T-Mobile rolls iPhone-friendly 3G as part of 84Mbps upgrade

T-Mobile 3G goes to 1900MHz in some areas Multiple reports have emerged of T-Mobile switching on 3G for frequencies that existing unlocked iPhones and other devices can use. At least some parts of Nevada and some parts of Northern California and the Northwest are seeing 1,900MHz repurposed to be used as additional carrying space for the HSPA+ 84Mbps network anticipated for 2012. Those who live in the altered areas are seeing speeds faster not just than they would on EDGE but faster than AT&T's real-world 3G, at 7.92Mbps down and 1.8Mbps up. Existing T-Mobile devices can use the 1,900MHz band as well, mostly including Samsung's Galaxy S/S II variants and Galaxy Tabs as well as the HTC Radar and Huawei Springboard. These usually have to be put into a frequency checker, such as by dialing #0011# on Samsung phones. The frequency support by itself isn't likely to reflect any immediate plans to carry the iPhone. T-Mobile only needs 1,900MHz in some areas to get the four virtual carriers on 3G that it needs to reach the 84Mbps peak. To get consistent access, Apple would still need to implement 1,700MHz 3G that the iPhone 4S doesn't support and would most likely have to wait for the 2012 iPhone at best. Adding support in some areas could still foster iPhone adoption on T-Mobile in some areas now that Apple regularly sells unlocked iPhones in the US. T-Mobile already has over one million iPhones on its network despite many having to use a hardware unlock and T-Mobile only recently offering micro SIM cards. Many are those who either wanted the only other carrier they could consider for an iPhone before Verizon or who don't want to give up a good plan on T-Mobile but also aren't impressed with its Android and Windows Phone models. source