T-Mobile Begins 3G Rollout In NYC
The Bellevue, Wash.-based company said it also plans to continue the rollout of its 3G network across major metropolitan markets through the year, and that by the end of the year expects that its high-speed data network will be available in cities where a majority of its subscribers -- 268 million -- who currently use its data services.
T-Mobile's 3G network will support voice and data services found on certain service and handset offerings that the company sells that operate on the UMTS network. (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System).
The phones are designed to automatically connect to the best available network (3G or GSM/GPRS/EDGE). In addition, customers who use a 3G-capable handset from T-Mobile can receive faster data speeds when going online or downloading content from the T-Mobile t-zones content portal, according to the company.
During the year, T-Mobile said it plans to offer its first HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) device, in addition to new data-centric, all-in-one devices that run on the company's high-speed data network. The launch of the 3G network also enables T-Mobile to serve more customers through the use of its AWS(Advanced Wireless Service) spectrum, which effectively doubles T-Mobile USA's spectrum position, the company said.
In November 2006, the FCC granted the company 120 spectrum licenses covering the continental U.S., Hawaii, Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands, Alaska and major markets including New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago, following its bid of approximately $4.182 billion.
The stakes may go up for the No. 4 U.S. wireless carrier: on Saturday, a German magazine article reported that T-Mobile parent, Deutsche Telekom, is reportedly looking at a possible purchase of the third largest U.S. wireless carrier Sprint Nextel, according to Reuters.