>
New Topic
>
Reply<
Esato Forum Index
>
Regional >
Americas
> 3G on US GSM providers?
Bookmark topic
AT&T (in conjunction with DoCoMo) had plans to rollout UMTS on a few markets nationwide. From what I heard, with Cingular's pending purchase of AT&T wireless, these plans may still proceed (if DoCoMo wants to deal with Cingular pending the purchase).
--
Posted: 2004-05-14 01:40:39
Edit :
Quote
Has anyone heard anything new regarding 3G UMTS on the T-Mobile networks?
--
Posted: 2005-01-02 04:20:37
Edit :
Quote
@amagab
I had heard that T-Mobile will not be implementing 3G in the U.S. until 2007.
--
Posted: 2005-01-12 04:51:00
Edit :
Quote
I'm sad to hear that. However, it might be a good strategic move to not rush into it like they've done in other countries. And people might not be ready for it over here. But for my own sake I was hoping it would happen sooner.
[ This Message was edited by: amagab on 2005-01-12 13:23 ]
--
Posted: 2005-01-12 14:21:57
Edit :
Quote
@amagab
There is little point in implementing 3G if the majority of customers are not prepared to use them. Data services have been taken as far as they can in Europe using 2.5G technology, so it would seem logical to upgrade to 3G now. Data services are used extensively in Europe, whether it be simple usage such as checking the lottery results on one's handset to more advanced usage, such as using one's handset as a modem. If there isn't sufficient demand for data services then I can't imagine that the networks will want to spend a lot of money implementing it.
--
Posted: 2005-01-12 15:08:57
Edit :
Quote
However, in Europe data services were not implemented due to increased demand but by pressure from the technology industry.
Here in the US, the providers seem to follow the demand rather than technological advancement.
--
Posted: 2005-01-12 17:08:01
Edit :
Quote
@amagab
To a certain extent you are correct, WAP having being introduced by BT Cellnet in 1999, but once that technology was introduced the customers demanded more and better services, which resulted in the manufacturers and networks releasing handsets with more fetaures and services to support those new features respectively.
The customers are actively using features such as MMS, video messaging, downloading vouchers, checking sports results, entering competitions, downloading maps, etc, which means that expansion of such services would probably be a good idea for the networks and the manufacturers. If U.S. customers are not using data services to the same extent then the American networks might be cautious about investing large sums of money in expanding those services.
--
Posted: 2005-01-12 18:20:26
Edit :
Quote
Is this not a bit of a case of the chicken and the egg?
Surely, if customers are not exposed to the technology, by companies taking an educated guess (based on market research, obviously) and investing in it (though probably not in the same overly-generous way that the UK operators bought 3G licenses!) then the demand to justify the investment will never exist.
Maybe the operators in the States just need to take the plunge - after all, it's hardly a country of technological retards, now is it!
--
Posted: 2005-01-12 18:58:04
Edit :
Quote
@dave_uk
You make a good point, certainly it seems to have bene the case in the UK. The difference with America is that those services already exist in other parts of the world, so the technology is apparent to American customers, but if they still aren't showing an interest in it then perhaps the networks have decided to move more slowly.
_________________
"I may be drunk my dear woman, but in the morning I will be sober, and you will still be ugly." WSC
[ This Message was edited by: scotsboyuk on 2005-01-12 23:10 ]
--
Posted: 2005-01-12 19:33:09
Edit :
Quote
Being a gadget-freak I do hope T-Mobile implements 3G soon.
I don't know for sure but it seems like T-Mobile USA is being very cautious and waiting for the right momentum. Since they are the cheapest provider in the US they also have to look at cost. Once they implement 3G/UMTS they would have to increase their fees to cover the network expansion/upgrades and they would risk not being the cheapest provider anymore.
Another thing is that T-Mobile USA has very quickly built up a Wi-Fi/WLAN network across the nation, with HotSpots now available in most Starbucks, Borders bookstores, airports, hotels, and other public places. It could be that they want to finish this expansion before getting into UMTS. Or maybe they are working to eventually combine the two technologies.
--
Posted: 2005-01-12 20:13:36
Edit :
Quote
New Topic
Reply
