4S owners on Go Phone prepaid don't get HSPA+

[MaxBurn]

Looks like you need an APN of just "phone" to get the faster speed. Read this at anandtech;

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4971/apple-iphone-4s-review-att-verizon/3

There’s one last tangential question about HSPA+ on the 4S, specifically on AT&T. I’ve left this to the end since it doesn’t impact non-US 4S users, but the last question is whether the 4S is actually on HSPA+. For a while, I was concerned that AT&T would continue using the wap.cingular APN on the 4S which seems shaped to around 7.2 Mbps HSDPA. I’m glad to report that AT&T hasn’t continued using wap.cingular on its 4S data plans, instead using “phone” which is a newer APN that allows for HSPA+ (above 7.2 Mbps) rates. You can check this yourself under PDP Context Info on the 4S in field test.

Saw some other phone notes needing this change to get the faster speed on the net too.

I tried to change the APN to phone but got the message you aren't subscribed to cellular data.

As most know by now the go phone SIMs require wap.cingular to get data.

 

[benguild]

Makes sense.

 

[tredstone]

Does the phone have to be unlocked to use prepaid?

 

[MaxBurn]

Does the phone have to be unlocked to use prepaid?

No, it can be one that is locked to AT&T.

 

[Applejuiced]

I thought data on prepaid AT&T sims is always way slower than on post paid accounts anyway.

 

[ZBoater]

And for the noobs, dial

*3001#12345#*

to enter Field Test mode. The Field Test menu comes up, select PDP Context Info, select 0, and it will show what APN you are using.

Because 5 minutes ago I was the noob and I had to look it up...

 

[El3ctronics]

This is the same reason you need to make sure you're on the iPhone 4S data plan instead of just the regular iPhone data plan (which was used for all previous iPhones). The 4S plan gives you access to the HSPA+ speeds which I explained in the thread below:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1255815/

 

[peto01]

iPhone 4s doesn't support HSPA+

 

[ZBoater]

iPhone 4s doesn't support HSPA+

Huh?

 

[Nermal]

I've seen conflicting information. Some people are adamant that it does, others are adamant that it doesn't. I personally have not managed get HSPA+ speeds on my 4S (I'm in an HSPA+ area) but speed tests aren't conclusive proof due to network congestion etc (although I have tried it in the middle of the night when there shouldn't be many users on there).

 

[MaxBurn]

I thought data on prepaid AT&T sims is always way slower than on post paid accounts anyway.

Well I guess now it is. I havent read that before though, same 3G everyone else gets without the AT&T partner area coverage. So it would be possible to not have coverage on the same places post paid customers have but if you are getting a signal it should be the same speed as other 3G.

iPhone 4s doesn't support HSPA+

I've seen conflicting information. Some people are adamant that it does, others are adamant that it doesn't. I personally have not managed get HSPA+ speeds on my 4S (I'm in an HSPA+ area) but speed tests aren't conclusive proof due to network congestion etc (although I have tried it in the middle of the night when there shouldn't be many users on there).

The anandtech link I put in the first post is pretty clear the phone has HSPA+. I trust they haven't made a big blunder. You might have problems getting it in your area though.

They made it sound like all 4s should have the "phone" APN but maybe you should check.

 

[Nermal]

They made it sound like all 4s should have the "phone" APN but maybe you should check.

Well being outside the US, AT&T APNs aren't really of interest to me

And in any case, whether I'm personally getting HSDPA or HSPA+ is really irrelevant because it's fast enough