T-Mobile launches new laptop stick, promotional data plans

[1]T-Mobile USA is offering a new USB laptop dongle that doubles as a USB hard drive for those who want to access the company's 3G UMTS network via their laptop. The carrier also launched two new promotional rate plans to go with the device.

The laptop stick, called the webConnect Jet, has up to 8GB of installable microSD memory storage, and is free with a two-year contact. If customers buy the device before Jan. 13, they'll be able to access 200MB of data for $29.99 per month or 5GB of data for $49.99 per month. Customers also will be able to get unlimited T-Mobile WiFi access with the device.  

Additionally, the carrier launched a new 3G phone, the Tap. The small, rounded phone has a touchscreen display, 2-megapixel camera with video capture and playback, a music player, GPS and stereo Bluetooth. T-Mobile is selling the Tap for $79.99 with a two-year contract and after a mail-in rebate.

The carrier, which lost 77,000 subscribers last quarter, is feverishly working to build out its 3G network, which is the smallest among the four Tier 1 operators. However, T-Mobile plans to boost the speed of its network by deploying HSPA+ next year, which has theoretical downlink speeds of 21 Mbps.

For more:
- see this PC Magazine article [2]
- see this Gearlog post [3]
- see a photo of the Tap phone [1]

Related Articles:
T-Mobile loses 77,000 subs in Q3 [4]
T-Mobile CTO: 40% of Q4 sales will be smartphones
[5]T-Mobile's Ray promises national HSPA+ deployment by mid-2010 [6]
T-Mobile USA to boost 3G network speeds to 21 Mbps [7]