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T-Mobile Unveils New 3G USB Modem
Long after Sprint, Verizon and AT&T already had

T-Mobile has finally released their long-awaited HSDPA USB Wi-Fi Stick, which costs $50 with a two-year contract, $100 with a one year contract, or $250 with no contract. The stick, made by Huawei Technologies Co., jacks you into the T-Mobile HSDPA network, offers tri-band 3G connectivity (HSDPA/UMTS 1900/AWS/2100) for when you're traveling abroad, and comes with a microSD/SDHC expansion slot that can take cards up to 8GB.

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Unfortunately, the device is Windows only, though T-Mobile says they hope to have a Mac version of the stick within a few months. The device itself is 3.5 inches high by 1.1 inches wide and just 0.4 inches thick -- weighing just 1.5 ounces. Integrated 802.11b/g (no N) allow you to use Wi-Fi in instances where T-Mobile's 3G network isn't available (which in most places will be often). When connected, you should see real world speeds somewhere around 1Mbps downstream, and 300kbps upstream.

Service plans for the new stick start at $59.99, and come with a 5GB cap -- down from the 10GB T-Mobile has been offering on other plans. Given T-Mobile was late to market with both their HSDPA network and a USB modem, it would have been nice to see them undercut the competition with either lower pricing or a higher data cap, but apparently that's not to be.
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kamm
join:2001-02-14
Brooklyn, NY

1 edit

kamm

Member

TMO simply f***** up their 3G completely...

...when they slept at the wheel and ended up bidding for a nowhere-used frequency (1700Mhz) with a never-heard technology (AWS.)

Result? T-Mobile USA has very little 3G coverage and almost literally zero device to use in their rare, borough-sized 3G footprints.

I've never seen such a fucked-up, incompetent deployment seriously - WTF they were thinking...? Anyone will flock to buy their half-assed Android G1 or what...?

Manufactureres couldn't care less about 1700MHz when almost no provider uses it - another HUGE stupid mistake TMO made, that they did not line up at least 2-3 smartphone maker (HTC, Palms or RiM) for the start; who else hey thought will be their 'supposed' 3G customers if not smartphone users?
Even if a temporary roaming agreement with AT&T would've made zero cent per bit it would've helped a lot with costumer retention.
Stupid, stupid, stupid TMO.

tiger72
SexaT duorP
Premium Member
join:2001-03-28
Saint Louis, MO

1 recommendation

tiger72

Premium Member

Re: TMO simply f***** up their 3G completely...

said by kamm:

...when they slept at the wheel and ended up bidding for a nowhere-used frequency (1700Mhz) with a never-heard technology (AWS.)
Let's see, since you're bitching about stupidity, let's look at the reality that you're absolutely incapable of comprehending.

Voicestream and eventually TMO didn't have much spectrum. In fact, all of the spectrum that they had was being used for GSM. Sprint, VZW, and ATT all head excess spectrum they could use to deploy 3g, and that's what they did. You can't just create spectrum out of nowhere. For most people this is clear, but I'm just posting this since some people, like yourself apparently, are incapable of comprehending some of the basics of deploying a wireless network.

The first auction for nationwide spectrum that they could use to deploy 3g was the 1700mhz auction. So they bid on it because they had no other options. They knew that the government would take a bit of time to get off the spectrum, but again, they had no other options. No one would have guessed that it would take the government 2 to 3 YEARS to vacate the spectrum. But again, for those of you not capable of grasping this: they had no other options.
Result? T-Mobile USA has very little 3G coverage and almost literally zero device to use in their rare, borough-sized 3G footprints.
This is the result of them just beginning to roll out their network. As I posted here, their coverage will virtually blanket their existing GSM coverage area by the end of this year. This is extremely important to them, because they want to move everyone off GSM to UMTS, so they can deactivate GSM to replace it with LTE.
»www.fiercewireless.com/e ··· 08-11-05
I've never seen such a fucked-up, incompetent deployment seriously - WTF they were thinking...? Anyone will flock to buy their half-assed Android G1 or what...?
From what I can tell, their late deployment is at a rate quicker than ATT's deployment (ie, more people covered in a shorter amount of time to cover them). Again, as they wait on the government to vacate and test the network, they'll continue deployment through the end of this year to cover a majority of Americans.
Manufactureres couldn't care less about 1700MHz when almost no provider uses it - another HUGE stupid mistake TMO made, that they did not line up at least 2-3 smartphone maker (HTC, Palms or RiM) for the start; who else hey thought will be their 'supposed' 3G customers if not smartphone users?
Since it's clear that you don't understand that non-3g users can use the new AWS network, let me clear some things up. The TM506, and a number of other UMTS devices have been out for TMO for a while. They are UMTS dumbphones. Most of TMO's customers are dumbphone users. It makes more sense for TMO to offer UMTS dumbphones for the majority of their users so that they can begin moving them to the new network so they can shut down GSM. You do understand the difference between UMTS and GSM, right?
Even if a temporary roaming agreement with AT&T would've made zero cent per bit it would've helped a lot with costumer retention.
Stupid, stupid, stupid TMO.
Chances are, ATT would have charged more than "0 profit" rates. They currently charge the highest rates on 2g, which is why TMO's roaming agreements default to regional/local wireless companies before they'll do anything with ATT.

For a primer, you should probably read this before you make another stupid, uninformed post like you just did.
»www.phonescoop.com/artic ··· 9&p=1492
Expand your moderator at work

TomClancy
Freedom Isn't Free
join:2003-04-23
...

TomClancy to tiger72

Member

to tiger72

Re: TMO simply f***** up their 3G completely...

I don't understand why they couldn't use the 1900mHz band? I mean every GSM carrier in Europe that I know of uses the 2100mHz band.

And I don't understand why the government couldn't just stay on the 1700mHz and give TMO the 2100mHz to use in the US.
Happydude32
Premium Member
join:2005-07-16

Happydude32 to kamm

Premium Member

to kamm
AT&T - The Fastest 3G Network
Sprint - The Most Reliable 3G Network
Verizon - The Largest 3G Network
T-Mobile - The WTF Is 3G Network

I'm surprised T-Mobile is still in business, they offer nothing unique, breath taking or interesting and their sales goons are the worst.

tiger72
SexaT duorP
Premium Member
join:2001-03-28
Saint Louis, MO

tiger72

Premium Member

Re: TMO simply f***** up their 3G completely...

said by Happydude32:

AT&T - The Fastest 3G Network
Sprint - The Most Reliable 3G Network
Verizon - The Largest 3G Network
T-Mobile - The WTF Is 3G Network

I'm surprised T-Mobile is still in business, they offer nothing unique, breath taking or interesting and their sales goons are the worst.
cheap family plans. great retention plan. Oh, and the backing of one of biggest telecommunications companies on the planet: Deutsche Telekom.

Asterix
Premium Member
join:2002-09-18
Nazareth, PA

1 edit

Asterix

Premium Member

Not worth it

With their US 3G service on a totally different band, I don't think a lot of people would be even interested in this. Not to mention their 2G network, let alone the 3G, sucks!!
They have been jacking up the prices lately and have seen quiet a few people switching to other providers. I myself being a T-Mobile customer for over 6 years (Voicestream then), I switched to AT&T. Way much better coverage.

I think this 3G USB modem service plan will be a flop.

kamm
join:2001-02-14
Brooklyn, NY

kamm

Member

Re: Not worth it

said by Asterix:

With their US 3G service on a totally different band, I don't think a lot of people would be even interested in this. Not to mention their 2G network, let alone the 3G, sucks!!
They have been jacking up the prices lately and have seen quiet a few people switching to other providers. I myself being a T-Mobile customer for over 6 years (Voicestream then), I switched to AT&T. Way much better coverage.

I think this 3G USB modem service plan will be a flop.
Your coverage might be better but how do you deal with AT&T's TRULY RETARDED customer service? I've NEVER SEEN anything comparable fuckup in CS...

I've been Voicestream-TMO for many years then I went to Cingular for their 3G then AT&T bought and gutted it then further @ss-raped Cingular when flooded the network with millions of iTards - their prices went up while their 3G slowed down to pathetic (aka US) speed levels plus customer service reps were downright RETARDS in most cases so last year I just dropped AT&T and went back to TMO.
No 3G either, I agree, they royally fucked up their network development but at least they are cheaper and I don't have to deal with complete morons like I had to when I was with AT&T.

Asterix
Premium Member
join:2002-09-18
Nazareth, PA

Asterix

Premium Member

Re: Not worth it

said by kamm:
said by Asterix:

With their US 3G service on a totally different band, I don't think a lot of people would be even interested in this. Not to mention their 2G network, let alone the 3G, sucks!!
They have been jacking up the prices lately and have seen quiet a few people switching to other providers. I myself being a T-Mobile customer for over 6 years (Voicestream then), I switched to AT&T. Way much better coverage.

I think this 3G USB modem service plan will be a flop.
Your coverage might be better but how do you deal with AT&T's TRULY RETARDED customer service? I've NEVER SEEN anything comparable fuckup in CS...

I've been Voicestream-TMO for many years then I went to Cingular for their 3G then AT&T bought and gutted it then further @ss-raped Cingular when flooded the network with millions of iTards - their prices went up while their 3G slowed down to pathetic (aka US) speed levels plus customer service reps were downright RETARDS in most cases so last year I just dropped AT&T and went back to TMO.
No 3G either, I agree, they royally fucked up their network development but at least they are cheaper and I don't have to deal with complete morons like I had to when I was with AT&T.
Frankly speaking, I have yet to come across a truly retarded customer service representative in AT&T
AT&T 3G is not bad at all, again it all depends where you are located. Since I have started using 3G with AT&T I have never looked back. T-Mobile has less prices cause they still far behind AT&T and just looking to get more customers. And for dropped calls, I had quiet a few dropped calls with T-Mobile too, thats more dependent on the network tower and your phone than the whole company service across the country.

kamm
join:2001-02-14
Brooklyn, NY

kamm

Member

Re: Not worth it

said by Asterix:
said by kamm:
said by Asterix:

With their US 3G service on a totally different band, I don't think a lot of people would be even interested in this. Not to mention their 2G network, let alone the 3G, sucks!!
They have been jacking up the prices lately and have seen quiet a few people switching to other providers. I myself being a T-Mobile customer for over 6 years (Voicestream then), I switched to AT&T. Way much better coverage.

I think this 3G USB modem service plan will be a flop.
Your coverage might be better but how do you deal with AT&T's TRULY RETARDED customer service? I've NEVER SEEN anything comparable fuckup in CS...

I've been Voicestream-TMO for many years then I went to Cingular for their 3G then AT&T bought and gutted it then further @ss-raped Cingular when flooded the network with millions of iTards - their prices went up while their 3G slowed down to pathetic (aka US) speed levels plus customer service reps were downright RETARDS in most cases so last year I just dropped AT&T and went back to TMO.
No 3G either, I agree, they royally fucked up their network development but at least they are cheaper and I don't have to deal with complete morons like I had to when I was with AT&T.
Frankly speaking, I have yet to come across a truly retarded customer service representative in AT&T
AT&T 3G is not bad at all, again it all depends where you are located. Since I have started using 3G with AT&T I have never looked back. T-Mobile has less prices cause they still far behind AT&T and just looking to get more customers. And for dropped calls, I had quiet a few dropped calls with T-Mobile too, thats more dependent on the network tower and your phone than the whole company service across the country.
Look, I've seen Cingular's original speeds then AT&T's pre-iTards and post-iTards speeds and even thought they had 2 YEARS to grow it went DOWN here, in NYC.

I also had enough of all the BS they did to my bills etc.

AT&T is a PoS corp, period.

Anonymous_
Anonymous
Premium Member
join:2004-06-21
127.0.0.1

Anonymous_ to Asterix

Premium Member

to Asterix
said by Asterix:

With their US 3G service on a totally different band, I don't think a lot of people would be even interested in this. Not to mention their 2G network, let alone the 3G, sucks!!
They have been jacking up the prices lately and have seen quiet a few people switching to other providers. I myself being a T-Mobile customer for over 6 years (Voicestream then), I switched to AT&T. Way much better coverage.

I think this 3G USB modem service plan will be a flop.
over here in CA T-Mobile has WAY BETTER coverage. then att

5 bars my ass more like 0 or 1 bars

Asterix
Premium Member
join:2002-09-18
Nazareth, PA

Asterix

Premium Member

Re: Not worth it

said by Anonymous_:
said by Asterix:

With their US 3G service on a totally different band, I don't think a lot of people would be even interested in this. Not to mention their 2G network, let alone the 3G, sucks!!
They have been jacking up the prices lately and have seen quiet a few people switching to other providers. I myself being a T-Mobile customer for over 6 years (Voicestream then), I switched to AT&T. Way much better coverage.

I think this 3G USB modem service plan will be a flop.
over here in CA T-Mobile has WAY BETTER coverage. then att

5 bars my ass more like 0 or 1 bars
Because you are in CA. Not all states have great T-Mobile coverage. In NJ/NY it's good but I have seen more AT&T coverage and penetration than T-Mobile.

It all depends where you stay. I have seen people say AT&T and T-Mobile use the same towers but I don't think its entirely true for every location. In my office area T-Mobile has extremely weak coverage as compared to AT&T.

Anonymous_
Anonymous
Premium Member
join:2004-06-21
127.0.0.1

Anonymous_

Premium Member

Re: Not worth it

there is like 50 cell phone towers in 10Sq mile area

tiger72
SexaT duorP
Premium Member
join:2001-03-28
Saint Louis, MO

tiger72 to Asterix

Premium Member

to Asterix
said by Asterix:

With their US 3G service on a totally different band, I don't think a lot of people would be even interested in this. Not to mention their 2G network, let alone the 3G, sucks!!
Their 2g network sucks? Mind elaborating on that? It consistently beats ATT in call quality (thanks to full-rate codec use) and having less dropped calls (thanks to them having more towers in areas where they do have coverage compared to the competition)
They have been jacking up the prices lately and have seen quiet a few people switching to other providers. I myself being a T-Mobile customer for over 6 years (Voicestream then), I switched to AT&T. Way much better coverage.

I think this 3G USB modem service plan will be a flop.
Sure it'll be a flop. It's not like they're aiming to take on Sprint and ATT. It's just a simple short term bandaid. Their big plans aren't 3 months down the road, but 3 years with LTE.

biggbrother
Premium Member
join:2001-11-07
Providence, RI

biggbrother to Asterix

Premium Member

to Asterix
Yeah I would also agree that the T-Mobile 2G service (Edge) is actually pretty darn good.

I'm really surprised that T-Mobile decided to price this service at $59.99 a month. That's what Verizon charges, and Verizon's 3G network has insane penetration.

I was hopping for a $39.00 price point at most. My plan was to purchase one of those Dell Mini's for my mom for Mother's Day and pay for a mobile broadband service for her for at least a year... but looks like I'll have to reconsider.

Since the Dell Mini integrated 3G circuit is GSM... I'm thinking Dell may be planning to partner with T-Mobile. If they were going to go with AT&T (the only other national GSM provider), they would have done it by the end of 2008 like the announced last year.
expert007
join:2006-01-10
Buffalo, NY

expert007

Member

Down/Up Speeds??

So what kind of fwd/rev speeds are expected with this thing??

tiger72
SexaT duorP
Premium Member
join:2001-03-28
Saint Louis, MO

tiger72

Premium Member

Re: Down/Up Speeds??

said by expert007:

So what kind of fwd/rev speeds are expected with this thing??
TMO is rolling out a 7.2mbps network.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5 to expert007

Premium Member

to expert007
said by expert007:

So what kind of fwd/rev speeds are expected with this thing??
From the BBR story:
When connected, you should see real world speeds somewhere around 1Mbps downstream, and 300kbps upstream.
djeremy
join:2004-07-12
San Francisco, CA

djeremy

Member

Re: Down/Up Speeds??

I'm guessing it will be higher than that 1Mbps down, 300kbps up. My G1 will consistently pull 1.3 to 1.6Mbps down and 400 to 600kbps up. Aren't those USB modems usually capable of higher speeds?

tiger72
SexaT duorP
Premium Member
join:2001-03-28
Saint Louis, MO

tiger72

Premium Member

Re: Down/Up Speeds??

said by djeremy:

I'm guessing it will be higher than that 1Mbps down, 300kbps up. My G1 will consistently pull 1.3 to 1.6Mbps down and 400 to 600kbps up. Aren't those USB modems usually capable of higher speeds?
Chances are extremely likely you'll see more than 1mbps. Whenever there's a story on TMO here at BBR, they try to lowball absolutely everything and harp on the same issues, yet for TMO's competition, they try to blow sunshine up their asses - particularly if it's ATT.
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: Down/Up Speeds??

very true. The companies that only get praise are, ATT, VZ, and Google.--- especially Google..

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: Down/Up Speeds??

said by hottboiinnc4:

very true. The companies that only get praise are, ATT, VZ, and Google.--- especially Google..
Google ad $s pay for the BBR site
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: Down/Up Speeds??

true. and also lines justin and Karl's pockets behind the pay check. every time something comes up about Google being sued or something makes the feed on here but never a story. And its then quickly gone!

djdanska
Rudie32
Premium Member
join:2001-04-21
San Diego, CA

djdanska to expert007

Premium Member

to expert007
said by expert007:

So what kind of fwd/rev speeds are expected with this thing??
I tether with my tmo 3g sony and get about 1100/350 just about 24/7. (And that's with the cheapo $5.99 plan!
flyingjoey
join:2005-11-07
Jersey City, NJ

flyingjoey

Member

T-Mo misses the mark... AGAIN!

I'm wondering if the execs at T-Mo are aware of the Verizons, ATTs & Sprints of the world. These companies have a well established 3G footprint.

T-Mo's offering of 3G is not only anemic but full of gaps and holes.

If they really want to compete against the big boys (FON,VZ,ATT) they should make their service truly unlimited and charge no more than 20 bucks a month... Maybe and then maybe they may get more than 3 people to sign up for the service.

tiger72
SexaT duorP
Premium Member
join:2001-03-28
Saint Louis, MO

4 edits

1 recommendation

tiger72

Premium Member

Karl's contempt for TMO in full force yet again

1) The HSDPA USB Wifi Stick works on MACs also. The "special" TMO software that switches between wifi and HSDPA, however, doesn't. Whoop-de-doo. Everyone already has wifi on their laptops.

2) I see you reporting this "news", but not the REAL broadband news that this site is geared towards, where TMO's CTO clearly stated that they would be working on more than doubling their network from 100 million POPs to 208 million, practically blanketing their entire GSM network with UMTS/HSPA.

3) When he posts about TMO's LTE plans, he spends more time on their 3g HSPA speed plans, and can only bring himself to remark that they're sticking with software-only upgrades which he assumes are due to them being late to the 3g game. No thought that it's because they'd rather spend time and money on 4g/LTE hardware than spending on 3g legacy equipment.

see here: »www.fiercewireless.com/s ··· &dest=FW
and here: »forums.tmonews.com/index ··· sg169816

4) And don't get me started on his constant complaining about TMO's data caps which (with the exception of this device) happen to be twice the amount offered by the competition with NO OVERAGE FEES because they simply rate limit the connection after the 10GB of transfer.

Screw the USB stick - I'll tether my G1. I'd rather them rate limit me at 10GB, than hard-cap me at 5GB and charge high per GB charges thereafter like his beloved ATT, VZW, and Sprint do.

Seriously, compare the tone between Sprint announcing their 5GB cap here: »Sprint To Impose 5GB Monthly EVDO Cap [99] comments
And TMO instituting a 10GB cap here: »T-Mobile Invisible Caps Return [53] comments
Apparently when Sprint caps people down to 5GB and eventually charges overages, it's only mildly an issue. But if TMO caps people to twice the competition at 10GB, it's atrocious because they speed cap you rather than charge you literally an arm and a leg in overages.

You know, usually I wouldn't give a damn because most news sites prod at every company every now and then. And TMO may certainly deserve it in some cases. But Karl has been EXTREMELY consistent when any TMO news has come along to play it down as much as possible, while being a bit more impartial to the competition.

So Karl, try to hide your TMO disdain just a wee-bit better, please. It's getting very old.
Dissonance
join:2007-03-26
Floral Park, NY

Dissonance

Member

Same price?

Considering the size of their 3G coverage, they really needed to undercut everybody else. Why would anybody get T-Mobile when for the same price they can get Verizon or Sprint?

tiger72
SexaT duorP
Premium Member
join:2001-03-28
Saint Louis, MO

tiger72

Premium Member

Re: Same price?

said by Dissonance:

Considering the size of their 3G coverage, they really needed to undercut everybody else. Why would anybody get T-Mobile when for the same price they can get Verizon or Sprint?
I don't see why anyone would get the data card unless they just really love TMO, and never travel to non-3g places. The price and lack of a large network makes this a horrible deal.
MightyPez
join:2002-05-01
Saint Paul, MN

MightyPez

Member

The alternative...

if you are not afraid of breaching the TOS, anyway, is to root the G1 and enable tethering.
djeremy
join:2004-07-12
San Francisco, CA

djeremy

Member

Re: The alternative...

Or use PdaNet. I tested it out yesterday and it does work, but still very much in the beta phase.

»www.junefabrics.com/andr ··· ndex.php
skitterybob
join:2007-10-31
Minneapolis, MN

skitterybob

Member

Enterprise Plans

If they want to move these things they should allow you to add these to an Enterprise Plan. I was going to dump my EDGE card for one of these, but I'd have to open a new account just for this device. I'll pass for now....
elray
join:2000-12-16
Santa Monica, CA

elray

Member

Not even close

Not sure why anyone would buy this product, if the contract is $60/month and features a "me too" cap.

Hopefully TMO will (again) quickly realize the error of their ways and re-position, offering a data contract of 10G and $30-35/month with $1/1G overage rates.

Link8
join:2001-12-16
Davis, CA

1 edit

Link8

Member

Re: Not even close

You guys are spreading it really thick.

NOBODY can use T-Mobile 3G? What the HECK are you talking about?! I did several times back in January, both in a Bay Area suburb and in a residential area in Las Vegas, and I was easily getting 900kbps down, even when I wasn't getting the best signal.

And that was over a TM506 over bluetooth, straight off a USB connection it would've been higher.

Considering that it's trivially easy to (still) get the $20/month 'unlimited' tethering plan and the $5.99/month t-zones that "doesn't support" tethering but.. *wink* can be used for it, and they both have comparable limits to what anyone else does...

They still are cheap as heck and, well, have just as good service. Who cares what frequency they use anyway? Again, I use a TM506 I got for free. It makes phone calls, has bluetooth, has memory expansion, and can tether over USB/Bluetooth. Great.

I could've gotten a G1, and as far as I can tell the G1s pick up 3G great!

some dude
@rr.com

some dude

Anon

gi tether

ill stick with my rooted G1 with wifitether running.