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Very likely: 2011 iPhone to be "4G"

mltaylor said:
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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That's normal. You cannot use an iPhone unlimited plan on a 4G phone.
They will switch you to the SmartPhone Personal plan. It has unlimited data as well.
This plan is ONLY available for iPhone unlimited users switching to a 4G device. You will not see it as an available option if you order online.
You have to go to an AT&T store or call them to have them move you to the correct plan.
 

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Thedeathbear said:
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.
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I see... To be honest I don't get the point of having that kind of speed on a phone. Hell, I don't even know what I'd do on a computer with speeds like that.

Always good to know though, thanks for the info
 
boss.king said:
I see... To be honest I don't get the point of having that kind of speed on a phone. Hell, I don't even know what I'd do on a computer with speeds like that.

Always good to know though, thanks for the info
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^This, not to mention the phone's browsing speeds are capped by processor if 3g speeds are fine.
 
ivelnal said:
I think the new iphone will be release next year because of Steve Jobs health. :)
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Yep, the second biggest company in the world can't operate without their founding CEO:rolleyes:. Apple is just like any other company, it has other very good people on the board which are capable of running the company when their main man isn't around.

In my opinion we'll be getting an iPhone 5 September.
 
I really wouldn't mind a 4G LTE iPhone. I occasionally connect to my iPhone 4 to my 4G LTE mifi potable hotspot, and I get around +-11 Mbps... which is pretty close to my home wireless Internet. However, AT&T 3G in our area is fast enough. I mainly use my 4G hotspot for my work laptop and iPad 2. But I would consider upgrading when a 4G LTE iPhone comes out. It would be nice if we can grandfather our unlimited data plan, but who knows.
 
The idea is to move the ball forward and progress wireless technology... Why would we stop?

Besides wireless data is in huge demand so it needs to move forward anyways. Also why would you not want those kinds of speeds? It's only going to provide better data service!
 
wxman2003 said:
So in other words, AT&T will get a 4G iphone, and verizon will not.
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And this is why I don't see Apple branding their next generation iPhone as 4G. I believe they want to release a world phone next year which would be compatible with both CDMA and GSM. I believe the current Qualcomm chip supports HSPA+ and definitely supports both GSM and CDMA. That would probably simplify the line and offer universal iOS updates replacing the status quo. It'd be nice to see them include an LTE chipset into the next iPhone so AT&T would throw a BF and hurry the hell up with their rollout.
 
rjohnstone said:
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'm curious, how do you know whether or not you live in an HSPA+ area? I live roughly a third of a mile from a new AT&T tower and my data speeds suck. I feel like they're throttling all data being outputted through the thing.
 
Goldinboy17 said:
I'm curious, how do you know whether or not you live in an HSPA+ area? I live roughly a third of a mile from a new AT&T tower and my data speeds suck. I feel like they're throttling all data being outputted through the thing.
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The current cities that support 4G speeds are:
■Bay Area, CA
■Los Angeles, CA
■NorCal, CA
■Houston, TX
■Dallas, TX
■Chicago, IL
■Baltimore, MD
■Buffalo, NY
■Boston, MA
■Providence, RI
■Charlotte, NC
■Puerto Rico

This new coverage map can be found at www.att.com/network. When you visit the site, click on “Coverage” and hover over the map to see the areas that are 4G active.
 
Applejuiced said:
The current cities that support 4G speeds are:
■Bay Area, CA
■Los Angeles, CA
■NorCal, CA
■Houston, TX
■Dallas, TX
■Chicago, IL
■Baltimore, MD
■Buffalo, NY
■Boston, MA
■Providence, RI
■Charlotte, NC
■Puerto Rico

This new coverage map can be found at www.att.com/network. When you visit the site, click on “Coverage” and hover over the map to see the areas that are 4G active.
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Just checked their coverage map and I live in a supposed 4G area. My Speedtests say otherwise.
 
Goldinboy17 said:
I'm sure there are many others that have far worse speeds, but if this is all HSPA+ has to offer me, I want LTE >.>
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Here is the difference between my AT&T 3G, and when I connect my iPhone to my Verizon 4G LTE mifi in the same location. I think AT&T's 3G is decent, so I only use my 4G mifi for my laptop and iPad 2.

3gatt.jpg
4glte.jpg
 
Applejuiced said:
I dont see SF listed there and I highly doubt even if they enabled HSPA+ in that area they have the backhaul to back it up.
I get about 5-6Mbps down and 1.5 up.
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They're claiming a large portion of the San Francisco Bay Area is covered, including the city itself. I'm not living in the city at the moment but commute there all the time - the data is unpredictable in the city. The suburbs, Walnut Creek where an Apple Store is located also have awful service.
 

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Applejuiced said:
I'd be happy with hspa+
I don't want my phone to die in an hour like phones with the current LTE 4G chips.
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Man thats what i'm saying!

I dont know why you need light speed battery annihilating internet speed on your phone at all times.

For me its the damn latency that kills it. what good is 10Mbps on my iphone if the ping is 200ms?

I'd be extact with my current 6Mbps speeds, but with a nice ping like 30-50 (im not asking for miracles.)

Other than that, i have 50Mb cable at home, so i'm all good.
 
Goldinboy17 said:
I'm curious, how do you know whether or not you live in an HSPA+ area? I live roughly a third of a mile from a new AT&T tower and my data speeds suck. I feel like they're throttling all data being outputted through the thing.
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There are the "official" coverage maps that show the cities that have it and then there are the areas where they have updated the tower software, but are still bringing the bachhaul online.
Phoenix has all the towers updated, but the backhaul is only upgraded in downtown right now.
I can tell by simply dialing *#*#4636#*#* on my Atrix.
It will tell you exactly what protocol your phone is running.
I bounce between UMTS and HSPA all day, but downtown it reads HSPA+.
 

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So is everyone willing to accept this as a 4G standard? For the general public they'll buy it.
 
rjohnstone said:
There are the "official" coverage maps that show the cities that have it and then there are the areas where they have updated the tower software, but are still bringing the bachhaul online.
Phoenix has all the towers updated, but the backhaul is only upgraded in downtown right now.
I can tell by simply dialing *#*#4636#*#* on my Atrix.
It will tell you exactly what protocol your phone is running.
I bounce between UMTS and HSPA all day, but downtown it reads HSPA+.
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Do you know if the iPhone has a similar function? I'd like to see what protocol it's actually connected to.

Applejuiced said:
That's what I figured too.
They upgraded the towers but still have to put in the backhaul to push out those faster speeds.
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Either way they're lying when they claim that such a large portion of the Bay Area supports HSPA+.
 
Goldinboy17 said:
Either way they're lying when they claim that such a large portion of the Bay Area supports HSPA+.
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Do you not stop to think that the sites are HSPA+ with backhaul and the reason you don't see the speeds is that there are still too many people on the air interface and they'll have to add more carriers (or increase site density) to get the general traffic load down? Also signal quality (cell edge, overlap areas, general carrier interference and noise floor levels) plays a major factor in speeds.

There are so many variables that come into play. It's not a simple black and white scenario.
 
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Goldinboy17 said:
Do you know if the iPhone has a similar function? I'd like to see what protocol it's actually connected to.
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I believe you can get the info from Field Test Mode on the iPhone.
Dial *3001#12345#*
I know Apple had disabled this feature at one point, but not sure if it was back again.
 
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