Comments on news posted 2012-02-21 12:38:55: With the 4G term now abused to include everything from carrier pigeon to cans and string, it's not too surprising to see AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile all now simultaneously claiming they offer the nation's "largest 4G network. ..
Would you expect any less from a company that now offers "Unlimited Data" at speeds that intentionally render a device beyond useless for the primary purpose for which it was sold?
Now Sure it is abused a lot. But so are the users. They give very little pooled GB. No true unlimited by any of them. At full speed you can go through your allotment within a few days and some cases in a day. They charge ungodly amounts for overages. Like text messages which costs them NOTHING since it rides along the voice packets. 3GB limits is stupid. In some cases it is 2gb. What do these Cell companies think that they can do this? Profits? yes! Step 1 Abuse term 4G, step 2 low caps step 3 $$$ Profits! I do not understand how the internet can be so expensive. I wonder if they are just abusing peoples pocketbooks. What does it cost them to send packets?
The clear winner in the fourfauxG race is Verizon. LTE has more of a claim to being 4G than HSPA+, even though LTE isn't really 4G as originally described. With Verizon having the largest, by far, LTE network they should be the only carrier to be able to claim such.
True, the lower speeds on my Verizon LTE are over the top of T-mobile or AT&T, 10 - 15mbps on LTE and I'm regularly in the 20 - 30 range and in the northeast their coverage is getting pretty darn good.
Here in Wilmington, I get those same speeds, minus the better upload. It's when I travel into 3g areas I get 5-10 Mb instead. Granted I'm on a 42Mb phone and tablet. 20Mb is pretty normal, it's usually faster.
Perfect reason why AT&T needs to be spanked for being that naughty. I get faster speeds on my 2g device. "188K/s"D and "133K/s"U here on Cellular One (MTPCS) No speed reduction for getting close to my 3gb cap. However it is tough to get close to 3gb unless I download 24 hours a day.
Verizon and T-Mobile as well as Sprint throw he 4g around too and also throttle. Why do they even throttle if they can make a killing off overages? That makes no sence.
Too expensive to have both data plans ( your old 3G smartphone aha iPhone) and LTE hotspot. And I love iPhone and it's iOs. Will never switch to Android phone except maybe when I get a tablet then I'll get Android just for different feel.
AT&T is marketing 14.4 as 4G, as they market the iPhone as 4G. I consider it to be enhanced 3G.
Its just a bunch of marketing BS, but the other factor that's harder to quantify is how well the networks actually work. AT&T's is highly variable, Verizon's very solid, but we don't know how it will hold up a few years down the line...
And coverage is a whole different issue. Around here, T-Mobile is EDGE, AT&T is running HSPA+, and Verizon is limping along on EVDO. I don't consider us to have any 4G.
WiMAX is also a tough case. Should WiMAX be allowed to be marketed as 4G when AT&T's HSPA+ sometimes can match it's speed?
Wow. That's what, 28Mb/s slower than my phone! That's what people mean by not calling HSPA+ not 4g. It's not the same, but it isn't 3g either, considering evdo 3g is max 3Mb usually. And not all HSPA+ is the same either.
AT&T's HSPA+ ain't 21mpbs in NYC or pretty much any large market excluding the ones in Texas. Their HSPA+ network simply hasn't been upgraded to 64QAM plain and simple.
Verizon is not the clear winner of the race I seen some Verizon LTE test only claim half of the speed they get just like they get into ATT network so. If you got any claim to back this up please show me.
The test I seen on Verizon LTE network was only 5-7 to 10-15 not 15+ mbps download.
If you are getting 5-10 on Verizon 3G, that seems really good. I thought the best Verizon 3G was EVDO Rev A which tops out at ~3Mbps. Did Verizon deploy EVDO Rev B or MC? Those would support the data rates you cite on 3G.
I've never read any Verizon 3G tests achieving 5-10Mbps so I'm surprised by your results.