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Seth Weintraub

Apple versus Google

AT&T: Can its network take the next wave of iPhone 3GS?

24 comments

TAGS:AT&T, iPhone 3GS, network
IT TOPICS:Macintosh & Apple, Mobile & Wireless, Personal Technology

AT&T has a monumental task. It, alone in the US market, must bear the brunt of the most widely-used 3G mobile device by a long shot. The latest figures show that the iPhone, out of the hundreds of mobile smartphones out there, is carrying close to 2/3 of all web traffic. Overall, mobile usage has grown 1000%.

All on one network.

It is no surprise that AT&T is timid about letting additional bandwidth hogging features like MMS and tethering onto the iPhones. Its network is already supersaturated. The company has put forth measure to improve the network but can it keep op with the rate of adoptions?

To see what the next year on AT&T will be like, all you have to do is visit New York City. The tri-state area is probably the highest iPhone 3G density area in the world. There are a lot of Apple fans, a lot of money and a lot of creative types here. There are a lot of humans in general with all types of wireless devices.

It is also the worst place I've ever been for AT&T calls. Calls drop frequently in NYC. I heard the first "I am on AT&T in New York so my call may drop" warning from a caller this month. Data is hit-or-miss and even when it does hit, it is never 100K+/sec like in other, smaller cities I've visited.

Another sign of what's to come: At this years SXSW conference in Austin, so many iPhones were in use that the network became unusable. AT&T was forced to bring out some more equpment.

When I visited my family in Cleveland a few months ago, it was like I had a new iPhone. Speed was always there. Calls were clear and never dropped. I could rely on always having a good connection. Even my apps (like Maps) ran faster because they weren't waiting for clogged signals.

How much longer can this last, though? As more and more people pile onto AT&T's network with the network hogging iPhone, service will start to deteriorate. AT&T is trying to build updates but they haven't even lit up the first 7.2Mbs 3G airspace yet. The new iPhone is called the iPhone 3GS in part because it is able to browse at 7.2Mbps. But not on AT&T.

It also won't be able to do tethering until AT&T sees how well its network can stand the initial onslaught. Although, some have started tethering without AT&T's blessing.

The biggest strain might be contributed by the $99 iPhone crowd. Analysts have speculated that this mythical number could double the size of the iPhone population. I'm not so sure the spike will be so dramatic, however. The initial price of the iPhone pales in comparison to the monthly charges levied by AT&T. I often pay over $100/month just for my AT&T service. In this stark economy, monthly charges matter.

So, just a warning to those out there (particularly in busy cities), if you are considering getting an iPhone, you may want to check to see if the network behind it is as great as the iPhone itself.

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Other countries

Submitted by Mikkel Falkenberg on June 22, 2009 - 12:08 A.M.

I feel that Apple has kind of shot itself in the foot by using carriers that do not have the capacity in their network for the kind of use the iPhone lets the user do. Here in Denmark (Europe) Apple has selected the two carriers that have the worst 3G network. In the city centers of the major cities there might be 3G access, but more often there is only EDGE. I have talked to several iPhone owners that have switched to "3" and they have a completely different user experience daily. With full speed 3G network almost everywhere, no dropped calls.

I am wondering why Apple has selected carriers that have limited 3G networks that result in bad user experiences.

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ATT this weekend

Submitted by Anonymous on June 20, 2009 - 3:19 P.M.

I can tell a bunch of new users are hitting the network in NYC this weekend, because ATT has been unusually bad. For the record, I've gotten really good voice service with ATT on the EDGE network.

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So Tired of AT&T Bashing

Submitted by dstrauss on June 20, 2009 - 8:26 A.M.

All you "strangle-hold AT&T" and "Verizon superiority" magpies just give it a rest for once. NO CARRIER could have withstood the onslaught of millions of data users on their network, and outside of Metropolis, AT&T's service around the country is fairly reliable.

As for Verizon, no company has more complex rate plans and fee structures, plus "hidden" data caps on ostensibly unlimited service. Combine that with the fact that Verizon turned down Apple not because of network capacity fears, but because Apple demanded full control of product development (gee, that means Verizon CAN'T turn off WiFi) and Verizon would have to revise their rates and revenue sharing models, I can't imagine the value of Verizon having been the pioneer for the iPhone.

No, I am not an AT&T employee or even shareholder. I just think that the unthinking public (and tech media) is so NYC, Washington DC, LA, and Frisco centric they just can't see the forest for the trees.

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Honestly I really dont

Submitted by Anonymous on November 17, 2009 - 2:34 P.M.

Honestly I really dont care.. what I do care about is my phone working! Which in NY it does not! I work in the finacial district and frequently need to go near a window to get "SOME" type of service. I am a PAYING customer so ATT needs to get its act together or break the contract with APPLE and give it to those that CAN support the network. If the Iphone was able via ANY carrier the burden wouldnt be so bad, but being as they are GREEDY we the customers have to finance their research and put up with their incompetent netowrk.

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Agree on stop the FUD on at&t

Submitted by Jim888 on June 23, 2009 - 12:57 P.M.

No service could support the iPhone properly with huge volumes it has reached. For all the at&t bashing we hear, the only other US option is T-Mobile, and we hear nothing about the jailbreaks of iPhones and what that does to that other providers service from the tech press.

I have one isolated item to share. I have the friendship of a "jailbreaker" and he gave up the jailbreak due to poor network on T-Mobile and switched to at&t to get better service in our area. NYC area with notably bad at&t performance...? not hardly - KC.

Nope I am not an at&t employee... and currently I do not have an iPhone. No axe to grind here.

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Wow

Submitted by G on June 20, 2009 - 9:22 P.M.

I'm so loving this comment. Really, because there's so many haters out there constantly blaming AT&T and not looking at the "what if". What if it was Verizon or Sprint or US Cell, they wouldn't have been able to handle it either. 2 thumbs up to your comment.

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Really? Well if the Iphone

Submitted by Anonymous on November 17, 2009 - 2:40 P.M.

Really? Well if the Iphone was open to all carriers with all the competition service would be much better. Rates would be lower as well.

With all the government regulation going on and since we always pay those ridiculous FEES on our cell service the government should at least regulate cellular service quality, at the minimum service ANYWHERE above ground. What good is having something if you cant use it??

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I don't understand why

Submitted by Anonymous on June 17, 2009 - 10:07 P.M.

I don't understand why people can never stay happy and always have such a short memory. It was verizon who refused Apple initially because they knew for a fact their network CANNOT handle the iphone. AT&T at least brought it out and so far and it has done a fairly well job. I have been to most places in the world and there are dropped call everywhere. It can't be perfect! Assuming so much money goes in upgrading we don't complain why ALL the other networks follow At&t's example. If they are so better they would have been the pioneers. Lets be fair. Complaining isn't going to help anyone and tethering also means to invest another millions for people who want to use it for illegal purposes. (Downloading movies/songs etc). I switched to At&t leaving my ex provider after 5 years and I am glad I did. I do have some issues but overall I would give At&t a thumbs up!

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