AT&T Wireless has officially launched 3G UMTS networks in four major US cities, offering the first UMTS network in the United States.
AT&T Wireless has made users in four major US cities very happy with the release of the first UMTS network in the United States.
 | The Motorola A845 is one of the first phones on AT&T's new 3G network
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AT&T Wireless customers in Detroit, Phoenix, San Francisco and Seattle now have access to the first UMTS network in the United States. Dallas and San Diego are slated to get UMTS service as well by the end of the year.
UMTS is a high-speed WCDMA service that qualifies as a 3G due to its high data transfer rate. AT&T Wireless claims that its UMTS network will support speeds between 220 and 320 kbps, with bursts up to 384kbps. The company also noted in the future, UMTS can be easily upgraded to HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), which is estimated to attain peak data rates up to 14.4 megabits-per-second (mbps).
The first two handsets to support AT&T Wireless's mMode 3G network are the previously-announced Motorola A845 and the Nokia 6651. Both phones support AT&T Wireless's mMode service on both the new 3G and more common GSM/GPRS networks, and are capable of simultaneous voice and data transfer. Neither handset will come cheap, however, as both are listed for $299.99 USD. A UMTS modem for laptops will also be available for $149.99 USD with rebate.
3G services have been on the horizon for several years, and are now appearing as viable offerings. Japan has had the largest success so far with NTT DoCoMo's FOMA network, with Europe's 3G coverage growing recently with Orange and o2 offering UMTS service in the UK and Vodafone offering service across much of the continent. 3G networks have been slower to catch on in the United States due in part to the larger geographical area and therefore deployment costs needed to roll out a viable network.
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