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Rumor...iPhone 5 will only work with AT&T 4G network

wxman2003 said:
Here's another rumor, iPhone 5 will come to Verizon and AT&T, but only the 4G network for AT&T will be supported, with only 3G for Verizon iPhone 5.

http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/06/05/new-iphone-5-with-att-4g-only-droid-bionic-or-bust-for-verizon-users/
Click to expand...

The reason behind this is because the chip in the Verizon iPhone 4 can already support HSPA+ (though it's not enabled), but not LTE. LTE support would require a significant re-design of the interior, if my memory is correct, due to the size of the chip. LTE chips that will fit within the interior architecture of the iPhone won’t be out until next year.

At least that was the speculation that I have read thus far. Take it with a grain of salt, as it is all speculation.
 
What about those of us who live in Canada and will be using an iPhone 5 GSM? We don't have real 4G yet so that wouldn't make any sense. Unless you're referring to JUST the ATT iPhone 5 4G only and not the GSM iPhone 5 working on 4G only.
 
AT&T's "4G" network is simply faster 3G. Verizon has a real 4G network that will only be supported when the iPhone gets an LTE chip. So 4G on AT&T and 3G on Verizon are essentially the same thing.
 
wxman2003 said:
iPhone 5 will come to Verizon and AT&T, but only the 4G network for AT&T will be supported,
Click to expand...

It sounds like you're trying to say that the iPhone 5 won't support AT&T 3G network. That's not what the article says at all.

If that's not what you meant you should re-write your post to be more clear.
 
Daiden said:
AT&T's "4G" network is simply faster 3G. Verizon has a real 4G network that will only be supported when the iPhone gets an LTE chip. So 4G on AT&T and 3G on Verizon are essentially the same thing.
Click to expand...

I agree with that kind of -- While AT&T's '4G' is just a faster 3G network, it will be significantly faster than Verizon's 3G network. In most cases, where you can get a clear AT&T signal, their 3G service is faster than Verizon's 3G.

However, Verizon's 4G is blow away faster than AT&T's.
 
Peteman100 said:
This is going to be a marketing field day for ATT. And I'm sure most people will fall for it.
Click to expand...

Indeed. I can see the commercials now. Exact same phones, side by side downloading a video and AT&T asking which network you would choose.
 
AT&T does not have 4G. End of that argument. It is very fast 3G and its title does not make it more or less quality none the less AT&T will have a field day with this which may actually be good for them. I did not expect the iPhone 5 to have LTE so this does not come as a shocker. If it does have LTE then great but verizons LTE coverage is not good enough yet. Besides when they start rolling out LTE on other frequencies than 700mhz (possibly 1700 and/or 1900mhz) exisiting devices will not support it. Having introduced the iPhone 3G once AT&T had better 3G coverage I think they will do the same with the iPhone 5 and 4G. Plus the European's are still figuring out which frequencies to deploy LTE on. Let all the carriers mature their LTE networks so Apple can say "Ok we need quad band UMTS but we need Quad band LTE support X frequencies for use world wide". Making an iPhone with LTE in 700mhz only would be very stupid and just show how much Americans think the world revolves around them.
 
Daiden said:
AT&T's "4G" network is simply faster 3G. Verizon has a real 4G network that will only be supported when the iPhone gets an LTE chip. So 4G on AT&T and 3G on Verizon are essentially the same thing.
Click to expand...
In all fairness, Verizon's LTE network isn't "real" 4G either. ;)
It's only slightly faster than 21Mbps HSPA+, and that is if you have a perfect signal.
Get on a loaded network and all bets are off.
Real world tests shows Verizon's LTE network is running average speeds of 12Mbps down and 5Mbps up.

AT&T's LTE lab tests are impressive. Let's hope it translates to the real world better than Verizon's did.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/arti...LTE_speed_at_double_Verizon_s_advertised_rate
Based on this article, we have some insight as to what AT&T would like to do with T-Mobile's 1700Mhz band. Re purpose it for MIMO support.

LTE Advanced is "real" 4G. Something neither network will have in this decade.
 
rjohnstone said:
In all fairness, Verizon's LTE network isn't "real" 4G either. ;)
It's only slightly faster than 21Mbps HSPA+, and that is if you have a perfect signal.
Get on a loaded network and all bets are off.
Real world tests shows Verizon's LTE network is running average speeds of 12Mbps down and 5Mbps up.

AT&T's LTE lab tests are impressive. Let's hope it translates to the real world better than Verizon's did.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/arti...LTE_speed_at_double_Verizon_s_advertised_rate


LTE Advanced is "real" 4G. Something neither network will have in this decade.
Click to expand...

Ok, I got a question. All this arguing over what is "real 4G"... so what is the definition of 4G (I'm guess it has to have at least a certain speed? Or does it use a certain technology that AT&T and Verizon's "4G" doesn't use. And does it have a definition of how much load it can take while keeping a certain speed)?
 
Hype2k2 said:
No Verizon doesn't. LTE is not true 4G either just faster than HSPA+.
Don't expect LTE iPhone until next year until chips are up to Apple standards along with battery life.
Click to expand...

No Verizons LTE is 4G as far as I'm concerned. If its not 4G then we can argue EDGE was 3G or EvDO was only 2.5G. There is so much open to interpretation but as far as technology do not label your HSPA as 3G then start calling it 4G because you don't have the resources to roll out a true high speed network. Verizons LTE is not "a little better then HSPA+" and even on a loaded network it will still be faster. Verizon's fiber network is what will make it better because they can provide backhaul like no other. In fact they often provide backhaul for other carriers! The 700Mhz band also propagates allot better than 1900 or even 850 HSPA+ meaning you can get "more" of the signal. Have you not seen some of these speed tests clocking 35+MBs on both uplink and downlink?
 
nateo200 said:
No Verizons LTE is 4G as far as I'm concerned. If its not 4G then we can argue EDGE was 3G or EvDO was only 2.5G. There is so much open to interpretation but as far as technology do not label your HSPA as 3G then start calling it 4G because you don't have the resources to roll out a true high speed network. Verizons LTE is not "a little better then HSPA+" and even on a loaded network it will still be faster. Verizon's fiber network is what will make it better because they can provide backhaul like no other. In fact they often provide backhaul for other carriers! The 700Mhz band also propagates allot better than 1900 or even 850 HSPA+ meaning you can get "more" of the signal. Have you not seen some of these speed tests clocking 35+MBs on both uplink and downlink?
Click to expand...

Just because you want to believe it is 4G doesn't mean it really is.
AT&T/Verizon/Sprint/T-Mobile just decided to spin their updated networks as 4G. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4g
 
I wouldn't be surprised because AT&T's 4G and Verizon's 4G networks are not equal. I believe the LTE network that Verizon has uses more power than AT&T's HSPA+ network.

I hope we can disable 4G HSPA+ if we chose to because for some reason, AT&T 3G out performs it's "4G" network in my area.
 
Lets not forget that the IUT changed the requirements of 4G, so whether we like it or not HSPA+ is 4G.

Also keep in mind ATT has there own LTE network while the overall coverage isn't as good its speed rivals Verizon's LTE network. I've seen 71 MB down on Verizon speed test and 66 MB down on ATT speed test. Its just going to vary on location and how crowded the network is.

I think if we don't see a Verizon LTE iPhone we won't see an ATT LTE iPhone as it will still be HSPA+ and considered 4G. Unless there is some sort of contract between ATT and Apple that allows them exclusive rights for a certain amount of time. And in that case Verizon won't get the new iPhone at all until this time period has elapsed not some none LTE model.
 
And if you look at the date of that article it says June 11.

So they were accurate in there assessment AT&T iPhone will be faster (4s) but incorrect with its name.
 
cynics said:
And if you look at the date of that article it says June 11.

So they were accurate in there assessment AT&T iPhone will be faster (4s) but incorrect with its name.
Click to expand...

Of course predictions were common that the last iPhone would be the '5'.

I was tricked into thinking that someone would think that Apple would skip LTE again this year, even after a LTE capable iPad. Then I saw the date.
 
utwarreng said:
The reason behind this is because the chip in the Verizon iPhone 4 can already support HSPA+ (though it's not enabled), but not LTE. LTE support would require a significant re-design of the interior, if my memory is correct, due to the size of the chip. LTE chips that will fit within the interior architecture of the iPhone won’t be out until next year.

At least that was the speculation that I have read thus far. Take it with a grain of salt, as it is all speculation.
Click to expand...

The LTE chip already exists and will be in production in the next few months - the MDM9615.
 
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