AT&T to Complete 3G Rollout by June

[MacRumors]

AT&T announced today that they will complete their deployment of High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA) technology in the six remaining markets across AT&T's entire 3G (third-generation) wireless broadband network.

This will complement its deployment of its HSDPA network, making AT&T the only U.S. carrier to have fully deployed HSPA technology on its 3G network. AT&T's 3G network is available in more than 275 markets and will expand to nearly 350 markets by year's end.

With the new addition of HSUPA technology, AT&T 3G users can enjoy uplink speeds between 500 and 800 Kbps. The technology is available in all but the few remaining AT&T 3G markets and will be included in all future deployments. The new upload speeds complement AT&T's 3G download capabilities, which currently offer up to 1.4 Mbps across all markets for customers who have capable devices, such as AT&T's LaptopConnect wireless modems.

The timing of the rollout conveniently coincides with the rumored Apple iPhone launch, though fast upload speeds, which is the technology described in this press release is less critical for the current version of the iPhone. In the future, as applications are deployed on the iPhone, uploading larger files, such as video, from the iPhone could become more common. Regardless, the "completion" of their 3G network in time for a June iPhone rollout remains interesting.


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[RidleyGriff]

Hoping that this is evidence pointing to the inclusion of Video Chat in iPhone 2.0....

but knowing I'm setting myself to be disappointed.

[Peace]

This will cost a premium. I'd bet an iPhone on it.

[D4F]

It's like a cat & mouse game.
I hope that 3G will be working once new iPhone is out.

[myod-rules]

How will this compare to DSL or Cable? Should I dump my crappy Verizon DSL and just plug a USB 3G modem into my iMac for my network's internet access?

[arn]

Originally Posted by myod-rules

How will this compare to DSL or Cable? Should I dump my crappy Verizon DSL and just plug a USB 3G modem into my iMac for my network's internet access?

800 Kbps up (100K/s up)
1.4 Mbps down (175K/s down)

Not as good as Cable, probably comparable or better than DSL.

arn

[Shasterball]

I think it was pretty clear that they were going to roll out a lot of the 3G networks by June...

[Pippen Man]

A new 3G network a day, keeps the 2.5G iPhones away.

[lamina]

Well I guess this confirms the 3G iPhone will have HSUPA support

[RidleyGriff]

Originally Posted by D4F

It's like a cat & mouse game.
I hope that 3G will be working once new iPhone is out.

It will likely be the same as it was with the original iPhone -- working on release date, followed by several outtages in different areas of the country over the next couple months until they get all the bugs ironed out.

Hopefully if 3G goes down, we'll be able to fall back on the EDGE instead of being dead in the water...

[krye]

Awesome. I was thinking for a minute that a 3G iPhone would be a waste until AT&T got their act together. But it looks like we'll be full throttle on launch day. Pretty sweet. Of course, AT&T isn't dropping mad cash on updating their network so we can have 3G for free. There will be a premium. So no more $59 plan. We're probably looking at $69.99.

[iliketomac]

As long as the iPhone rates stay comparably the same, then it's even better news! So we'll see....

[diamond.g]

Of course Quantico, VA gets no love

[MacKinvan]

I was hoping that the 3G upgrade would have been to 7.2 HSPDA. I assume that this is a stop-gap until LTE, and AT&T is doing this just for Apple.

[louden]

I certainly hope there's the capability to use a 3G iPhone as a bluetooth modem for Macs and PCs.

Can you hear me, Mr. Jobs?

I also certainly hope AT&T doesn't try to pump up some inflated charges for phone to PC data connectivity like the old Cingular did with my Windows Mobile phone.

Can you hear me, Mr. Bell?

Thank God the rest of the world demands mediocrity, otherwise, I think we'd be paying for this...

[aleixpinardell]

!!!

AT&T is offering iPhone for $249 - $349

AT&T Refurbished cell phones

[carrjar]

If Apple introduces video chat with new iPhones, our family will finally own two of them. Can't wait to see!

[LoganT]

Originally Posted by Peace

This will cost a premium. I'd bet an iPhone on it.

Highly doubt it. Look at any phone on AT&T ones that only have EDGE are the same price as the ones that have 3G HSDPA. And it doesn't matter if you only have EDGE in your area the 3G phone will still work you just won't get 3G speeds. You'll get EDGE speeds until you go into a 3G area.

[longofest]

Originally Posted by RidleyGriff

Hoping that this is evidence pointing to the inclusion of Video Chat in iPhone 2.0....

but knowing I'm setting myself to be disappointed.

Not really sure we've seen enough evidence to indicate video chat in the 3G iphone, but if/when it does come, it will certainly need the HSUPA bandwidth.

Originally Posted by diamond.g

Of course Quantico, VA gets no love

move just a bit north and you'll be in dreaded "NoVA" with me, and we can share in 3G glory.

[Scooterman1]

This will be good if you live in the City, but in-between cities still leaves the Current iPhone a better choice without having to spend more money. There are still Wide Gaps in their 3G Service. And the article says nothing at all about filling in those gaps. They just state that they will complete it in the six remaining markets. This tells me that they are not filling in the non-3G areas in their current markets.

[longofest]

Originally Posted by arn

800 Kbps up (100K/s up)
1.4 Mbps down (175K/s down)

Not as good as Cable, probably comparable or better than DSL.

arn

If you're close to the base station than DSL can be faster than this. I've seen some DSL be up to 3 Mbps

[ktemkin]

Arn,

Can you do a better job of explaining some this?

Your post talks about this HSUPA network begin deployed "on [AT&T's] 3G network."

Does that mean that HSUPA IS the 3G network? Or is it a protocol on the network? Is it the thing that makes the 3G network 3G? From this posting, I just do not know.

What is HSUPA? (and not just what it stands-for.) What is the significance of HSUPA?

Your post uses three acronyms: HSUPA, HSDPA and HSPA, but only tells us what the first one stands for.

This almost looks like a reposting of a AT&T press release without any explanation.

Ken

[diamond.g]

Originally Posted by longofest

Not really sure we've seen enough evidence to indicate video chat in the 3G iphone, but if/when it does come, it will certainly need the HSUPA bandwidth.



move just a bit north and you'll be in dreaded "NoVA" with me, and we can share in 3G glory.

I couldn't afford to live in NoVA.. Shoot my house is in Fredericksburg...


Eventually AT&T will hit up my area of I95 with 3G speeds and I should be able to see some love then.

[Peace]

Originally Posted by LoganT

Highly doubt it. Look at any phone on AT&T ones that only have EDGE are the same price as the ones that have 3G HSDPA. And it doesn't matter if you only have EDGE in your area the 3G phone will still work you just won't get 3G speeds. You'll get EDGE speeds until you go into a 3G area.

What I meant by "premium" is AT&T will have bandwidth caps like Verizon and now (gasp ) Comcast. Anything over a set amount and you get charged.

[TLewis]

Originally Posted by arn

800 Kbps up (100K/s up)
1.4 Mbps down (175K/s down)

Not as good as Cable, probably comparable or better than DSL.

That's low-end DSL.

Considering all the 3G drooling that's going on, I predict that people will be disappointed with the speed once the 3G iPhone comes out, because (1) 3G is still slow (much better than EDGE, but still slow), and (2) the iPhone's processor is slow (and I haven't seen any rumors regarding a processor speed increase).

I have a somewhat fast DSL line (6.0mbps down, 600k up) with wifi, and I think the iPhone is only marginally usable in terms of speed (wifi, of course). Since AT&T's 3G is significantly slower than my DSL line, I'm definitely not excited about 3G (and please note that AT&T's 3G coverage is significantly less than EDGE).

Of course, there could be other features in the new iPhone that'll make me drool, but 3G is nowhere on my list.