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What happens to iphone 4 when AT&T Launches 4G network?
- Thread starter richpuer
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Hold on a second here... I'm still waiting on 3G coverage where I live (southern Indiana) so I doubt they'll just be dumping the whole 3G network in the near future.
Worry about this in about 5 years when the 2G network is 100% phased out and has been for a while.
Worry about this in about 5 years when the 2G network is 100% phased out and has been for a while.
No, it isn't. the poster you were (snidely) replying to is correct.
I work in the industry. There is NO backwards compatibility at all.
I work in the industry too, I design telecommunication modules for Telemetry on the Utility industry (Including 3GPP pilots), Anyways...you don't have to believe me, just take it form the people who make the standards, quick google search will tell you.
Here is one from the GSM world: http://www.gsmworld.com/technology/index.htm
Just check the LTE section.
They are NOT backwards compatible. The RF layer is entirely different (TDMA vs OFDM), the RAN and core are entirely different as well.
A GSM handset is NOT going to work on an LTE network, EVER.
It is NOT backwards compatible.
Yeah, we've had this argument before. The use of the term "backwards-compatible" is misleading. They are NOT backwards-compatible in the sense that a GSM phone will work on an LTE network and vice-versa. What they are referring to is handoffs. So if your phone is in the middle of a data session on LTE and you move to an area with no LTE coverage, it can seamlessly handoff to HSPA.
Edit: The iPhone 4Gs will support HSPA+.
Yeah, we've had this argument before. The use of the term "backwards-compatible" is misleading. They are NOT backwards-compatible in the sense that a GSM phone will work on an LTE network and vice-versa. What they are referring to is handoffs. So if your phone is in the middle of a data session on LTE and you move to an area with no LTE coverage, it can seamlessly handoff to HSPA.
Edit: The iPhone 4Gs will support HSPA+.
Yes that it what I was trying to say, LTE of course is different layer than GSM use, but the LTE network that they are implemente will support GSM equipment making backward compatible.
And Yes...I said it earlier as well, iPhone 5 will be HSPA+
Yes they will, they already do (no in the states)
Sorry, I think you're still mistaken. A pure LTE network will not support a GSM phone. However, as with AT&T, they will have both GSM and LTE equipment. These systems will be able to work together for handoffs, (as will CDMA and LTE) but GSM phones will not run on LTE equipment....at all.
Edit: Not that Wikipedia is the most reliable source, but this is true:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3GPP_Long_Term_Evolution
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There won't be such a thing a "pure LTE network" LTE equipment being installed support GSM due to compliances, I understad what you are saying, but at the end GSM equipment will run on LTE networks that are being roll out all over.
And not Wikipidia is NOT a reliable source.
I find it really amazing that people will quote and follow a "user Editable" source than a website that represent over 800 GSM carriers around the world (to just mention a few that got truly reliable information)
That statement is still incorrect and misleading. A correct statement would be, "LTE networks will retain their legacy GSM/CDMA networks in order to support legacy GSM/CDMA devices."
I don't care if it's wikipedia or GSM world or the old guy down the street, we know the truth is that a GSM phone will not run on LTE tower/equipment. It will connect to the GSM equipment that's co-located in that tower.
I just bookmark this thread and I will PM you once the information is public, I can't right now since I am under an NDA, I've seen the Alcatel-Lucent Equipment AT&T is deploying for their LTE pilots (our design need to pass PTRB cert under that equipment), The "SAME" equipment will handel both loads, as I said before internally the equipment is doing 2 different type of technologies, however as far a tower/equipment it is one and the same.
Ok, that make sense and I'd have to adjust my statement accordingly. Sounds similar to having a global phone w/ both CDMA and GSM support (hardware that handles multiple technologies). But it's still not "backward compatible" in the way most ppl use that phrase. As least not me.
It's no secret that Alcatel-Lucent is supplying CDMA+LTE baseband equipment to Verizon, and GSM+LTE baseband equipment to AT&T.
It saves a carrier money to deploy 3G base station equipment that's already configured to be able to add LTE.
However, ATT didn't decide on Alcatel until around Feb 2010, so there's a lot of retrofitting of their earlier 3G sites to do before they're LTE capable.
It saves a carrier money to deploy 3G base station equipment that's already configured to be able to add LTE.
However, ATT didn't decide on Alcatel until around Feb 2010, so there's a lot of retrofitting of their earlier 3G sites to do before they're LTE capable.
no, HSPA+ is add-on Module to existing equipment (in most cases, some old towers and base-stations need to be completely upgrade)
So it doesn't even handle HSPA? that's crazy! It should handle LTE+HSPA before GSM!
4G speeds on iPhone 4!!
I found this by mistake but figured out how to get 4G speeds (4.44Mbs down/1.58 Up verfied by speed test app) by changing your Att data plan to 4G for an android. I just bought the iPhone 4 white and had all the iPhones before so I wanted to change for a little. A week later on eBay I bought a Atrix and used it with a sim adapter then a day after using it I got a text from Att to call and change my plan to 4G. Well I did and I decided that the Atrix isn't for me. I put my micro sim back into the white iPhone and my service acted funky(failing and dropping packets). Didn't have time to call Att to change back to iPhone plan. Then a few days later I went to download something and it downloaded at rocket speed so I figured I'm on wifi. Nope!! Turns out it said 3G!(I turned off wifi to double check)!!! Now I have 4G speeds on my 3G iPhone! If anyone wants proof I will post my results from speed test app!!! Please someone try it too and let me know I'm not the only one! 4G speed to all!!!!
I found this by mistake but figured out how to get 4G speeds (4.44Mbs down/1.58 Up verfied by speed test app) by changing your Att data plan to 4G for an android. I just bought the iPhone 4 white and had all the iPhones before so I wanted to change for a little. A week later on eBay I bought a Atrix and used it with a sim adapter then a day after using it I got a text from Att to call and change my plan to 4G. Well I did and I decided that the Atrix isn't for me. I put my micro sim back into the white iPhone and my service acted funky(failing and dropping packets). Didn't have time to call Att to change back to iPhone plan. Then a few days later I went to download something and it downloaded at rocket speed so I figured I'm on wifi. Nope!! Turns out it said 3G!(I turned off wifi to double check)!!! Now I have 4G speeds on my 3G iPhone! If anyone wants proof I will post my results from speed test app!!! Please someone try it too and let me know I'm not the only one! 4G speed to all!!!!
Just what do you expect. You want Apple to upgrade the hardware. Even a new iPhone 4 buyer is using year old technology.
In the end if you want 4G you will be giving up your unlimited account to get it.
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That's not 4G speeds. I consistently get over 3.5Mbps down and 2.3Mbps up in the Baltimore area. Have been getting those speeds for a while with no 4G trickery. That's just an area where AT&T rolled out the 7.2Mbps service.
*edit*
Just ran 3 tests. Top download was 6.07Mbps, upload 2.38Mbps.
That's not 4G speeds. I consistently get over 3.5Mbps down and 2.3Mbps up in the Baltimore area. Have been getting those speeds for a while with no 4G trickery. That's just an area where AT&T rolled out the 7.2Mbps service.
*edit*
Just ran 3 tests. Top download was 6.07Mbps, upload 2.38Mbps.
