AT&T downgrades 2G service effectively telling you to upgrade
If this rumor proves to be true, we’re going to be a little disappointed in AT&T. Word is big blue has been quietly reallocating its EDGE service to its weaker 1900MHz band, which translates into much weaker coverage. According to AT&T, this move is supposed to reinforce 3G strengthen its HSPA services. While 2G isn’t going to be phased out, this is essentially doing the same for many customers, especially people who are having difficulty with AT&T service already. The kicker in all this is that AT&T’s 3G network performance is still abysmal in many areas. Urban markets will likely but unaffected by this move but many customers in fringe coverage areas will likely be forced to move to a 3G device in order to retain data coverage. This brings us to a question: Is anyone here still relying on EDGE service (including the hoards of first-gen iPhone owners)? Remember, even if you have a 3G phone, 3G isn’t available in all areas and all you Bold and iPhone owners have undoubtedly seen your devices switch back to EDGE constantly. The bottom line is AT&T should be taking measures to strengthen its 3G service before it starts cutting the legs out from under its EDGE network.
Strengthen? How about expanding it! I’m 40 minutes north of a 3G area, 45 minutes east of one, an hour and a half west-southwest of one, and in a town of 46k, not getting 3G any time soon. Not a big market, but I hate how left out we are. It’ll be great when they do this and then move to LTE before we even have 3G.
And I was thinking of picking up the new blackberry javelin… I wonder if they’re still going to release an EDGE phone hmm…
I doubt this a bad rumor, this rumor is actually good news to us AT&T customers. I mean what carrier wouldn’t strengthen their 3G network to make it fast, efficient, and reliable. AT&T is strengthening its 3G network thats all…
um…..they r slowing edge? what about the blackberry 8900 coming out? wtf.. is att gone slow in the head? luckly where im at att has full 3g all the time but i was highly considering getting a 8900 idk now..
I would like to also say that its strengthening and expanding it as well… Good AT&T…
“This brings us to a question: Is anyone here still relying on EDGE service (including the hoards of first-gen iPhone owners)?”
Not everyone can afford the crazy 3g data charges a month. So yes, a lot of people do.
i agree with Relic why cut 2G to strengthen 3G when 3G isnt coast to coast yet …..next ATT will be telling us to move?
I live a few hours away from any sort of 3G coverage and am still using an EDGE blackberry pearl until the Curve 8900 comes out (which I suppose also does not have 3G?) Ridiculous
Yup they just might start loosing customers because I know the only reason I switched from t-mob was because of the better phone selection, I only get 2 bars as it is anyway(AT&T your f***in up)
“Not everyone can afford the crazy 3g data charges a month. So yes, a lot of people do.”
Data plans are data plans. There is no distinction between EDGE/3G. You don’t pay more for 3G data access. If it’s available in your area and you have a 3G capable phone you get it for the same price.
I don’t see the big deal. The same thing happened with the swtich from TDMA to GSM. If they want the spectrum in certain markets allocated to the benefit of users with 3G devices then that’s their prerogative. Those users probably generate higher revenue for AT&T anyway. What company wouldn’t want to favor its best customers?
This “article” is full of rumors and anecdotal “evidence” and is short on facts. My 3G device (Moto Q9h) and my wife’s Moto V3xx haven’t “switched back to EDGE constantly”. Nice reporting.
1. Curve 8900 is not 3G people its EDGE.
2. Recently got laptop with data on AT*T and seen EDGE in San Francisco be quicker to get signal then HSDPA. Then again SF is a market built on 1900 not 850. Only recent deployments are in 850. This explains why my data is hitting EDGE faster then HSDPA.
3. $10 more per month for data speeds 4-6X faster is not a lot, but on a budget I realize $10 is like $30 in this economy and $73 after tax is killing me for only 5GB
Is the 8900 coming out for AT&T. I only heard a firm time frame for TMO. There is a 3G Javalin in the works for the 2nd half of 09. I wouldn’t be surprised if that is the next gen Curve AT&T gets.
Glad I only pay $15/month for unlimited 3G. Y’all are getting raped.
With the exception of the iphone, 3G data plans are the same price as EDGE plans.
I usually have the 3G turned on with my iPhone and service is great. But then I am in the New York metropolitan area so of course my service is great. I only use edge when i’m going to sleep to save battery.
Instead of dropping edge on the weaker spectrum maybe AT&T should work to improve their 3G network and make it as ‘big’ as their commercials say.
Errrmmmm….from what I can make out:
1)AFAIK it will ONLY effect areas that have, or soon will have 3G on 850Mhz.
2) There is no reason they should degrade service in 100% 2G areas.
3) 1900Mhz can work ok (not saying it will in this case) in fact many operators are on 1900 only.
4) If AT&T want to improve 3G..they need that bandwidth.
Now of course…they SHOULD offer to replace the handsets of effected customers with 3G models. Then no one would complain.
Whatever, screw the 2G users, I have 3G so its better for me! I am sure they won’t be doing this in 2G only areas until they have 3G anyways.
Still rocking the EDGE-only-in-the-US 5800XM until the NAM version hits. According to AT&T’s map, I should be covered with 3G, but when I used the N95-3, N95-4, E71-2, and the 6650, coverage would constantly switch back to GSM. Forcing it to hold 3G would give me significantly less signal strength.
The timing of this, to the extent that it’s true, is curious given the theory that AT&T is perhaps only weeks away from launching its presumed best-selling device, the Blackberry 8900, which is EDGE and not HSPA. AT&T could of course have cured most of this dilemma a long time ago by using UMA software and gateways, in the same way T-Mobile does. This off-loads the traffic from the cellular network onto the WiFi network, guaranteeing that you will have flawless coverage at home and in most cases also in your office, just to name the places where most people spend perhaps 80% of the time.
Dude, there is no “3G javalin”. That would be a Bold. Javelin (I.e. Curve 8900) is EDGE only and would only get “3G” if an 8930 version comes out for Verizon/Sprint/etc.
3G is not much of a big deal, that’s if you have a iPhone i think. I mean i have the new 3G iphone and i only use the 3G network on my way to and from work and when away from home, as soon as i get home it switches to super fast Wifi & as soon as i get to work it does the same thing with out even asking me for anything. I wish AT&T could offer a 1 or 2 gig data limit for 1/2 the price since most people don’t even use the network that much. I mean when am driving i could careless if my phone is pulling emails via 3G or Edge, its in my freggin pocket
Living in LA sometimes isn’t kind to us AT&T users. But for those using iPhone 2G’s AT&T has been downright cruel. I noticed about a week ago my Edge service has been slowly slowing up. e-mail, web surfing and other iPhone web applications have slowed up to the point of not responding. Not all the time mind you but more and more. Which sucks when I’m out and about and not on my home wifi. I was hoping not to upgrade to 3G till my 2 year contract was up but I may not be able to wait now. damn you at&t
Just an hour out of Las Vegas toward Los Angeles, it’s pure 3-bar EDGE except this 3-bar gets you zero data. Verified with Google Maps. Pretty dangerous if you’re trying to get some data and it’s all 1900MHz out there.
looks like ATT is taking a page from sprints playbook wonder if ther just asking customers to go to tmobile or verizon now?
“Is anyone here still relying on EDGE service (including the hoards of first-gen iPhone owners)? ”
Try any AT&T Blackberry owner who doesn’t have a Bold. That is a TON of people. You’re also looking at everyone who got the “free” basic phones over the last 3-4 years. AT&T is going to piss off a TON of people if this turns out to be true.