Apple says: Dropped 3G phone calls AT&T's fault!

[Stratus Fear]

Thanks, my understanding of UMTS is much weaker than my knowledge of CDMA and EVDO technologies.

No, I think you got it. You were right, it's a matter of hand-off between GSM and UMTS/W-CDMA. CDMA2000 EV-DO, CDMA2000 being the voice and basic data component and EV-DO a 3G extension obviously doesn't have the same problem since it doesn't need to hand-off at all, which I think is how you explained it. The 2.5G and 3G tech are all rolled into one there, not the case between GSM and UMTS.

Edit: For anyone wondering why it was done that way on the GSM side, as was explained by Geckotek, GSM uses the older TDMA air interface. TDMA really doesn't have room to meet the requirements of a 3G network standard, so a new air interface was used (W-CDMA) based off of the basic concepts of CDMA. Since the CDMA camp obviously got to this earlier, it wasn't an issue for them to transition to 3G standards. CDMA-based methods have a lot more useable life in them than TDMA ones alone.

 

[tritonj]

it is amusing seeing all the finger pointing. the fault probably ends up lying with both of them. but what they will do is just keep blaming each other and in the end we all get screwed and nothing is done about it

 

[cWeems]

it has nothing to do w/ the phone, go to an at&t store, get a new sim card, make sure they plug it into the card machine and update, ull be fine...

no point in wasting all those phones at apple

 

[nizmoz]

No, you can, and it does sometimes work. I've had it work in some situations but not at all in others. It's not very reliable at all. I can make an abrupt change in my environment like walking into an underground parking deck and it'll make the switch from UMTS to GSM just fine, and then another time I can simply walk down the sidewalk out of 3G range and it'll drop hard.

If reliable calling is a top priority, I'd switch off 3G before starting a call.

I have had other phones with AT&T that do not have this problem. The iphone I get dropped calls like no other. It is a Apple problem and not a AT&T problem. They need to resolve this crappy software problem.

 

[scaredpoet]

FWIW, handoff issues are a common problem usually in new markets. It takes a while but the problem DOES get fixed.

In NJ, I had a 3G phone before going to the iPhone, and 3G to GSM handoffs failed frequently, resulting in a dropped call. Now, back on a 3G iPhone, the handoffs are always successful.

One thing to note though: the handoffs are only one-way. Once you get handed off to GSM, you stay there for the duration of the call.

 

[Geckotek]

I have had other phones with AT&T that do not have this problem. The iphone I get dropped calls like no other. It is a Apple problem and not a AT&T problem. They need to resolve this crappy software problem.

What phones were they? Were any of them 3G? (W-CDMA)

Edit: FWIW, I think most of Dallas is converted over, so I don't really experience this issue....although I could be mistaken...perhaps some of my dropped calls are related. There's on spot on I-35 and George Bush Tollway where I drop without fail every time. Maybe I'll check to see if I'm switching from 3G to Edge next time I drive through there.

 

[Hutch1]

Hand off works fine on the Rogers network up here in Canada, so I really don't know what you want Apple to fix. It sounds like it works fine in the UK too. Maybe some others from around the world would like to chime in with their experiences.

 

[yg17]

Since the CDMA camp obviously got to this earlier, it wasn't an issue for them to transition to 3G standards. CDMA-based methods have a lot more useable life in them than TDMA ones alone.

Not quite the reason. EvDO is strictly data only. For voice calls, an EvDO-capable phone is going to use the same old CDMA network that an older 1xRTT phone would use, so when you move from an EvDO to a 1x coverage are, no handoff is necessary. The fact that they've been using CDMA technologies longer and have more experience doesn't really have anything to do with it.

 

[Geckotek]

Not quite the reason. EvDO is strictly data only. For voice calls, an EvDO-capable phone is going to use the same old CDMA network that an older 1xRTT phone would use, so when you move from an EvDO to a 1x coverage are, no handoff is necessary. The fact that they've been using CDMA technologies longer and have more experience doesn't really have anything to do with it.

I think you misunderstood his post because he said what you said. But reading it again perhaps his phrasing was confusing.

 

[emccus01]

The transition between EDGE and 3g should be seamless. I have many friends with other 3g phones and the phones never drop calls. The phone will switch to the better signal while in call. My 3g iphone can't make the transition on the fly much like others have noted. I keep my phone on EDGE all the time and its fine but still not the way I wished. I pray it is a software issue so that the cpu can hand off the call before the bars drop all the way. I'm just biding my time. I will only be mad if a fix comes out and they say all us early adopters are out of luck.

 

[Stratus Fear]

Not quite the reason. EvDO is strictly data only. For voice calls, an EvDO-capable phone is going to use the same old CDMA network that an older 1xRTT phone would use, so when you move from an EvDO to a 1x coverage are, no handoff is necessary. The fact that they've been using CDMA technologies longer and have more experience doesn't really have anything to do with it.

Read earlier in that post.

 

[scaredpoet]

The transition between EDGE and 3g should be seamless.

In theory, yes. In practice, AT&T needs to work on it when integrating 3G into a market for the first time.

I have many friends with other 3g phones and the phones never drop calls. The phone will switch to the better signal while in call.

Funny, you should go to Treocentral and see how many people are complaining that the Treo 750 and Centro are dropping on handoffs too, and again only in some markets. Or how many people have this exact same problem with the Nokia N95. Or the Samsung Blackjack. This is not a phone specific issue, but it IS specific to AT&T's network in new 3G markets.

I pray it is a software issue so that the cpu can hand off the call before the bars drop all the way. I'm just biding my time. I will only be mad if a fix comes out and they say all us early adopters are out of luck.

It's not a software or cpu problem. It IS a network problem. And it will improve with time.

In fact, if it was a cpu issue, you probably WOULD be out of luck.

 

[iViet]

there is no perfect network........... all providers get dropped calls, it all depends on where you're at. get used to it. if you don't want dropped calls, stop somewhere and use a pay phone.

 

[w4rmk]

Sorry but that is B.S. I previously had an HTC Tilt for the past year and it supports HSDPA (3g) and in the past year I never had any issues that made me give a 2nd thought to turning off 3G.

I have kept my 3G radio turned off since the day after I got my iPhone 3G. Whenever someone asks me how I like the new iPhone 3G, I tell them it's a great phone but 3G does not work properly. For me it's just an Edge phone. When I am at work or away from home I use my iPhone for voice calls and email checking, for which Edge is sufficient. I generally use data at home when I am connected via WiFi which is super fast and works perfectly.

 

[Coltz-One]

I hate to say it, but this is a hardware error. I know someone who works for AT&T and gives me the scoop on everything going on.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/phones/2008-08-14-iphone-3g-connectivity-problem_N.htm

"Apple has had the same problem in every market where the (3G) iPhone is sold," he says.

Translation: AT&T's 3G network isn't to blame."

iPhone dropping calls? Blame the Infineon chip - MSNBC

iPhone's Dropped Calls - Tech Observer

Before you even say it, AT&T is not global (why do they have a deathstar, ugh I mean globe for their logo? I don't know, landlines maybe?). Wireless is only in North America and offshore islands.