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AT&T Announces Completion of 7.2 Mbps Software Updates, But Backhaul Upgrades Still Needed

A few notes here...

* Going past 7.2 is worthless for many mobile devices as they're maxed out at 7.2. I am a bit skeptical of those saying that they consistently exceed 7.2 on TMO, not only due to that limitation, but RF conditions play a huge role as well.

* Adding backhaul that's worthwhile to 3G is not easy or cheap. I've seen ATTs slide deck of what they're going to do in 2010 and it's pretty thorough.

* Having said that, they shouldn't have been behind the 8 ball in the first place. Verizon has always been proactive and spent the money well before performance issues cropped up. Infrastructure systems generate statistics like you wouldn't believe, they're to be used for system planning but some companies apparently ignore what their networks are telling them - or they can't understand what "slope" and "intercept" mean.

* Taking 2 pieces of public information together, it would seem that ATT just dropped $1B in software for HSDPA licenses at the base stations in the last few weeks. That's a pretty big commitment - but again, why so late?

* I have both a Droid and iPhone, the iPhone is the better experience for data overall. Downloads are noticeably snappier, and I could tell when ATT upgraded to 7.2 where I live (I live in a test market).

* "but I have 5 bars!!!!" I call the bars a "customer mollification device." Bars mean NOTHING, and especially so in GSM - you can have no available radios or channels in GSM and still get 5 bars. BARS MEAN NOTHING. Hell, they no good even for signal strength. Think of them as a marketing tool.
 
I wish I could get reliable - non dropped calls on AT&Ts network. AT&T is trying to make all the changes to get enhanced data speeds.... but NO THANKS! My sprint laptop card beats the AT&T ones we use at work hands-down! AT&T what about a reliable - voice network first!
 
derek1984 said:
Kind of off topic but does anybody pay attention to how much better Verizon's tv ads are compared to AT&T?
Click to expand...

Really? Yes, the map thing is quirky and good but I thought AT&T's response ads have been pretty good.

They've pointed out that their coverage is pretty much everywhere you are. (In other words the middle of nowhere Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, etc. isn't important to them because there aren't)

They've pointed out that you can surf the web and talk on the phone at the same time. Verizon can't.

They've pointed out that their 3G is faster than Verizon. True, when it works.

They've pointed out that you get to keep your minutes you don't use every month. Verizon just tosses them.

I'm guessing they should next point out that AT&T is cheaper and that Verizon is the most expensive cellular service.

So as far as advertising goes I think AT&T has made some pretty good arguments. It seems that the problem isn't really coverage (as the maps show on Verizon ads) but the quality of the coverage.
 
Hurray. Now I could of been surfing even faster for a service I don't get.

Edge FTW!
 
bretm said:
You guys are serious? Here's my test...

Open google maps-
Start countling... 1,2- bing! Satellite map of my neighborhood with my house perfectly pinpointed by gps. What delay?
Click to expand...

Cache?

Google Earth keeps a big cache of bitmaps so that it doesn't need to reload images for someplace that you've recently seen.

If the phone app does the same, it wouldn't be surprising for your house to come right up.

A better test might be to enter a random location that you've never seen before.
 
wow, a new low from ATT in San Francisco... for all of those of you complaining about no 3G or only half-speed 3G, look at the test I just ran, sitting here in downtown San Francisco....
 

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AT&T is only afraid of being last, and with T-Mobile now having a faster 3G, I sure hope they also release some commercials as well.

A major thing about technology, especially in the US, is that it tends to start first and then stagnate. Other countries at a time had nothing, but when they started to build their networks, they had foreknowledge of how to lay the stronger foundation.

The spirit of innovation right now is at a all time low (I mean 3G to 3Gs is a prime example), and its really going to take some competition to get things going again.
 
TheSpaz said:
I like AT&T. It doesn't bother me that they don't have coverage out in the middle of nowhere, but I get coverage everywhere *I go*, so I'm happy.

I don't get to enjoy 3G speeds though because I disabled my data plan.
Click to expand...

LOL--maybe we travel in the same circles as I never have any issues with ATT. Not here in Florida and not in Ohio where I was over the holidays I've only had my iPhone for a few weeks but I've been a mobile customer with them since the Cingular days--and for me, I do have 3G coverage where ever I have been since I got the phone. Worked fine at the Atlanta airport as well.
 
So to summarize this story: nothing has changed for users or will for some time.

FWIW, I'm happy with AT&T in Boston and wouldn't go to verizon even if it was an option. That said, I'd still like to see the faster 3G and more consistent 3G speeds (speeds drop a lot at peak times).
 
liphonearth said:
Have you noticed, they've never advertised the iphone?
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I think this has more to do with Apple wanting to do all the advertising. I seem to recall an article from when the first iPhone came out that said Apple wasn't going to let AT&T advertise it. Maybe be wrong though.

BTW said:
Verizon has yet to experience what AT&T is going through for bandwidth spikes in usage since they don't have the iPhone. Maybe the Droid series will change that for them. Then we'll see them crying.
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Maybe if the Apple Tablet comes with Verizon service like the latest rumor says. :D

I get pretty good 3G where I use it most of the time, no dropped calls, and am generally satisfied with AT&T, but half the county is entirely devoid of any GSM service, with Verizon the only provider in those areas. So I really wouldn't mind a Verizon iPhone — although I do love my voice and data at the same time. :eek:

I've certainly noticed the terrible data service in SF and south bay areas. Last May I was in San Jose for a few days and it was hardly worth taking my 2G iPhone out, didn't work most of the time. Can't say that AT&T's network isn't overloaded by all the iPhones, but it does seem silly just how unprepared they've been (MMS debacle anyone?) or how seemingly little they've done to improve it in the mean time.
 
Well I don't think consumers should get complacent, but should demand that companies really work for your dollars.

I understand that upgrading a network as vast as AT&T's is going to take some time, but why put a bandaid on something when you can shoot past the competition right now. Something radical like all towers go 3G, and phase out all edge. Use those advertising dollars to not combat Verizon, but to notify their consumers that change is coming (and that they might need to get new phones or some sort of adapter like the DTV transition).
 
Dear ATT

So nice to hear you're actually improving things ... now if you could only roll out 3G in more than the 4 cities it's in ... the ATT BLUE map is indeed quite sparse. Please, no excuses like you've been giving me for 2 years. It's time to convince me that paying you $30 a month (for nothing) is worth it.
 
ALT-255 said:
I wish I could get reliable - non dropped calls on AT&Ts network. AT&T is trying to make all the changes to get enhanced data speeds.... but NO THANKS! My sprint laptop card beats the AT&T ones we use at work hands-down! AT&T what about a reliable - voice network first!
Click to expand...

Wow, you're living in the past! Voice isn't important anymore! Texting and IM'ing is the new voice. Better start getting used to it now.
 
AidenShaw said:
Cache?

Google Earth keeps a big cache of bitmaps so that it doesn't need to reload images for someplace that you've recently seen.

If the phone app does the same, it wouldn't be surprising for your house to come right up.

A better test might be to enter a random location that you've never seen before.
Click to expand...

Ok, so I opened it up and typed one word... Transylvania. In less than 4 seconds I had a satellite image of Transylvania, LA. It had a street view. I clicked that and the street view is there with no delay. Pretty sure I've never cached Transylvania.

And I think 3-4 seconds on a cell phone is pretty fair for a request like that. It just doesn't have the same graphics engine as a mac pro. (which the same search in google maps was instant)

But 20 seconds to establish a data connection? I don't have that problem on edge. I consistently used my first gen iphone like a gps in the metro atlanta area. It was pretty close. Down to a block or two. And the satellite maps kept up.

Sounds like the network in your area just isn't up to snuff. It's not the phone.
 
AT&T - "Citizens, we've just completed the 7.2Mbps overhaul that we promised you when you bought your 3GS 8 months ago!"

$3600 Customer/Sucker - "I'm only seeing 1.2Mbps from Santa Barbara to Cupertino?"

AT&T - "That's normal, our towers are capable, we'll actually turn them on in an announcement next Fall."
 
bobr1952 said:
LOL--maybe we travel in the same circles as I never have any issues with ATT. Not here in Florida and not in Ohio where I was over the holidays I've only had my iPhone for a few weeks but I've been a mobile customer with them since the Cingular days--and for me, I do have 3G coverage where ever I have been since I got the phone. Worked fine at the Atlanta airport as well.
Click to expand...

I think you'll find Atlanta is an AT&T town. Since BellSouth Mobility became a big partner in Cingular which became a big part of AT&T. BellSouth probably had 75% of the cell users in the old days, so a tremendous amount of them remain as AT&T users. Adn AT&t works pretty well here. I get 2mb+ on regular 3G
 
bretm said:
They've pointed out that their coverage is pretty much everywhere you are. (In other words the middle of nowhere Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, etc. isn't important to them because there aren't)
Click to expand...

I'm sure glad that Verizon and other companies don't have the same attitude or we would not even have cell phones here.

Note to AT&T: Many people (thousands upon thousands) live in those areas where you think no one lives.

Note to Verizon: Thanks for giving all of us great 3G no matter where we choose to live and work.
 
What BS

Listen, AT&T's dropped calls were horrible before the iPhone ever existed. They are a crummy company with less than stellar service all around. I tried them again back in may of 09 just to see if they had improved. The service was so bad my GF (who uses her phone for business and had nothing but dropped calls) got so mad she said, "That's it, I am tired of apoligizing to customers for dropped calls, plus it is annoying."

Ok, thank you AT&T but no thanks. What did they do? They tripled charged our calls and our last and only bill was outrageous. We did the official billing dispute thing but that didn't matter to them. They sent collectors after me while it was being disputed. They refused to take off the triple charges even though we had all of them circled on the bill etc. I actually had to retain a lawyer to get them off my back. It's funny but when they get a letter from an attorney mentioning billing fraud on a large scale, i.e. class action suit, they get really warm and friendly and do all kind of things to help you out.

They are scumbags of the highest order and I will go without cell service or data service rather than give them my business. If i didn't have the means to retain an attorney my credit would have been ruined and god knows what else from these jerks.

The AT&T motto: Gosh we are terrible but hey instead of improving our infrastructure, let's just saturate the market with advertising that says we are the best. Hey It works for politicians, doesn't it? Yeah but eventually the masses wise up...or do they? It would seem it is the way of corporate America these days.
 
smithrh said:
Taking 2 pieces of public information together, it would seem that ATT just dropped $1B in software for HSDPA licenses at the base stations in the last few weeks. That's a pretty big commitment - but again, why so late?
Click to expand...

AT&T is a government contractor at heart. It does things slowly and bureaucratically. You're going to love them sweet when the nukes hit. This whole "consumer thing" is new to them. To me the biggest positive of AT&T having an exclusive with Apple for a few years here is the rubbing off of the Apple ethic onto the wireless division managers. It has got to be hard to adjust for those stodgy AT&T folks. I would actually suggest a separate business unit of largely spiky hair Gen Y folks on the front end, and traditional managers on the top/back end.

To deal with what's coming, LTE and beyond, AT&T will have to be forward leaning. That is counter-cultural for them right now, even after a multi-year experience with Apple.

I actually wonder why Steve's head has not exploded yet by being dragged down by that business model. He was probably distracted by the exceptional work at Disney and standards setting that is about to take there, and fixation on this tablet thingy.

But those things are going to need wireless bandwidth. Verizon is no better. I suppose he could deploy in Australia and East Asia and forsake his hometown. . . . . . . . naw.

Rocketman

The USA is too vast for AT&T and Verizon.
 
@Bretm

I live in the Atlanta area and AT&T is freaking horrible here. Of course if that is all you know then you don't miss great service. Just like if you're used to a PC you don't know what a pain in the butt they are until you get an Apple.
 
what wrong with you people?

from just looking at the ratings there is something wrong with most of you. they are making their network 2 times faster for free when its already the fastest. you all spoiled brats that need to loose your phones and just leave america. you are treated to well no to mention att is already got every thing a more than version except coverage in the desert

get out stupid fanboys:mad:
 
That's just wonderful! Out of three tests in Monterey, CA I can't even get into the Mbps...
 

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