T-Mobile
Based out of Bann Germany, T-Mobile International is one of the largest wireless carries in the world. Owned by Deutsche Telekom, it has over 101 million subscribers and in 2006 it became the sole carrier of iPhone in Germany.
In the US, T-Mobile USA is a subsidiary of T-Mobile International. Previously known as VoiceStream Wireless or PowerTel, it became part of Deutsche Telekom in 2002. It is now the fourth largest carrier in the US market with over 28 million subscribers.
Its focus is on the youth market and it is very competitive on price. They have been the market leaders with new features such as ringback tones, video messaging and "Hifi" ringtone which play the real actual versions of songs.
Built through numerous acquisitions such as Western PCS, Powertel and Aerial, T-Mobile is now available in 46 of the top 50 markets in the US. It largely uses the GSM/GPRS 1900 MHz frequency-band, making it the largest 1900 MHz network in America.
In addition to cell phone services, T-Mobile also runs WiFi locations, branded "T-Mobile HotsSpots" in Europe and the US.
These HotSpots can be found in 8,350 locations across the USA and will work within a distance of 300ft. In the USA alone, it's HotSpot Internet locations can be located in such places as airports, airline club lounges, Starbucks coffeehouses, Borders Books and Music stores and various hotel chains such as the Hyatt and Hilton.
In 2007, it launched its Talk Forever Mobile service via UMA handsets. These phones allow seamless roaming and change over between local area and wide area networks using a dual-mode cell phone. With this service, a subscriber can call any number in the US from any WiFi router, as well as HotSpot locations.
Built on the experience of T-Mobile Europe, the US subsidiary is planning to launch a faster 3G network, making it the fastest in the US.
Sony Computer Entertainment in partnership with T-Mobile launched a HotSpot Locator and HotSpot Promotional Period for the Sony PSP system and Sony Mylo system. Both promotions are separate, but by combining the total time allocated for each system, customers can have up to one year free access, by using six months on the Mylo, and six months on the PlayStation Portable.
For mobile gamers, most phones already feature a selection of built-in games. Through T-zones, people can select from a huge list of the latest mobile-friendly games available-from classic arcade action to newer, more intricate play. The game selection will depend on the users phone selection.
In 2008, there was a rumour that T-Mobile owner, Deutsche Telekom, had been pre-approved for a financing and protocol agreement which will allow them to introduce T-Mobile into the Canadian market by 2009.
