AT&T Expanding Their 3G Network in 2008

[MacRumors]

AT&T announced today that they will be deploying third generation (3G) wireless broadband service to more than 80 additional cities as part of its 2008 wireless network expansion plans.

This will bring 3G services to nearly 250 U.S. markets by the end of 2008, including the top 100 U.S. cities.

This news is relevant, in that Apple users AT&T as their exclusive iPhone carrier in the U.S. and has a multi-year commitment with them. One of the main criticisms of the iPhone when it was launched was a lack of 3G networking, which is typically much faster than the EGDE network that is presently offered with the iPhone.

AT&T's CEO confirmed that the 3G iPhone would become available in 2008, confirming comments by Steve Jobs at the original iPhone launch that Apple planned on making "3g phones and all sorts of other amazing things in the future".

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[Boz22885]

OK, this is all great and dandy. I have an iPhone with Edge just like everyone does. How does the news about 3G help me though? How do I get an iPhone with 3G?

[chubad]

Bring it on!

[chubad]

Originally Posted by Boz22885

OK, this is all great and dandy. I have an iPhone with Edge just like everyone does. How does the news about 3G help me though? How do I get an iPhone with 3G?

It doesn't.

You wait until the iPhone with 3G is released and you buy one.

[bhop123]

Looks like iPhone V2 at Macworld 09.

[aross99]

Is there some place we can find out what areas are going to get 3G?

On iPhone launch day, my AT&T store told me that we wouldn't get it until 2009 at the earliest...

[Avatar74]

Originally Posted by Boz22885

OK, this is all great and dandy. I have an iPhone with Edge just like everyone does. How does the news about 3G help me though? How do I get an iPhone with 3G?

You buy one with the understanding that it, too, will someday soon be outdated.

Or you go back in time and tell yourself not to be so goddamned gadget crazy and wait until the 3G iPhone comes out.

... Whichever is more plausible.

[supremedesigner]

Originally Posted by chubad

It doesn't.

You wait until the iPhone with 3G is released and you buy one.

Actually, there is a possibly that your V1 phone will still run on 3G network. Why? Before I send my iPhone to Apple for repair - I took out simcard and I noticed it said "3G" so I assumed it is already pre-3G on every iPhone. We'll see what happen.

[nemaslov]

OMG Now let's hear from all the whiners who just bought a new upgraded iPhone yesterday. There will always be something better tomorrow. Enjoy the use out of your purchase and STFU!!!

[Avatar74]

Originally Posted by aross99

Is there some place we can find out what areas are going to get 3G?

On iPhone launch day, my AT&T store told me that we wouldn't get it until 2009 at the earliest...

They're pulling dates out of their ass.

Even Apple's own retail outlets do not know any details about product launches until Apple corporate announces an exact date or until the day of deployment (as with the 16GB iPhone).

[MacNut]

Maybe AT&T should just join in on WiMAX. Isn't 3G old tech by now.

[nemaslov]

Originally Posted by Boz22885

OK, this is all great and dandy. I have an iPhone with Edge just like everyone does. How does the news about 3G help me though? How do I get an iPhone with 3G?

You wait until Apple release one, later this year, and then you buy it! Kind of a stupid question.

[psychofreak]

Originally Posted by supremedesigner

Actually, there is a possibly that your V1 phone will still run on 3G network. Why? Before I send my iPhone to Apple for repair - I took out simcard and I noticed it said "3G" so I assumed it is already pre-3G on every iPhone. We'll see what happen.

The current iPhone has no 3G hardware inside, no matter what the SIM shows. This was proven around one day after the iPhone was released to the public.

[DroppedCalls]

Thats great to hear...i guess....so does that mean there will be a roll out of more towers!?...I hope so...b/c I get at least 5-6 dropped calls everyday! EVEN OUTDOORS!

[porky]

Battery is now also finished after 1 day. I have to charge it every night. Ohwell maybe because i'm an heavy iphone user

[Blubbert]

Originally Posted by supremedesigner

Actually, there is a possibly that your V1 phone will still run on 3G network. Why? Before I send my iPhone to Apple for repair - I took out simcard and I noticed it said "3G" so I assumed it is already pre-3G on every iPhone. We'll see what happen.

To use 3G, you need apropriate hardware. Just because your sim card says 3G on it doesn't mean that the phone is capable of supporting 3G.

[supremedesigner]

Originally Posted by Blubbert

To use 3G, you need apropriate hardware. Just because your sim card says 3G on it doesn't mean that the phone is capable of supporting 3G.

Then why did Apple put "3G" thing on simcard? To confuse us more? I think they need to be careful what to put on simcard - otherwise I believe there will be class suits/lawsuits for this.

[Jarra]

I would just be happy to get any iphone down here.

[AlphaAnt]

Originally Posted by supremedesigner

Then why did Apple put "3G" thing on simcard? To confuse us more? I think they need to be careful what to put on simcard - otherwise I believe there will be class suits/lawsuits for this.

Apple didn't make the SIM cards, AT&T did, and they have a lot of other products that offer 3G, such as the LG 405.

In all fairness, though, RIM hasn't released an AT&T 3G Blackberry yet; I suspect when either RIM or Apple moves to 3G, the other won't be too far behind.

[eastcoastsurfer]

Jobs is probably pissed the ATT CEO mentioned the 3g. I'm sure he'd pull their contract now if he could. My current cell contract comes up in 2 months. I was considering an iphone, but now I'm going to wait for the 3g phone.

[amac4me]

Things are lining up nicely that favor a 3G iPhone launch by June. Will Apple release a 32GB 3G iPhone at that time?

[MacNut]

Originally Posted by eastcoastsurfer

Jobs is probably pissed the ATT CEO mentioned the 3g. I'm sure he'd pull their contract now if he could. My current cell contract comes up in 2 months. I was considering an iphone, but now I'm going to wait for the 3g phone.

Why is AT&T so behind the curve in the first place, they are just now starting a 3G network while others are already working on 4G.

[chicagostars]

Originally Posted by Avatar74

They're pulling dates out of their ass.

Even Apple's own retail outlets do not know any details about product launches until Apple corporate announces an exact date or until the day of deployment (as with the 16GB iPhone).

A little snarky, and very dead on. Product launch info from the retail stores is pure speculation. The employees get much of their info from rumor sites, just like the general public.

[mikesiPhone]

what is all the hype about?

[MacFly123]

Originally Posted by Avatar74

They're pulling dates out of their ass.

Even Apple's own retail outlets do not know any details about product launches until Apple corporate announces an exact date or until the day of deployment (as with the 16GB iPhone).

This WWDC and will ship one to two months after the announcement