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The T-Mobile timeline


2007

  • T-Mobile® joins Google to form Open Handset Alliance. Google Inc., T-Mobile, HTC, Qualcomm, Motorola and others have collaborated on the development of the Android platform, which will provide developers a new level of openness that enables them to work more collaboratively. Android is expected to accelerate the pace at which new and compelling mobile services are made available to consumers. As a founding member of the Open Handset Alliance, T-Mobile is committed to innovation and fostering an open platform for wireless services to meet the rapidly evolving and emerging needs of wireless customers.
  • The first generation of the T-Mobile® Shadow™. Designed to make feature-rich phones more consumer friendly, the T-Mobile Shadow is the first phone in a planned franchise of phones under the Shadow brand. The Shadow maintains all the powerful calling, messaging and picture sharing capabilities people crave to keep them connected, making it a name that will become synonymous with the playful, easier and richer communications experiences offered only by T-Mobile®.
  • Next evolutions in the T-Mobile® Sidekick® family. Two newly designed devices – T-Mobile Sidekick LX™ and T-Mobile Sidekick Slide™–feature the must-have assets that make Sidekick the ultimate messaging device and including the newly launched, custom-designed MySpace application. The Sidekick LX features a large WQVGA screen that incorporates high-definition LCD technology, and like the Sidekick iD, features the iconic swivel screen that differentiates a Sidekick from all other handsets. The Sidekick Slide debuts a more pocket-friendly design and the first ever Sidekick with a slide-up screen.
  • The Only Phone You Need. T-Mobile HotSpot @Home is a revolutionary new phone and service that provides unlimited nationwide calls over Wi-Fi from home – or from any of the 8,500 T-Mobile HotSpot locations nationwide – anytime, day or night. When at home, your HotSpot phone seamlessly connects to your Wi-Fi network, ensuring you have the best connection, and therefore the best call quality possible, throughout your home. While out and about, your HotSpot phone works like a mobile phone, sending and receiving calls over T-Mobile’s nationwide GSM network or any available T-Mobile HotSpot. T-Mobile HotSpot @Home service is supported on handsets and devices including the Samsung t409 and Nokia 6086 as well as the BlackBerry Curve 8320.
  • The First Windows Mobile 6 Device. The T-Mobile Wing, available exclusively from T-Mobile USA, designed to help customers master their busy personal and professional lives. Among the first devices in the U.S. shipping with Windows Mobile 6, the T-Mobile Wing has a blue soft-touch exterior, touch screen, and full, slide-out QWERTY keyboard — a great fit for customers seeking a powerful all-in-one device with an eye-catching design and enhanced ease of use
  • Sidekick iD Makes A Statement. T-Mobile announces the new T-Mobile® Sidekick® iD, offering the latest in personalization on a communication device at an affordable price. Designed to include the spontaneous communication features synonymous with the iconic brand, the T-Mobile Sidekick iD also offers spur-of-the-moment personalization with easily removable and replaceable exterior panels.
  • New Designs and Features. T-Mobile launches the Samsung Blast, a slider-phone with an improved texting experience, the Nokia 5300 XpressMusic, with optimized music offerings, the MOTORIZR with a soft-touch slider form and the MOTOKRZR with Bluetooth and a 2 megapixel camera giving customers choice in selecting cell phones with style.
  • Dwyane Wade Joins Sidekick Team. Tipping off NBA All-Star 2007, T-Mobile USA, Inc. announces the newest member of its all-star lineup, the T-Mobile® Sidekick® designed by Miami Heat guard and 2006 NBA Finals MVP, Dwyane Wade. Packed with the same great technology as the T-Mobile Sidekick 3, the new D-Wade Edition is the latest in a series of T-Mobile’s iconic devices that provide consumers with new ways to communicate with style.
  • Customer Service, Customer Satisfaction and Retail Sales Satisfaction Leader. Confirming its status as the industry leader in customer care and customer satisfaction, T-Mobile USA, announces it has achieved the highest ranking from the J.D. Power and Associates’ 2007 Wireless Customer Care Performance Study – Volume 1and Volume 2, the J.D. Power and Associates’ 2007 Wireless Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) Study – Volume 1 and the J.D. Power and Associates’ 2007 Wireless Retail Sales Satisfaction Study – Volume 1. This marks the sixth consecutive reporting period in which T-Mobile has received the highest ranking in customer care, and the fifth consecutive reporting for customer satisfaction and retail sales satisfaction studies.

2006

  • T-Mobile Invitational. T-Mobile and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) bring together some of the best high-school basketball teams from across the country to participate in the first-ever national tournament sponsored by the NFHS, the T-Mobile Invitational.
  • Looking Ahead. The FCC grants T-Mobile 120 spectrum licenses covering the continental United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands, Alaska, and major markets including New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago. This acquisition doubles T-Mobile’s spectrum position in the top 100 U.S. markets, to facilitate a planned 2007 commercial rollout of 3G next-generation-network services to enhance core voice services, and deliver applications that will take consumer-based PC functionality mobile.
  • stick togetherSM & myFavesSM. The myFaves experience is the first service offering from T-Mobile that embodies the company’s fresh new look and new strategic marketing direction. While the brand maintains its signature magenta hue, T-Mobile has a new tagline, “stick together,” created to underscore the importance of maintaining and enhancing personal relationships, and to reflect T-Mobile’s mission of developing and bringing to market innovative products and services that help people effortlessly stay connected to those who matter most.
  • Reaching Out. T-Mobile launches a national community outreach program called T-Mobile Huddle Up. Working closely with national non-profit groups City Year and the Afterschool Alliance, T-Mobile employees volunteer time to improve afterschool facilities and programs in communities around the country.
  • A Social Lifeline. Building on the success of the T-Mobile® Sidekick® devices, T-Mobile releases the newest generation with the T-Mobile Sidekick 3, boasting a 20% slimmer form factor, Bluetooth® connectivity, a megapixel camera and trackball for easier navigation. The Sidekick brand continues to support the hip-hop and fashion world with the release of two limited editions: a Diane von Furstenberg Sidekick and Lifted Research Group Sidekick.
  • Staying Connected. T-Mobile announces kidConnectSM a service plan empowering parents and kids to stay connected on their own terms by controlling total wireless costs and providing certain unlimited features. kidConnect gives parents peace of mind and enables kids to communicate the way they want by using the coolest T-Mobile wireless devices.
  • Style and Power. Extending the brand with color and design, T-Mobile introduces several new design-focused phones adding color and slimming down previous form factors, with the Nokia 8801 stainless steel luxury phone, Samsung Trace and t509 slim form factors and t609 multimedia clamshell in white, as well as the Color PEBLs, in green, blue and orange, all enabled for use on a faster EDGE network.
  • Smartphones with Solutions. T-Mobile USA Inc. announces the availability of the T-Mobile SDA and the T-Mobile MDA with Windows Mobile 5.0. Both smartphones feature a host of applications to organize hectic work and personal-life schedules.
  • A Firmly Established Reality. T-Mobile USA once again receives highest ranking in Wireless Customer Care by J.D. Power and Associates. For the third consecutive reporting period, customers confirm T-Mobile as the leader in Wireless Customer Care.

2005

  • We did it again. Once again, T-Mobile USA receives more awards from J.D. Power and Associates than any other wireless carrier-a testament to the company's relentless focus on service.
  • Fashion marries technology. T-Mobile offers limited-edition versions of Sidekick®: Juicy Couture and Mister Cartoon.
  • Hoop dreams. The NBA and WNBA sign contracts with T-Mobile making T-Mobile the official wireless service partner for both leagues and making way for a broad marketing partnership.
  • More customers sticking together. T-Mobile surpasses the 20-million-customer mark, having doubled its customer base in the last ten years.
  • Hotter with HotSpots. T-Mobile announces network expansion, roaming partnerships, and customer growth on its Wi-Fi HotSpot network-now offered in more than 18,000 locations in more than 20 countries around the world.
  • Straight up prepaid. T-Mobile revolutionizes prepaid wireless service with its new T-Mobile To Go service that offers no contracts and no hidden fees.

2004

  • At your service. The ongoing commitment to excellent customer satisfaction earns T-Mobile USA highest honors in several independent J.D. Power and Associates studies.
  • Connecting the spots. HotSpots, that is-free software from T-Mobile USA makes locating and using its HotSpot locations more convenient than ever before. T-Mobile Connection Manager gives laptops and Internet devices the power to automatically detect and log on to the T-Mobile HotSpot network.
  • Let it ring. T-Mobile USA introduces HiFi Ringers®, the high-fidelity ringtones that let customers hear actual lyrics and original music clips from their favorite bands-every time their phones ring.

2003

  • The source for emergency support. T-Mobile USA wins a nationwide wireless priority service (WPS) contract-and the privilege of supporting designated national security and emergency preparedness personnel with enhanced wireless capabilities during emergencies.
  • Look Mom, no wires! T-Mobile USA is the first wireless carrier to introduce video messaging services in the United States-and customers start sending and recording full-motion, full-color, full-sound messages from their wireless phone.
  • Color is a kick. The award-winning color version of the T-Mobile Sidekick is released-making Web surfing, AOL® Instant Messenger™ Service, e-mail, games, snapshots, and voice calls even more fun.

2002

  • Hello, world! VoiceStream Wireless officially becomes T-Mobile USA, launching service in California and Nevada. Even as the T-Mobile global brand debuts in the US, internationally acclaimed actress Catherine Zeta-Jones signs on as the global spokeswoman.
  • One more first. Want text with your voice? T-Mobile USA is the first to deliver the BlackBerry® wireless handheld e-mail solution with integrated phone.
  • The spots are spreading! Wireless data users also enjoy the debut of T-Mobile USA with the announcement of T-Mobile HotSpot plans for 400 Borders locations, as well as 100 of the most-frequented airport clubs and lounges operated by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines.

1994-2001

  • Auspicious beginnings. From the merger of General Cellular and Pacific Northwest Cellular, Western Wireless grows into a PCS provider for several western and southwestern states as well as Hawaii. After a successful public offering by Western Wireless, VoiceStream Wireless is launched.
  • Recognize me? VoiceStream Wireless grows its capabilities and personality-building coverage, advanced customer care centers, and, with the signing of actress Jamie Lee Curtis, a nationwide message: Get More.
  • Up, up, up. After spinning off from its parent company, VoiceStream Wireless goes up like a rocket, dramatically extending its footprint through mergers, growing to more than 7 million customers, launching innovations like wireless Internet service, and ultimately merging with Deutsche Telekom AG.

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