Up, Up and Away: T-Mobile G2 Google Android Phone and HSPA+ : What it means for you!

On Aug 18, 2010, T-Mobile announced the G2 Android phone which will run on the HSPA+ network, or 4G speeds. According to T-Mobile, "..an upgrade from today's traditional 3G network, HSPA+ lets you surf the Web, download files, and share media on the go— at speeds you only thought possible on your home or work computer."

As of writing, there aren't any images of the new T-Mobile G2 phone. (Well, there are a few out there that remain 'artist depictions' of the Android-based phone, but none that have been authenticated as the 'real deal'.) Although, the T-Mobile G2 phone is still in hiding, enthusiasts of the phone are invited to stay in the loop and receive updates from the carrier when more details emerge.

The new G2 Android Phone's maker? Most probably HTC.

Touting it as "the first smartphone designed to run at 4G speeds on our new HSPA+ network", the G2 will take advantage of the speedy mobile broadband network with download speeds of up to 21Mbps.

Now, THAT'S fast. Streaming your favorite shows is going to be a cinch - if you like viewing media on a small screen, that is.

Upload speeds are impressive too. Theoretically, peak upload speeds are up to 5.7Mbps. Fed up of waiting to email those large files to your colleague? HSPA+ will definitely help.

Now, you probably know that while HSPA+ boasts high throughput rates, we can expect realistic download speeds to be much lower than that. (A test by PCWorld early in January 2010 showed that speeds as high as 3.5Mbps were achieved in the New York area. Nothing to be proud of, actually.)

Check out T-Mobile's website for cities in the USA with HSPA+ coverage.

Currently, the cities below can rejoice:

Alabama
Birmingham

Arkansas
Bentonville

California
Anaheim
Burbank
Glendale
Irvine
Los Angeles
Long Beach
Ontario

Connecticut
Bridgeport
Hartford
New Haven
Milford
Stamford

Florida
Ft. Lauderdale
Jacksonville
Orlando
Tampa

Georgia
Atlanta

Hawaii
Honolulu

Indiana
Indianapolis

Kansas
Kansas City
Wichita

Louisiana
Baton Rouge
Lafayette
New Orleans

Maryland
Annapolis
Baltimore
Bethesda
Chevy Chase

Minnesota
Minneapolis

Missouri
St. Louis

North Carolina
Asheville
Charlotte
Fayetteville
Greensboro
Hickory
Winston-Salem

Nevada
Las Vegas

New York
Albany
Buffalo
New York City
Rochester
Syracuse

Ohio
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Columbus
Dayton

Oklahoma
Oklahoma City
Tulsa

Oregon
Portland

Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh

Rhode Island
Providence

South Carolina
Anderson
Charleston
Greenville

Tennessee
Memphis

Texas
Austin
Dallas
El Paso
Fort Worth
Houston
San Antonio
Waco

Virginia
Alexandria
Mclean
Reston

Washington
Seattle

Wisconsin
Milwaukee

I was swept by the Android phenomenon with my first Google G1 phone. Loved it.

Until I bricked it. (My fault. Cyanogen mods are great - but take it from me: FOLLOW THE DARN INSTRUCTIONS.)

Currently, I'm on my second Android phone: the HTC Hero. I'm STILL lovin' it. It's dependable, versatile, stylish - and oh-so Android.

When the T-Mobile G2 Android Phone arrives, I might be seriously considering a switch.

Will you?