This one has been a long time coming. T-Mobile is the only one of the four major U.S. carriers that doesn't offer 3G data services. It bought 3G spectrum back in 2006, but has yet to get any portions of its planned 3G network up and running. Looks like that might be about to change.

According to rumors floating around the Internet, Dec. 6 will be the day T-Mobile announces its 3G plans. The story goes like this:

A Washington state T-Mobile subscriber called T-Mobile recently and asked if and when T-Mobile would be offering any 3G services or products. He was told that he should expect an announcement with details about T-Mobile's 3G plans on or about Dec. 6, 2007.

Why a customer service representative would have this sort of information, and choose to share it is beyond me. I would say this bit of information is to be taken with a large grain of salt. Other sites called T-Mobile customer service to confirm the announcement details and were all told that nothing was known or planned.

T-Mobile actually already offers one handset compatible with its 1,700 MHz 3G spectrum, the Samsung T639. It went on sale back in October, and might have served as the first signal that T-Mobile is nearly ready to launch its 3G network. Otherwise, what's the point of releasing a phone that works on the 3G spectrum if there is no network to take advantage of it?

T-Mobile's original plans were to build out the network during 2007. As recently as late September, T-Mobile said the build-out was going slower than planned because the federal government has yet to vacate certain portions of the spectrum, preventing T-Mobile from using it. Aside from the appearance and availability of the T639, there has been no formal mention from T-Mobile on when the 3G network will be up and running.