Bringing phones to T-Mobile's LTE network won't be easy - CNET

It turns out that moving your phone to T-Mobile 4G LTE will be tough. March 26, 2013 4:35 PM PDT Getting an unlocked HTC One to play nice with T-Mobile LTE won't be easy. (Credit: Lori Grunin/CNET) Today T-Mobile hyped how bringing phones to its new network will be easier than ever. As it turns out though, it isn't as simple as you think. Here's the deal. T-Mobile is in the middle of three major wireless transitions. Besides ripping up mandatory 2-year contracts, the carrier is building a new 4G LTE network. If that wasn't enough, TMO is also migrating its older 3.5G data service from the AWS band (1700MHz) over to the 1900MHz band. Related stories T-Mobile undercuts Apple with iPhone prices T-Mobile gets iPhone, kills the contract T-Mobile faces war of words after killing subsidies, contracts So what does this mean and should you care? Well yes, a great deal. That's because T-Mobile is using this freed up AWS spectrum to operate its fledgling 4G LTE network. Coincidentally, or maybe not, this frequency shuffle places T-Mobile's airwaves in close alignment with AT&T's. Remember that whole merger thing? Have AT&T iPhone 5, will carry If you're wondering whether that means AT&T-branded handsets such as the iPhone 5 are easy to port over to T-Mobile, I bet you're not alone. With the T-Mobile-branded iPhone 5 just around the corner, I'm sure some AT&T subscribers are eyeing T-Mobile's cheaper and no-contract plans with interest. That goes double for AT&T iPhone 5 owners. Sadly though it looks like current AT&T iPhone 5 handsets, model A1428 (GSM), are locked. According to an Engadget report though the T-Mobile and AT&T iPhone 5s are identical from a naming standpoint, AT&T units are restricted from grabbing a T-Mobile 4G LTE signal (on the AWS band. This is not just a software barrier either. Can the AT&T iPhone 5 potentially enjoy T-Mobile's 4G LTE? (Credit: Ariel Nunez/CNET) Slow 3.5G T-Mobile also confirmed with CNET that the AT&T iPhone 5 won't support its 3.5G HSPA+ data at 42 Mbps, but instead will top out at 21 Mbps for a peak burst rate when an LTE signal isn't handy. Apparently this is a banding and ultimately a real hardware issue. Other hot and unlocked phones But the iPhone isn't the only smartphone people care about, far from it. If you're planning to buy a hot unlocked global smartphone like say the HTC One model to run on T-Mobile LTE, you're out of luck as well. The AWS spectrum for LTE is limited to the U.S. so unless the device you intend to carry over to TMO supports LTE class 4 (AWS), you'll be stuck on 3G/3.5G speeds. Well I guess that's better than Edge. Still, T-Mobile did assert that "most" unlocked phones connecting to LTE 4G in the AWS band will be be compatible with its network. Of course with such low no-contract prices, it might make more sense to scoop up a T-Mobile handset and call it a day, that is if you can find a 4G LTE signal near you. via Technology - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFAP0PMbFRv_wLa1GewocoMMrpYPg&url=http://www.cnet.com/8301-17918_1-57576459-85/bringing-phones-to-t-mobiles-lte-network-wont-be-easy/

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