AT&T 3G network upgrades underway; 7.2 Mbps HSDPA ahead of new iPhone launch
By now it is painfully obvious that AT&T and Apple will announce at least one new iPhone model this coming June; heck, even analysts jumped on board with bloggers a few months ago in stating that a new iPhone model this Summer is imminent. Back in March, we ran through some exciting details laid out by an AT&T exec and among them was the note that Apple’s new handset would support faster HSDPA to the tune of 7.2 Mbps. Well here we are in April and Scott McElroy, VP of Technology at AT&T Mobility, has confirmed the company is currently working on software upgrades that will boost 3G downlink speeds to… You guessed it… 7.2 Mbps. Despite the fact that we’re lucky if we can get 400 Kbps in the New York area right now, AT&T’s current 3G network supports speeds up to 3.6 Mbps so the upgrades being performed will double that speed. We have to admit, we’re a little scared to think of what network performance is going to be like when the new iPhone drops and increasing download speeds isn’t going to help resolve current issues. It looks like we may be in for a bumpy ride leading up to AT&T’s migration to HSPA+ in late 2009/early 2010, and the subsequent launch of AT&T’s LTE network.
I switchedfrom the iPhone on AT&T to the BB Curve on Sprint because in the Seattle area the call quality on the iPhone was terrible. I was dropping calls left and right.
In addition, if I activated the 3G radio and I was in an area without 3G I would not get any signal. I would then turn 3G off and the EDGE network would kick in. For me it was just one headache after another.
The quality of the device and service provider will differ depending upon your use of the device and your location. No single device is right for all users and no single provider is good in all locations.
Now, can you guys stop calling each other names and discuss the issues?
I’m just looking forward the specifications of the new iphone that’s just it! And 3G is also important to me I’m sick of my Gprs and EDGE speeds now I really like to get a faster internet connection on my device I also apple will also make improvements on the battery as well! Well we will wait and see but for me now the Storm rocks my world!
Sent via BlackBerry.
@Kyle, you better do your home work on 1xrtt, and stop making false statements. When a cdma network switches from evdo to 1x the call will not drop. That is not how the system is setup to work. Unlike att you cant talk over evdo. Its data only. But hspda you can talk and browse the web at the same time. Thats why when you in a weak 3g area you drop a call before it switches. Its good cause you can talk and browse the web at the same time, but the downside is you loose voice quality also. And we know how att coverage is.
You take any evdo phone and any hspda phone. Compare the battery times to if you was using 3g and if you was not. its no difference on a evdo phone cause it does not use evdo for voice, only for data. But a hspda phone its a huge difference sometimes 3 to 4 hour talk time difference.
att should focus more on bargaining a fair contract for its employees that make their network work in the first place
If I’m not mistaken can’t the iPhone 3g handle up 7.2mbps. Or am I wrong
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).
In my area At&t is horrible… Im leaving for Sprint.. all my friends have Sprint and it works here.. I’m thinking about the Pre…
^Really? What anonymous area is that?
There was a lot of news a few weeks back about Howard Stern switching to the Bold. Today he spent 20 or 30 mins ripping into AT&T for poor coverage and talking about how his Sprint phone never had these problems. They should try to improve the existing coverage instead of focusing on this upgrade, but I guess that wouldn’t grab as many headlines.
^Was his rant specific to 3G transmission or just general ‘coverage’? Two very distinct areas of concern [at least where this blog post is concerned].
I both love verizon and AT&T. They both have great services.
backbeat: The rant was actually about calls (dropped calls, garbled voice) and not being able to get a signal at all in some places (the gym is one that was mentioned).
Is the ‘average’ consumer not aware that CDMA does have 1 technical advantage over GSM by small, varying degrees? That being building penetration. Even still, if you’re not on the outer perimeter sections of a large building, no signal is going to remain consistent without repeaters. Maybe Howard should get an education on this subject before making his idiocy so well-known. Just a thought …
Dropped calls is a handset-integration issue that goes well beyond ‘the network’. Garbled voices can happen on any system, but are more prevalent when GSM signal becomes weak. I’d be willing to bet that his gym isn’t a stand-alone 24/7, but contained within a high-rise.
Therew go the apologies again
^Specifically what apologies? Based upon what evidence, DonVinnie daBitchBoy?
Please enlighten us with your wireless wisdom, Villager-with-Stones-and-Torches-in-Hand [aka DonVinnie daBitchBoy]…
[Please surgically remove your Sprint-sponsored bias prior to touching your keyboard, Coward]
Good points, but the “average consumer” doesn’t care. The “average consumer” only knows if their phone works as they would expect.
Posts 7, 12 and 23 are excuses for a sucky 3g network (where you have it) post 18 is you bringing up Sprint before any brought up any other carrier besides att. What is laughable is att upgrading existing 3g instead of expanding the few spots they have, they do have another iphone coming
Does the wireless industry bank on the stupidity of the average consumer? From the content [or lack thereof] from some Sprint-Pimping BitchBoys … it appears so.
DonVinnie daBitchBoy’s DNA will change before he will treat any carrier-related subject with a single degree of integrity.
By way of forcing 98% of your Jesus-carrier’s traffic into roaming onto VZW, I’d say you should be an expert at the need to expand a [virtual] network prior to upgrading.
We are talking about att while you continue with that ridiculous number (what company would allow a competitor to use thier network that much?) that has nothing to do with the topic. ATT 3G sucks and voice too, they both need all the help they can get but beef up everywhere. They already have the killer device, don’t keep it on a gimped network
Since you’re a known Trolling-Pimp for your Jesus-carrier, it most certainly -is- relevant, BitchBoy.
Hello, Sprint … Can you hear me now? [click ... dropped call] … Hello? …
And you, DonVinnie daBitchBoy, know all about “gimped”, don’t you? With your Pimping your Jesus-carrier … Throwing around threats of physical violence … Provoking bullshit carrier-wars …
Fuck you -and- your childish insolence.
No carrier is any more perfect, nor less perfect than another.
Something for the self-proclaimed King O’Banking at HSBC to think about while he’s standing in line for -his- bailout. Enjoy all your free down-time [spent entirely on blogs]. Thanks for restoring our faith in our financial system. With leadership such as yours, at least we know that our next destination is the 7th Circle of Hell.
Thanks man, it’s really flattering that you track all my comments and assume you know my job. I didn’t bring any other carrier or thier coverage in and still haven’t, att is bad coast to coast, 3g is sparse and it cost too much. If you want sparse 3g and just as spotty voice you can get the G1 instead of the iphone and save money
You’ve stated your employer in the past [HSBC]. Were you lying then … Or are you lying now?
Go ahead, BitchBoy … Threaten me again. Go for it.
stalker
I’m an idiot and a loser…so I spend all my time on here, because I lack the social skills to interact with real people…I can properly defend myself against verbal acts hiding behind the monitor in my parents house ( I’m 43 ) eating hot pockets…
These are my stats
43 Y/O
Brown W/ store bought high lites
485 Kilos
5′2
48″ Waist
Smooth
I’m uncut…actual not sure because can’t see past my stomach…
Looking for Abercrombie Type!
^You volunteer the information … and I’m a stalker. Yeah … Thanks for the clarity, BitchBoy.