T-Mobile quietly launches its first 3G phone
updated 03:10 pm EDT, Thu October 11, 2007
T-Mobile t639
T-Mobile has already started selling its first 3G-class phone, according to a report made by Phone Scoop. Official carrier stores in New York City are said to have started carrying the Samsung t639, an Americanized version of the B660 and a GSM adaptation of the CDMA-only Alltel Hue. In the new trim, the device adds a 1,700MHz UMTS radio that allows it to run at 3G speeds, allowing T-Mobile customers to download from the Internet much more quickly than EDGE and also make calls on the enhanced network when inside its coverage area.
The phone is otherwise a near-match for its equivalents, with its signature interchangeable faceplates in multiple colors as well as a 1.3-megapixel camera, microSD storage, and playback of AAC, MP3, and WMA tracks. A more widespread launch for the phone and an official price are uncertain, however, as T-Mobile has not officially launched its 3G network in the US. The network's official launch was originally planned for mid-year but has remained effectively silent since then. The t639's arrival may suggest a near-term unveiling with New York City as one of the first cities to support the network.
