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If The iPhone's So Great, Why No Broadband Support?
'Breakthrough Internet communications device' with no bandwidth?

Users in our Mac forum wonder how the iPhone can be called a "breakthrough Internet communications device" by Apple, when the device fails to support Cingular's HSDPA wireless broadband network, instead only working on their slower (around 200kbps) EDGE network. Yes, technically EDGE is broadband -- but only if you work at the FCC. As we just noted, HSDPA is available in 160 markets, and offers speeds up to 400-700kbps, with bursts to 1Mbps.

The decision for the device to be a Cingular only product is also a sore point for some users. "Making this an exclusive launch was a pretty stupid move," laments a user. "They have alienated themselves from so many potential customers. My entire company of IT consultants would have switched to the iPhone if it had high speed connectivity and was available on a CDMA carrier." Other users seem less concerned about spending $600 just to slum it on Cingular's EDGE network, noting that they don't need additional bandwidth.

Some industry folk note that for the device to really "reinvent" the telecom sector as Steve Jobs proclaims, they'd need to offer some gutsy and interesting network connectivity options -- such as making it network agnostic, allowing the Wi-Fi functionality to make VoIP calls, etc. "Apple did NOT reinvent to telecommunications sector even though there is a good chance that it could have done so," opines telecom vet Tom Evslin.

While the device is certainly sleek, calling it "industry changing" is hyperbole when it doesn't even run over the latest and greatest network -- much less try anything particularly inventive when it comes to connectivity.

Update: Apparently Apple has bigger things to worry about, such as securing the rights for a brand name before marketing it.

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Mchart
First There.
join:2004-01-21
Kaneohe, HI

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Mchart

Member

Whats the point?

The majority of folk that buy any apple product could care less about the tech specs. All they care about is getting it in a shiny pink.

Oh, and dont forget that your favorite -Insert random popular culture star here- has one.