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.

[winston1236]

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

[itr81]

Originally Posted by Xgm541

Putting their AT&T earned money to use.

No surprise there!

[golgo1313]

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

[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?

[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...!

[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?

[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.

[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

[G2244]

Anyone find a disclaimer about how much Solavei unlimited data you get at 4G (and then get throttled back to Edge)? At least T-Mo is pretty up front about it. The Solavei site doesn't seem to mention it anywhere. If it is truly unlimited at 4G speeds, this isn't a bad deal.

[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.

[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????

[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?

[AAPL addict]

As a proud owner of an iPhone 4S, living in Dallas, stuck in an AT&T contract I cannot wait to finish my term and move to T-Mobile or a T-Mobile MVNO (i.e., reseller). I'll take the now availlable for iPhone T-Mobile 3G / 4G data speeds of 20 MB download which blow away the slow AT&T data speeds I get for my iPhone now (advertised by AT&T as 4G on my phone), get unlimited talk / text / data with T-Mobile and cut my monthly wireless bill in half. I for one would rather have unsubsidized wireless rates and pay full price for the iPhone. I think T-Mobile upgrading their technology to deliver 3G and 4G data speeds for iPhones and offering unsubsidized rates will play out big in 2013 and the years to come. Sorry AT&T but I foresee a lot of cost conscientious consumers completing their AT&T terms, unlocking their GSM iPhones and moving to T-Mobile.

[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!
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[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!

[OriginalMacRat]

Originally Posted by coolweirdo

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

First Apple would have to support it in the OS.

[tgenius]

Originally Posted by 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!

I personally haven't, but have a friend with an iPhone4 in Miami getting 3G now, gets 2-3mb/s

[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.

[apunkrockmonk]

Originally Posted by OriginalMacRat

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

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

Or even better, if you need more than 100 minutes use VoIP for the remainder of the minutes you use.

Not feasible for everyone but it certainly is for me.

[cameronjpu]

But can I use visual voicemail in either?!