However, in my brief exposure to the phone, I didn’t see anything that distinguished it from any other android phone I’ve seen.

What exactly has T-Mobile been doing the past 2 years that would make the prospects of the iPhone so sweet. I know what some of you will say……building their awesome 3G network. Well you’re incorrect…..it wasn’t until this past year that they started the push on 3G. Their network is dwarfed by the likes of AT&T and Verizon who have been aggressively expanding coverage for bit more time than T-Mo has. I’m going to remind you all that you’re giving praise to the same T-Mobile that didn’t believe data would play a role in their success. That’s funny….their 3rd quarter statement about losing because of competition in data and devices is a completely different tune than before.

There’s this really big area where T-Mobile has come up lacking….it’s called image. They don’t have one at least not one that’s widely popular or noticeable. They need a serious company makeover. As popular as the iPhone is it won’t sell itself. T-Mobile has to put some marketing muscle behind it because Apple will demand it…again, that’s IF they can get the iPhone.
The T-Mo executive team really needs to do some work to give T-Mobile a better identity in the carrier market. Last November when the G1 hit the scene I was hoping it would do the trick…it didn’t and a year later I have seen why. The blame falls squarely on T-Mobile. They’ve got to make better device selections even if they can’t land the big fish, the iPhone. They need to make a play at showing off better devices for this supposed killer network they’re preparing to unleash. It needs to be done NOW…not when the iPhone deal with AT&T ends. Show Apple that you’re a serious player in this game, don’t be the competition has coined you to be.

Kershon/Titty I’m hoping that 2010 will be an amazing turnaround for a company with so much potential but my doubts outweigh my anticipations. I’d really like to see the HTC Passion/Bravo, HD2, iPhone or some other hot devices on T-Mobile’s network. Will it happen? Hmmmm…..that’s the puzzling question. Seems like many of the handset makers have dismissed T-Mobile as being a big player in the market. Let’s assume this will change.

In Europe (the UK in particular) it’s impossible to find a free hotspot. Every place I went with the exception of the Apple store on Regents Street required you to pay or was restricted altogether. People there pay for data plans without a second thought. Not to mention $20-$40/month is a small price to pay to have always available web/email access. Heck, some one you blow $40 on Starbuck or some other unnecessary luxury per week.

I don’t see the purpose craving phones like the X10 and then being so cheap in not wanting to spend money on the data plan. Buy a dumb phone like the Tap or something similar.