Cities affected by EDGE upgrade! 200kbps!

[AtHomeBoy_2000]

That's me! 😀

Oh, tomorrow is going to be a happy day.

I wish I was living in North Seattle though...

I too am a CHicago suburbanite, but the fact that I am moving to Iowa next year is really stopping me from switching to AT&T and the iPhone 🙁

 

[Random Ping]

They finally removed the debug code from EDGE.

AT&T engineers discovered the -O option and turned off the -g option on their compilers. 😛

 

[pacohaas]

I wonder if EDGE -> WiFi ->EDGE will be seemless.

That is, walking along the street browsing google maps with EDGE, I find a restaurant menu that I want to download that turns out to be 3MB once I start. I don't want to wait 10 minutes to see it, so I walk to the nearest starbucks hoping the download speed will boost once I'm on their WiFi network. Will I need to restart the download on the WiFi network? Then, what if I decide to leave starbucks with <1MB left hoping the EDGE will take over the download from there. Will my hopes be dashed?

 

[Zadillo]

Yes of course, if I had to choose I would use wifi. I was simply comparing the data technologies offered by the companies themselves, not that plus what I can get from a coffee shop or home. You realize some people that are going to buy these phones are not going to be around wifi spots that often. So they WILL have to rely on a overpriced subpar technology.



I am making it out to be what AT&T offers. How many markets of the overall market does AT&T have UMTS/HSPDA deployed? its roughly 5-10% from the last numbers I read not to long ago. How widespread is EVDO offered from Sprint? I know its way larger than 5-10%. Pretty much everywhere I go with Sprint I have EVDO access.

It will be great when they come out with a rev 2 with HSPDA, maybe that will make it so 5-10% of AT&T customers get faster internet. But you do have to wonder why they did not make it HSPDA compatible right now? They did say they could not find a CDMA chipset that would be low power enough for what they wanted. So makes you wonder, maybe that have not found a HSPDA low power enough to do that either. I think it would be a long while before you see a rev 2 of the phone. With all the hype around it....just don't see it that soon.

So sure they have a very small market for their 3G access, but if we are talking about over all data access that is readily available to most customers, that is not even on the table.

Funny, I was just asking a question as to how AT&T can charge that much for a lesser technology and people pay it? And you fire back about the Sprint Nextel merger as if that has some relevance. Ok? Did they fumble it? Sure. Is Sprint still in a good company, in my 7 years with them, yeah really good. I worry about the service I get and the plans I have, and the Nextel merger did not effect either one of those. Not sure what that has to do with 3G technologies or AT&T's overpriced data plans on EDGE, but ok?

Fair enough; I don't know the current percentage coverage areas for AT&T's 3G network vs. Sprint's. I do know that AT&T has been rolling out more 3G coverage though.

The fundamental issue with Sprint or Verizon though would be whether Apple wants to make a CDMA iPhone. Until they do, it's kind of a moot point anyway.

But yes, it seems like that's exactly the issue with an HSPDA/UTMS phone from Apple; power consumption and battery life. Doesn't do them much good to make something that is going to drain battery life so bad like a Blackjack.

You are right; it wasn't fair for me to point out the problems of Sprint as a company. I think they're only relevant to the degree that there might be other reasons to not partner with Sprint.

As for how AT&T can charge what they do for EDGE; realistically, they don't have any incentive to charge even less than they do for EDGE (nor does Sprint have an incentive to have an even cheaper data plan for people using 1xRTT or whatever it is).

 

[Random Ping]

I'm sure Steve Jobs had a lot to do with this, or at least the timing.

I think what is more amazing than the iPhone is the way it has been marketed. Apple announced many features, and then let detractors focus on a few "missing" features. Then like a series of judo moves, every few days Apple has taken each attack away from the detractors.

This roll-out should be studied in MBA programs.

 

[AtHomeBoy_2000]

The fundamental issue with Sprint or Verizon though would be whether Apple wants to make a CDMA iPhone. Until they do, it's kind of a moot point anyway.

I have NO doubt that if they could have worked out a deal with either one of those, we would be looking at a CDMA version of the iPhone. The problem is that those companies want to protect their own interests (specifically the music I am guessing) and want to dictate their own terms. Cingular (now AT&T was willing to bow to Apples requests. I hope iPhone is a HUGE success and Verizon/Sprint allow iPhone into their network after the 2+ year exclusivity deal with AT&T is over. 2010, bring on my iPhone! 🙂

 

[Random Ping]

I ran the mobile speed test on my Treo 650 in my car driving through Northern Virginia (from McLean to Annandale to Alexandria, primarily).

Ack! I am glad I wasn't driving on the same roads you were today. 😱

 

[myawn]

where is conway arkansas?

Just down the road from Toad Suck. You can't miss it.

 

[Eric1285]

I have NO doubt that if they could have worked out a deal with either one of those, we would be looking at a CDMA version of the iPhone. The problem is that those companies want to protect their own interests (specifically the music I am guessing) and want to dictate their own terms. Cingular (now AT&T was willing to bow to Apples requests. I hope iPhone is a HUGE success and Verizon/Sprint allow iPhone into their network after the 2+ year exclusivity deal with AT&T is over. 2010, bring on my iPhone! 🙂

I think the exclusivity deal is rumored to be 5 years, so it'll be a while before we see the iPhone on Sprint/Verizon, if at all.

 

[AtHomeBoy_2000]

I think the exclusivity deal is rumored to be 5 years, so it'll be a while before we see the iPhone on Sprint/Verizon, if at all.

I've seen both. According to one, they cant make CDMA versions for 5 years, but nothing about GSM after 2 years. So, they MAY have the option to develop for other GSM companies. Although I think T-Mobile is the only other major American GSM carrier.

 

[pale9]

AT&T giveth, and AT&T taketh away!

my guess is that the sudden bandwidth generosity of att is more related to keeping all those initial reviews on the positiv side. i cant remember seeing any official announcement that they are now offering a significantly larger edge datapath. i would like to bet that after a few weeks those edge timeslots will be cut back, even sooner maybe if it turns out that those hundreds of thousands of iphones cause a systemwide meltdown for some reason.

 

[cmschmidt]

my guess is that the sudden bandwidth generosity of att is more related to keeping all those initial reviews on the positiv side. i cant remember seeing any official announcement that they are now offering a significantly larger edge datapath. i would like to bet that after a few weeks those edge timeslots will be cut back, even sooner maybe if it turns out that those hundreds of thousands of iphones cause a systemwide meltdown for some reason.

it's called operation "fine edge" and yes it is an official bump up of att's edge network.

 

[Zadillo]

Ack! I am glad I wasn't driving on the same roads you were today. 😱

a) I have a cradle for my Treo (since I use it also as a GPS device, and for handsfree calling).

b) I only ran the speed test while I was stopped at a stop light, not while actually driving.

 

[Zadillo]

my guess is that the sudden bandwidth generosity of att is more related to keeping all those initial reviews on the positiv side. i cant remember seeing any official announcement that they are now offering a significantly larger edge datapath. i would like to bet that after a few weeks those edge timeslots will be cut back, even sooner maybe if it turns out that those hundreds of thousands of iphones cause a systemwide meltdown for some reason.

That wouldn't make any logical sense though; temporarily increase speeds so initial reactions and experiences are good, and then cut them back so everyone thinks performance has gotten worse?

 

[pale9]

That wouldn't make any logical sense though; temporarily increase speeds so initial reactions and experiences are good, and then cut them back so everyone thinks performance has gotten worse?

i am not saying this will happen, only that it could! att can always come up with statements like "...the unprecedented popularity of the iphone stretched resources..."

"...while we work to expand bandwidth, varying performance is possible..."

marketing-speak knows no limit of creativity 🙂

 

[swordfish5736]

reporting in from louisville, ky

getting 270 kbps on a nokia e62

cant wait to get my iphone in about two hours

 

[kdarling]

That wouldn't make any logical sense though; temporarily increase speeds so initial reactions and experiences are good, and then cut them back so everyone thinks performance has gotten worse?

Cable companies did it a lot at first when they were low on decent equipment.

They'd come into a neighborhood, wow everyone with fast speeds, then move the good stuff onto the next 'hood... leaving the first one high and dry for a while. Eventually all get up to speed.

The question about Fine EDGE is, how did they do it? Just allocate more data slots? If so, does that mean that there'll be more dropped voice calls when you go between cells? Or will data users be dropped down whenever a voice call tries to join?

 

[slimsakus]

Fair enough; I don't know the current percentage coverage areas for AT&T's 3G network vs. Sprint's. I do know that AT&T has been rolling out more 3G coverage though.

The fundamental issue with Sprint or Verizon though would be whether Apple wants to make a CDMA iPhone. Until they do, it's kind of a moot point anyway.

But yes, it seems like that's exactly the issue with an HSPDA/UTMS phone from Apple; power consumption and battery life. Doesn't do them much good to make something that is going to drain battery life so bad like a Blackjack.

You are right; it wasn't fair for me to point out the problems of Sprint as a company. I think they're only relevant to the degree that there might be other reasons to not partner with Sprint.

As for how AT&T can charge what they do for EDGE; realistically, they don't have any incentive to charge even less than they do for EDGE (nor does Sprint have an incentive to have an even cheaper data plan for people using 1xRTT or whatever it is).

You are probably right about what they are charging, they have it set for the market with their customers and people are willing to pay it then why not right? I guess coming from Sprint side of things, I am kinda dumbfounded.

I think Verizon probably turned down Apple because of wanting profits from the Carrier and maybe something down the road with iTunes being involved. Verizon would not see that money where they do their whole Vcast stuff and make profits that way...I am not sure Cingular really has much going there. Plus isn't Verizon starting a TV over the air kind of deal. Not sure. Either case power consumption is something that is a big issue when you want to have a phone that does media player and all that stuff, so probably why they didn't go with a high speed version. When battery technology gets better, it will compliment other technologies and be able to do more.

 

[kcmac]

I am in Kansas City, Mo and have tested it 3 times with my phone.

Lowest was 369 kbs
Highest was 462 kbs
The other one was 426 kbs

This will be awesome!!!

All right KC!!!!

I would still use WiFi as much as possible, not whinin', just sayin...😀

 

[kcmac]

re: suddenly increased edge speed



are there an infinite number of time slots?

if not, what happens when hundres of thousands of iphones get released into the wild? is it possible that that could create a systemwide meltdown>>>?

The more people use it the faster it gets. You know, a p2p network 😀
Can't wait to know more. You lucky ba$tard$ getting yours tonight and this weekend. Share info with us peasants...😀

 

[SkyBell]

Not gonna happen. For one, I don't think the FTC would even allow AT&T to have a monopoly on GSM here, and Deutsche Telekom has stated before that they're commited to T-Mobile USA. I think if anything happens (and that's a huge if), Vodafone will sell of their stake in Verizon Wireless and buy up T-Mobile, I'm sure they want their own GSM network in the US, rather than 45% ownership of a CDMA one that their customers can't even use when they come over here.

But, if it did happen, and we're left with AT&T, VZW and Sprint, I think I'd choose Sprint. They seem to be the lesser of the 3 evils.

Except for their outrageous phone prices.🙁