Wired Reveals 3G Network Weakness

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Wired Reveals 3G Network Weakness

Posted 08/26/2008 at 11:45:59am | by Roberto Baldwin

Wired.com surveyed iPhone 3G users the world over, in an attempt to get to the bottom of the connectivity issues plaguing the iPhone 3G.

What they found was that a majority of connectivity issues are the result of less-than-stellar 3G connectivity. AT&T tied for third in download speeds behind Rogers of Canada, and T-Mobile in Europe.

In areas with dense 3G coverage, but a high concentration of iPhones, like San Francisco, the sheer number of connections seems to be straining the network. A good example of this phenomenon is music festivals. Last weekends Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco created a situation where the sheer amount of mobile devices in one area taxed every carriers towers. The overloaded towers decimated connections and festival goers devices become nearly useless.

This doesn't let Apple completely off the hook. Apple has acknowledged issues with 3G reception and has attempted to fix the situation with software updates with mixed success.

Got a story about your 3G coverage with the iPhone you want to share? Drop it in the comments below.

COMMENTS: 6

TAGS: iPhone Software 2.0, Science

COMMENTS

No more 3G
Submitted by MLO on Tue, 2008-08-26 10:53

I turned off 3G on my iphone due to the lack of bars. I am only use EDGE and I have full bars. Why am I paying for this service , that I am not getting 100% percent of?

I live about 20 miles north of Boston.

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3G and the rest of the iPhone owners
Submitted by Roberto Baldwin on Tue, 2008-08-26 12:13

At the Mac|Life compound, 3G is completely useless. Because we're at the edge of 3G coverage, all 3G does is drain my phone's battery because the poor thing is trying to keep a signal.

I live in a very residential area of San Francisco and my 3G coverage out there is stellar. No dropped calls, no lost connections. I figure it's due to lower concentration of iPhones in the immediate area.

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I'm just glad I got (and
Submitted by yensid on Tue, 2008-08-26 12:57

I'm just glad I got (and kept) the original iPhone. I'd hate to be paying for 3G service but needing to turn off the feature to use the phone. The original iPhone was a much better deal overall.

Isn't it funny how there were so many complaining about the lack of 3G on the original iPhone and now that we have it all we read abut is trouble with 3G? Maybe Apple made the right decision choosing Edge initially. maybe they should switch back.

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3G in South Jersey
Submitted by docfink on Tue, 2008-08-26 19:10

The iPhone is an amazing device, but as a phone it's pretty weak, something I attribute to AT&T. I left a perfectly fine phone and network in Verizon to satisfy the Apple Geek in me, but my iPod Touch is nearly the same. Yes, it's nice to access Internet content when away from WiFi areas, but c'mon, this 3G thing is a farce! I have a 1500 sq. ft. office, and at one end I get no reception and the other, so-so reception at best. Isn't this the 21st century? IIf large cities like Boston, Philly and SF have issues with this technology, something is obviously wrong. "More bars in more places"-isn't that the tagline? It's a joke being played on the consumer. In America at least, Verizon's service is the best and I might have made a mistake in not waiting for them to get the iPhone down the road.

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3G in Oklahoma city
Submitted by BD on Wed, 2008-08-27 07:07

The service here is horrible and I can't wait to move. I am moving to Colorado Springs and the service there is great. I was there in early August and had great results. I also do not use 3G in Oklahoma City, my wife's phone and mine are both on the old network because our phones won't work in our house if on the 3G network.

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It’s very good
Submitted by ammys on Thu, 2008-10-23 03:47

It’s very good article.
scat girls

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