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AT&T Tops 3G Wireless Performance Study
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So if you have coverage it is faster, but if you don't it is slower ;-)
I moved from North Phoenix to Surprise (NW of Phoenix) and the coverage is slow and unreliable. I don't think I've had a call last longer than 5 minutes without dropping and I have been getting familiar with the "No Service" message...
I love my iPhone, but if coverage doesn't improve by the time the next version comes out (or July) I'll have to switch to something on another network.

I moved from North Phoenix to Surprise (NW of Phoenix) and the coverage is slow and unreliable. I don't think I've had a call last longer than 5 minutes without dropping and I have been getting familiar with the "No Service" message...
I love my iPhone, but if coverage doesn't improve by the time the next version comes out (or July) I'll have to switch to something on another network.

This has some truth and some lie to it. EDGE is not as fast as EV-DO if the backhaul is upgraded at the EV-DO enabled tower. In all fairness, EV-DO Rev A is being used by Verizon in many places (again flick the switch from Rev0) and that is faster than EDGE by long shot, however, not many cell sites have the backhaul to make full use of it.
However, it is very well true that all Verizon has to do is flick a switch to make it say 3G even though the true 3G performance isn't there.
i've never been one to complain about the 'speed' of data transfer in chicago. it is quick most of the time.
that being said, it is NOT reliable, and like many have said, trying to talk while driving through the city is incredibly frustrating...you'll drop a call 3 times if you drive across the city.
that being said, it is NOT reliable, and like many have said, trying to talk while driving through the city is incredibly frustrating...you'll drop a call 3 times if you drive across the city.
Hurray! Isn't that great everyone? I am overjoyed. It's a shame people outside of cities with 3G won't be able to reap those massive benefits.
Good news that they are actually putting forth what appears to be a serious effort to improve connectivity problems. However, I still agree with previous posters that simple phone call problems exist. On Long Island, calling my mom always leads to issues on her end, simply via dropped calls and unavailability of service. It's funny, the only reason I won't switch is because of the spotty phone call connectivity. I couldn't care less about download speeds.
Im surprised AT&T hasnt touted these improvements in ads. (At least I havent seen them do so.)
My medium-sized city never seemed to have a problem EXCEPT in a few very small holes where coverage was just plain missing. Like 10-foot holes... one right by my friends house and one right by the Apple Store
Well we are about to launch a new device, no? Nice timing.
AT&T and T-Mobile are both still rolling out 3G coverage to new areas, so hopefully the shame-map continues to decrease like it has over the last two years!
Not very important considering ...
This is not very important considering the lack of 3G coverage by ATT ... which is pathetic compared to other carriers.
I've complained for a long time, right to the top of ATT ... but still no 3G here (and this ain't the boonies) ... you you would think places like Kalamazoo MI would have 3G ... NOT.
I'd like to see a study of how far behind ATT is compared to others in 3G coverage. The blue ATT 3G map is mostly devoid of blue, and in a lot of locations.
This is not very important considering the lack of 3G coverage by ATT ... which is pathetic compared to other carriers.
I've complained for a long time, right to the top of ATT ... but still no 3G here (and this ain't the boonies) ... you you would think places like Kalamazoo MI would have 3G ... NOT.
I'd like to see a study of how far behind ATT is compared to others in 3G coverage. The blue ATT 3G map is mostly devoid of blue, and in a lot of locations.
I work at a desk that is the tallest southern facing facade in SoHo. Meaning I have a direct line of sight to the downtown NY AT&T building. As I type, I'm looking at the dishes on their roof of that monstrously ugly windowless creature. As I walk towards the large window facing them, my calls instantly start to break up without fail. I drop so many calls while looking straight at their building it would be quicker for me to flash morse code to someone standing on their roof, and probably cost the same monthly.
We also have a line of sight to the Verizon building. Our Droid users never complain.
We also have a line of sight to the Verizon building. Our Droid users never complain.
I just ran SpeedTest.net (download the app from the store, it's free) and from the LA server I got the following :
Download : 2041 kbps
Upload : 174 kbps
That's a heck of a lot better then I expected.
Download : 2041 kbps
Upload : 174 kbps
That's a heck of a lot better then I expected.
It appears Verizon's network is getting, downgraded?
versus the new AT&T network improvements...
That dude must have been sitting on the tower here in Baltimore. Our building is the highest point around in Towson and the best iphone in the building gets 2 bars. None at my house 10 miles south of Baltimore.
I think I have lowered my expectations such that now I am not surprised by dropped calls and am elated when the phone functions as it should. Apple should by a telecom.
But... but... Verizon has that map that has nearly the entire US painted red! They therefore must be better!
They say they have more coverage but not ability.
AT&T vs. Verizon
This is interesting to read, because I was recently given a demo BlackBerry Bold 9700 (AT&T), so Ive been testing 3G speeds in comparison to my BlackBerry Tour (Verizon). Bottom line, both AT&T and Verizon should include an addendum in their ads to the effect of actual results may vary. In some instances I have found that Verizon's 3G network is faster than AT&T and vice versa. It depends on location. Overall, I've found that Verizons 3G network is consistently more reliable though.
That aside, the differences in call quality are vastly different. The quality of the voice connection with Verizon is considerably better than AT&T. I was on a conference call just yesterday from the Bold and experienced numerous drop offs. I dialed into the call from the same location with my Tour and the call was crystal clear.
This is interesting to read, because I was recently given a demo BlackBerry Bold 9700 (AT&T), so Ive been testing 3G speeds in comparison to my BlackBerry Tour (Verizon). Bottom line, both AT&T and Verizon should include an addendum in their ads to the effect of actual results may vary. In some instances I have found that Verizon's 3G network is faster than AT&T and vice versa. It depends on location. Overall, I've found that Verizons 3G network is consistently more reliable though.
That aside, the differences in call quality are vastly different. The quality of the voice connection with Verizon is considerably better than AT&T. I was on a conference call just yesterday from the Bold and experienced numerous drop offs. I dialed into the call from the same location with my Tour and the call was crystal clear.
Upload/Download in Houston
These have always been pretty good (about 1-1.8 Mb/s). It's the voice calls that have problems!
My west Houston neighborhood has gotten significantly worse, probably more users and no infrastructure improvement. Data at home is poor, but I have the wireless there.
These have always been pretty good (about 1-1.8 Mb/s). It's the voice calls that have problems!
My west Houston neighborhood has gotten significantly worse, probably more users and no infrastructure improvement. Data at home is poor, but I have the wireless there.
The problem with these surveys is that they just lump everything together as an average, so you can't see specifics.
92% might seem a good connection rate, but on the other hand an 8% failure rate is pretty bleak, especially if you're somewhere that on it's own accounts for most of that 8% (making it much higher for your location).
it ain't the droid cause droid is just an OS and not hardware. So any smart phone on verizon with or without droid should get good signaling.nah!
I'm still not giving up my iPhone for some freaking droid OS.
Nah!
Apple: We're bringing the iPhone to Verizon
AT&T: OH CRAP! (scrambles to fix network, pays Apple more cash for an extra year)
Attached are my 3g download speeds from my podunk college town of Springfield, MO. They are actually pretty impressive. Ever since I came back from Christmas in KC, the speeds have been faster; between 3.5 to 5.5 mbps.
The first test image was just taken a few minutes ago, the second was taken about three weeks ago and is my fastest observed speed. These speeds routinely beat my Mediacom cable internet speeds, which usually range from 300k to 4mbps on my 12mbps line. Go figure. Ping time in the first image was terrible though. Good thing I'm not running XBL on this thing. This last summer in KC I actually played some Halo 3 over my iPhone 3GS tethered, bridging my MBP wireless to a router that then carried the signal to the xBox. It was so complicated to setup but it worked on the 1.5-2mbps connection that I had, lol.
AT&T: OH CRAP! (scrambles to fix network, pays Apple more cash for an extra year)
Attached are my 3g download speeds from my podunk college town of Springfield, MO. They are actually pretty impressive. Ever since I came back from Christmas in KC, the speeds have been faster; between 3.5 to 5.5 mbps.
The first test image was just taken a few minutes ago, the second was taken about three weeks ago and is my fastest observed speed. These speeds routinely beat my Mediacom cable internet speeds, which usually range from 300k to 4mbps on my 12mbps line. Go figure. Ping time in the first image was terrible though. Good thing I'm not running XBL on this thing. This last summer in KC I actually played some Halo 3 over my iPhone 3GS tethered, bridging my MBP wireless to a router that then carried the signal to the xBox. It was so complicated to setup but it worked on the 1.5-2mbps connection that I had, lol.
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I can attest that in the Northern Virginia/DC area, AT&T has done a lot to improve their service in the almost two years I've had my iPhone. They even have 3G service all the way out to my area, which is sparsely populated.
say what you will about AT&T, but there are real-world examples that their network is improving.
say what you will about AT&T, but there are real-world examples that their network is improving.