Apple tweaking iPhone to work better on AT&T's network

No matter where the problem lies (Apple, AT&T, or both), I would be
thrilled to just make a phone call without dropping it. That, and not being able to make calls, send texts, and access data services even with 5 bars and 3G showing on the display is quite aggravating.

I live in the MD/VA area and everyone I know who has an I Iphone is happy with the service we get. I commute from Baltimore to Northern Va every day using 95 and 495 and I don't have any issues with my coverage. I had Verizon and it didn't impress me enough to keep me.

"iPhone owners have little reason to stay with the company."
Wait a minute... does that mean it will be possible to port current iPhones (at least my 3GS) to Verizon even though my iPhone isn't CDMA compatible?

I think that this problem is a bit overblown b/c those who suffer from bad coverage will complain while those who experience everything working properly usually keep quiet.

I for one, live in Wichita, KS & get wonderful coverage w/ AT&T on my iPhone. The rest of the state is another story entirely.

I USED to have good 3G speeds in downtown Sacramento (at work, where I don't have Wi-Fi). About 3 weeks ago, the network got consistently terrible. I'm regularly seeing 11-13k download speeds (but 135 today on EDGE), but hey -- 5 bars! So it MUST be good. And I've had that "got a voicemail even though the phone never rang" issue for a couple of years now.

Regretting my decision to pre-order the 3G iPad, since it won't help me at work until AT&T really does improve their network (which I'm wagering won't start until the day after their exclusivity ends). I'd cancel and try to get a Wi-Fi iPad on the 12th if it weren't for the GPS issue.

Finally ready (for the first time) for a new carrier. If the iPad works out for me, I might even drop the iPhone in 2011 when my contract's up. iPad for data, for MAKING FREAKING PHONE CALLS.

I have plenty reasons: Great coverage in my areas. Great customer service. Fast speed.

On Verizon I had terrible coverage, slow speed and really bad customer service.


...I'll stay on the Network that treats me well, thanks.

Also forgot to mention, @blachole: This isn't the first time this year, or even last year, AT&T has said it is working on improving its network. iPhone data usage improvement =/= network improvement.

Personally, I think it might be a good idea for Apple to set up a sort of proxy for web browsing as RIM is going to be doing with their new browser and Opera is doing with Opera Turbo. Load the pages on an Apple server, then transfer that page to the user's iPhone. It's shown significant speed and network load improvements elsewhere, and there is no reason Apple can't do it with that gigantic pile of cash they have stored up.

Oh I dunno, the ability to use the phone in a country other than the US is pretty big for me.

Here in Austin... AT&T reliability is atrocious ... I'm talking easily 2 or 3 dropped calls PER DAY!!! Every day!

Can't wait to get back to Sprint.

The HTC EVO 4g will be my next phone(s). I just can't take the dropped calls anymore.

Sigh.

The problem is not ATT. This has been demonstrated (repeatedly) by independent, non-Apple-leaning 3rd party sources. The problem is with the iPhoneOS itself, and the tricks CoreTelephony does to keep the battery life sane.

This is easily demonstrated by simply getting a pre-iPhone 3G handset and using it; the call performance is unquestionably better.

Of course, the battery life on these units with 3G on is horrid :)

In basic terms, the Apple trick comprises turning the radio on and off frequently. The side effect is that it, for want of a better phrase, `spams` the cell towers. Extrapolate this effect across the iPhoneosphere and you get a leeetle problem :)

Hence this story :D

-K