T-Mobile Announces LTE Network 75
MrSeb writes "In a beautiful twist of fate, T-Mobile USA has announced that it will be launching an LTE network in 2013 using the money and AWS spectrum that it obtained from AT&T after its failed acquisition. According to T-Mobile, this upgrade comprises of a three-phase process: free up 2G spectrum, move HSPA+ to formerly 2G spectrum, and deploy LTE on formerly HSPA+ spectrum. The end result will be a much faster network that can compete with AT&T and Verizon, and download speeds of up to 74Mbps in 75% of the top 25 markets in the US. International visitors should enjoy better roaming thanks to the deployment of PCS HSPA+, too — and finally, an AT&T LTE iPhone would also work on T-Mobile's upcoming network."
Re:The US market is really confusion (Score:5, Informative)
There is barely any 'roaming' in the U.S. You might get some plans that will give you free calling to other people on the same network, but unless you send all the people you interact with while there a survey indicating what network they're on and basing your decision on that... well.
You're coming from Europe with an N9 and an iPhone that, presumably, take SIM cards and run on the GSM networks. This is what limits you mostly - to AT&T and T-Mobile - if you want to stick to those phones and want to pick up a local SIM card. And yes, you'd want to pick up a local SIM card unless your European cell company doesn't gouge customers for actual roaming costs from using your European SIM in the U.S.
The reason I mention "if you want to stick to those phones" is because you have a much greater choice if you just pick up a plan+phone, or prepaid phone, from any provider you please, and use it to make actual calls - keeping your N9/iPhone around for chatting, internetting, etc. on e.g. WiFi networks (your hotel / place you stay, starbucks, mcdonald's, book stores, whatever).
You can then keep that phone and just bring it with you every time you visit the U.S. (note that prepaid options expire after a while (at least at AT&T) unless you top it off, so if you visit again in a year, you might have to pick up a new prepaid SIM/plan and deal with having to send people new U.S. numbers each time).
If you do pick up an AT&T Go Phone or SIM, please note that topping up is best done at an AT&T store location. The reason for this is that, as recently as January, their web interface does not accept non-American Credit Cards and their call-in service puts you first through a speaking menu, then a 'press # to...' menu, then finally decides to also not accept your credit card, puts you on hold for a queue to an actual person, and by the time you get through to them, will be out of the credits that were left (yes, calling the top-up service costs you credit.) Maybe they fixed that, maybe mashing buttons to get through to a person asap works as well, but in my opinion.. just go to one of the stores, much less hassle and they can help you out better with options in case your usage indicates a better plan, too.
That's my personal experience - a simple search query will yield many sites that give advice to travelers, though.
Re:The US market is really confusion (Score:2, Informative)
Verizon and Sprint are not compatible with your phones.
Re:The US market is really confusion (Score:2, Informative)
If you will primarily be in urban areas, AT&T and T-Mobile will be fine.
If you want to get coverage in rural areas, Verizon might be your best bet. AT&T is getting better, but I frequent areas of rural New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia where Verizon is the only option. By "rural" I mean small towns of 1500 people and farmland, not the wilderness.
75% of the top 25 markets (Score:5, Informative)
"75% of the top 25 markets" sounds like they mean there will be almost no coverage. A "market" could just mean a city, say the city centre. Assuming one enabled mast that could work out as about 18 square miles for the entire country.
Presumably their plans are a bit grander than that, but it still sounds like they are saying their network has terrible coverage and won't be getting any better.
Re:The US market is really confusion (Score:2, Informative)
You are coming with what is possibly the best phone to have for international roaming N9 with pentaband. That'll work on both AT&T and T-mo with 3G. No point buying a phone + plan here. T-mo has some pretty good prepaid plans http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-plans. If you are coming for just a couple weeks you could also go with the $2 or $3 per day plans. That's probably going to be the cheapest option. If you don't need data then you can also just use the pay as you go plans.