[Macworld]

Post your comments for iPhone 3G S features 7.2 Mbps, AT&T's network doesn't here

[dreyfus]

Not really a big deal, I have a T-Mobile UMTS modem in my MBP and they do support 7.2 HSPA here (Germany). The net bandwidth is consistently below the theoretical capabilities of even 3.6, actually switching to EDGE sometimes improves the speed (I run my iPhone 3G in EDGE mode all of the time, saves battery and there is no severe speed difference)... and the T-Mobile network is supposed to be the best over here.
Bad they goofed it up on both MMS and tethering, but 7.2 is not really an issue yet. With overloaded networks and dropping calls, raising the theoretical data speed limit is not achieving anything. Better caching and a faster Safari in the 3GS should do much more for the mobile browsing experience.

[jrandersoniii]

A lot of griping happens about the AT&T system. I would prefer to be with my old provider Alltel (soon to be Verizon)... but I wanted an iPhone so I switched. I have not complained once about having to pay for text messaging or $10 more per month for 3G service, compared to my wife's 2G iPhone bill.
In addition, people complain about the infrastructure. It is very amusing when these people start trying to compare cellular infrastructure in the United States to other countries. Unless you are comparing to China, Russia, Brazil, etc... forget about it. You can't compare the solid coverage of most European nations to the U.S. If you don't understand why -- you are too stupid to understand, and not worthy of an explanation.

[rab777hp]

Coughs Foreign carriers


And jranderson, there's no reason for such language

[bonesb]

About your comment regarding ATTWS's current data speeds, I can attest that they're nailing it. I use an iPhone and a data card, with the card hitting the advertised speeds most of the time when I'm bored and check it out.
With at least one manufacturer - Siemens - offering an LTE/GSM/WCDMA "box" for sale I'd be surprised if ATTWS makes a significant investment in upping 3G speeds, lowering latency times, and making more reliable voice calls with future-resistant/proof tech without LTE in mind right now. I also subscribe to Verizon and Clear without any hard wired broadband - keep it running and reliable and you'll get my cash. Burp or hiccup and I'm done with them for at least two years!

[ianpatterson]

jrandersoniii - do please enlighten me. As a European enjoying 7.2 Mbps networks for a while now (2 years from memory - my current Vodafone datacard is the 2nd thats been capable of that speed and used it) our Telco's musn't understand either - they're too busy making a decent profit from providing a decent service.

I can understand services may not be quite up to scratch in thinly populated areas of the US, just as they can be poor/non existent in the UK also. I fail to see why they're not top-notch in major cities like NY though. Certain areas should have flagship provision to get the most out those dense markets and get the technology up and running. Just as the centre of London started of UK rollout of 7.2 here also.

[danielchow]

ditto.

is it necessary to express knowledge of something by being snarky and arrogant? do enlighten the "stupid". demonstrate your knowledge.

[JohnML]

iPhone for business KO'd by ATT, if you care about expenses. If you travel internationally you want a BB as it is the only device with an unlimited international data plan i.e., $65 per month. The iPhone international data plan is a rip off. Apple's marketing prowess has been bested by RIM in negotiations with AT&T, sorry Steve the Canadians had a sharper pencil !!!!!! Am I missing something I would prefer the iPhone but have to stick with my BB!
John

[KendallGelner]

What I don't think people are understanding well is the 3Gs will also be significantly faster browsing on WiFi, or on any page that makes heavy use of Javascript. Some times browsing is not as limited by the network as by the processor and memory constraints!!

[Stormchild]

It's HSDPA, not HSPA.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hsdpa

[MrLarrity]

I've read a host of articles as to why US cell coverage is lagging the rest of the world (Europe and Asia especially).
From what I understand, many of these other nation's government provided the buildouts and leased the lines to the companies like in S Korea and Japan. I don't know about the UK and France, but I can see the wise Brits and socialists in France doing as the Asians did.
In the US, we are such a large country, with a sparsely populated mid section, that roll out would have been like building the highway system in the 1950s.
I don't totally fault ATT, formerly SBC for not taking on this challenge alone. ATT also has a very large home phone business and has been also rolling out UVERSE in a highly competitive industry. Home phones are fading away, so the primary revenue source for ATT is Cellular, or is fastly approaching that distinction.
ATT just doesn't have the capital/cash to roll out all this new tech and compete with Verizon. I don't wish to make excuses for them, but as an investor, I regularly study such data on companies where I learn the story behind the story. I also see ATT as trying to catch up very hard and stay competitive. I guess I shall find out the truth about the frustration next week for myself....

[Erod]

stupid AT&T, this is the worlds most un"reliable" network, they should lower the data plans to $10 or 20 a month ,

[stryfe137]

You're wrong. In the late 90s- early 2000 the government did give the phone companies usomething like $15 billion. Do you know what they did? They pocketed the cash. At least Verizon has respectable coverage. Seriously Apple, leave AT&T as soon as possible. They have no respect for their customers (your customers) and are not willing to provide a network that is worthy to carry the exclusivity of the iPhone.

[cypherpunks]

Stormchild said:

It's HSDPA, not HSPA.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hsdpa

Did you even read the Wikipedia page you linked to? The very first sentence says "High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) is an enhanced 3G (third generation) mobile telephony communications protocol in the High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) family..."

Or how about the MacWorld article, did you read that? Right in the middle of the article it says: "HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) is actually two separate standards: HSPDA /sic/ (for downstream) at a raw rate of 7.2 Mbps and HUSPA (for upstream), likely at raw rates of 1.4 Mbps or 1.9 Mpbs"

Of course it appears to be HSDPA not HSPDA... but HSPA is right in any case.