Korean Carriers Reportedly Negotiating with Apple for 800/1800 MHz LTE Service on Next iPhone

[chrmjenkins]

for this release, it is likely Apple will only fit baseband chips to match the telco market they are selling. fitting all the bands from 700MHz to 2600MHz is simply not practical at all. for a start the costs for these multi-band chips will be prohibitively high.

imagine if the LTE phone goes out of 4G coverage, the time it takes to scan all the frequencies in an attempt to find its home network will take ages to complete.

so in this respect, the new iPhone will not likely be a world phone where one can roam around LTE networks wherever countries have LTE service.

Also, it will be at best 2T2R mimo configuration, but that depends on operator support again. one thing for sure, the battery life will suck big time as I'm currently using the upcoming Galaxy Note 2 with support of 1800MHz LTE.

The problem isn't the multi-mode chip, as it's still just 1 chip. The problem is designing the antenna system and amplification system for such a wide bandwidth of frequencies.

Qualcomm's new Gobi chip is extremely capable, and its successor capable of LTE Advanced (true LTE) has even already been announced, although I don't see a reason for Apple to include that in 2013 devices. They'll probably incorporate a 20nm or 14nm version down the road.

And how do we know you're using the Galaxy Note 2? Pictures? Specs?

 

[Dustman]

I hope this comes to north america.

 

[macneubie]

The problem isn't the multi-mode chip, as it's still just 1 chip. The problem is designing the antenna system and amplification system for such a wide bandwidth of frequencies.

Qualcomm's new Gobi chip is extremely capable, and its successor capable of LTE Advanced (true LTE) has even already been announced, although I don't see a reason for Apple to include that in 2013 devices. They'll probably incorporate a 20nm or 14nm version down the road.

And how do we know you're using the Galaxy Note 2? Pictures? Specs?

antennas, they can incorporate 2 duplexed antennas within the body, after all an antenna is nothing more than a microstrip pcb that works with all frequencies, with varying orders of efficiency wrt to the signal wavelength.

what's the frequency bands this LTE adv support? i tend to think their specs can be as high as they want it, but its a question of carrier support. As far as I know, LTE adv is still not ratified, so it maybe to presumptuous to have this LTE adv moniker. nobody knows will the chipset support 300mbps down/75mbps up with 64QAM uplink with 4x mimo capabilities.

Samsung has loaned a prototype Note2 for trial and UAT, that's all I can say. but it won't be too long before they commercially launch it. First impressions are good, blazing fast response with significantly reduced latency vis-a-vis HSPA networks.

 

[nick_elt]

Could use the facetime camera no? if it detects a fatty switch to "american mode"...






jk.

 

[koban4max]

LTE frequency support is especially troublesome for Apple because it tries to have a single device that can sell globally and avoid regional hardware customization. Other device makers have no problem introducing country-specific phones but Apple has tried to avoid that although obviously, if the market is big enough they will do it, e.g. AT&T LTE iPad and a Verizon LTE iPad. Software radio frequency tuners have been in the works for years but it's still not commercially deployed.

You saying Apple is not capable to make region specific?

 

[chrmjenkins]

antennas, they can incorporate 2 duplexed antennas within the body, after all an antenna is nothing more than a microstrip pcb that works with all frequencies, with varying orders of efficiency wrt to the signal wavelength.

Yes, then everyone's performance degrades just so that they can all be accommodated (particularly for the higher bands with poorer penetration). Cue iPhone 4 like complaints again without an acute attenuation point, or decrease battery life to boost power on all channels to compensate.

 

[Thunderhawks]

Too bad there isn't a worldwide standard on frequencies. Not even the US has one.

Exactly, hence the famous question:

"What's the frequency Kenneth?"

 

[deannnnn]

I wish apple can create a chip that can:

Automatically change from 700 - 2300 mhz.

Support 2g/3g/4g/lte ...

Wifi 802.11ac

NFC / Bluetooth 4.0

This chip would change the world

What about GPRS?

 

[CJM]

It's such a joke that the UK hasn't sorted out its 4G network yet. Considering we're such a tiny country and all. I can't even reliably get 3G on motorways.

 

[moniker]

What about GPRS?

GPRS has lost its Edge.

 

[JS82712]

It always amuses me when I see apple calling the 4S a "world phone"; make it a penta-band phone then we'll talk.n

 

[moniker]

It's such a joke that the UK hasn't sorted out its 4G network yet. Considering we're such a tiny country and all. I can't even reliably get 3G on motorways.

I'm amazed the UK doesn't have 3G coverage on the underground system. I've been to several other large European cities, with great 3G coverage on the underground.

But then, we tend to call 8 Mbps broadband "superfast", which other European countries find terribly funny.

 

[chrmjenkins]

What about GPRS?

AT&T actually wants to turn it off in 2017.

 

[orthorim]

It only makes sense that the iPhone 5 will support these spectrums for LTE use in Europe and other countries around the world. Did anyone think this would be left out?

Yep, how likely is it that Apple releases a US-only LTE phone? Unlikely.

That said, it looks like most of Europe doesn't even have LTE yet so they may save full on rollout for the iPhone 6.

----------

It's such a joke that the UK hasn't sorted out its 4G network yet. Considering we're such a tiny country and all. I can't even reliably get 3G on motorways.

Europe in general seems to be behind in LTE... the spectrum to use was only approved in March, 2012.

 

[ztrafe]

Europe in general seems to be behind in LTE... the spectrum to use was only approved in March, 2012.

Not true, for exempel in sweden we have, have LTE in 3-4 years...

 

[Dowjohnny]

All this 4G/LTE stuff gets me a bit confused ^^

 

[Amazing Iceman]

I wonder what effect this would have on T-Mobile. I dont need LTE, I'll definitely jump ship if they can give 4g speeds on T-Mobile.

Heh! I was about to ask that... I don't remember the frequencies used by T-Mobile, but I do recall that I read somewhere that the new iPhone chipset was going to be able to support more frequencies, making it a global phone. Someone please clarify that. Thanks!

 

[iSee]

...Notably, the 800 MHz and 1800 MHz bands are also the spectrum being used for LTE in Europe, Australia, and other markets, and thus hardware compatibility with those frequencies could significantly expand the number of countries and carriers on which the next iPhone could support LTE connectivity.

I can't believe Apple would go to market without supporting LTE in Europe.

 

[Westyfield2]

IIRC that's not even what the UK is gonna use. When we finally get it we're gonna be 2600MHz and 800MHz.

 

[Z4KBrindle]

It's such a joke that the UK hasn't sorted out its 4G network yet. Considering we're such a tiny country and all. I can't even reliably get 3G on motorways.

Agreed, 3G in most areas around the UK is horrific, and i cant get it on motorways, And in a lot of places i end up having either No Service, or low service at that. It is alot better in towns and citys but when traveling.. UK aint doing to great

 

[bushido]

LTE is still in "beta" phase here in germany and 10GB is like $100

 

[rjohnstone]

You saying Apple is not capable to make region specific?

They are capable, but it will cost them more to produce region/country specific phones than it would to make one that does it all (which is currently not possible).
Different frequencies require different antennae configurations.
So Apple will have to decide to either limit distribution, limit supported frequencies or make multiple versions based on region.
They currently choose the limited support model, but this will bite them in the rear eventually.

 

[kdarling]

Too bad there isn't a worldwide standard on frequencies. Not even the US has one.

Yeah, you know it's funny...

People talk about GSM being a world standard, but a bit over ten years ago there weren't many phones that could be used worldwide, due to all the frequencies that had to be supported.

Then when UMTS-3G hit, it became a problem again.

Now, we're going through it one more time with LTE.

Deja vu!

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

Notably, the 800 MHz and 1800 MHz bands are also the spectrum being used for LTE in Europe, Australia, and other markets, and thus hardware compatibility with those frequencies could significantly expand the number of countries and carriers on which the next iPhone could support LTE connectivity.

This no secret. The new Qualcomm-chips are available in Q4/2012, and these chips support all LTE bands. See also:
https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=14471472#post14471472

 

[rjohnstone]

This no secret. The new Qualcomm-chips are available in Q4/2012, and these chips support all LTE bands. See also:
https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=14471472#post14471472

The chip may support it (it's not released yet, so it won't be in the new iPhone), but different frequencies require different antenna configurations for optimum signal processing.