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When we speculated T-Mobile might call their new HSPA+ network “4G” they were very quick to point out that was not the case (yet). Instead, T-Mobile chose to inform us of their network upgrade schedule and said they would “integrate HSPA+ into its 3G network with broad national deployment planned for this year.”
Now T-Mobile has apparently decided to refer to HSPA+ as “Very Fast Mobile Web” according to some leaked documents on TmoNews. The flavor of HSPA+ that T-Mobile is using maxes out at 21 Mbps and they claim it will offer “home broadband like speeds on the go”.
The first device from T-Mobile to support HSPA+ will be the webConnect Rocket which launches on March 14. Initially, the device will only be sold in pilot markets where HSPA+ service is lit up. We believe this is part of the backhaul upgrade that T-Mobile revealed last month.
The pilot markets for the HSPA+ webConnect Rocket include:
- Dallas, TX
- Miami, FL
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
- and maybe Philadelphia, PA (current test market for HSPA+)
Pricing information for the webConnect Rocket and Very Fast Mobile Web data plans is currently unavailable.
Very Fast Mobile Web = HSAP+
Android fans should pay attention because T-Mobile is likely to launch a HSPA+ handset by the end of the year.
Huawei recently announced the world first HSPA+ Android smartphone model number U8800. The Huawei U8800 features the Android 2.1 operating system, integrates HSPA+ capabilities to support downlink speeds of up to 14 Mbps, and has a 3.8-inch wide screen.
We have no evidence this phone will come to the U.S., but T-Mobile USA already sells non-Android Huawei phones (like the Tap) in their stores today. Huawei is hoping to bring Android phones to the U.S. and this could be an opportunity for them.
Huawei U8800 HSPA+ Android phone.
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Hey sounds all good and great. So if they activate this, i know the G1 wont get the 21 mbps, but would it be able to pick up the signal to get the 7.2 mbps? Becuase here in Florida were on 3G but never more than a mbps. Just wondering if anyone knew, thanks.
The G1 (and all other T-Mobile Android phones) support HSPA 7.2 which is backwards compatible with the newer HSPA+.
In the real world, you might expect speeds up to 3 Mbps on your G1.
Thanks, yea I figured i wouldnt see the 7.2, but just wanted to make sure i wasnt going to be stuck at 1.
units : Kbits per sec
5121/817
5397/875
5309/888 – 1063 [min – max
5394/818 – 820
Wish I had better also. Realistically, daytime business hours the average is 4500/768 Kbits per sec. Washington DC is covered well.
T-mobile take an L for trying speed up crappy coverage instead of expanding it!
im already getting those speeds actually double those speeds…..
the trick is…
Root yer 32b device with the goldcard method and stop when ur radio is still a 32a radio…
or extract the new radio from the dmd64 update patch and patch the system folder files manually using adb or the handsets terminal.
my current speeds:
4025.4Kbits ===Down
922.6 Kbits ===Up
and thats with only two bars lit in my signal meter…
( o v O)!!!!
I would love to see the spend more time expandinding their 3G coverage instead of doing this crap. They push 3G phones in areas where there is not any coverage. Seems like a scam…
co-sign everything but the scam part!
I’m confused, can someone clarify something for me? I thought my Nexus One was HSPA+ “ready” ? Wasn’t that a big selling point that it would be able to keep up with T-Mobile’s network upgrades?
(I’m in Philly area and I get decent speeds (usually 2-3 Mbps down, 1.5 Mbps up).
Im 20 mins north of philly and have 1/3 of those speeds on rooted 32B Mytouch. Im hoping for over 1Mbps this year.
According to Nexus one Design Specs:
HSDPA 7.2Mbps = Download (to phone)
HSUPA 2Mbps = Uplink (from phone to internet)
http://www.google.com/phone/static/en_US-nexusone_tech_specs.html
Ramon, that would have been a tip 4 months ago. These days 1M download speeds are old news.
Uhh, nope, I’ve yet to see those speeds anywhere near consistently in Huntsville, despite widespread 3G coverage in the area. Someone needs to get on that backhaul upgrade!
I simply want to know, will my mt3gs speed connection improve? Or will we have to pay for this faster connection
This is good news, since it means the full HSPA rollout to 7.2 will come a bit more quickly, too. (Even better since I’m in the LA market.)
However, HSPA+ is NOT 4G. 4G is LTE, which is rated at better than 100MB/50MB @ 10ms latency. While HSPA+’s 21MB is quite speady, it does not compare with LTE speeds. If anything, HSPA+ is 3.75G (considering that they are calling HSPA 3.5G).
T-Mobile already completed the HSPA 7.2 rollout, but they are still working to upgrade their backhaul.
Also, 4G (as used in the U.S.) is just a marketing term. Sprint used it on their WiMax network and I believe T-Mobile will eventually use it for HSPA+ (which is faster than Sprint’s 4G WiMax).
Wow, So T-Mobile’s 3.5G is already faster than Sprints 4G Network. With LTE in the future as the official 4G for Everyone else… Why is Sprint pushing so hard for WiMax technology?
Acquisitions and partnerships vs deploying a new infrastructure
21mb is pretty quick.
Sometimes the ability can’t survive a name. “Very fast mobile web”? Really? This is like Chinese buffets that are called “Super Happy Yum Delicious Chinese Buffet.”
While other companies have technological sounding names, TMo goes with “Very fast”. Sad.
I concur. They do seem to go with more childish or not well thought out names. Whether it be the name of a new 3G network or even some of the names of the phones they sell. They must have thrid graders working in their advertisement department.
Sooo.. does it need a ‘technological sounding’ name to be ‘technological’? Regardless of what it’s called, they’re boasting 21Mbps. That’s faster than (the in-practice speed of) my home internet connection.
Zak, unfortunately, yes, it does need to have a good name, especially with the “#G” concept being publicly acknowledged. The general public is inherently stupid and manipulatable.
“WiMax” incorporates the look and prefix of “WiFi” so general people can make the connection. People already have a perception that the internet should be “very fast” so marketing something as “very fast” is not going to draw any attention. People want the next big thing, not a product named for what their expectation already is.
As for the product itself, T-Mobile has continued to back pedal on their original predictions.
I spoke with T-mobile today and she told me a few things that you might find interesting.
1. Your current phone (if it supports 3g) will also support the new high speed network…you don’t need a new phone.
2. They will not be increasing the price but will be increasing the speed. NO PRICE INCREASE!
3. Most T-mobile subscribers should be seeing these newer speeds by the end of 2010, if not, then Q1 2011.
That’s today
Nothing happened in Dallas today. Still slow tested all day. I am really getting tired of false promises
Miami still sucks today. Any news on when they are lighting up that HSPA+
Yea. No change in Fort Lauderdale either.
no changes in seattle….
los angeles still no speed increase