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Let's Get Real: Who CARES About LTE?
- Thread starter Dwalls90
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Hell yeah I care about LTE. If you have it, and are in a good coverage area, why not use it? What I am scared about, is that when the iPhone gets LTE, these speeds are coming way down. My LTE speeds have gotten noticeably faster since the day I got the phone (date at the bottom). It is really amazing to have this kind of performance, seeing as it's faster than even my home wifi. And yeah, it makes it addicting to consume data but I've yet to use over 70% of my 3GB plan in any given month. Usage is variable person to person obviously, but I myself have kept it managed pretty well.
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its funny, on the android forums when you say you use 20gigs a month they are all like, oh thats nothing. You arent barely using any......
Then on Mac forums they are all like, Oh man thats soooo much. you are using to much...
I think it has part to do with the very slow data speeds that apple phones get, and part to do with the conditioning from apple and the carriers.
20 gigs is not a lot. I dont use any minutes, as I use google voice for calls, and i dont use any texts as I use google voice for texts.
Then on Mac forums they are all like, Oh man thats soooo much. you are using to much...
I think it has part to do with the very slow data speeds that apple phones get, and part to do with the conditioning from apple and the carriers.
20 gigs is not a lot. I dont use any minutes, as I use google voice for calls, and i dont use any texts as I use google voice for texts.
Google voices calls are not data, they use your minutes. 20gigs is a lot by any standard.
OK so if it doesn't use my billable minutes. which 100% it doesn't, as I have not had any minutes used in the past five months but I still talk on the phone. and you say its not data. then how is it working?
Also I can talk on GV and surf the web at the same time, no interruptions.
No one needs 50mbps. However, the reason people care about LTE is because AT&T's HSPA+ network is, in a few key markets, in shambles. If everyone always got 1mbps on HSPA+, only the real nuts would care about LTE. However, when HSPA+ is worse than dial-up in the middle of Manhattan, LTE is cruising right along. That's what it's all about.
I guess you are on Verizon?
Verizon did this before with Skype. They pre-programmed few Skype access numbers into their billing system so it won't be counted. This was back when Skype was Verizon exclusive and not VoIP. GV could be doing the same.
Also, some phones do feature SVD, which is pretty new for CDMA systems. My Evo 4G LTE can do it when connected to 3G and Wifi disabled. I can talk and surf at the same time.
This is straight from Google's website about GV.
There are plenty of documented workarounds that allow you to avoid using your minutes--quite possible you're using one of those?
If you're on a CDMA network, LTE is a big deal, it brings calling and internet at the same time, it brings SIM cards, it brings a hell of a lot faster speeds, and brings GSM technologies that CDMA users have missed out on for so many years.
For GSM users however, it would not mean much, HSPA+ is generally pretty good at what it does, and GSM users have enjoyed calling and internet at the same time, for a while now.
For GSM users however, it would not mean much, HSPA+ is generally pretty good at what it does, and GSM users have enjoyed calling and internet at the same time, for a while now.
Ok. I don't think claiming 8mbps is unrealistic, seeing as that's half of the theoretical peak. I've gotten almost 9mbps in Boston on HSPDA+, so for me, 3G could actually buffer 1080P.
I hate you. Move the decimal point over about 99 spaces to the left and that's my 3G speed with Sprint.
Why LTE matters compared to 3G, from another thread that I posted this in:
That is why I care about LTE. It makes the overall feel of the phone seem faster. And since most people use their smartphones for web browsing, using Facebook/Twitter, e-mail, downloading songs/apps, etc., it makes a big difference when compared to 3G.
Now, if you are one of the people that does what the OP gave an example of, then LTE will most definitely consume more data faster and at a higher quality, but in all honesty, who actually watches Netflix on their iPhone or while NOT connected to wi-fi?
TL;DR: LTE makes any app (Facebook, Twitter, iTunes, App Store, e-mail, web browsing, etc.) that connects to the internet feel faster because content is loaded more quickly over an LTE network than a 3G network, thus allowing you to do things quicker and making the overall experience seem quicker and faster when compared to waiting and waiting for things to load on a 3G network.
That is why I care about LTE. It makes the overall feel of the phone seem faster. And since most people use their smartphones for web browsing, using Facebook/Twitter, e-mail, downloading songs/apps, etc., it makes a big difference when compared to 3G.
Now, if you are one of the people that does what the OP gave an example of, then LTE will most definitely consume more data faster and at a higher quality, but in all honesty, who actually watches Netflix on their iPhone or while NOT connected to wi-fi?
TL;DR: LTE makes any app (Facebook, Twitter, iTunes, App Store, e-mail, web browsing, etc.) that connects to the internet feel faster because content is loaded more quickly over an LTE network than a 3G network, thus allowing you to do things quicker and making the overall experience seem quicker and faster when compared to waiting and waiting for things to load on a 3G network.
In most places, I agree - LTE is really unnecessary such as Europe, at least right now.
But in the US - the the carrier technologies are so slow and limited - no dual voice and data, slow EVDO speeds, limitations on conference calls, etc ... LTE is the next thing to unification.
Maybe on day in the US, you can switch SIMs from different providers in your phone, as you can in Europe. But right now in the US if you buy a Sprint iPhone, it only works on Sprint. Verizon iPhone only works on Verizon. AT&T iPhone only works on AT&T. (Main official carriers)
Whether there is or is not something to care about - it's the next step. There's no point improving the current technologies because quite frankly, you can't. You'll hit the brick wall at the end at some point. It's basically been hit now. We can postpone it, but what's the point? There's no point improving a network that has no room to grow. LTE might (probably) be good for at least 20 years to come. Well idk about that, but USA current technology is lucky to still be pushed out till today, yet alone 20 years in the future.
But in the US - the the carrier technologies are so slow and limited - no dual voice and data, slow EVDO speeds, limitations on conference calls, etc ... LTE is the next thing to unification.
Maybe on day in the US, you can switch SIMs from different providers in your phone, as you can in Europe. But right now in the US if you buy a Sprint iPhone, it only works on Sprint. Verizon iPhone only works on Verizon. AT&T iPhone only works on AT&T. (Main official carriers)
Whether there is or is not something to care about - it's the next step. There's no point improving the current technologies because quite frankly, you can't. You'll hit the brick wall at the end at some point. It's basically been hit now. We can postpone it, but what's the point? There's no point improving a network that has no room to grow. LTE might (probably) be good for at least 20 years to come. Well idk about that, but USA current technology is lucky to still be pushed out till today, yet alone 20 years in the future.
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I might care a little more than I do now (which is not at all), this time next year.
The reason I don't care about it now is that I'm in the UK and we don't have 4G/LTE.
Allegedly, the mobile operators will have finished doing battle with Ofcom over the spectrum that's to be auctioned off and it will roll out next year, but until we have 4G/LTE, I couldn't care less if I tried.
The reason I don't care about it now is that I'm in the UK and we don't have 4G/LTE.
Allegedly, the mobile operators will have finished doing battle with Ofcom over the spectrum that's to be auctioned off and it will roll out next year, but until we have 4G/LTE, I couldn't care less if I tried.
Lots of white on that map and not much dark red (4G) for Verizon users.... Granted much of the population lives in the city and suburbs with 4G, but Verizon still has a long way to go for a service they are going to charge $40 right off the top for us to access when the New iPhone comes out.
I'm in the dark red part of that map. When I bought my 4G LTE mifi device back in April 2011, San Diego was marketed for 4G LTE. I remember when I went on Verizon's website to enter my zip code, it said that my area ha 4G LTE coverage, but I have yet to connect to LTE at my house. I'm not upset, since I have wifi at home. However, for as dark red that map is in my location, I seem to connect to Verizon's slow 3G evdo a lot throughout San Diego. Best city I've been to with great 4G LTE coverage was San Francisco. As a LTE customer for more than a year, I can't stand those marketing maps. I'm excited for the technology... but not so much for the LTE iPhone. I never had any issues with my AT&T 3G data... so I'm fine with it... but I'll still be upgrading when the next iPhone comes out.
I care for sure. When i use my iphone connected to wifi at home its very fast. I get around 20Mbs with cable so thats what real world LTE speeds hover around.
I would LOVE to have LTE... I ******* hate slow internet. Pisses me off more than anything.
Just a for instance... Did a speed test on my iP4 on AT&T 3G with 3 bars reception from where I am sitting typing this post.
Results:
Ping - 96ms
Download - 1.28 Mbps
Upload - 0.47 Mbps
That sucks... Give me LTE now.
Just a for instance... Did a speed test on my iP4 on AT&T 3G with 3 bars reception from where I am sitting typing this post.
Results:
Ping - 96ms
Download - 1.28 Mbps
Upload - 0.47 Mbps
That sucks... Give me LTE now.
LOL. When I go to a park, it's for disc golf. Used to be more strenuous sports, but I'm not 20 anymore. Going to a park to sit and surf/play/watch on an electronic device for 3 hours is sad. Why not just stay home where it is cool?
