Is T-Mobile's 3G Coverage Ready For Primetime?

You've probably heard the buzz. T-Mobile's finallyMostly the city is on the slower EDGE network
got 3G service. Finally, mobile broadband speedbut there's this dark blue streak that gives you
comes to many a people's favorite carrier. Well,hope...it's darker than the light blue indicating EDGE
this isn't a public relations piece so you're gonnabut lighter than the blue that means 3G. What the
get the good, bad and ugly.heck is that?
If write a screenplay of a truthful dialogueDepending on the device you're using, this might
between T-Mobile and its potential customers it'dnot matter all that much to you. If you're
go something like this:browsing on your T-Mobile G1 then everything
Does T-Mobile have 3G?might be fine as you check email. But what if you
Uhh...Yeahwanted to tether to your laptop or use a
Is it any good?broadband card? Not happening.
Umm...sure...sometimes...Verdict: T-Mobile's 3G network is fine for early
What do you mean sometimes?adopters and people who don't demand the
Because they just launched their 3G service it'shighest speed available. Don't bet on them doing
extremely limited compared to the big 3 (Verizon,rapidly fast upgrades throughout the country. If
AT&T and Sprint). The initial goal was aboutyou need speed, check out another carrier. Of
30 major cities. It's great if you're in a hot towncourse, I don't have to tell you to do 2 last things
like Los Angeles or Washington, D.C. but let's saybefore making a final judgment. After all, you did
you're in Jacksonville, FL. Things get interesting.come searching for this information.