A Visual Guide to AWS

If the T-Mobile 3G upgrades restricts me only to the phones made for and sold by T-Mobile, I'll be really mad.

Well, there are really several very separate issues here:

1. Will T-Mobile use the introduction of new 3G-technology phones as an opportunity to simultaneously introduce new technology that will make it harder to unlock 3G phones sold by carriers?
   
   I'd say that's a distinct possibility, since European carriers (like, oh, say... T-Mobile Europe) did that when they launched 3G over there.


2. Will T-Mobile launch proprietary 3G services that require software only found on 3G phones sold by T-Mobile?
   
   Probably. Most carriers have done that when launching 3G. Witness Cingular Video, VCast, Power Vision, etc... they're all proprietary, and could never work with unlocked phones (even if unlocked phones were common with CDMA).


3. Will phone manufacturers create new "world phones" that will work in AWS, and also elsewhere?
   
   Yes.
   
   Since Cingular launched WCDMA + HSDPA in the Cellular and PCS bands, phone makers have already started making phones that are quad band GSM (850/900/1800/1900) and also tri-band WCDMA + HSDPA (850/1900/2100). Prominent examples include the HTC Hermes and Treo 750.
   
   It should be relatively easy for GSM / WCDMA phone makers to add the AWS band and offer phones that work in both 2G and 3G modes, on both sides of the Atlantic.