HSPA+

AT&T’s GoPhone prepaid sevice now available on 4G LTE and HSPA+

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 14, 2013

GoPhone, a prepaid wireless service from U.S. carrier AT&T, used to be a 3G-only affair. But not anymore.

Just like clockwork, the carrier Friday announced that GoPhone customers can now enjoy fast data speeds not only on its third-generation HSPA+ network (unfairly billed as 4G), but also on the fourth-generation Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network.

Compared to 3G, 4G LTE offers ten times higher data throughput. The telco also added Samsung's Galaxy Express to its GoPhone device portfolio and said folks can also bring their own HSPA+ or LTE smartphone...

Hacked AT&T carrier update could improve your device’s network performance

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Last week, a hacked carrier update surfaced for T-Mobile subscribers that promises to increase the cellular data speeds of the iPhone 5. It claims to pull this off by increasing the handset's bandwidth supply, allowing for "better throughput of data."

This weekend, the same person behind the T-Mobile hack unveiled a similar workaround for AT&T customers. As before, the process installs a modded carrier file to your device that aims to improve its network performance with better band management...

T-Mobile closes 2012 by bringing iPhone-friendly HSPA+ to 14 new cities

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Not to be outdone by rival Verizon and AT&T which rolled out their fourth-generation Long-Term Evolution (LTE) networks to 29 and five new U.S. cities this week, respectively, T-Mobile USA today announced that its iPhone-friendly HSPA+ service on the 1900MHz band is launching in fourteen new metropolitan areas.

The carrier says these markets can take advantage of voice and data enhancements, improved signal strength and in-building coverage. The $4 billion network modernization plan announced ten months ago already enhanced coverage for more than a hundred million people, T-Mobile said...

T-Mobile’s iPhone-friendly HSPA+ network now covers 100 million people

Cody Lee ∙ December 13, 2012

With its now-confirmed 2013 iPhone launch looming, T-Mobile continues its aggressive rollout of its HSPA+ network today with launches in Chicago, Illinois, Reno, Nevada, and Sacramento, California, along with enhancements in other areas.

Just last Monday, the carrier activated the iPhone-friendly network in several major cities including Atlanta, Seattle and Minneapolis. And with the new areas added today, that network now covers more than 100 million users throughout the US...

T-Mobile’s iPhone-friendly HSPA+ goes live in Atlanta, Seattle and Minneapolis

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Not to be outdone by AT&T which today rolled out LTE in three new markets, Deutsche Telekom-owned T-Mobile USA just flipped the switch on its iPhone-friendly HSPA+ network in Atlanta, Seattle and Minneapolis. With today's roll-out, T-Mobile's 3G HSPA+ service (incorrectly advertised as "4G") is available in a total of 18 metropolitan areas.

The German carrier is hoping that landing the iPhone next year would curb subscriber losses. As part of the incoming iPhone launch, T-Mobile is eliminating subsidies on high-end devices. Under the new rules, customers would pay for the full device price upfront in exchange for lower service fees. A good example are the carrier's unsubsidized Value Plans that offer significantly cheaper monthly rates for voice and, particularly, data services...

T-Mobile brings faster HSPA+ speeds to Baltimore, Houston and Washington D.C. markets

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

T-Mobile USA, the fourth-largest telco in the United States, continues expanding its iPhone-compatible HSPA+ network on the 1900MHz band (incorrectly advertised as "4G"). Today, the company announced that HSPA+ is now available to customers in the Washington D.C., Baltimore and Houston markets.

I'm sure you know T-Mobile USA is the sole major telco in the U.S. without the iPhone (next year, maybe?). But with its offering of Nano SIMs for iPhone 5 owners, free support to unlockers and unlimited 4G data plans, T-Mobile is a good choice for unlocked iPhone owners curious to take advantage of HSPA+ speeds...

T-Mobile’s iPhone-friendly 42 Mbps HSPA+ coming to Las Vegas on Monday

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

T-Mobile USA, the nation's fourth-largest carrier and the sole major U.S. telco without Apple's iPhone, announced at the GigaOm Mobilize conference that it will be rolling out its iPhone-compatible HSPA+ network in Las Vegas on Monday, September 24, 2012.

The carrier's HSPA+ network runs in the much more common 1900MHz spectrum, allowing unlocked iPhone owners to finally access the fastest 3G network in the country, T-Mobile's dual-carrier HSPA+...

The Verizon iPhone 5 is GSM unlocked, tested with AT&T

Jeff Benjamin ∙ September 21, 2012

I can confirm that the Verizon iPhone 5 is indeed GSM unlocked. Even though I bought an iPhone 5 from Verizon under contract, I was able to cut down my AT&T Micro SIM, and use it in my Verizon iPhone 5 to pick up an AT&T signal. By doing so, I was able to hop onto AT&T's HPSA+ network, or "4G" as they so ridiculously name it.

AT&T's so-called 4G speeds are nothing like true LTE speeds, but they are a bit better than typical 3G speeds. But the big news here isn't about speed. The big news here is that we have confirmed that you can use a Verizon iPhone 5 on AT&T or T-Mobile, freely, even if you're a brand new customer under contract.

T-Mobile launches the ambitious Bring Your Own iPhone campaign

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Ahead of the iPhone 5 launch this Wednesday, T-Mobile, the nation's fourth-largest carrier and the only major U.S. carrier without the iPhone, today kicked off its new initiative meant to lure existing iPhone owners and unlockers to its stores, where they can get support on running their iPhones on T-Mobile's iPhone-friendly HSPA+ network.

Additionally, the Deutsche Telekom-owned telco committed to developing iOS versions of its popular mobile apps like T-Mobile myAccount, T-Mobile Visual Voicemail and T-Mobile TV. If only they landed the next iPhone...

T-Mobile: iPhone-compatible HSPA+ network coming later this year

Cody Lee ∙ Updated July 24, 2016

Folks looking to move their iPhone service to the often-cheaper T-Mobile network will be happy to hear this. The nation's fourth largest carrier has just announced that it plans to roll out an iPhone-ready network by the end of the year.

According to a recent press release, T-Mobile is modernizing its 4G network this year by launching HSPA+ services in the 1900 MHz band. This will improve data speeds, in-building service, and yes, compatibility with Apple's smartphone...

AT&T Activates One Million iPhone 4S Devices

Guest Author ∙ October 20, 2011

The iPhone 4S has been a tremendous success for all three of the US carriers that currently sell the handset. But it seems that AT&T is getting a little more success compared to Apple's other two iPhone 4S partners.

AT&T today announced that it has activated more than one million iPhone 4S devices as of Tuesday, making the iPhone 4S launch the most successful launch in the carrier's history...

Apple and AT&T Working Together to Get “4G” Indicator in iPhone 4S Status Bar

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 3, 2018

What is 4G? Other than the fact that it's the wireless standard that comes after 3G, I'm not sure that a lot of people outside of the ITU (International Telecommunications Union) know the answer. It's supposed to be a lot faster, right?

For months, both AT&T and T-Mobile have been taking advantage of this grey area surrounding the marketing buzz term, touting their HSPA+ networks as "4G." Now it appears that Apple is going to be hopping on the bandwagon...