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Verizon 3G vs AT&T Edge; which is faster?

B

bchaplin

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 18, 2006
48
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Thinking of getting an iPad. Where I live I'll have the LTE network, so the choice between AT&T and Verizon doesn't make much difference. However one place I visit (in a very rural area), offers only 3G from Verizon or Edge on the AT&T network. Any idea which is faster -- or, less painfully slow -- in that situation?

Thanks!
 
Where I work we finally got AT&T 3G in Nov of 2010. The Edge we had before that was slower than dial up. The Verizon 3G from the USB device I used with my MBP was much faster.
 
one further clarification

Thanks!
When I look at the AT&T coverage map more closely, I think the color they are showing for this area (Gordonsville, Virginia) is something they classify as "Mobile Broadband". On their legend of color codes it is below "4G" and above "EDGE". For iPad use, does that make any difference?
 
I tried internet radio on verizon 3g and iphone 4s att 4g. Verizon works the same. I liked ATT, I like GSM more, but 20/1 plan and tethering for emergncy made the choice
 
In real world time. Verizon real CDMA 3G gets between 500kpbs-2mbs.

In real time AT&T edge gets between 75-160kpbs.

It gets very confusing because some of Verizon's older CDMA tech out in the boonies barely gets 300kpbs and Verizon defines that as 3G. Thus the lawsuit AT&T tried to sue Verizon a couple of years ago.

But for basic web browsing your latency and ping times matter more once you get download speeds faster than 500kpbs. The lower the ping times the faster the we page will start to load
 
bchaplin said:
Thanks!
When I look at the AT&T coverage map more closely, I think the color they are showing for this area (Gordonsville, Virginia) is something they classify as "Mobile Broadband". On their legend of color codes it is below "4G" and above "EDGE". For iPad use, does that make any difference?
Click to expand...

That means you just get regular 3G from AT&T, which goes up to 7.2Mbps. Verizon 3G goes up to 3.1Mbps.
 
RCtennis3811 said:
That means you just get regular 3G from AT&T, which goes up to 7.2Mbps. Verizon 3G goes up to 3.1Mbps.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this and all the other super-helpful answers!
I wish that AT&T and Verizon sites were clearer with this information.
 
Edge is painfully slow. I remember using opera mini on iPhone with images off and using mobile sites and still waiting forever.
 
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