3G why?

[kdarling]

Actually that is true for EDGE but not for EDGE Evoluton. (...)

Alas, EDGE Evolution devices and support aren't expected until the end of 2008. (This theory was already debunked by others in a thread here last summer.)

And lets not forget that the iphone has WiFi, which is faster than 3g. I don't know about most of you, but I have WiFi just about anywhere I go, and with speeds between 200kps and 250kps EDGE browsing is just fine.

Well, you're not actually getting the latter speed... that's just an artifact of using Javascript date() to calculate download speed.

As for free WiFi, I just had to finally (and reluctantly) lock my own house network down. I used not to mind others using it occasionally. But then I got a cease & desist letter from my cable provider last week about my IP being used to transfer copyrighted material via Gnutella file sharing. I knew immediately this explained a constant WiFi flickering on my router lights.

 

[Cromulent]

Mate, don't confuse the crappy 3 network with 3g technology. They're completely different things. 3G technology is now on all UK carriers and most of them have already upgraded their base stations in the greater London area and the maximum rate terminal users now enjoy is 7.2MBps. All the "mobile broadband" those carriers provide are actually HSDPA which is based on 3G technology.

Never had a problem with 3. Why so much hate towards them?

As far as 3G goes, they should skip it. Just go straight to HSDPA, 3G is old hat.

 

[pseudonymph]

currently my phone is 3g and my girl's phone is edge. For the basic mobile stuff we both do there's not a huge difference. But I've been waiting to buy the iphone so long now that I might as well hold out for the 3g model

 

[DiamondMac]

Edge is not fast for me....whatsoever

The first few weeks/months of owning my iPhone, I just dealt with it

Now, it is becoming MUCH more of a problem

I can go around the city and get absolutely pathetic Edge service to where it takes a few minutes to load up Google.com

I have other friends at other parts of the city with an iPhone that say the same thing as well

So, yes, I want 3G quite badly

 

[glocke12]

I dont know why everyone is concerned about 3G coverage, aside from major urban areas it is not that widespread. I am in South east PA, and there is no 3G coverage within a 30-50 mile radius of me, and even than the coverage is splotchy.

As far as Edge speeds go, I have found that when I am in a wide open area (no buildings), it is very acceptable. However when I go to someplace like NYC, Edge blows....

 

[speakerwizard]

Mate, don't confuse the crappy 3 network with 3g technology. They're completely different things. 3G technology is now on all UK carriers and most of them have already upgraded their base stations in the greater London area and the maximum rate terminal users now enjoy is 7.2MBps. All the "mobile broadband" those carriers provide are actually HSDPA which is based on 3G technology.

i didnt say anything about '3' and i think you proved my point by saying how london has good 3g as i was saying the uk in general, yes 3G will be nice when it gets here but edge is good enough for me not to be worrying.

 

[billandy]

Never had a problem with 3. Why so much hate towards them?

As far as 3G goes, they should skip it. Just go straight to HSDPA, 3G is old hat.

I am still a 3 customer, but I just hate this bloody network so much! The network quality's on par with the rest now I admit, but their customer services are awful! I got "£20/mnth loyalty discount" upon the completion of my first 18-month contract and I was very happy about that. However they introduced the new mix&match plans one month after, which means even with the £20/mnth discount, I'm still paying a premium compared to the new price plan with more minutes and sms allowance. it's just like apple dropping the iPhone price for $200, just hate such bad business practices. price drop of product and services is unavoidable as i understand, but not in such a dramatic way, i don't think that's funny!

 

[Cyberthato]

I dont know why everyone is concerned about 3G coverage, aside from major urban areas it is not that widespread. I am in South east PA, and there is no 3G coverage within a 30-50 mile radius of me, and even than the coverage is splotchy.

As far as Edge speeds go, I have found that when I am in a wide open area (no buildings), it is very acceptable. However when I go to someplace like NYC, Edge blows....

Because USA is not the whole world, even in Spain 3G networks hafe full coverage of the country, and a lot of people (a I mean a LOT) don't even consider iPhone an option because of the lack of 3g (if it ever gets released over here that is).

 

[.adam]

Because USA is not the whole world...QUOTE]

Good man.

Can Americans please understand that 3G is widespread across most of Europe & East Asia. Just because it isn't standard yet in the USA doesn't mean we can't ask/pray for a 3G iPhone!

As soon as you get 3G speeds you'll understand what we've been so happy with for the past 2-3 years or so.

I'm on 3 now, Nokia 6120c. I get 3.5G (HSDPA) speeds almost everywhere. Loading Google maps is nearly as quick as it is on my Mac. Only last night was I looking for a City-Link depot, booted up Google maps on my phone and got it instantly.

My contract expires in a year or so, it'll be an iPhone for me then, hopefully 3G and once the first round of memory upgrades/price cuts kick in (as seems to be the trend nowadays).

 

[glocke12]

Because USA is not the whole world, even in Spain 3G networks hafe full coverage of the country, and a lot of people (a I mean a LOT) don't even consider iPhone an option because of the lack of 3g (if it ever gets released over here that is).

gotcha...Didnt realize 3G was the std. over there...

 

[gloss]

gotcha...Didnt realize 3G was the std. over there...

AT&T is also planning a massive expansion of their U.S. 3G coverage, so cross your fingers.

 

[TXCraig]

Most large population centers in the US have 3G AND its CDMA counterpart. Its not just rolled out to the entire country. Why is this? 3G requires every tower to be upgraded / with new hardware and software. Since all of europe would fit in the state of Texas you can see that would be a bigger undertaking in the US and Europe will always be able to push this type of upgrade out faster then the US.

We have lots of 3G phones available to use in the US. Its just 3G is not that much faster to make a big deal about. But for some reason, we keep seeing 25 post here a day about how the 3G iPhone will be so much better.... ususally by people in the UK or AU.

 

[iamthedudeman]

Alas, EDGE Evolution devices and support aren't expected until the end of 2008. (This theory was already debunked by others in a thread here last summer.)



Well, you're not actually getting the latter speed... that's just an artifact of using Javascript date() to calculate download speed.

As for free WiFi, I just had to finally (and reluctantly) lock my own house network down. I used not to mind others using it occasionally. But then I got a cease & desist letter from my cable provider last week about my IP being used to transfer copyrighted material via Gnutella file sharing. I knew immediately this explained a constant WiFi flickering on my router lights.

Full EDGE Evolution yes, implementation no. It will take over a year or more to see the full benefits. Upgrades to the towers are going on now. You will not need new handsets to see benefits because they are upgrading the towers and mostly EDGE Evolution will be a software upgrade for better speeds greater than 59.2kps per timeslot. This is explained in great detail in this link: White papers to the right fourth one down.

http://www.ericsson.com/technology/tech_articles/EDGE.shtml

They are quoting speeds of 250kps max a year ago. That is 250kps a year ago! My 230kps is average for me. So your telling me that Java script is causing this and Sony Ericsson is wrong? They just make the towers.

Copy and paste: Wouldn't let me attach:

3gamericas.com/PDFs/RIM_Pecen-MBA-Nov14-2007.pdf

will you see 1mps without newer handsets with duel carriers, of coarse not. EDGE Evoluton is going to be this year to complement HSPA. For the full benefits of EDGE Evolution you need new handsets to take advantage of the technology. But the upgrades to the towers for EDGE Evolution will speed up existing speeds past the 236kps threshold. I am not saying this,It is in the white papers posted.

 

[CKohkah]

I have not had an EDGE network speed UNDER 150 kbs. I've had the phone 3 months now and I am very pleased. I'd say I can do without 3G for the time being....

 

[krye]

Buy now.

Even if a 3G iPhone does come out mid-year AT&T only has 3G coverage in major cities. True EDGE is something like 70K and 3G is something like 600K, but it will be useless to most until AT&T upgrades their network nationwide. And I can guarantee you that the plans will go up too. There is no way AT&T is going to spend millions upgrading their wireless network so you can 3G for free. EDGE will be $59.99 and 3G will be $59.99 and then some.

 

[dannyar]

edge is decent enough to get by with, but its like comparing 28k to dsl. Yes 28k not even 56k. on top of that 3g gives you the option to in the future be able to stream video strait off of safari.

 

[shaba]

Version 2.0

I want 3G, not because of faster download but because a 3G iPhone represents iPhone ver 2.0. With that I hope come the refinements and upgrades of one year plus of development. If it was the current iPhone with 3G tacked on, I really wouldn't be that interested.

 

[t0mat0]

Buy now.

Even if a 3G iPhone does come out mid-year AT&T only has 3G coverage in major cities. True EDGE is something like 70K and 3G is something like 600K, but it will be useless to most until AT&T upgrades their network nationwide. And I can guarantee you that the plans will go up too. There is no way AT&T is going to spend millions upgrading their wireless network so you can 3G for free. EDGE will be $59.99 and 3G will be $59.99 and then some.

Or, don't buy now. When 3G gets announced in 3 months or less, the EDGE phones will be discounted/refurbished. You're also only talking about America? Europe, Japan, China are expectant of a decent 3G chip, which Infineon/Broadcomm have already got ready for 2Q 08.

You make a decent point that no-one knows how they're going to market data, as 3G capabilities mean you could download an awful lot more per month. However, AT&T is making inroads to get 3G out there (and in Blightey, we have O2 shuffling their feet and getting fined, and Ireland O2 being a prick and overcharging under-delivering).

 

[NiceArthur32]

i'm having the same dilemma...

should i buy the 16 gig now...

or save my cash and wait for the "rumored" 3g???

 

[billandy]

I want 3G, not because of faster download but because a 3G iPhone represents iPhone ver 2.0. With that I hope come the refinements and upgrades of one year plus of development. If it was the current iPhone with 3G tacked on, I really wouldn't be that interested.

well, i wouldn't be surprised at all if 3g iphone looks identical to the current model but with a front vga camera hidden next to the sensors behind the glass for video chats. but what i really hope to see it's the hsdpa capability! it's just so mind-blowing fast! with hsdpa, i don't see the need for a local broadband at all! hope jobs's gonna introduce a 3g iphone as "one more thing..." next thursday!!!!

 

[Flenz]

Since all of europe would fit in the state of Texas ...

*LOL* ...right!

.

 

[Cudadown]

Honestly, all these "US is not the whole world and EU has this and that" quotes are not accurate. There are 3 times more customers using 3G in the US then France/England/Spain combined. Users only pass the US when you include Germany & Italy. Same misleading theories abound about how in europe/asia everyone has broadband but Americans still live in caves. The truth is... There are more people with broadband access in the US then Germany, England, Spain, France, and Italy combined. And The US might (in future) only be passed by a few asian countries due to the high pop densities and limited landmass to cover in places such as Japan. Since Japan is smaller then California but has 92 million MORE people, one mile of fiber passes a HELL of alot of people. And 1 single 3G tower has a whole hell of alot more customer coverage.

Not to mention the fact that the average US worker has 1/2 as many holidays and works aprox. 10 more hours a week and gets less vacation days a year then most EU countries means americans have less time to spend dropping dead from playing Wow in a cafe for 3 days straight. Or downloading pron. Damn, I better move.
http://www.websiteoptimization.com/bw/0601/top-10-broadband-687x389.gif

 

[smueboy]

multi-band HSDPA

A 3G iPhone is all well and good, but will Apple release a 850/1900 MHz HSDPA phone just for the USA, making it somewhat useless to other parts of the world which use 2100 MHz HSDPA? Then it may be another year before the rest of the world gets a 2100/900 HSDPA iPhone.
At this rate i may give up and buy a Nokia....

 

[Hands0n]

Since all of europe would fit in the state of Texas you can see that would be a bigger undertaking in the US and Europe will always be able to push this type of upgrade out faster then the US.

We have lots of 3G phones available to use in the US. Its just 3G is not that much faster to make a big deal about. But for some reason, we keep seeing 25 post here a day about how the 3G iPhone will be so much better.... ususally by people in the UK or AU.

Typical lack of geographical knowledge - Europe (the EU nations) would take up a significant portion of the landmass of North America. Add to that the different arrangement of sovereign countries vs domestic states, the complexity of agreeing to a single standard is much harder in EU than USA. But lets not stop there, the so-called emerging countries such as India and Africa are making large-scale 3G deployments too, where they have little-to-no legacy copper wire technology. The story repeats across the rest of the entire planet. Try fitting that into Texas!

Rant over, back on topic

3G and its data upgrade HSDPA is widely adopted in the EU now - the UK possibly has the most expansive - with data speeds up to 7.2Mbps at the present time. The mobile market in the UK is much more mature and diverse than it is in the USA. Handsets here are nowadays used for very much more than simply making phone calls and sending a few texts. As such, data speeds are becoming increasingly important.

Handsets like the iPhone will only place increased demand for higher mobile data speeds. WiFi is not good enough when on the move. Few networks would want to deploy a near-obsolete EDGE into their networks. O2 (UK) only did this to get the iPhone contract. Other operators walked away from the table.

Apple have a simple choice - to address a global market or to limit itself to the USA. It has said that it wants to sell 10 million handsets by end of 2008 - it won't do that in a domestic market alone. Apple have to capture the imagination of Europe and the Far East, and it will not do so without a 3G/HSDPA device. It cannot rely on early adopters and Apple fans to make the 10 million. The iPhone could very well fly or die depending on what Apple do with it next.

No 3G is not an option.

 

[Hands0n]

Same misleading theories abound about how in europe/asia everyone has broadband but Americans still live in caves. The truth is... There are more people with broadband access in the US then Germany, England, Spain, France, and Italy combined.
http://www.websiteoptimization.com/bw/0601/top-10-broadband-687x389.gif

Errr, 'scuse me geezer - why are you quoting 2004/2005 figures? This is 2008 according to the clock in the top right of my Mac display

But if you must stay stuck in the past - http://www.websiteoptimization.com/bw/0510/ shows that the UK was ahead per capita for broadband connections. Also worth a quick scan is something more recent (2007) http://www.websiteoptimization.com/bw/0709/ relating to EU per capita BB take up. It really is not just about sheer numbers, the influence of a larger per capita population will drive the suppliers to greater competition and advanced offerings.

I don't think any of us live in caves (well not outside of the Afghanistan Taliban).