Filed under: iPhone
AT&T is testing bumped-up 3G speeds
Some people may not be happy with the iPhone running on the AT&T 3G network, but at least it appears that network will be running faster. AT&T is already in advanced testing of its new faster 3G network, which was first revealed by Scott McElroy, AT&T VP of Technology Realization, in an interview with Telephony Online.AT&T says it is going to increase the downlink capacity on its high speed packet access (HSPA) from 3.6 megabits per second to 7.2 megabits per second by upgrading the software at the base stations. Currently, AT&T has the enhanced network running in two test markets, but plans to extend the faster spec to its entire network. Then, AT&T plans to start migrating its networks to 'Evolved HSPA' which would triple peak speeds.
Of course the big question for many of us is will the iPhone work with these enhanced speeds? AT&T says most of the data cards, smartphones, and the iPhone will support the new tweaked specs, at least up to 14.4 Mb/s. It's probably a good idea for AT&T to drastically improve its network, especially as it is begging Apple to renew its partnership for another year.
Maybe that will get the SlingBox Mobile app running happily if it ever arrives. Grrrr.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
A-style said 3:21PM on 4-21-2009
Which two markets?
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jakebond70 said 4:41PM on 4-21-2009
I second that. WHICH MARKETS?
McDoobie said 5:18PM on 4-21-2009
nyc i hope :)
9600baud said 3:31PM on 4-21-2009
easier to upgrade when you set the bar so low.
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Potsy said 3:33PM on 4-21-2009
if i can't connect to the network, why would i care if it's faster?
Hey AT&T, work on availability, then work on speed!!!
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Ian said 12:03PM on 4-22-2009
Right! The fastest cellular network I can never connect to! Awesome!
Dale said 2:26PM on 4-22-2009
I came in this thread to post basically the same thing - my bar count goes up and down more than a $10 hooker who looks like Jessica Alba.
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9600baud said 3:38PM on 4-21-2009
DIAF
NutMac said 3:43PM on 4-21-2009
I would prefer that they work on providing more solid 3G coverage in existing markets. Too many call drops in areas one would expect to be solid (e.g., Manhattan, major highways in Silicon Valley).
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dave said 4:09PM on 4-21-2009
can you please clarify? I've read elsewhere that 3G iphones would be incapable of achieving the upgraded speeds. Is that inaccurate? or does it refer to the forthcoming bump to 21Mbps? (I'm pretty sure I had read that it referred to this upgrade
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Will said 4:18PM on 4-21-2009
Yeah i keep reading conflicting stories. :I would like to know for sure.
Galley said 4:14PM on 4-21-2009
I am so ready for something faster than the 50Kbps I get on my EDGE iPhone.
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Paul said 4:23PM on 4-21-2009
We don't even have the "slow" 3G in our market. Much of the area doesn't even have reliable EDGE. I wonder what percentage of AT&T's footprint even has 3G?
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Noah said 9:04PM on 4-21-2009
I have a solution for you. Move. AT&T has solid 3G coverage in Sacramento, for instance... I downloaded something on my Bold the other day and got 80kbps download. My DSL connection only goes 120kbps tops.
Ryan Trevisol said 6:32PM on 4-21-2009
Or here's an even more feasible plan: get a verizon 3G winmo phone and use it to tether your iphone.
jackal said 9:27PM on 4-21-2009
@Noah: Dude, if you're only getting 80 Kbps on your Bold and 120 Kbps on your DSL, you're getting gypped. I regularly speedtest my iPhone on EDGE at 110-120 Kbps, and my cable modem at home gets a very nice 6200 Kbps.
Oh, maybe you meant KBps, not Kbps. ;)
TUAW: I thought I've read the iPhone 3G's chipset is of the 3.6 Mbps variety. Not sure this upgrade is going to do much, unless they're either testing it more for the benefit of their LaptopConnect datacard users...or attempting to bribe apple into renewing their contract if the new iPhone 3G 2.0 (or whatever it's going to be called) will support HSDPA 7.2...
Martin said 5:33PM on 5-19-2009
I just tested my iPhone with the speedtest app.
3G - 1,492 kbps down, 120 up
Wifi - 7,526 kbps down
I agree you're getting gypped.
Kevitivity said 5:02PM on 4-21-2009
Whats a good site to test your 3G download speed?
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BuiltByBen said 7:28PM on 4-21-2009
Get the Speed Test app from the app store. Always seems pretty accurate to me
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=300704847