work. The carriers run the network, it's the device makers who are supposed to design their products to be compatible.

To use your logic, it's like saying sony should change the ps3 to fix a bug in one specific but highly popular game.
Click to expand...

whoosh!
 
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