T-Mobile USA confirmed in a release today what has been rumored for some time — it is launching 3G in New York City today. T-Mobile said the network, based on UMTS and HSDPA, will continue to be built this year, with most major markets being completed by year’s end — at which point it will be the last of the big four carriers in the U.S. to launch the network. Right now, the company is selling four UMTS handsets. Those phones will start using the voice network, but users will also be able to access the Web or download content much faster. In the coming months, T-Mobile says it plans to offer its first HSDPA device, and other data-centric devices that for instance, have full Qwerty keyboards. We would expect one of those devices to be the highly anticipated Google (NSDQ: GOOG) Android phone. T-Mobile plans to launch one of the devices based on the new operating system this year.
UPDATE: I just got off the phone with Neville Ray, T-Mobile’s SVP of Engineering Operations, to get a few more details about the launch. Here’s some interesting tidbits:
– 3G speeds: The UMTS handsets will offer 200-300 kbps, which is up from its EDGE network of 50 to 80 kbps. Devices on its HSDPA network will be even faster at 600 kpbs to 1 mbps.
– PC Cards: When the other carriers launched there 3G networks, one of the first products they sold were 3G PC cards for high-speed connectivity from a laptop. T-Mobile hasn’t launched a PC card. “We continue to evaluate our options there; It’s a possibility by the end of the year, but our focus is on consumer and family. Our competition has pushed hard on data cards and productivity, but that’s not our core play….Consumers are becoming more aware of 3G services and capabilities.” He said they’ll be launching devices more relevant to consumers. “data cards won
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