T-Mobile expands its 3G network

T-Mobile USA plans to have more than 20 markets lit with 3G coverage when it begins selling the first ever Google Android phone in October. But will it be enough to entice smartphone consumers to choose the HTC Dream over the iPhone 3G or even the BlackBerry Bold?

The verdict is still out on that one.

Even though the Android-based HTC Dream hasn't been officially announced, most people believe it will support 3G speeds when T-Mobile unveils it next week. And given the fact that it will compete head-to-head with Apple's iPhone 3G and newer versions of Research in Motion's BlackBerry devices, it really needs to be 3G.

The biggest problem for T-Mobile has been its nearly nonexistent 3G network. T-Mobile launched its 3G service in New York in May. Since then, it has added service in 12 other markets including, Austin,Texas, Baltimore, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Portland, Ore., San Antonio, and San Diego.

And on Thursday T-Mobile said it would expand its 3G coverage from 13 markets to 27 markets by the end of the year. The expansion will provide 3G access to more than two-thirds of T-Mobile's current customer base, the company said. T-Mobile also plans to keep expanding coverage in 2009.

By mid-October, when the HTC Dream hits the market, the company will expand 3G coverage to additional markets including, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Orlando, Fla., Philadelphia, Sacramento, Calif., San Francisco, and Seattle. And by the end of the year, six more markets will get 3G: Birmingham, Ala., Denver, Detroit, Kansas City, Memphis, Tenn., and Tampa, Fla.

Getting the 3G service up and running in as many markets as possible is key to T-Mobile's overall strategy. But even with the planned network expansion, T-Mobile will still be woefully behind its competitors when it comes to its 3G coverage.

Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel have the largest 3G footprints. AT&T plans to have 3G deployed in 350 markets by the end of the year, but it has still been criticized for not having enough of its network covered with 3G to satisfy some iPhone 3G users. T-Mobile's lack of 3G coverage could lead customers--even those who are hot to try an Android phone--willing to wait for a different Android handset on another carrier's network.

[zeroplane]

Sweet, maybe they could first work on making their normal service "not suck" before expanding the 3G network. Seriously what good is having the 3G network if you can't get a damn phone call.

I left T-mobile after four years as a consumer because over the last year the quality of their product began to suck more and more.

[Galenn20K]

I've Had T-Mobile for 8 Plus years and its Quality has Always been THE BEST out of all the other Carriers.
Rarely in all those years have I ever had a dropped call.

My Contract ran out years ago and I like to Pay Full price for my phones and I Stay with them even so because of the Fact that the Clarity of their Service and Quality of Calls that Nobody can beat.

T-Mobiles 3G network is the FAstest Growing 3G Network while T-Mobile is Covering over 2/3's of their Customer Data base, all the Rest took YEARS from when they First Started to Implement their 3G to when Most of their Markets were covered completely.

Heck, ATT STILL hasnt Finished Covering All their customers with 3G and its been YEARS.
And remember the ONLY reason T-Mobile USA took so long to unveil it was our "WONDERFUL" Government.

Also it has enough Spectrum for the Foot Print of their 4G network As Well. So Expect their 4G network as fast if not faster than the other Providers.
So I cannot WAIT!!! THis is going to be the Most PowerFul 3G network in the USA.

[Csipa1]

I've been with T-Mobile for 8 years. They suck, and all the others suck as well. Its simply too expensive, and they know you can't live without it anymore, especially now that you dropped your landline as well. Somewhere down the line their days are numbered, somewhere someone will come up with a new thing for 30 bucks a month and the by-then-giant cell companies will fall like Rome, AOL, Qwest, etc and all the other looser.