7.2Mbps on AT&T's 3G network is like driving a Ferrari with someone yanking your parking brake every 90 seconds.
Until I can consistently stream a simple radio app on my iPhone 3GS during a leisurely 15-minute walk from the World Trade Center PATH Station down to Water Street, Seth the Blogger Guy can suck it, and suck it hard. #usbconnectlightning
Meh, T-Mobile's network is already moving to an impressive 21Mbps, Verizon is launching it's 4G network in 20-30 major markets next year, and Sprint already has 4G in several cities and expanding every month.
I have to admit, they're cute. What's really got Verizon execs losing sleep at night is how, AT&T being the shitty carrier that they are, they manage to grab 3 million New iphone customers in just 1 quarter. #3g
Verizon uses EV-DO Rev A for data, which is the 3rd generation of CDMA. It's not even a true 3g technology, 3g is defined as wcdma, or UMTS. It allows download speeds of 600 kbit/s to 1.4 Mbit/s and uploading speeds of 500-800 kbit/s.
AT&T uses UMTS, a.k.a. WCDMA, and allows download speeds of 7.2 Mbit/s, with theoritical speeds of 21mbits/s. This is the network shown on the ad's in question and is in most major metro area's right now and still growing.
If you do not have a 3G connection with AT&T you're on the EDGE network. The EDGE network allows download speeds of 400kbit/s to 1.0 mbit/s which is available in over 1.75 million square miles and reaches 256 million people in the united states.
So, in short:
Verizon: 600kb to 1.4mb almost everywhere in the US
AT&T: 400kb to 1.0 mb almost everywhere in the US and 7.2mb UMTS HSPDA 3G in most major cities. And, with AT&T you can simultaneously do data and voice while in 3g coverage. With Verizon you cannot.
So Verizon is slamming AT&T trying to compare a "3G technology" to AT&T's "3G Network" when Verizon's "3G" data rate speeds is only 200kb to 400kb faster than AT&T's "2G" network?"
interestingly enough, i've been using a first gen (2g) iphone since it came out and i've been browsing the web and using the cell connectivity to be productive online. but all of a sudden it's 3g or nothing? screw you verizon, i'll take 2g coverage over your customer service, gouging prices, and excessive bloatware and branding. and most importantly, i'll be using the device i want to use instead of some half-assed ripoff just because your misleading ads about coverage tried to scare me away from at&t.
@alek2407: 3G has nothing to do with 7+Mbps or not.
A. Thats just one form of HSDPA. Its all a 3G technology. By that logic T-mobile must be rolling out 4G with their 21Mbps coverage.
B. Find me in the real world where you're actually getting the theoretical limits. EV-DO Rev. A tops out (theoretically) at 3.1 which is the same as 3.1's theoretical max. BGR did a (decisively non-scientific) study a while back and found that most aren't getting anywhere near the theoretical limits. VZW's EV-DO rev A. hit 701kbps and AT&T got 933. A difference but not really a major one. #3g
@tande04: With that logic you could say edge counts as '3g' as it officially is ([en.wikipedia.org]). This would be like att calling edge 3g, as it technically is. Verizon's evdo is as '3g' as edge which commonly is considered 2g because of it's slow speed not technology.
Now im pretty sure if the T rolls out 21Mbps it will be considered as 4g by most (hell its twice as fast as my computer!!!!) #3g
I have an idea... Use a cell phone for voice and occasional text messages, and better suited devices for web surfing and stop whining about coverage forever? #3g
@nukee: Yeah... never find wi-fi at hotels, airports, fast food joints, coffee shops, book stores, or 1,000's of other places on the road...for free or cheap and reliable. #3g
@grok666: And what about the countless other places that don't have WiFi? You might not have a use for 3G wireless but clearly plenty of other people do.
@nukee: Fair enuf... But if I'm in Bumfuck Egypt I don't expect my cell phone to work either... Not a lot of reasons for a cell company to put a tower in the middle of 200 sq miles of cornfield. #3g
As an unapologetic Apple fan (and iPhone lover), I say keep giving AT&T hell. Their coverage and dropped call rate in Cincinnati is outrageous. The second the iPhone is available on Verizon (or the Android improves to near iPhone quality/security), I'm jumping. #3g
I was a long term Verizon customer (for over 15 years) before I finally said enough with their crappy hardware. I moved to AT&T for the iPhone 3G & it was (is) amazing. No doubt that Verizon has a better network. No doubt that I have dropped more calls in the year & half I have been with AT&T than the combined 15 years with Verizon. But I love the iPhone & I couldn't imagine using anything else. See, we use phones way more than just making calls! I use my phone as a micro computer & contact friends & colleagues via email, Facebook, text, twitter, and web. There is an app for everything on the iPhone.
I live in LA & the coverage here is pretty good. If the rumors are correct & Apple & Verizon will make nice with a new iPhone in late 2010, then I will be back. If not, what good is the best network if they have garbage hardware?
@joebinotto: Thats the overall point of the ads though. We're moving into an era where everyone is using their phones for more web based services. It doesn't matter as much where you can make calls as it matters where you have high speed data. #3g
@tande04: That only really matters if you can stand to use the data features of your phone. The new android based phones fall into that category, but pretty much none of the Verizon phones I looked at when I went into their store in July would have even been worth buying the data plan for. #3g
@Stetrain: Yep, thats actually why I left VZW too.
That said, I'm kinda kicking myself now. They're making a big push in the right direction now. Both the droid phones are pretty decent and the future promises are flat out amazing. You haven't even seen them push a dumbphone lately. Even 6 months ago the chocolate touch would of been greeted with fanfare by VZW, now its launching without a peep. #3g
11/09/09
Until I can consistently stream a simple radio app on my iPhone 3GS during a leisurely 15-minute walk from the World Trade Center PATH Station down to Water Street, Seth the Blogger Guy can suck it, and suck it hard. #usbconnectlightning
11/09/09
11/09/09
I live closer to 21mbps HSPA+ across the border than a 'native' AT&T 3G signal. Hell, I even pick up their HSPA network from where I'm sitting.
Their name... is 302-880, otherwise known as the Bell/Telus HSPA+ network.
11/09/09
It just seems like AT&T is behind the times. #usbconnectlightning
11/09/09
All I want is for att to invest some capital into its network, but what's the point, they'll have to come up with something faster in the near future.
11/08/09
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11/08/09
"Here's what that ad does not tell you.
Verizon uses EV-DO Rev A for data, which is the 3rd generation of CDMA. It's not even a true 3g technology, 3g is defined as wcdma, or UMTS. It allows download speeds of 600 kbit/s to 1.4 Mbit/s and uploading speeds of 500-800 kbit/s.
AT&T uses UMTS, a.k.a. WCDMA, and allows download speeds of 7.2 Mbit/s, with theoritical speeds of 21mbits/s. This is the network shown on the ad's in question and is in most major metro area's right now and still growing.
If you do not have a 3G connection with AT&T you're on the EDGE network. The EDGE network allows download speeds of 400kbit/s to 1.0 mbit/s which is available in over 1.75 million square miles and reaches 256 million people in the united states.
So, in short:
Verizon: 600kb to 1.4mb almost everywhere in the US
AT&T: 400kb to 1.0 mb almost everywhere in the US and 7.2mb UMTS HSPDA 3G in most major cities. And, with AT&T you can simultaneously do data and voice while in 3g coverage. With Verizon you cannot.
So Verizon is slamming AT&T trying to compare a "3G technology" to AT&T's "3G Network" when Verizon's "3G" data rate speeds is only 200kb to 400kb faster than AT&T's "2G" network?"
11/08/09
11/08/09
They have pretend 3g, verizon 3g is about as good as the 2g your getting (you get 1Mbps, they get 3Mbps).
Att 2g coverage is about equal to verizon '3g'. While true 3g (at 7+Mbps) is limited as it is very new to america #3g
11/08/09
A. Thats just one form of HSDPA. Its all a 3G technology. By that logic T-mobile must be rolling out 4G with their 21Mbps coverage.
B. Find me in the real world where you're actually getting the theoretical limits. EV-DO Rev. A tops out (theoretically) at 3.1 which is the same as 3.1's theoretical max. BGR did a (decisively non-scientific) study a while back and found that most aren't getting anywhere near the theoretical limits. VZW's EV-DO rev A. hit 701kbps and AT&T got 933. A difference but not really a major one. #3g
11/09/09
Now im pretty sure if the T rolls out 21Mbps it will be considered as 4g by most (hell its twice as fast as my computer!!!!) #3g
11/08/09
Someone in Verizon's Marketing dept. is getting some coal this year. And by coal I mean huge fraking bonus. #3g
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none the less this is a shity ultimatum... nice phone or good signal. ill be with the one to deliver both. that is as soon as my 2 year contract ends.
11/08/09
11/08/09
I live in LA & the coverage here is pretty good. If the rumors are correct & Apple & Verizon will make nice with a new iPhone in late 2010, then I will be back. If not, what good is the best network if they have garbage hardware?
btw, I love these ads!
11/08/09
11/08/09
11/08/09
That said, I'm kinda kicking myself now. They're making a big push in the right direction now. Both the droid phones are pretty decent and the future promises are flat out amazing. You haven't even seen them push a dumbphone lately. Even 6 months ago the chocolate touch would of been greeted with fanfare by VZW, now its launching without a peep. #3g