T-Mobile sends out LTE update to the Samsung GALAXY Note II as its new service is set to launch this month

T-Mobile is pushing out an update today to its customers with the Samsung GALAXY Note II that will allow the device to connect with the carrier's new LTE service. The carrier says that before the end of this month, Las Vegas and Kansas City will both be blanketed with its LTE signal. By the middle of the year, 100 million people will be in reach of T-Mobile's LTE 4G service with that number doubling to 200 million before 2013 is through. Verizon currently is the leader with over 480 markets and 275 million POPs covered with its LTE signal.

Besides the Samsung GALAXY Note II, the version of the BlackBerry Z10 coming to T-Mobile will also offer LTE connectivity. A test of the network showed speeds as fast as 58.8Mbps down and 25.5Mbps up on a Samsung GALAXY Note II although it should be pointed out that there were no other users sharing the signal. And speaking about the signal, T-Mobile users will have one big advantage over Verizon users. When Big Red customers lose a 4G signal, they are dropped down to 3G. When T-Mobile customers lose the LTE signal, they still receive an HSPA+ 4G connection.

T-Mobile has been able to build out its network using the $1 billion worth of spectrum that AT&T had to turn over after its failed attempt to buy T-Mobile. Additionally, once the reverse merger is completed and MetroPCS and T-Mobile are united, more spectrum will be available to T-Mobile.

source: T-Mobile, LaptopMag via Phonescoop