T-Mobile USA officially announces 3G

After some confusion about what was really going on with their 3G launch, T-Mobile has finally released an official press release to clear the matter up. The UMTS/HSDPA network will offer users both voice and data, and start out in NYC. More metropolitan markets will be added "in the coming months" as the network grows. T-Mobile already offers a handful of UTMS devices- the Nokia 3555 and 6263 and the Samsung t639 and t819- and plans to launch HSDPA devices soon. Also promised are "new andcompelling data-centric, all-in-one devices." They're a few years behind on the technology, so lets hope they can make up for it with some really cool devices.

Full Press Release
T-Mobile USA Begins Commercial 3G Network Rollout

Company Launches UMTS/HSDPA Network in New York City on its AWS Spectrum;
Plans 3G Network Launches in Major Markets Across the Country in the Coming Months


NEW YORK and BELLEVUE, Wash. – May 5, 2008– T-Mobile USA, Inc. todayannounced that the company has taken the first commercial step in therollout of its third-generation (3G) wireless network by launching itsUMTS/HSDPA network in New York City. T-Mobile plans to continue therollout of its 3G network across major metropolitan markets through theyear. By year's end, T-Mobile expects its high-speed data network willbe available in those cities where a majority of its subscriberscurrently use data services.

"The launch of our 3G networkcomes at a time when 3G phones and services are more affordable,capable and appealing to our consumer marketplace than ever before,"said Cole Brodman, chief development officer, T-Mobile USA. "We benefitnot only from the economic scale of 3G, but also from the extensivecommercial experience of 3G in our European markets. Today, T-MobileUSA customers already have among the highest adoption of data andmessaging services in the industry. Through our 3G network, we lookforward to delivering a rich portfolio of new and meaningful servicesto enrich our customers' lives."

T-Mobile's 3G networksupports voice and data services consistent with available service andhandset offerings. The company today offers multiple phones that areable to operate on the UMTS network. The phones are designed toautomatically connect to the best available network (3G orGSM/GPRS/EDGE) to provide the great call quality and rich communicationservices customers expect from T-Mobile.

Customers using a3G-capable handset from T-Mobile will also experience faster dataspeeds when accessing the Web, or downloading content from the T-Mobilet-zones content portal, for example.

In the coming months,T-Mobile plans to offer its first HSDPA device, along with new andcompelling data-centric, all-in-one devices that help make the most ofT-Mobile's high-speed data network.

The launch of the 3Gnetwork also enables T-Mobile to accommodate and serve more customersmore efficiently through the use of its AWS spectrum, effectivelydoubling T-Mobile USA's spectrum position, and laying the foundationfor the company's future growth. T-Mobile and the U.S. government,namely the Department of Defense and the Department of Justice,continue to work closely and effectively together to make available AWSspectrum that will give consumers access to the 3G network.

As the 3G service rolls out in targeted major markets, T-Mobile will continue to build upon its

T-Mobile® HotSpot Wi-Fi network - its wireless high-speed Internetoffering that launched in 2003 - and its nationwide voice and datanetwork, to empower customers to effortlessly stay connected using thebest available network.

T-MobileInternational is following a common technology path across all of itsmarkets in Europe and the United States, from GSM/GPRS/EDGE toUMTS/HSDPA. T-Mobile USA greatly benefits from
T-MobileInternational's 3G experiences in Europe, where adoption ofnon-messaging mobile data is growing dynamically; and with more than120 million customers worldwide, T-Mobile International is able togenerate significant global procurement synergies.