T-Mobile to launch 3G network without data support
Seriously? Remember that little bit of news we got about T-Mobile’s upcoming 3G network launch in New York? Exciting stuff, save for one small, tiny little detail. According to an internal memo that the carrier is currently circulating, they only plan on flipping the switch on the voice portion of their "next-gen" mobile network. Uh…okay. Here’s the pertinent text from the memo:
"3G is the next generation of our wireless network, following our current GSM network. In this early phase of our network evolution, 3G is a new technology for carrying wireless voice calls and supporting existing data capabilities on our network. In future phases, this next generation network will power ‘high-speed’ (3G) products and services that connect customers in new and exciting ways. … Inform customers who are interested in high-speed data that the first phase of our 3G roll out supports voice only."
Great. Just great. T-Mobz, we love you, but this is ridiculous. Your 3G coverage is rolling out years after the rest of the competition, and you can’t do us the service of making sure it supports the features that most people are looking for in a high-speed access network? No word on when they plan to turn the good stuff on, but sometime in 2011 is a safe bet.
What are you doing with an internal T-Mobile document, and I work for them and know it says nothing about voice/data. just says test launch in new York, then 20 other markets by years end! So just setting things straight
People, T-Mobile obviously told its staff to say that 3G is voice-only in order to avoid people asking for (non-existing) 3G data cards.
However, anyone with some fundamental knowledge should know that UMTS=voice+data.
Shame on you for commiting such a huge mistake.
Uhhh… John J, maybe you are fairly new in here but these blogs have TONS of internal documents, even stuff that you haven’t seen yet!
@TmoNews.com
Why lay off? They played the story as “NO DATA,” not as “TMO TO TELL CUSTOMERS VOICE ONLY.” They ran the big headlines, got the commenters ranting, and buried the “it might just be that TMob reps are being directed to say this to play down the lack of data cards” angle.
Totally irresponsible of BGR, EM, and anyone else who reported this based on a not-definite internal document … and then played up the angle they wanted to play up to get Web traffic.
This type of jump the gun gossip gives blogs a bad name.
I actually can understand why Engadget Mobile did it. They probably are still mad at T-Mobile for the whole magenta incident, and although I agree it was messed up, you gotta let it go. These blogs SHAPE THE PERCEPTION of these companies and are very influential to a lot of people. And with that being said, it has to be kept professional and reported accurately or else these sites will just become random places to read rumors.
Not new just annoyed by the site! the post unverified rumors and info and pass off as fact! Have seen the document and it never says no data! It will be here and anyone jumping ship because of a signal type is welcome to do so, but don’t come back when you find out it isn’t any better!
I’m not a fan of TMO much, however its funny post after post of people saying tmobile sucks going to AT&T, if tmo is waiting and waiting to roll out 3G why continue to post you are leaving when you just keep bitching. That is sad.
I don’t understand why everybody still are going around “no data” death loop?!
doesn’t my proof enough?
still doubt my speedtest.net result is photoshopped?!
wake up, everybody, the Sun comes out and still deny it???
When I read this, I know that this is certainly misinformation. Every single major US 3G network — including Cingular/AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint — went live as either data card-only (with phones added later), or data and voice together.
T-Mobile now formally announce that it will launch its 3g network starting next week. The carrier also said its 3G network will support both voice AND data when it launches next week.
http://www.rcrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080502/FREE/686824713/1002/rss01
I still love you, boygenius. At least it didn’t come from you but an internal document claimed by TMonews.com, right? An update to this article is greatly appreciated since a lot here rely on your blog for real technology news.
BETTER NEWS HERE…. ITS THE RIGHT DIRECTION:
T-Mobile 3G goes live, with data (kind of)
by Nilay Patel, posted May 2nd 2008 at 8:34PM
T-Mobile’s 3G network started going live today, and it looks like that early word from a company memo may not hold true for all users. Some markets may in fact have a silent soft-launch of faster data rates, we’ve heard from several tipsters who’ve said that they’re already getting faster data service, and now the company itself getting the word out that it’s launching data as well. But company peeps were indeed instructed to make sure customers don’t count on that faster data being present; bottom line is you may have it, you may not (but if you take T-Mobile at its word, you should). NYC is the first market to light up, but others should come online soon — anyone trying it out? How’s it going? Hit us up in comments and let us know!
I DO blame BGR and Engadget for this misinformation. It’s BAD JOURNALISM to post/print what you hear without confirming it. Confirming is just Journalism 101. If somebody gave BGR a memo that said “blue monkeys will come shooting out of my butt at 12:03 PM”, they’d put it on their web site pronto. Not even a call to my proctologist to confirm! They’re ALL guilty of bad journalism on this one, and it kills their credibility.
BGR is way off, the limitation is with the handsets/devices using UMTS rel 99 which maxes speeds at 384k. TMO will have HSDPA ability @ Rel 5+ and you will see gradual speed increases.
plus you are all correct when stating data is available if you can tether. 3G is simultaneous V/D….duh!!!…to all that are speaking with NO knowledge
They’re talking about existing data capabilities, i.e. t-zones at least will work!
I don’t think that TMO will focus on data cards at least in a first phase, but decent internet on the go is at least welcome!
tmobile works pretty much wherever i need it to. In fact, ive had clearer calls and less dropped calls with tmobile than with att.
Sure, tmobile isnt up to speed but they are still the best bang for the buck when it comes to us providers.
wow!!! more waiting!!!! When are they going to come out with a new smart phone, i would prefer it to be touch. please no more clamshell phones!!!!tmobile is famous for that
Just heard an “unofficial” date of Oct. 1 for the launch of 3G data.
I have 3G iPhone I am very angry that the 3G network is only in some sections. Most of the time I am running on edge. Especially at home where I need it the most! I am canceling my service. Thumbs down for AT&T.
yuck ,no
Moron
I seriously hate T-Mobile. I went to a local TM store in May told them I wanted to use my phone as a modem to get internet access to my laptop. No problem they say. They tell me its pretty slow (between DSL and dial-up). We’ll trust me its 1/2 the speed of dial-up. But they tell me to hold on for a couple months until 3G rolls out in my area (Houston, Tx). So I waited and waited…… then finally a TM rep tells me yesterday thats its been out in my area since Aug 08. WTF??? I ask whats the deal? Why is it still so dang slow? Well you need to have a special 3G capable phone. Then why didnt anyone tell me this a couple months ago when i just bought some crappy phone to handle internet access to my laptop & now I’m stuck with this phone for some crappy longterm period? Their reply “Uh, I’m sorry that happened to you”.. Really? The only solution = buy a new 200-400 dollar phone and sign up for another 2 year contract….. No way jose. I’m canceling my acct and just let them try to get that 200 early termination fee. I feel like they committed fraud when they didnt give me all the information up front….. so T-Mobile can kiss my ars =) So use anyone besides Tmobile !!!!!!!
Here it is the middle of 2009 and I can tell you without any question that though T-Mobile’s 3G network is now functioning [finally], it is still slower than any of the real competitor’s data networks. Though I like my TMobile Dash 3G, the difference in speed compared to my buddy’s old iPhone 3G on ATT is just sad. Even worse, my girlfriend has Verizon (EVDO), which simply destroys either 3G network. If Verizon offered a good Windows-based smartphone, I’d switch tomorrow.
Justin
First of all, the coverage for both ATT and TMobile is the same; unless you live out in the sheep-humping countryside, where ATT is better.
Secondly, there isn’t any significant difference between the cost of TMobile and that of ATT. You can’t honestly say that $5 or [heaven forbie] $10 bucks a month is a difference worth noting… unless you’re that poor, in which case you shouldn’t have a cell phone at all!
I assert that you are one of those guys in India that gets paid to post OEM-supporting comments on sites like this, at the expense of distributing inaccurate information in return for your $200 bucks a month salary. X(
QUOTE:
On May 30, 2008 @ 11:29 am, tom Said:
tmobile works pretty much wherever i need it to. In fact, ive had clearer calls and less dropped calls with tmobile than with att.
Sure, tmobile isnt up to speed but they are still the best bang for the buck when it comes to us providers.