Seems to me manufacturer gain somewhat because anyone switching carriers has to get a new device. I just have no way of knowing how that compares to the cost of developing and supporting multiple versions of phones.
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Verizon and AT&T's LTE Implementations Won't Be Compatible
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Seems to me manufacturer gain somewhat because anyone switching carriers has to get a new device. I just have no way of knowing how that compares to the cost of developing and supporting multiple versions of phones.
If Apple made a "world phone", I suspect I could have two different data plans, one from Verizon and one from ATT to address the issue of simple access in different geographical locations. If that meant I had to switch sims I could live with that, but if Apple leads on simless at the same time as LTE and world phone, which would help simplify their manufacturing process immensely, that would be great.
The plethora of frequencies could be dealt with by an exterior antenna band similar to iPhone 4 or the cosmetic ring on iPhone3, but with 2-3 tracks of antennas to deal with length differences so whatever frequency you need at that moment is supported. Nokia has had world phones on voice for many years.
Apple stands at the precipice of access greatness. Multi-homing.
Go.
Rocketman
The plethora of frequencies could be dealt with by an exterior antenna band similar to iPhone 4 or the cosmetic ring on iPhone3, but with 2-3 tracks of antennas to deal with length differences so whatever frequency you need at that moment is supported. Nokia has had world phones on voice for many years.
Apple stands at the precipice of access greatness. Multi-homing.
Go.
Rocketman
Yes, it would!
When everyone crowds up the same frequency, it'll be a problem for consumers. I remember back 3 years ago. There was an earthquake in southern california. We felt it, but it wasn't a big one at all. We had 400 students on a field trip. AT&T and T-mobile customers could not contact their loved ones. The reason? Everyone's on the phone. Only Sprint customers were able to call their loved ones.
So it's a good thing Verizon and AT&T, two largest cell companies in the U.S. are on different frequencies.
When everyone crowds up the same frequency, it'll be a problem for consumers. I remember back 3 years ago. There was an earthquake in southern california. We felt it, but it wasn't a big one at all. We had 400 students on a field trip. AT&T and T-mobile customers could not contact their loved ones. The reason? Everyone's on the phone. Only Sprint customers were able to call their loved ones.
So it's a good thing Verizon and AT&T, two largest cell companies in the U.S. are on different frequencies.
*shock*
U.S. carriers making it hard for customers to take their phones when they switch?!! Heavens, no!
Also, Apple does not shy away from butting heads with European carriers.
U.S. carriers making it hard for customers to take their phones when they switch?!! Heavens, no!
Also, Apple does not shy away from butting heads with European carriers.
Proprietary was the wrong thing to say. I should have said unique to, but CDMA wasn't a good comparison since Sprint also uses that in addition to Verizon here, so I didn't have a clear analogy.
If anyone has the balls to take on the carriers, it's Steve and company. Don't expect Washington to do it. VZ and T own D.C. It would be great if Apple would create a device that would work on all carriers.
It IS pretty awesome how it works in Europe. Want to switch carriers? Pop in a different SIM. Want to switch devices? Put your SIM in a different device. In addition to that, prices are lower. Cheap or no-charge SMS on post-paid, cheaper data, and great prepaid plans.
It IS pretty awesome how it works in Europe. Want to switch carriers? Pop in a different SIM. Want to switch devices? Put your SIM in a different device. In addition to that, prices are lower. Cheap or no-charge SMS on post-paid, cheaper data, and great prepaid plans.
More than likely the initial devices won't be compatible, but just as with GSM, as time goes on, there will be the ability for multi-frequency devices. Also from my understanding, both at&t and Verizon Wireless got chunks of the 700Mhz block, but in different parts of the country. So, what is preventing them from using 700Mhz where they own the spectrum, then using one of the GPRS or GSM frequencies in other places, then the phones could just swap frequencies when they get to the other's territory, just as GSM and CDMA phones do now.
TEG
TEG
This.
To me, the most important part of how Apple revolutionized the smartphone market isn't iOS or the App Store, it's having phones that deliver what the consumer needs instead of what the wireless companies want you to have. Sadly, the promise of Android seems to be tilted back toward the VZ and T. Thankfully, Apple is still seems to be willing to fight the good fight.
Well, TD-LTE isn't going to be unique to China Mobile either, there are going to be huge numbers of operators using TDD. China Mobile is certainly a leader and a huge operator, that's for sure, but they won't be the only ones to use it.
They currently do, they don't share the same technology though and that isn't a monopoly thing just the companies choosing what they felt was the better technology. Both AT&T and Verizon operate their cellular networks on 1900 and 800/850Mhz they do not "share" anything but the similar title, each has specific frequency ranges in given areas that they are licensed to broadcast on dependent on what they bought (whether it be through eating up a small local carrier or ancient FCC auctions way back when).
The 700Mhz auction was supposed to alleviate spectrum congestion and additionally create a standard with LTE. I had a feeling this would happen given the massive gap that is the entire 700Mhz auction...great...
We have wireless networking engineers for a reason. That is not because they were "on the same frequency" that's just half assed backhaul by AT&T and T-Mobile and either Sprints good backhaul or lack of users congesting their network.
AT&T's unlimited text messaging plan gets you unlimited mobile to mobile minutes to any wireless cell phone. So there's some real nice value there.
I can't believe the number of people in here who think this is because "they don't want you to switch carriers."
Hmmm...maybe it has something to do with the fact that they spent billions of dollars getting radio spectrum so they could handle more bandwidth? And maybe, once you've done that, deciding to share spectrum with your competitor, thus crippling both of your networks, would be a bad idea?
Seriously. This is like complaining that there's not a Burger King inside of a McDonalds. Who expects that?
If you want compatibility, b**ch to Apple. They could decide to make an iPhone that handles all frequencies. If they do or don't do that, well, that's up to them. But don't complain that the carriers are using more frequencies to be able to handle more users. We WANT them to be doing that.
Hmmm...maybe it has something to do with the fact that they spent billions of dollars getting radio spectrum so they could handle more bandwidth? And maybe, once you've done that, deciding to share spectrum with your competitor, thus crippling both of your networks, would be a bad idea?
Seriously. This is like complaining that there's not a Burger King inside of a McDonalds. Who expects that?
If you want compatibility, b**ch to Apple. They could decide to make an iPhone that handles all frequencies. If they do or don't do that, well, that's up to them. But don't complain that the carriers are using more frequencies to be able to handle more users. We WANT them to be doing that.
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Verizon will be stuck on 4.2 for the next few years!
Verizon will be stuck on 4.2 for the next few years!
Making a world phone is becoming increasingly fragmented and complicated, not simpler.
You have GSM/EDGE systems, CDMA2000, TD-LTE in a few frequencies, FD-LTE in a few frequencies, and others around the world.
One wonders if for manufacturing purposes alone there may have to be two devices unless Apple perfects the "racetrack antenna" system I have been posting about and for which we have seen no patents.
Rocketman
You have GSM/EDGE systems, CDMA2000, TD-LTE in a few frequencies, FD-LTE in a few frequencies, and others around the world.
One wonders if for manufacturing purposes alone there may have to be two devices unless Apple perfects the "racetrack antenna" system I have been posting about and for which we have seen no patents.
Rocketman
Yes. The network can get overloaded if too many people try to get on the same frequency at one time.
This happened during the Christchurch earthquake. People were asked to restrict cellular calls for emergency purposes and to use the Internet or SMS to contact loved ones. Even then, telephone service was sporadic.
COWs (Cell-towers On Wheels) are occasionally brought in to boost capacity at large events.
Hmmm, let us try to explain it to you very simply.LOL, people still use AT&T? Why?
Because carrier performance varies with location and some people reside in a place where the coverage is acceptable or even "good" (e.g., Texas).
No, but it isn't in the US anywhere. So a huge carrier like China Mobile will be necessary for Apple to make the push I'd imagine.
Really? Seriously!?!? The problem you described has nothing to do with what frequency a cell phone operates on...
Correct, not in the US _yet_ but it'll be here eventually.
Basically you can look at TD-LTE as the replacement for WiMAX; WiMAX is dying rapidly and the operators that went to WiMAX will be going to TD-LTE in droves.
There are many operators that have spectrum that won't work well with FD; they will also go to TD-LTE.
then how can europe with over 40 countries use one frequency just fine WITHOUT any dropped calles (AT&T cough cough) ?