After installing Android 2.1 on my HTC Dream / T-Mobile G1 (Thank you Cyanogen) I noticed that I now sometimes have an H where it shows my data connection type in the Android notification bar. The H data connection symbol seems to only appear when I'm in a 3G data location and using a data intensive application.
The H data symbol = 4G data speeds! (aka HSDPA on T-Mobile)
Upon closer inspection it looks like T-Mobile quietly finished rolling out it's 3G data connection late last year, which means it's time to start working on 4G! See this DailyTech article on the 3g roll out.
So what does all this mean for us? 3G got us all to 3.6 Mbps downlink rates. 4G data speeds will double that of 3G and will hit up to 7.2 Mbps. The next step will then be 4G+ or HSDPA+ and apparently is currently in best testing only in Philadelphia. HSPA+ will bring download speeds of up to 56 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 22 Mbps!
In Jan, 2010 people in the Seattle / Puget Sound area have been noticing the H data connection symbols and have reported faster data speeds as seen here at the XDA Forums.
I've read in the past that any and all Android phones will be able to use T-Mobiles brand of 4G because these increased speeds are really an improvement on older technology. This goes for the phones and the equipment that used on the cellular towers that currently run the 3G network.
With just a flip of a switch T-Mobile can "magically" make every 3G tower a 4G connection!
If you're in a location where you currently get 3G speeds and have an Android phone get to work upgrading your OS you might just have access to 4G speeds and not even know it!
According to Wikipedia T-Mobile has announced that it will begin to roll out 4G+ in their top tier markets sometime in 2010. It looks like this is already happening but it appears that the Nexus One would be the only phone that T-Mobile has officially given access to the 4G network seeing as it runs Android 2.1.
At launch next month the HTC EVO will only have 4G speeds in under 20 cities total. The closest cites to me would be Tacoma and Seattle. Hopefully at work in Renton I'll be able access the 4G network from Sprint.
So there you go kids, a free 4G data speed upgrade for Android phones on T-Mobile that's available RIGHT NOW! Who says that the Sprint EVO is the only phone that gets to have all the 4G fun? It looks like if you have Android 2.1 and a T-Mobile phone you get 4G before before the 1st official 4G phone ever comes out in the U.S.!
On that note I'll get back to you all next month when I have a Sprint EVO in hand and can give everyone more feed back.
Upon closer inspection it looks like T-Mobile quietly finished rolling out it's 3G data connection late last year, which means it's time to start working on 4G! See this DailyTech article on the 3g roll out.
So what does all this mean for us? 3G got us all to 3.6 Mbps downlink rates. 4G data speeds will double that of 3G and will hit up to 7.2 Mbps. The next step will then be 4G+ or HSDPA+ and apparently is currently in best testing only in Philadelphia. HSPA+ will bring download speeds of up to 56 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 22 Mbps!
In Jan, 2010 people in the Seattle / Puget Sound area have been noticing the H data connection symbols and have reported faster data speeds as seen here at the XDA Forums.
I've read in the past that any and all Android phones will be able to use T-Mobiles brand of 4G because these increased speeds are really an improvement on older technology. This goes for the phones and the equipment that used on the cellular towers that currently run the 3G network.
With just a flip of a switch T-Mobile can "magically" make every 3G tower a 4G connection!
If you're in a location where you currently get 3G speeds and have an Android phone get to work upgrading your OS you might just have access to 4G speeds and not even know it!
According to Wikipedia T-Mobile has announced that it will begin to roll out 4G+ in their top tier markets sometime in 2010. It looks like this is already happening but it appears that the Nexus One would be the only phone that T-Mobile has officially given access to the 4G network seeing as it runs Android 2.1.
At launch next month the HTC EVO will only have 4G speeds in under 20 cities total. The closest cites to me would be Tacoma and Seattle. Hopefully at work in Renton I'll be able access the 4G network from Sprint.
So there you go kids, a free 4G data speed upgrade for Android phones on T-Mobile that's available RIGHT NOW! Who says that the Sprint EVO is the only phone that gets to have all the 4G fun? It looks like if you have Android 2.1 and a T-Mobile phone you get 4G before before the 1st official 4G phone ever comes out in the U.S.!
On that note I'll get back to you all next month when I have a Sprint EVO in hand and can give everyone more feed back.
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