The millions of iPhone users who have unlocked iPhones on the T-Mobile network may soon be in for a treat, according to a report from 9 to 5 Mac. As you probably are aware by now, Apple is gearing up for WWDC 2012, set to kick off in San Francisco’s Moscone Center next week. A few iPhone owners in San Francisco recently have noticed a strange occurrence when walking past the Moscone Center; their iPhones were now displaying “3G” instead of the customary EDGE.
T-Mobile has confirmed that it has provided a 4G HSPA+ MicroCell for Apple’s conference which runs on the 1,900 MHz network, and have rolled out a limited live test of HSPA+ on the 1,900 MHz network. The 1,900 MHz band is compatible with the 3G radios inside of Apple’s iPhone, and T-Mobile is hard at work on refarming the 1,900 MHz band to utilize T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network on a nationwide scale by the end of the year. This will effectively remove one of the barriers preventing more users from choosing T-Mobile for their iPhone cellular network, though customers would still need to purchase the iPhone at full retail pricing ($549+ for the iPhone 4S).
T-Mobile provided the following statement to 9 to 5 Mac.
“While upgrading coverage inside the West side of the Moscone Center, T-Mobile has also deployed 4G HSPA+ service in the 1900 MHz band to test the live network on a small scale. As part of the company’s previously announced $4 billion network modernization effort, T-Mobile plans to launch 4G HSPA+ service in the 1900 MHz band in a large number of markets by the end of the year, which will make our 4G network compatible with a broader range of devices, including the iPhone.
NOTE: The time and location of this test is just coincidental.”
Today’s move is good news for T-Mobile iPhone owners traveling to San Francisco for the WWDC conference, and provides hope to all T-Mobile iPhone owners that you will soon be able to utilize T-Mobile’s speedy HSPA+ network with your unlocked iPhone.
[via 9 to 5 Mac (1), (2)]