Launch details for T-Mobile’s first USB modem emerge

By on Feb 22, 2009 at 11:39 AM
General February 22, 2009

While several other North American carriers are tossing around tales of LTE development and blazing 4G speeds, T-Mobile looks to be preparing its first entry into the realm of 3G USB modems. No matter though, T-Mobile’s 3G network is so young we’d probably fall off our seats if the company started talking about 4G beyond the stock “yeah, we’re working on it” it already handed out last year. According to a purported screen shot of T-Mobile’s internal system, the webConnect USB Laptop Stick will finally see the light of day on March 25th. It will be rated perfectly in line with AT&T and Verizon, running $59.99 per month for 3G, EDGE and HotSpot connectivity with a cellular data cap set at 5 GB. T-Mobile’s software will automatically choose the best available network on the fly which is nice, but if you move around a lot expect to be using one of the latter in most areas. The last caveat is that these modems will only be available to customers already holding a T-Mobile account. We would hardly consider that a big deal of course — if you’re using another carrier for cell service are you really going to opt for a younger, much smaller data network when choosing a USB stick? We love us some T-Mobile, but it still has a long way to go before its 3G network can compete.

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  • mingkee

    this would be a failure
    $60 with 5GB?
    I’d say 10000% customers would choose other 3, there’s no fucking way to choose T-FuckingMobile!

  • Jeremiah

    Wow why do you have such strong hate against T-Mobile??

    In any case, if it were cheaper, then it would be an easy decision. But as it’s the same price with much less coverage, then I don’t know why T-Mobile would even bother!

  • johny be bad

    Welcome to 2005 T-Mobile

  • bonesb

    Echoed sentiment on the pricing – yikes!

    The main 3 providers installed the cap to deal in part with abusers. TMo has no system to abuse in that way – yet.

    Heck, Cricket’s got comparable coverage for their HS network, and they’re charging what, $35 with no contract.

  • http://Davidthande.blogspot.com David Thande

    I agree that’s pretty expensive for a lack of coverage and a cap on the usage. I almost got Verizon and I have T-mobile now. Perhaps maybe a 39.99 is more realistic t-mobile!

  • Edna

    $59.99 per month is not expensive unless you don’t have 3G coverage in the areas you’d use it. It’s not so bad when broken down per day.

    I think you Americans are so caught up with looking at national maps to validate what is reasonable coverage when in reality you spend 99% of your life within your home market. I read these comments on these boards all the time. You’ll have some nutbag in Phili telling another user in Los Angeles that carrier Y sucks all over the world just because they have a few white spots of no coverage in Montana which neither of them would ever visit.

    If carrier X, carrier Y and carrier Z all work well within the areas you’d be using the service and they’re all of similar price per month, I don’t see what the problem really is.

    If I’m correct, T-Mobile’s CTO claims that 3G will be available to at least 2/3 of populated America by years end. That should provide enough 3G coverage for most users contemplating the service. It shouldn’t be a bad deal if they include unlimited Free Hot Spot service.

  • C-Dog

    Don’t bite off more than you can chew, T-Mo.

  • jacob

    You bring up a good point Edna; definitely another way to look at things.

    Just 10 years ago, it was still the reality of many Americans that their coverage area for phone use was limited to just how far their corded phone would take them or the availability of pay phones.

    With the advent of mobile phone geekdome, you have fanboys trying to discredit eachother’s providers coverage because one covers 250 million POPS vs 270 million POPS of native coverage.

    Like you said, most of us should really compare coverage in the areas we’d need to use the service and make the best educated decision to use a carrier that can provide just that. Even if we travel, most of travel to metro areas of the US anyways. If we don’t then we can be picky.

    If T-Mobile works well in someone’s area, they definitely should be given consideration among the others.

    I used to work for at&t and I too used to be really closed minded so I do see where they get it. But I gave T-Mobile a try and it’s amazing that it works well and I save about $50 a month over what I used to spend.

  • Jake

    I love it. You guys make it sound like T-Mobile is in the Stone Age. 4G speeds are unnecessary for beyond the most basic needs. It’s comparable to saying “I need a car, therefore Toyota is crap–I should be driving a Benz.” HAHAH!

    Whatever, at least I’m saving more money than you guys–I’ll be laughing at the bank when you’re all in line for your Stimulus Checks to pay your phone bills.

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