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T-Mobile to Transition to LTE in a 'Few Years'

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Well Now....

Slammer

Jan 20, 2011, 1:06 PM
...This is going to get a bit confusing. T-mobile claims they have 4G, yet they want to transition to a 4G technology in 2013.

So what is it T-mobile? Are you now claiming that HSPA+ is not sufficient to call it 4G? Are you going to call LTE 5G?

I'm very curious on your direction here.

John B.
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misschris

Jan 20, 2011, 1:22 PM
HA!

Good one.
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Jayshmay

Jan 20, 2011, 1:58 PM
Happy "pre-Friday" to you MissChriss! ! !
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cstone

Jan 20, 2011, 2:15 PM
Lol good point. But lets not forget about AT&T.... They are calling their 7.2 mbps HSPA+ a "4g" network, and on top of that they started doing it right before they plan to launch LTE. What are they going to tell their customers that are upgrading today to "4g phones" in 6-8 months when they launch LTE and those 4g phones that they just bought are completely obsolete? At least T-Mobile is sticking with HSPA+ for a "couple years" since a contract happens to last "a couple years" that seems like it will work out much better.

IMHO AT&T comes out of this looking way worse than T-Mobile. I don't think it was a good idea to call their 14.4mbps HSPA+ "4g". But AT&T's 7.2mbps is even farther from it, seriously AT&T couldn't wait a few more months...
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T Bone

Jan 20, 2011, 2:24 PM
"Lol good point. But lets not forget about AT&T.... They are calling their 7.2 mbps HSPA+ a "4g" network, and on top of that they started doing it right before they plan to launch LTE. What are they going to tell their customers that are upgrading today to "4g phones" in 6-8 months when they launch LTE and those 4g phones that they just bought are completely obsolete?"

It's irrelevant, HSPA+ has already been rolled out in nearly 100% of its markets, LTE will take at least two years to become as widespread....

The real issue is AT&T and Verizon hyping LTE when neither carrier plans for LTE to be at all common before 2013 at the earliest. Much like Sprint with its WiMax network, making big claims about a technology that barely exists an...
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Azeron

Jan 20, 2011, 3:06 PM
Really? I remember when AT&T Wireless initially launched GSM. The footprint was so faint that they offered a $99 Unlimited plan back in 2004. I remember when Verizon launched EV-DO in D.C and San Diego initially. (*Shrug*) It happens. It is easy to criticize when it is not your money being spent to build the towers. No one launches a new network full grown.
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T Bone

Jan 20, 2011, 3:22 PM
You don't see the problem of encouraging people to run out and buy the latest LTE device, because advertising made it seem LTE is universal, when it doesn't exist in their market and they won't notice a difference in performance whether they use an LTE device or not?

This has caused some problems for Sprint, which has been hyping their '4G' network since 2008, leading people to think it is ubiquitous (yes, I know the ads have a disclaimer at the bottom say 4G only exists in select markets, but most peoeple don't notice these kinds of things) and then being disappointed when they discover that it doesn't cover their market.
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Azeron

Jan 20, 2011, 11:53 PM
Sure. I see the problem. It's going to be very interesting. I'm just saying that anyone can sit back and know it all when they are not taking the risk. I doubt this LTE is going to be great. But I don't know. I'll be sitting back with my 3G Incredible and frankly I doubt I will upgrade from it. I like my grandfathered rate plan and I doubt they will let me keep it on a 4G device.
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GeeksAreBest

Jan 21, 2011, 8:37 AM
Actually, AT&T isn't calling the 7.2 their 3G. If you remember, they called out T-Mobile for their little stunt of calling their HSPA+ network "4G". Their 4G is still as far as I know, going to be LTE like the rest of the companies (except T-Mobile now apparently).
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Azeron

Jan 21, 2011, 12:12 PM
https://www.phonescoop.com/news/item.php?n=7235 »

"AT&T and Samsung today officially announced the Android-based Infuse 4G smartphone." "The Infuse 4G does not use Long Term Evolution, which AT&T is set to deploy in mid-2011. Instead, the Infuse 4G runs on HSPA+. AT&T didn't say what speed the Infuse's 4G HSPA+ radio runs at. It will available later this year."
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Slammer

Jan 24, 2011, 9:48 AM
I haven't heard of anyone confusing Sprint's 3G with 4G.

It is confusing when a carrier has a 3G network, yet claims HSPA+ as both 3G and 4G. So they sell two types of HSPA+ devices. Some are 3G and some are 4G even though it is the same. Then they say they are going to a 4G network to deliver 4G. So now they will have 3 types of devices. Customers with 3G phones , Customers with supposedly 4G phones, and customers with "I'm not exactly sure what G phone I have" phones.

John B.
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WiWavelength

Jan 24, 2011, 12:28 PM
T-Mobile sales rep: "Have you seen our new 4G phones?"

T-Mobile sub: "Thanks, but I already have a 4G phone."

T-Mobile sales rep: "Which phone do you have?"

T-Mobile sub: "I have a myTouch 4G."

T-Mobile sales rep: "Oh. That's for the 'old' 4G. It won't work on our 'new' 4G."

T-Mobile sub: "Huh?"

T-Mobile sales rep: "You see, our 4G wasn't really 4G. It was just an upgrade to our 3G network. But then we got the ITU to change the definition, so it was 4G. However, it wasn't as good as the 4G that other carriers are offering. So, now we have 4G, too.

T-Mobile sub: "Who's on first?"

AJ
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Slammer

Jan 24, 2011, 1:06 PM
🤣
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Black_Beard

Jan 20, 2011, 2:34 PM
In my opinion. T-mobile upgrades its network right now for less money giving customers comparable if not better "4g"speeds than LTE while they sit back and watch everyone else fumble around with it and work out the kinks.
Then in two years when they need to roll out LTE it'll be easier and the tec will be more matured. Just those are my thoughts.
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T Bone

Jan 20, 2011, 2:50 PM
HSPA+ is only intended to be a temporary, stop gap measure to increase data speeds now while consumers wait for full implementation of LTE.

HSPA+ satisfies consumer demand for faster speeds now, while putting allowing more time to develop LTE later.
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Azeron

Jan 20, 2011, 3:11 PM
I applaud T-Mobile for having turning a weakness into a strength...all by renaming their 3G (which was the smallest footprint of the major carriers' 3G networks) to 4G and calling it the largest 4G network. Brilliant!
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Black_Beard

Jan 20, 2011, 3:14 PM
yep
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Mark_S

Jan 20, 2011, 3:42 PM
So I guess their version of HSPDA is just another smoke-screen to label it 4G and snow-job everyone to buy phones.
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Black_Beard

Jan 20, 2011, 4:22 PM
Well i wouldn't say that. On hspa+ i currently get 7 mbps average speed and some times ill hit 10-12 in certain areas. From what Ive seen that's what LTE is "supposed" to achieve with vz. So i guess its how you define 4g. If you define it as speed. Than yes its 4g.
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Versed

Jan 23, 2011, 9:09 PM
Black Beard and throw this into the ring, they are going to have several different schemes, limited capped data, and now I hear tiered throughput. I'd rather pay nothing extra and have unlimited and slower speeds (and I don't mean slow) then pay more per month for limited superior technology that for the next 18 months to 2 years is going to also have limited penetration.
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Azeron

Jan 20, 2011, 11:56 PM
Well...I wouldn't call it a "snow job". I would call it clever marketing. So clever in fact that AT&T fell right in line suddenly deciding to call their HSPA+ 4G as well. Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery after all.
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GeeksAreBest

Jan 21, 2011, 8:41 AM
And again, correcting it when I see it. AT&T doesn't call their HSPA+ network 4G. LTE is the expected 4G network.

In fact, if you go to the website and look at their info on 4G, what they say is that LTE is 4G and the HSPA+ is the backup. Like 3G and Edge is now is how they're refering to the two layers.
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Azeron

Jan 21, 2011, 12:18 PM
...opening mouth now please insert foot. Why would I make such a claim if it were not in print? You're crossing the line now. Can I get an apology, please?

https://www.phonescoop.com/news/item.php?n=7238 »

" AT&T is going to follow T-Mobile's lead, and will market its HSPA+ network as 4G. AT&T didn't define which HSPA+ version would qualify as 4G, but said that it has several test markets running at "4G speeds" of 6Mbps. AT&T said that 100% of its mobile network has been upgraded to HSPA+, though it didn't specify if the base version is 7.2Mbps, 14.4Mbps, or 21Mbps. AT&T did say that its plans to launch LTE by mid-2011 are still on track, and it will complete its LTE roll out by the end of 2013"
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Azeron

Jan 21, 2011, 12:35 PM
http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=18885&cdvn=new ... »

"AT&T is the leader in smartphones and devices, and expects to widen that lead in 2011. The company plans to introduce 20 4G devices by the end of the year, some on an exclusive basis. The company today announced a new commitment to deliver an industry-leading Android portfolio, including more than 12 new Android devices in 2011. AT&T expects to offer two 4G smartphones in the first quarter which will join its two existing 4G-compatible laptop cards, available since last fall. AT&T plans to offer five to seven 4G devices in its lineup in the first half of 2011."

Now they are calling these devices 4G. These will NOT be LTE devices. Ok...
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GeeksAreBest

Jan 21, 2011, 3:29 PM
My point there was that you're blurring the same lines that Zeman did when he reported on everything. There's nowhere that AT&T directly refers their HSPA+ as LTE. Just because a phone is tagged something, doesn't mean anything. It's a marketing ploy by the Manuf. In fact, AT&T actually has little *'s on the 4G parts that says the 4G is based on tested data speeds of the HSPA+ network. In all the articles and press releases (that weren't summed up) the HSPA+ network is never directly referred to as 4G. In everything AT&T has, it *always* combines the effort of the HSPA+ and LTE networks to provide a "4g Network".

The big beef there was all T-Mobile has is HSPA+ and they're still trying to have a p*ssing contest with providers who are back...
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Azeron

Jan 21, 2011, 3:38 PM
No they do not refer to HSPA+ as LTE. They refer to it as 4G. Which they CAN do. It is great marketing that they would never have stumbled upon were it not for T-Mobile. Yay T-Mobile!

http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=18885&cdvn=new » ... »

"AT&T expects to offer two 4G smartphones in the first quarter which will join its two existing 4G-compatible laptop cards, available since last fall. AT&T plans to offer five to seven 4G devices in its lineup in the first half of 2011."

"AT&T is the only U.S. company committed to delivering 4G using both HSPA+ and LTE technologies – providing a faster and more consistent experience for customers."

You can read, yes? I placed the quotation marks because these are quotes taken F...
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tmorep03

Jan 25, 2011, 12:41 PM
Phonescoop did post an article about tmobile teaming up with another company to try and launch lte hspa+ in a couple years and if they did that, all the current hspa+ phones could work on that network
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TDBearCT

Jan 20, 2011, 3:42 PM
This has always been T-Mobile's strategy. In the US, they never deploy bleeding edge technology. They wait until the other carriers deploy first generation infrastructure (i.e. base stations, antennas) and do their deployment when second generation infrastructure is available (and they can see the mistakes that the other carriers made).
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Azeron

Jan 20, 2011, 11:58 PM
Sounds like a sound plan to me. Whenever I shopped T-Mobile the reps were upfront about their coverage limitations. That always stuck with me. They had this location tool they would pull up my home address and advise me if they would be a good fit.
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ghepau

Jan 20, 2011, 4:18 PM
hahahaha
you're totally..
right! 🤣
they're so funny
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muchdrama

Jan 20, 2011, 8:36 PM
Slammer said:
...This is going to get a bit confusing. T-mobile claims they have 4G, yet they want to transition to a 4G technology in 2013.

So what is it T-mobile? Are you now claiming that HSPA+ is not sufficient to call it 4G? Are you going to call LTE 5G?

I'm very curious on your direction here.

John B.


No need for the confusion. Where Tmobile offers HSPA+, it's as fast as anything the competition offers; faster in some instances.
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MissSLM07

Jan 21, 2011, 3:23 AM
Eff TMobile's "4g"! What about the crappy 3g coverage they have? Im about ready to port my number because Im getting tired of calling tech support about the horrible 3g coverage in Houston. They told me I need a new SIM card and Im having more problems now than I did before. 🤨
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tmorep03

Jan 21, 2011, 8:50 AM
Ever try a new phone?
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Azeron

Jan 21, 2011, 12:19 PM
I don't think T-Mobile has 3G anymore. Now that they have wrangled it into 4G. I just love it!
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muchdrama

Jan 21, 2011, 5:23 PM
MissSLM07 said:
Eff TMobile's "4g"! What about the crappy 3g coverage they have? Im about ready to port my number because Im getting tired of calling tech support about the horrible 3g coverage in Houston. They told me I need a new SIM card and Im having more problems now than I did before. 🤨



Port away, then.
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Slammer

Jan 21, 2011, 9:11 AM
I will not debate what should be 4G and what the carriers consider 4G.

I will however, stay the course on trying to figure out why t-mobile is the biggest offender of just throwing cards up in the air, and watching how they fall. With every new plan of attack they come out with, we can always depend on either a retraction or contradiction at a later date. This is very confusing to me as a consumer. It makes them appear as a carrier with no direction. Their subscribers are essentially guinea pigs in the maze of the wireless industry.

Just saying.

John B.
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Azeron

Jan 21, 2011, 12:22 PM
When one is number four one can be more agile than the lumbering giants like VZW and AT&T. I find it rather sporting and always look to the smaller carriers to take risks. Apparently Sprint will no longer do so now that they are aping the Duopoly. Too bad...
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insider.

Jan 21, 2011, 5:45 PM
???
It doesn't matter anymore who is right or wrong. The ITU changed their mind in December 2010 and certified HSPA+ as "4G", too.

http://www.cnet.com/8301-17918_1-20026228-85.html?ta ... »
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