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It would always be nicer to get apps downloaded faster, webpages loading in half the time. Just get things done quicker.

Technology won't stop just because we don't need more if we go with that mindset 30 years ago they wouldn't have invented the computer, society functioned fine without the computer and it wasn't something we "needed" when it was invented.

I agree with this idea macingman, just that I would rather have Att build up their 3g network to more areas before they focus on higher speeds in a few select areas.

Either way progress is progress, but 7.2 Mbps w/ regular old 3g is more than enough for me :)
 
I wonder if AT&T will let those of us on "Grandfathered" unlimited data plans keep them with the upgrade to HSPA+ :confused: I know some people were able to upgrade & still remain on it but I hope they won't change that policy.
They already do this for users who have existing unlimited plans.
I'm on a "4G" plan now with unlimited data. I was able to retain my unlimited data plan when I bought my Atrix :D

I suspect this may change when they roll out LTE.
But for now, they are allowing users who have existing unlimited data plans to keep them when they switch to HSPA+ devices.
 
Yeah I agree :)

If your in an HSPA+ city that gets 4-6mbps data speed a regular 3G phone will also get that same exact speed. The only time an HSPA+ phone will be faster is if the data speeds are over 7.2 mbps. Of course if your at 7.2 mbps then you don't even need 4g. Hence people buying 4g is just a pure marketing gimmick that doesn't really do anything except get people to buy newer phones for a feature that doesn't even matter...

In my area they have HSPA+ available and right now with my iphone 4 I get around 5mbps down and 1.5 up.
If the next iphone goes faster with HPSA+ and by not sacrificing battery life I'd be more than happy.
And if they start upgrading most 3G areas to HSPA+ along with the backhaul needed then what more can you ask. I dont care if they call it fake 4G or whatever. Speed is what matters in the end and not the way they accomplish it IMO.
 
In my area they have HSPA+ available and right now with my iphone 4 I get around 5mbps down and 1.5 up.
If the next iphone goes faster with HPSA+ and by not sacrificing battery life I'd be more than happy.
And if they start upgrading most 3G areas to HSPA+ along with the backhaul needed then what more can you ask. I dont care if they call it fake 4G or whatever. Speed is what matters in the end and not the way they accomplish it IMO.
This...
I'm in an HSPA+ area (it's only downtown right now), and it screams compared to regular 3G speeds.
3G service in the area has been greatly improved as a result of the backhaul upgrades. I see it as a win/win for both types of phones.
Thanks to AT&T and Moto for uncapping HSUPA on the Atrix, upload speeds are on par with the iPhone 4 when in a 3G only area. (They used to be capped at 300Kbps)
 
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I "very likely" doubt this happening.
 
I'm surprised that in a country that loves it's class action lawsuits, how the carriers feel that they're going to get away with falsely selling phones/services as 4G. Can anyone explain how they're getting away with this?

edit. The new thisismynextpodcast's podcast has a great debate on this subject.
 
If thats AT&Ts 4G whats Verizons, 5G? Im not sure how much of Thunderbolts battery problems are related to LTE though, That new Droid Charge from Samsung is said to have far superior battery life compared to the TB.
 
The article is poorly written and researched.
14.4 is HSPA+, not HSPA. AT&T doesn't classify HSPA as 4G.
If it did, the iPhone 4 would be considered a 4G phone. ;)
The iPhone 4 is an HSPA (7.2Mbps down) device.

HSPA+ starts at 14.4Mbps down.
T-Mobile supports up to 21Mbps on HSPA+

HSPA+ starts with the Release 7 signalling improvements like reduced latency, reduced data/call setup time, Discontinuous Transmission and Reception (DTX/DRX), enhanced Cell_FACH/PCH, voice over HSPA (and slight batt life improvement), always on state (CPC) and some other things. The data improvements of 21mbps (via 64QAM that acutally starts at 17.6mbps) and beyond are sort of the optional additional throughput improvements.

Because of the Release 7 signalling improvements, a HSPA+ 14.4 device would be a little better than a HSPA Release 6 14.4 device.

Also "4G" is now a completely worthless term. Just stick to the actual network technology names like HSPA+, LTE etc.

Also: HSPA+ AND LTE can be deployed at varying levels of throughput like 21-80 and beyond with future releases for HSPA+ and somewhere from 50 to 320 some mbps for LTE depending on the site configuration and spectrum used. VZW's LTE deployment is currently at a partial of LTE's total potential.
 
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I "very likely" doubt this happening.

Too bad it's already happening. ;)
 
Same here Juiced :)

LTE battery life on the thunderbolt is absolute garbage.

I'd rather just have HSPA+ for the rest of my life.



I truly think no one has done their homework like Apple to create phone that can do so much with such good battery life. This will the part where all the other Android and Smartphones fail if they do not improve their batteries.
 
I truly think no one has done their homework like Apple to create phone that can do so much with such good battery life. This will the part where all the other Android and Smartphones fail if they do not improve their batteries.
The Atrix already gets better battery life than the iPhone 4.
Motorola's solution is simple... use a more powerful battery and combine it with great power management software.
The 1930 mAh battery lasts a long time. A lot longer than the battery in my Wife's iPhone 4.
Apple will could easily bump the 1420 mAh battery they're using now to a higher capacity battery without sacrificing the physical size of the phone.
 
Really? I thought LTE was real 4G (albeit not great 4G speeds)?

Wikipedia: In 2008, the ITU-R organization specified the IMT-Advanced (International Mobile Telecommunications Advanced) requirements for 4G standards, setting peak speed requirements for 4G service at 100*Mbit/s for high mobility communication (such as from trains and cars) and 1*Gbit/s for low mobility communication (such as pedestrians and stationary users).[1]

I know it is Wikipedia, but I've heard this in other places prior to looking at it in Wikipedia. Also Wikipedia called LTE "pre-4g" and called LTE advanced as just 4G.
 
I think the iPhone 5 will be called the iPhone 4G. Always have. This makes me believe it even more. Then next year it'll be the iPhone 6.
 
a lot of people around here are going to be eating crow if the next iphone is a "4g" instead of a 5.
 
a lot of people around here are going to be eating crow if the next iphone is a "4g" instead of a 5.

Not really. No matter what Apple calls it, it will be the iPhone 5, or 5th version of the iPhone. They can call it the iPhone -2 and it'll still be the 5. I'm amazed at how many people dont get this.

And I've always thought the 5 would be called the 4GS. Still the 5. Called the 4GS.
 
They already do this for users who have existing unlimited plans.
I'm on a "4G" plan now with unlimited data. I was able to retain my unlimited data plan when I bought my Atrix :D

I suspect this may change when they roll out LTE.
But for now, they are allowing users who have existing unlimited data plans to keep them when they switch to HSPA+ devices.

I have the unlimited plan with the iPhone 4. I've had the plan since the original iPhone and when I tried the Atrix out for a while ATT kept sending me texts saying to change to a new plan because it was 4G phone and needed to update my account to a new data plan. I went back to my iPhone but not for that reason (though it helped)
 
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