[Gustin]

AT&T's long term plan is LTE. They're using HSPA+ as a stepping stone to get to that point.

Also, 3G phones, while being able to use HSPA+ networks, cannot utilize the speed boost provided by HSPA+. They still run on old 3g speeds.

[redbaron]

right, but you're looking at 3g, HSPA & HSPA+ supported by the same exact hardware. The current HSPA stuff is really not bad if you can get a very strong signal. A few friends have seen ridiculous speeds... one of 'em sent me this one recently: click for screenshot here's one I took the other day from the basement more screenshot goodness

The difference is that AT&T is only rolling out HSPA+ compatible radios at this point, since it covers all of their 3g & '4G' networks.

2G, 3G, 4G, and everything in between: an Engadget wireless primer -- Engadget

There is some speculation that the HSPA+ networks may actually be able to scale well beyond the 100mbit spec for 4g (which neither LTE or WiMAX can reach at this point either, it should be noted). One of the interesting requirements about being a true 4g, is that it moves all voice traffic to VOIP.

This is a pretty big deal to me. It's my only phone. I have no home line. I would like to be able to hear people clearly and be understood well when I am on the phone.

I haven't had a problem with a phone call on any of the big 4 carriers in this regard, outside of the rare experience in the boonies in many, many years. If anything it's more a problem getting a call started, but for the most part, when they connect, it works fine. I will admit that CDMA can sound clearer in really poor reception areas (benefit of the tech). Unfortunately CDMA is an extremely limited tech that the rest of the world has abandoned for a reason...

[normajean777]

Ironically your phones speed test beat out my home wifi which clocked 2.66... My iphone clocked at 2.48 (in Canada of course on Telus).

[Gustin]

HSPA phones use HSDPA protocols. They're only capable of "3g" speeds. HSPA+ speeds require new phones. Just like LTE or any other 4G protocols. You said HSPA+ is backwards compatible with HSDPA phones. That's not really true. It's backwards compatible in the sense that you can still use it with your regular bandwidth constraints, but you won't get a speed boost on your HSDPA phone when ATT upgrades the software to HSPA+.

HSPA+ only requires a relatively easy software update which is why they're using it to boost speeds (and advertise a 4g network) until their LTE roll out is ready. Their plan is still to jump on LTE. It's just cheaper to do HSPA+ first.

[redbaron]

agreed, and I'm not suggesting otherwise, simply pointing out that they don't have to run two side by side networks. As it is right now, both sprint & verizon are in a situation where they have to have 3g to carry voice, even if you're using an LTE/WiMAX handset, due to their data only situation. Hopefully with the true 4g bandwidth starts to be realized, and the VOIP implementation happens, they won't have to do that.

[Gustin]

Yeah, but it's not any different than it will be for AT&T when they start rolling out LTE too. I doubt that voice over HSPA+ will be all that different from 3g. Not that it can't be, it cold be just as good as LTE, but I don't think AT&T will invest much time and money into it since they're not planning on having it around for too long.



My biggest problem with ATT is if I travel outside my area at all, the reception and data coverage gets awful. With Verizon, I drove from Nashville to visit my folks in Tampa and I had (and used) 3G coverage the entire way. There's no way I could do that on AT&T. Even with Verizon rolling out 4G, that 3G coverage doesn't disappear; it means I will get an extra speed boost when I'm in a major city, but I'll still have decent speeds wherever I go.

I'd rather have ok speeds that are reliable and available more places than great speeds that are limited in scope.

[slap_j]

AT&T iPhone beats Verizon in nationwide 3G speed tests - CNN.com

[redbaron]

Gustin, obviously my phone doesn't support HSPA+ (fastest it supports is HSDPA / HSUPA which is 7.2/5.76mb/s up/down respectively), but the speeds are quite good. I'm not sure why the service is bad in your area (how recently have you tested), but I cruise around in the boonies on my bike all the time and it's rare that I even see 3g, much less Edge service, I'm almost always in an H zone.

slap_j: wonder if they're filtering out all the edge user tests, and only going with the 3g/h tests? I haven't seen an upload under 1.2mb and a download under 1.8mb in a long time, and it's usually significantly faster.

To be fair, it's still slower than my comcast connection at home, but it's considerably more consistent.

[Art]

Haha. My Comcast connection at home is consistently above 15 mb/s. I wish my phone could do that.

[redbaron]

I seriously need to take my cable modem into their office put it on the counter and light it on fire.

I am getting so pissed off at their service when I'm trying to play COD that it's driving me bonkers.