So, why doesn't the iPhone 4S support 21mbit/s HSPA+?

[dranakin]

Just curious why they chose to use HSDPA, which maxes out at 14.4mbit/s, instead of HSPA+, which supports up to 42mbit/s. Obviously, these are theoretical speeds, but having a higher ceiling would be nice should AT&T upgrade the towers in your area.

 

[Chaos123x]

Because this is the iPhone 4S not the 5.

Don't expect LTE or hspa+ till apple has true next phone.

4G is a long way off.

 

[macinnv]

Becuase ATTs HSPA+ network is practically non-existent.

 

[ap3604]

Just curious why they chose to use HSDPA, which maxes out at 14.4mbit/s, instead of HSPA+, which supports up to 42mbit/s. Obviously, these are theoretical speeds, but having a higher ceiling would be nice should AT&T upgrade the towers in your area.

You really think you would notice any difference on web surfing between having a 14 mbps download speed and a 21 mbps download speed?

Only people who would really care are the ones that torrent...

 

[LinksAwakener]

Becuase ATTs HSPA+ network is practically non-existent.

I'm sorry, what was that?

Our 4G footprint is growing fast. AT&T has deployed HSPA+ to virtually 100% of the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, enabling 4G speeds when combined with enhanced backhaul.

What isn't deployed to a heavy degree is the enhanced backhaul, the second part of AT&T's classification of 4G. The implementation of HSPA+, however, is very far along.

 

[ap3604]

What isn't deployed to a heavy degree is the enhanced backhaul, the second part of AT&T's classification of 4G. The implementation of HSPA+, however, is very far along.

Wonder how long its going to take to build out enhanced backhaul nationwide? (if ever)

 

[swy05]

Because if apple says no, the apple sheep believe this to be gospel and will not dare question it.

If in some strange dimension apple decided to introduce the next iPhone with a 3.2 inch screen, the apple sheep would accept this and believe it to be gospel.

 

[Spiffyis5150]

Because it uses the Qualcomm MDM6600 chip(well, so it's thought based on the MDM6600 chip being the same one in the Verizon Iphone 4) for radio access and that chip doesn't support QAM-64 modulation. Technically according to Qualcomm, QAM-64 isn't required for 3GPP Release 7(aka HSPA+), but they say MDM6600 does support other features in 3GPP Release 7, so technically the 4S is an HSPA+ phone but without the ability to reach 21Mb/s due to the lack of support for QAM-64 in the chipset. The Motorola Atrix uses the same chip and it was discussed on Anandtech when AT&T enabled HSUPA in that phone. Here's the link to the article(be sure and read the comments too!)

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4304/att-update-enables-hsupa-on-motorola-atrix-htc-inspire

 

[CBillups1]

because the phone isnt even 4G like idiots on here keep saying.

iPhone 4S is NOT 4G. its 3G.

 

[meder87]

14.74mb is pretty solid for what most people need. I mean 3GS and 4 used only 6 or 7mb. Next year if AT&T has rolled out their 4G and Apple see's that its ready and actually usable, then they'll release it.

 

[bigjobby]

because the phone isnt even 4G like idiots on here keep saying.

iPhone 4S is NOT 4G. its 3G.

... or more like 3.7(ish)G or 'faux' G but definitely NOT 4G.