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T-Mobile to offer Android device in 2008

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Published onMay 6, 2008

Recently our friend Sascha Segan got up close and personal with T-Mobile’s SVP of Engineering and Operations, Neville Ray, and was able to get the carrier to open up about its latest network upgrade, as well as Android.

Here is an excerpt from the interview:

Q: Is the network UMTS or HSDPA?

A: Right now it’s HSDPA 1.8. But HSDPA 3.6 is just a software upgrade, and T-Mobile Europe is already running networks on HSDPA 7.2. What we’re seeing with test devices is a very good average experience in the 600 kilobit range, with bursts into a megabit or slightly north of that.

Q: Where are the smart phones, data cards, etc?

A: We’re moving and working very hard with the Open Handset Alliance,

and that’s our focus. You will see at least one Android based converged device from T-Mobile this year. More converged devices are weeks, rather than months, away. PC Cards won’t be our core focus, but early in the new year we may have a data-card-like product.

Q: So does this mean you’re finally lifting the ban on Opera Mini?

A: Through Android and OHA, we really hope to open up the third-party apps space. I don’t think that will just sit at the top end, but is it going to be in the lower-end devices? Probably not. (In other words, still no Opera Mini for you Nokia Series 40 users)

[via Gearlog]