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'iPhone 5' to Support 21 Mbps HSPA+ '4G' Technology

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Apr 12, 2001
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Japanese blog Mac Otakara reports (via MacPost) that a China Unicom executive apparently confirmed during a presentation at this week's Macworld Asia that the "iPhone 5" set to be announced next week will indeed support HSPA+ sometimes-called "4G" technology, offering a maximum theoretical data speed of 21 Mbps (up from 7.2Mbps). A slide showing the information was photographed by Japanese site PC Watch.
Japanese IT news site "PC Watch" tells that, Research vice president of China Unicom, Huan Wenliang, told iPhone 5 will support W-CDMA based high-speed data transfer standard HSPA Evolution "HSPA+" (21Mbps) at keynote speech in Macworld Asia 2011.
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Many had been hoping that the next iPhone would support the even faster LTE 4G standard that has begun rolling out on a number of carriers, but rumors have consistently suggested that Apple will hold back on supporting the technology until appropriate chips of acceptable size and power consumption are available to meet Apple's needs. Apple has historically been conservative in adopting the latest cellular network technologies, having elected to release the original iPhone as an EDGE-only device even as many carriers were already rolling out 3G technology.

Claims of the iPhone 5 supporting HSPA+ surfaced earlier this year, with many noting that the move would result in a significant network speed difference between AT&T and Verizon/Sprint customers in the United States. AT&T has rolled out the intermediary HSPA+ technology as a bridge to LTE, and has been calling HSPA+ "4G" in its marketing -- though many believe "3.5G" is a more accurate description. So, existing AT&T iPhone 4 owners upgrading should be able to see a speed boost if they live in a supported area. In comparison, Verizon's data speeds max out a theoretical maximum of 3.1 Mbps. Meanwhile, true 4G (LTE) support for both Verizon and AT&T is not expected until the 2012 iPhone model at the earliest.

Qualcomm's world-mode MDM6600 chip found in the Verizon/CDMA iPhone 4 already supports 14.4 Mbps HSPA+, but the device itself is limited to CDMA networks.

China Unicom is Apple's current carrier partner for the iPhone in China, although China Mobile and China Telecom are also working hard to secure the ability to offer the device.

Article Link: 'iPhone 5' to Support 21 Mbps HSPA+ '4G' Technology
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2011/09/29/iphone-5-to-support-21-mbps-hspa-4g-technology/
Speed is meaningless when you're capped at 2gb. In fact, speed in those cases can be detrimental to your wallet.
 
Faster data is always great, but I wouldn't want to see the iPhone's phenomenal battery life diminish between 4G and a rumored 4" display.


Anyways, glad to hear Apple is pushing the envelope in regards to tech specs.
Stay well MR friends
 
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Ohh - so not the iPhone 4S then - which doesn't and has never existed. IPhone 4 will continue with tweaks. iPhone 5 will be the new Daddy!!
 
Was there ever any doubt of this? The MDM6600 in the Verizon iPhone supports 14.4Mbps HSPA+. Though I do wonder where they get the 21.1Mbps number from.

Qualcomm: http://www.qualcomm.com/news/releas...ls-new-roadmap-gobi-connectivity-technologies

I also have a very strong suspicious that Apple has dictated to AT&T that they aren't allowed to call any iPhone that doesn't have LTE a "4G iPhone" or even mention "4G" in their marketing materials which contain an iPhone. That would REALLY screw up Apple's marketing when an LTE iPhone comes out and people wonder "but I thought my iPhone already had 4G!"
 
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All the carriers who offer the iPhone in Canada have 21mbps HSPA (if not 42mbps DC-HSPA) already so this will be a nice addition. No need for LTE just yet.

Dagamer34 is correct though. A Gobi baseband with 21mbps HSPA and CDMA doesn't exist. At least publicly.
 
AT&T Grandfather users better be able to keep that unlimited data capacity or I'm never switching from the 4! Unlimited Data FTW!
 
For the times I use my iPhone on 3G - the speeds have been fine. I have unlimited data - faster internet while out and about isn't that big of a deal for me. And most of the time I'm on wifi...

Not saying this isn't a nice boost on hardware. Just nothing for me (personally) to get excited about.
 
I've demoed some Android 4g LTE units. Trust me, the battery life is terrible. Also, adding LTE support would add some thickness. Nope.
 
If I could get 3G speeds on my 4, i'd be cool with that. But I can't have it in my covered home area- for reasons unknown. I get consistently about <1mb down, and .35 - .65 up.

So, I am not holding my breath- even if it does come out. Furthermore, wanna bet the unlimited data holders (raises hand) get whacked if you want to upgrade?
 
21 Mbps 4G technology. Wow.

These networks are just gonna end up fooling people with these advertising schemes.

Again:
LTE ~ 330Mbps.
4G ~ 1Gbps
LTE advanced now prescribed by some is ~ 1000Mbps.

Till then, please shut up.
 
JangoFett124 said:
Speed is meaningless when you're capped at 2gb. In fact, speed in those cases can be detrimental to your wallet.
Click to expand...

It would make no difference to a casual user. I would still stream my Spotify, watch my Netflix and browse my Facebook. Just because I get the data faster doesn't mean I'm sucking down more data.

Even if I tethered, I'd still only be downloading the same content I would be downloading even if I had the 3G connection. So I don't see how "4G" would make me rage about my cap?!? :confused:
 
And there go the unlimited ATT data plans, as this will require an eligible 4G data plan, none of which are unlimited
 
HSPA+ is not even "intermediary "

intermediary HSPA+ technology
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HSPA+ is still part of UMTS specification. Even if it is the latest and fastest version of this norm, it is still a 3G standard.
It is not an "intermediary".

EDGE-only device even as many carriers were already rolling out 3G technology
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In US, the release of the EDGE iPhone corresponded to the rolling out of 3G network. But in EU, 3G networks were already deployed since a year or 2.
However, 3G cellphones were still limited by the high power usage of 3G chips and had very limited autonomy.

For Apple to deploy a technology, it needs to be ready on all levels : network, terminals and even usage pattern.

For exemple, they skipped video conferencing over 3G network even if such a norm already existed. The reason for this is this norm is very low quality to accommodate even lousy 3G connections. So if a usage pattern is not providing actual added value, Apple might delay or even replace it.
 
In that slide they show the 2008 iPhone 3G with 7.2mbps when it really had 3.6mbps.
 
Rumor that was always a no-no for iPhone finally turning true? That's interesting.:rolleyes:
 
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