T-Mobile's 4G Network Is Getting A Lot Faster In These Cities (DT)

T-Mobile announced today that it's boosting 4G speeds in 55 cities, reaching theoretical speeds that are double what they are now.

The company claims its network can reach speeds of 42 Mbps (which is more than four times faster than your cable modem), but there's almost no chance of actually experiencing that in the wild.

Still, it show that T-Mobile is still working on improving speeds, which is a good thing.

Press release below:

Today, T-Mobile USA, Inc. announced it is doubling the speed of its 4G network in more than 50 markets to achieve theoretical peak download speeds of up to 42 megabits per second (Mbps). T-Mobile customers in 55 markets will now have access to increased 4G network speed, capacity and reliability. These markets include Atlanta, Ga.; Chicago, Ill.; Denver, Colo.; Detroit, Mich.; Dallas and Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, Calif.; Miami, Fla.; New Orleans, La.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Portland, Ore.; and San Francisco, Calif., among others. 

In addition, T-Mobile’s first 42 Mbps-capable 4G product, the T-Mobile Rocket^® 3.0 laptop stick, will be available for purchase beginning tomorrow, May 25. The Rocket 3.0, manufactured by ZTE, is designed to take advantage of T-Mobile’s faster 4G network speeds. Capable of speeds twice as fast as T-Mobile’s previous 4G devices, customers in 42Mbps coverage are expected to experience more consistent 4G speeds when creating and sharing mobile content, streaming and connecting through mobile video, and participating in multiplayer gaming.  

“We are continuing the aggressive expansion of America’s Largest 4G Network™, and also doubling our speeds in more than 50 markets this month,” said Neville Ray, chief technology officer, T-Mobile USA. “While customers with existing 3G and 4G devices will benefit from our continued network enhancements, new devices like the new Rocket 3.0 laptop stick will enable customers to reap the benefits of even faster 4G speeds.”

Providing customers with a blazing fast Internet connection on almost any laptop while on the go, the T-Mobile Rocket 3.0 is equipped with a convenient rotating swivel USB form factor and three changeable faceplates in cobalt blue, dark violet and matte black. The Rocket 3.0 will be available at select T-Mobile retail stores and online at www.T-Mobile.com tomorrow for $99.99 after a $50 mail in rebate, with a qualifying mobile broadband plan on a two year service agreement¹. Postpaid monthly plans start at $29.99, and customers with a qualifying voice line of service with T-Mobile receive a 20 percent discount. Customers can also purchase the T-Mobile Rocket 3.0 without an annual contract for $199.99.  For more information about the T-Mobile Rocket 3.0, including pricing and plan details, visit www.t-mobile.com/broadbandgoesmobile.

T-Mobile 4G markets where 42Mbps service is launching today:

Albany, Ga.; Athens, Ga.; Atlanta, Ga.; Auburn, Ala.; Augusta, Ga.; Austin, Texas; Bentonville, Ark.; Boulder, Colo.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Chicago, Ill.; Dallas, Texas; Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, Fla.; Denver, Colo.; Detroit, Mich.; Durham, N.C.; El Paso, Texas; Fort Collins, Colo.; Gainesville, Fla.; Gainesville, Ga.; Greeley, Colo.; Honolulu, Hawaii; Houston, Texas; Jacksonville, Fla.; Long Island, N.Y.; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif.; Macon, Ga.; Mayaguez, Puerto Rico; Miami, Fla.; New Orleans, La.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Olympia, Wash.; Omaha, Neb.; Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, Calif.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Ponce, Puerto Rico; Portland, Ore.; Salinas, Calif.; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif.; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif.; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Santa Cruz-Watsonville, Calif.; Santa Rosa-Petaluma, Calif.; Savannah, Ga.; Seattle, Wash.; Spokane, Wash.; Tampa, Fla.; Tulsa, Okla.; Valdosta, Ga.; Vallejo-Fairfield, Calif.; Warner Robins, Ga., and Wichita, Kan.

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See Also:

• Wow, AT&T's 4G Network Is Going To Get Really, Really Fast
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T-Mobile's 4G Network Is Getting A Lot Faster In These Cities (DT)

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MAP OF THE DAY: Here's Why AT&T-Mobile; Might Actually Be Good For Consumers (T, DT)

AT&T's $39 billion deal to acquire T-Mobile has understandably been met with a lot of skepticism and criticism.

In theory, competition is always a good thing, and the deal would remove a big competitor from the market.

But there's also a good chance that by joining these two companies, U.S. consumers will get better wireless service. That's the idea, at least.

AT&T provided these maps today to show how much of the country it will be able to blanket with 4G LTE wireless service. It's apparently much more than it would be able to do without T-Mobile's wireless spectrum assets. (And T-Mobile wouldn't be able to do it on its own, either.)

So, ultimately, what's more important? Keeping a specific number of competitors in the market? Or helping build a better network for consumers?

View more at Business Insider

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• CHARTS: AT&T Explains Its $39 Billion T-Mobile Deal
• CHART OF THE DAY: The Real Reason AT&T Is Buying T-Mobile
• Who's Going To Buy Sprint Now? Verizon? Comcast? Google?

MAP OF THE DAY: Here's Why AT&T-Mobile; Might Actually Be Good For Consumers (T, DT)

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LIVE: AT&T; T-Mobile Conference Call (T, DT)

AT&T and T-Mobile are hosting a LIVE conference call beginning at 8 a.m. ET to explain their $39 billion merger, announced yesterday.

LIVE coverage follows. Click here to refresh this page for the latest.

7:55 Waiting for call to begin. In the meantime, check out the deal's biggest winners and losers.

8:04 Call begins. AT&T's IR head begins the conference. Today's meeting is provide background and perspective. First, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson. Then AT&T's general counsel, enterprise boss, wireless CEO Ralph de la Vega, and CFO Rick Lindner.

8:05 Standard disclaimer / safe harbor statements now.

8:05 AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson: Will walk you though the deal and why we think it'll be approved. This deal is a special deal at a special time. Will improve network quality, will give more customers access to more services, will bring LTE across the U.S. Represents a major investment and commitment to advance America's leadership in mobile broadband. Have invested more in the U.S. than any other company over the last several years.

8:08 When we combine network assets, get better density, better network quality. Spectrum holdings will play together too. Will be able to significantly expand LTE to 95% of U.S. coverage, something the companies wouldn't be able to do on their own.

8:10 Mobile broadband has grown like crazy and will grow 5x to 10x with tablets and smartphones. (True.) Every time we increase speeds, usage has jumped.

8:12 So what's the most important thing to making this work? Spectrum. Dense network assets. And investment. Deal helps advance FCC's broadband goals. (Ahem!)

8:13 Wayne Watts, general counsel, is going to go over approval process. He's worked on AT&T Wireless, Cingular, AT&T, and BellSouth deals.

8:14 We're confident we'll get a positive regulatory review. A lot of experience in this area. We know regulators will stick with the facts. We've studied the law and we've studied the facts. And we think this deal can and will be approved.

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See Also:

• AT&T Buying T-Mobile USA In $39 Billion Deal
• Sprint Is Getting Mauled In Pre-Open Trading
• AT&T-Mobile: Here Are The Biggest Winners And Losers

LIVE: AT&T; T-Mobile Conference Call (T, DT)

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AT&T; Buying T-Mobile USA In $39 Billion Deal (T, DT, VZ)

AT&T just announced a deal to buy T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom in a cash and stock deal worth $39 billion.

The deal would make AT&T the nation's largest wireless carrier by a wide margin, so it will probably face significant government scrutiny, and AT&T could have to make some big concessions.

Or the deal could be blocked completely -- last year was the first year that the FCC did not conclude the U.S. wireless industry was "competitive." The companies expect the deal to close in "approximately 12 months" -- a long time.

At the end of 2010, AT&T had 95.5 million wireless subscribers and T-Mobile had 33.7 million subscribers, for a combined total of 129.2 million subscribers. Verizon Wireless had 94.1 million wireless customers.

There had been reports that Sprint, the no. 3 biggest carrier, was looking at buying T-Mobile. But AT&T has obviously made a better offer, and now Sprint may have to get absorbed by Verizon, Comcast, or someone else.

The benefits to T-Mobile customers will be faster access to LTE wireless -- true 4G -- and potentially faster access to Apple's iPhone.

Combining AT&T and T-Mobile makes more sense technically, too, as the companies share a common wireless technology, while T-Mobile and Sprint use different technologies.

This is a huge deal that, if allowed, could have wide-ranging effects on the wireless industry. It's AT&T's first major deal since 2006, when it acquired BellSouth, its partner in Cingular Wireless, which was then renamed AT&T Mobility.

This also solves Deutsche Telekom's execution challenges with T-Mobile USA -- it can now let AT&T, led by wireless CEO Ralph de la Vega, do the hard work, while getting an approximately 8% ownership stake in AT&T.

The companies will host a conference call at 8 a.m. ET Monday morning. Stay tuned to Business Insider for LIVE coverage.

Click here for the entire press release.

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• Today's Groupon In The U.K. Is An $80 iPad
• Zynga Picks Up Another Game Studio, Its 10th Deal In 10 Months
• Microsoft Is Taking Pains To Keep Samsung On Board With Windows Phone

AT&T; Buying T-Mobile USA In $39 Billion Deal (T, DT, VZ)

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