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story category AT&T, Apple Brush Off EDGE/iPhone Concerns
Jobs: Problems With EDGE Network 'Theoretical'
(old news - 10:16AM Friday Jun 29 2007)
tags: business · wireless · bandwidth
Obviously, our primary annoyance about the iPhone when announced was that instead of being a HSDPA device, it's running over AT&T's EDGE network, which traditionally squeezes out 200kbps on a good day if the planets are aligned properly. More commonly, users have seen speeds that aren't a huge leap from the days of dial-up.

In an interview with USAToday, Steve Jobs and new AT&T CEO Randal Stephenson address the fact that despite all the talk about the iPhone as a truly innovative product, it sure is running on one clunker of a network by modern wireless broadband standards.

Some of the criticism of EDGE is more theoretical
-Steve Jobs
After the "game changer" rhetoric is dispensed with, AT&T's CEO has this to say about the EDGE network:
"With a device like this, you need a broad based network that covers every nook and cranny of the country. That's EDGE. It does a nice job. It also has Wi-Fi, which is better than anything you'll find in any handset. Between the two, you'll get a good experience. We're selling tens of thousands of Blackberry devices, which are all Edge phones, and they perform well. We've tested this nine ways to Sunday, and we think the experience will be great."
Steve Jobs then tells us that users shouldn't worry; they are better off stealing using Wi-Fi anyway:
"The nice thing about Wi-Fi is it's way faster than 3G. People are in areas with Wi-Fi much more than they think. I walk into work with the iPhone, and it instantly switches to a Wi-Fi network. If I'm walking down the street in downtown Palo Alto, the iPhone will switch from EDGE to Wi-Fi. It's very fluid."
"Some of the criticism of EDGE is more theoretical," says the Apple boss. He's a little more forthcoming while talking to the Wall Street Journal, admitting EDGE is "good enough, but you wish it was a little faster."

As the folks at Endgadget and Howard's Forums note, it looks like AT&T has been tinkering with the EDGE network so it makes a nicer first impression on new iPhone users -- by giving them the 200kbps speeds promised them in the first place. If you're bored, watch our mobile speed test log later today.


Update: Looks like Europeans may get to use the iPhone on a real 3G network.

Related:
  1. AT&T (Sort Of) Admits To iPhone Network Strain
  2. Did AT&T's Bad Week Kill Their iPhone Exclusivity Extension?
  3. AT&T Streamlines iPhone Wi-Fi Authentication
  4. Oh AT&T Tethering 'Sources,' You Taunt Us
  5. Group Takes Aim At Special Access Pricing
  6. iPhone 3GS Drives Explosion In YouTube Use
  7. Mythbusters' Savage The Latest Socked With Huge 3G Bill
  8. Breakdown of 3G Network Speeds, Reliability
Forums » AT&T, Apple Brush Off EDGE/iPhone Concerns
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

Reliance on WiFi

Perhaps most users of the iPhone will be using the Wifi connection for data instead of EDGE, so this point becomes moot.
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verolom

join:2002-03-23
Eagleville, PA

Re: Reliance on WiFi

Here's another point, EDGE is more widely deployed than HSDPA so if coverage is more important, it's not a bad choice.

mph300
Two Thirds The Way There

join:2000-11-09

Re: Reliance on WiFi

said by verolom See Profile :

Here's another point, EDGE is more widely deployed than HSDPA so if coverage is more important, it's not a bad choice.
agree, coverage is important. except for the fact they could have made it 3g/edge compatible and given the users the ability to have 3g when in a 3g area and edge in an edge area, like most of their phones.

mike
--
CH3NO2-Fuel me UP-Let's race!

tc1uscg

join:2005-03-09
Saint Clair Shores, MI

Re: Reliance on WiFi

said by mph300 See Profile :

said by verolom See Profile :

Here's another point, EDGE is more widely deployed than HSDPA so if coverage is more important, it's not a bad choice.
agree, coverage is important. except for the fact they could have made it 3g/edge compatible and given the users the ability to have 3g when in a 3g area and edge in an edge area, like most of their phones.

mike
But that goes TOTALLY against Mr Jab's (yes Jab's) business model. Why provide a usable device to the masses only to loose out on a "must have, look at me, I'm standing in line again" costly upgrade, a few months down the road. This iAttitude also explains why the user can't swap out the battery when it dies or worse. And just like the iPod, it has to go back to Apple for a replacement. But there are a lot of little things that I'm sure are not important to some that makes them see this is NOT a innovative phone. I see it as nothing more but a hype device that can't even record video/sound, requires a SPECIAL email account to do email (sucks to be you pop3, IM, Yahoo users), it doesn't have voice commands (does this thing even have a speaker phone?), only works with iTunes.. I won't even pick at AT&T's coverage/Edge network. Hope it comes with a vast supply of handywipes and rib eaters beware.

djrobx

join:2000-05-31
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It's a boneheaded choice. Edge and 3G are not mutually exclusive and they're trying to spin it as if they were. They are not. My Samsung Blackjack happily slums it on the Edge network when 3G is not available in a particular nook or cranny.
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Nightfall
My Goal Is To Deny Yours
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Re: Reliance on WiFi

said by djrobx See Profile :

It's a boneheaded choice. Edge and 3G are not mutually exclusive and they're trying to spin it as if they were. They are not. My Samsung Blackjack happily slums it on the Edge network when 3G is not available in a particular nook or cranny.
I agree. I have a blackjack as well and it does great on the edge network. I don't have 3g here yet, but I can't wait to see how it works on that network.
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mph300
Two Thirds The Way There

join:2000-11-09

Re: Reliance on WiFi

said by Nightfall See Profile :

said by djrobx See Profile :

It's a boneheaded choice. Edge and 3G are not mutually exclusive and they're trying to spin it as if they were. They are not. My Samsung Blackjack happily slums it on the Edge network when 3G is not available in a particular nook or cranny.
I agree. I have a blackjack as well and it does great on the edge network. I don't have 3g here yet, but I can't wait to see how it works on that network.
i'll take my htc 8525 any day vs. the iphone. 8525 feature set and software availability is much more appealing and it has 3g too!

mike
--
CH3NO2-Fuel me UP-Let's race!

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

Re: Reliance on WiFi

As this video shows, microphones are the real hot commodity:

»www.breitbart.tv/html/2329.html
weedahoe

join:2003-09-14
Duluth, GA


1 edit
Agreed, I have a VZW XV6700 with wifi and I love my phone, I can do everything the iPhone can do and so much more. And if I really get desperate then I can simply load the iMenu + iContacts + Slide 2 Lock and make my phone look just like the iPhone, I can play every format of music and vids out there. I do have EVDO although I use my wifi more. There are far more third party apps out there that make so much more use of this phone than what the iPhone will ever get to. Do you think I give a crap about 6-8gb of space? I have a 4gb MicroSD now and dont have half of it used. I have more apps on it than I do music. I usually run at 80% battery life at the end of my day. My wifi and bluetooth stay running all day. My CPU is 416mhz and overclocked at 520 but can go as high as 663mhz.

So can someone please tell me why I would want to give up this device that does so much more for an iPhone ?

Nightfall
My Goal Is To Deny Yours
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-03
Grand Rapids, MI
·AT&T Midwest
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Just thinking about this...

How much would it have cost Apple to add 3g to this phone? If cheaper phones like the Blackjack have 3g and Edge, it couldn't have cost that much. This phone is over $600 for crying out loud.

Well, I won't be buying one. Thats for sure.
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Time4aNAP
Premium
join:2007-04-09
Des Plaines, IL

Maybe it's that. Or maybe it's that, just like with the iPod, Apple will make a lot of money off of stupid customers who are willing to pay more to get the slightly better version of last year's model, ad infinitum.

I'll stick with the many products that do deliver all of the goods on time.
triageitc

join:2007-06-18
Markham, ON

Click for full size
BlackBerry & iPhone
I have the Pearl (BlackBerry) and the edge is great for browsing, email and maps. So what if the iPhone is not on a 3G network? How many 3G service providers have the coverage that is necessary to satisfy a nifty, sexy product as the iPhone. And my friend...a few months from now when at&t or other providers have a higher concentration of BlackBerrys and iPhone they will be complementing/migrating their premium users/customers to the 3G or private Wi-Fi...in fact HSDPA is not the answer it is HSDP/EDGE/WiFi.
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AnonProxy
Proxy of Anon
Premium
join:2001-05-12
ß

Here's another point

I have the iPhone right now in my greedy little hands...and the data connectivity SUCKS!

shaner
Premium
join:2000-10-04
Calgary, AB

Re: Here's another point

Y'see, Steve? Should have gone with EVDO.

djrobx

join:2000-05-31
Valencia, CA
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Re: Here's another point

quote:
Y'see, Steve? Should have gone with EVDO
To put it in Verizon terms, this is like making a phone that only goes onto 1xRTT. Given the deal with AT&T they should have gone UMTS.
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en102
Canadian, eh?

join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA
·RoadRunner Cable
·DSL EXTREME

Re: Here's another point

I agree.. EDGE 'may' be a little faster than 1xrtt, but not significantly so.
Also, with all the billions put into upgrading and deploying 3G, why not make use of it ?
I _finally_ got 3G here in Valencia.

My last run on Samsung ZX-20 - tethered over Bluetooth was decent. A datacable should double the speed. Still not sure why it shows myvzw.com on here.


djrobx

join:2000-05-31
Valencia, CA
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Re: Here's another point

quote:
My last run on Samsung ZX-20 - tethered over Bluetooth was decent. A datacable should double the speed. Still not sure why it shows myvzw.com on here.
Yeah the domain reporting is ALL screwed up. From my Cingular service, I showed myvzw.com in Vegas, and am appearing as davita.com here in Valencia!
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Fox McCloud
Crazy like a fox.

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said by shaner See Profile :

Y'see, Steve? Should have gone with EVDO.
It's a shame that Apple didn't approach Sprint about the iPhone first, and it had EVDO Revision A support; Sprint would have the Mogul for business crowds and the iPhone for the "fun" crows.

That probably would have been best; after all, Sprint does have the large EVDO network in the US (plus they have the free EVDO roaming agreement with Alltel, making them all that much more "huge").
yabos

join:2003-02-16
Ingersoll, ON

Re: Here's another point

How do you know they didn't and Sprint turned them down? They reportedly talked to Verizon who didn't want to take on the project.

tc1uscg

join:2005-03-09
Saint Clair Shores, MI

said by Fox McCloud See Profile :

said by shaner See Profile :

Y'see, Steve? Should have gone with EVDO.
It's a shame that Apple didn't approach Sprint about the iPhone first, and it had EVDO Revision A support; Sprint would have the Mogul for business crowds and the iPhone for the "fun" crows.

That probably would have been best; after all, Sprint does have the large EVDO network in the US (plus they have the free EVDO roaming agreement with Alltel, making them all that much more "huge").
Rumors abound have it they didn't want CDMA because it wasn't worldwide (just a rumor now... ) and the primary reason, they were turned down by VZ because of Apples choke hold on the phone (too many restrictions). Sprint just said "Apple who?"... Would have like to have been a fly on the wall during that initial meeting..

lostlogin

@comcast.net
Edge is enough VZW TOS prohibits streaming multimedia all that bandwidth and cant use it
JSRoman
Premium
join:2005-03-10
Callahan, FL

1 edit
Iphone goes on sale at 6pm, so what are you talking about?
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N3OGH
Bear patrol must be working like a charm
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·Verizon Online DSL

Re: Here's another point

said by JSRoman See Profile :

Iphone goes on sale at 6pm, so what are you talking about?
Some people have access to them before the official release.

People writing reviews, and folks working in an Apple store I would bet.

I mean, someone has to have handled it before the official release if not just to support the damn thing...
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AnonProxy
Proxy of Anon
Premium
join:2001-05-12
ß
I'm talking about having one in my hands right now. Got it this morning from a good friend who has had them in his store for about 2 days.
Cod

join:2000-07-05
Greensboro, NC

Re: Here's another point

said by AnonProxy See Profile :

I'm talking about having one in my hands right now. Got it this morning from a good friend who has had them in his store for about 2 days.
So how'd you get it activated since its not officially released yet?

sporkme
drop the crantini and move it, sister
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join:2000-07-01
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·Optimum Online

Re: Here's another point

said by Cod See Profile :

said by AnonProxy See Profile :

I'm talking about having one in my hands right now. Got it this morning from a good friend who has had them in his store for about 2 days.
So how'd you get it activated since its not officially released yet?
Don't believe it without a picture.
flexoffset

join:2004-06-02
Courtland, AL

Re: Let's see a picture

Yeah.
Let's see a picture of that iPhone.

I'm not saying you're telling a fib, but a photo of it would certainly make it easier for us to believe you.

AnonProxy
Proxy of Anon
Premium
join:2001-05-12
ß
Activation for the store demos happened yesterday...what a bunch of clods.

sporkme
drop the crantini and move it, sister
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Re: Here's another point

said by AnonProxy See Profile :

Activation for the store demos happened yesterday...what a bunch of clods.
All you need is a mirror and your iPhone...

AnonProxy
Proxy of Anon
Premium
join:2001-05-12
ß

Re: Here's another point

Don't care if you do or don't...no biggie to those that actually have them.

ib50MbSoon
Formerly TwoKDialup
Premium
join:2002-06-07
Coloma, MI
How easy is it to see the number/keypad outside on a sunny day?

AnonProxy
Proxy of Anon
Premium
join:2001-05-12
ß

Re: Here's another point

So far not so bad but in absolute direct sunlight it's not so good. It seems a lot like the HP laptops screens.
Kearnstd
Elf Wizard
Premium
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

i think the problem was apple was being its usual demanding self. which is why Verizon didnt take them up on it as apple wanted to retain total control of sales locations and return policy where as other cell makers are more open with the telco.
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GunnarDanne

join:2002-12-02
Crown City, OH

Personal experience

I tether my phone with my PDA and it takes a while for webpages to fully load. I think EDGE is good for business apps because it IS very reliable (I even use it when my regular internet connection goes down) but it's not very fast.
ender7074

join:2006-11-21
Saint Louis, MO
·AT&T Southeast
·Charter Pipeline

Typical

Once again Captain Steve's arrogance is on display for everyone to see. Anyone that can read knows that the EDGE network is crap. Guess ole Steve thinks because the iPhone is on the network now it somehow will improve... Theoretical? No, the numbers dont lie.

See 8 replies to this post
okie11

join:2003-11-20

not worth the cost

I'm sure in the coming weeks we will hear about how this is the greatest device ever created... then that will switch to this is such a waste of money. i think i will stick with my free razr phone since it still works

mph300
Two Thirds The Way There

join:2000-11-09

using edge on iphone is....

just a ploy by apple and at&t to make more money and assure people blindly come back to upgrade their phone to a 3g model in a few months.

my .02 cents.

mike
--
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ke4pym

join:2004-07-24
Charlotte, NC
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Wi-Fi - maybe

Apparently, Steve's company doesn't filter the public Wi-Fi connection like mine does.

I still don't buy the Wi-Fi bit as an excuse not to include faster mobile broadband chips. Now, not to include the faster mobile broadband chips to increase battery life, sure, that's valid. But open free Wi-Fi isn't as pervasive as mobile broadband.

djrobx

join:2000-05-31
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Re: Wi-Fi - maybe

quote:
Now, not to include the faster mobile broadband chips to increase battery life, sure, that's valid.
Having a phone with 3g, and having seen the "Battery savings" firsthand (you can shut off 3g if you desire), I don't buy this excuse either. Like Wifi doesn't drain a battery?

They botched this one plain and simple. Apple developed a cutting edge product but failed to include crucial cutting edge technology that would have been a perfect marriage to the product.
--
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sporkme
drop the crantini and move it, sister
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join:2000-07-01
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said by ke4pym See Profile :

Apparently, Steve's company doesn't filter the public Wi-Fi connection like mine does.
That makes little sense. This phone isn't running windows, so it likely can join and remember passwords for encrypted wireless connections. It probably even automatically joins your preferred networks. Duh.
ke4pym

join:2004-07-24
Charlotte, NC

Re: Wi-Fi - maybe

I was refering to content filtering. While my employer offers free public WiFi access to the internet, it is still heavily content and protocol restricted. Unlike my Verizon EVDO card.

And who said anything about what OS the phone runs?
ignatiuskc

join:2006-02-13
00000

iphone not for power users

iPhone is not for power users

- No 3G
- No replaceable battery (my cell batteries half-life 1yr)
- No phone tethering to laptop
- No expansion slot
- No third party apps?
- Virtual keyboard is questionable
- No flash/java in browser
- At least is has Bluetooth 2.0

I'm probably getting the Sprint HTC Mogul... has it all.

en102
Canadian, eh?

join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA
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Re: iphone not for power users

You mean you can't tether to a laptop over Bluetooth ?
I do it with my Samsung ZX-20 all the time.

I'd be getting the HTC8525 if I want a decent phone.
It has it all.

- 3g HSDPA
- replaceable battery
- data cable access for tethering (faster than bluetooth)
- sd memory card upgradable
- wifi - b/g
- bluetooth 2.0

Downside - Windows
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N3OGH
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Everything is Marsha! Marsha! Marsha!, Err.. iPhone

OMG, I am getting totally sick of hearing about the iPhone. I can't get that damn Apple music out of my head from the commercials.

From what I read, Jobs went to Verizon first, and Verizon didn't like Apple's terms so they they had to go with their second choice, ATTSingularATT.

Jobs talking about how they needed coverage in "every nook and cranny" is pure un distilled spin. If the iPhone was on Verizon, they would be hyping that up, too.

I like my Mac, but I'm getting a little sick of the Apple hype. I mean, get a grip, people. IT'S A CELL PHONE.

People lived without them as little as 20 years ago...
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Titus Pullo
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join:2004-06-26
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Re: Everything is Marsha! Marsha! Marsha!, Err.. iPhone

That's because the key to corporate happiness is to make customer happiness dependent on buying the next gadget to nirvana. Busy people with money to burn is one thing, but for most folks an outlay like this is a road to back to square one (and worse after their CC bills pile up). Good marketers don't take PSY classes for nothing. You have to wonder if Apple isn't pushing brand loyalty -- and consumer psyche -- just a bit too far on this one, though.
--

odreian615

join:2006-01-18
Chicago, IL

I can't wait

Till this Paris Hilton iphone crap is over

ctgreybeard
Old dogs can learn new tricks
Premium
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Bethel, CT
clubs:

"Stealing" wi-fi?

So, let me get this straight. The iPhone automatically switches to wi-fi when it encounters an open wi-fi network, right? Well, in some places that will get you ARRESTED! (Such an attitude by the law-keepers is stupid if you ask me but it has happened)
--
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richdelb
Go Hawks Go
Premium
join:2003-01-22
Algonquin, IL

Re: "Stealing" wi-fi?

I was wondering about this was well....
yabos

join:2003-02-16
Ingersoll, ON
I guess they should disable it for US customers then. Once it comes out for other countries with no stupid laws like that we can take advantage of it.

AnonProxy
Proxy of Anon
Premium
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ß

Wait for iPhone II

iPhone II is on the way...Evidently there is another product already in the pipe for release in 18 months. Just talked to a friend who gave me mine and the sales rep to his store said that iPhone will continue to grow revenues with a new iPhone with more features and higher res screen and will be "in the pipe" and for sale in 18 months.

I guess they are purshing 2 year contracts with the iPhone with a technology upgrade in 18 months.

See 6 replies to this post
majortom1029

join:2006-10-19
Lindenhurst, NY

Confused

Engadget had this article stating they got over 200kbps on their iphone.

"Shortly after beginning the shutdown process of AMPS and TDMA networks, and just hours before the launch the EDGE-capable iPhone, a number of users are reportedly seeing dramatic increases in EDGE throughput. After questioning whether the mobile was actually using WiFi, a New Yorker began to see if fellow AT&T customers across the nation were also noticing the substantial boost in speeds; sure enough, it looks like quite a few others are seeing speeds upwards of 200Kbps. Of course, the usual banter over the legitimacy of speed tests conducted on mobiles inevitably ensued, but we're leaving it up to you. So, dear readers, hop on AT&T's 2.5G highway and give it a go, but be sure to return and let us know whether the increases are for real.

[Thanks, Peter]

Update: We tried some speed tests on an EDGE handset ourselves, and though it's been a little inconsistent, we've been shocked to find a number of runs over 200kbps. True, these kinds of speeds are theoretically possible (actually, little known fact, the ITU technically defines EDGE as a 3G standard), but we'd never expect to see them in practice. Should make the iPhone's browsing experience a little more bearable if it holds up!"

djrobx

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Re: Confused

I got a 220kbps speed test result on Edge maybe 6 months ago. But that doesn't mean much.

The nature of mobile wireless is that you're often going to be in areas that don't have 100% signal strength. The greater your "theoretical" limit, the more headroom you have to maintain a bearable surfing/streaming experience.

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ib50MbSoon
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It's nice that the iPhone has wifi but...

I'm shocked and surprised that T's CEO would advocate using someone elses pipes for free!
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RIRWIN1983

join:2005-08-30
Columbus, OH

Re: It's nice that the iPhone has wifi but...

you forget his company also does wifi
notwrth10

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1001EB
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inteller
Sociopaths always win.

join:2003-12-08
Tulsa, OK

I have a problem with the price, is that theoretical too?

I mean, if $500 is just a theoretical number, does that mean that in reality I can get it for $50.....seeing as how cold hard facts are all theoretical these days.

Need BB

join:2001-12-21
Rochester, NY

Re: I have a problem with the price, is that theoretical too?

So EDGE can do 200kbs! WOW, people think that 200kpbs is fast? With my VZW Rev. A card I can get 2200kpbs down and 800kpbs up with 80ms pings.
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stufried
Premium
join:2003-10-13
·Verizon BroadbandA..

Edge is Often Ok, But...

It really depends on your usage. I just spent a few days in a hotel which had overpriced broadband and just tethered my phone on EDGE and didn't pay $15 a day for Broadband (where did the hotel think it was located -- the UK? $15 for Cincinnati was over the top).

All I was doing was routine e-mails and minor websurfing (checking in for flights, looking at restaurant reviews, and a little Westlaw). Edge was fine. If I had wanted to stream or watch video, I would have had a problem.

Oddly, with this configuration, the phone would have better on TMobile -- nationwide edge with a network of hotspots along the way.

Jmartz

join:2000-07-20
Tenafly, NJ

Re: Edge is Often Ok, But...

I get pretty decent picture quality on my laptop using Cingular Edge via Bluetooth connection from my phone. It's not super clear, but it's pretty good all things considered...
ignatiuskc

join:2006-02-13
00000

Transformers

Forget iPhone, I want to see Transformers on July 4.
okie11

join:2003-11-20
·Charter Pipeline

Re: Transformers

`Transformers': Less Than Meets the Eye
2007-06-29 09:00:00
The Associated Press
By DAVID GERMAIN AP Movie Writer

With "Transformers," Michael Bay has either made a big, dumb summer adventure for the little boy in all of us or the world's most-expensive General Motors commercial.

Actually, it's a great deal of both, but as good as director Bay is at blowing things up and crafting wild visuals of those shape-shifting toys that were all the rage in the 1980s, "Transformers" is far more effective as a car ad than an action epic.

Images of the sleek new Camaro that Chevrolet is introducing for the 2009 model year are pervasive throughout the movie, and the car winds up a more memorable figure than the robot Transformers themselves (though the machine characters do have more personality than any of the humans on screen).

The Hasbro toys inspired an animated TV series and movie 20 years ago, and this version essentially is another cartoon, though it's live-action seamlessly blended with an overload of computer-generated effects.

In case you missed the 1980s, Transformers are giant, sentient robots made up of a gazillion moving parts that shift around to turn the big guys into all sorts of things — vehicles, jet planes, helicopters and such.

In the tale fashioned by writers John Rogers, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman (all three sharing story credit, the latter two taking the screenplay credit), Autobots — the good guys in the Transformers universe — have come to Earth looking for the Allspark, a cube-shaped power source that's kind of the mother of all spark plugs.

But the Autobots' evil enemies, the Decepticons, have shown up, too, looking for the same thing. Their nasty leader, Megatron, wants to use the Allspark to transform Earth's machines into a new race of evil robots and wipe out the organic infection called humanity.

So that we don't end up watching two-hours-plus of dueling between glorified can openers, the filmmakers add a bunch of puny humans to become flies in the axle grease.

Shia LaBeouf leads the flesh-and-blood cast as Sam Witwicky, a teen who wants to hang with cars and girls, not behemoth robots. Sam's dad coughs up cash to help the youth get his first car — a beat-up 1970s Camaro with a mind of its own — sort of the Herbie the Love Bug of muscle cars.

Turns out the vehicle is benevolent Autobot Bumblebee, which later transforms into the 2009 Chevy Camaro you've been hearing so much about. Both Autobots and Decepticons are stalking Sam because of a discovery about the Allspark his great-grandfather made a century earlier while exploring the Arctic.

Sam and his school's No. 1 babe, Mikaela (Megan Fox), wind up at the center of the 'bot battle, whose combatants include the noble Autobot leader Optimus Prime and his foot-soldiers Ironhide, Jazz and Ratchet, and such dastardly Decepticons as Barricade, Bonecrusher and Starscream. World Wrestling Entertainment could learn a thing or two about naming heroes and villains from these metal giants.

The action shifts aimlessly among an ineffectual ensemble of humans, among them Jon Voight as the secretary of defense, who seems to be running the country all on his own; Tyrese Gibson and Josh Duhamel as U.S. soldiers who encounter Decepticons in Qatar and later engage them in a street fight back stateside; John Turturro as a shadowy government operative; and Anthony Anderson and Rachael Taylor as computer experts helping to track the Transformer incursion.

Bernie Mac pops up in a fleeting early role as a car dealer. His good humor is missed later as the rest of the cast lumbers about like lifeless, well, robots.

LaBeouf remains likable though much blander amid the shallow character development here than he was in this spring's thriller "Disturbia." Everyone else — surprisingly, Turturro included — seems to be on automatic pilot.

Bay's certainly not an actor's director — this is the man who made "Pearl Harbor," after all. Yet his previous menace-from-the-sky saga, "Armageddon," at least mixed up a fair amount of humor amid the explosions.

The visuals are the real stars here. One of Hollywood's grandest big kids, Steven Spielberg, is an executive producer on "Transformers," so you know going in the movie's not going to skimp on spectacle.

Though they grow repetitive, the robots' transforming scenes — joints bending, appendages stretching, gears whirling — are too cool to ever become boring. The action sequences are so turgid it's sometimes hard to tell which 'bot is doing what, but with Bay steadily hurling fireworks you won't really pause much to think about that, or about how truly inane the story is.

The Autobots do provide some sparks of camaraderie and frivolity that liven up the deadening moments among the humans.

"We've learned Earth languages through the World Wide Web," Optimus Prime tells Sam.

Not so silly, really, considering the opening credits for the studios and production companies behind "Transformers" include the plug, "In association with Hasbro."

First, comic-book publishers took over Hollywood. Now it's the toy makers. Killer robots from space don't sound so terrifying, next to that.

"Transformers," released by DreamWorks and Paramount, is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action violence, brief sexual humor and language. Running time: 144 minutes. Two stars out of four.
i hope you like it better than this reviewer
ender7074

join:2006-11-21
Saint Louis, MO
·AT&T Southeast
·Charter Pipeline

Re: Transformers

Yah I read that review too. He seems to be about the only person doggin it right now.

»www.rottentomatoes.com/m/transfo···e_movie/

Must not be a Transformers fan...

58483323
Gurt me

join:2003-06-23
Normal, IL

Fever for Apple iPhone runs tepid Today's the day, so where

»www.suburbanchicagonews.com/news···.article

Local Paper

With less than 12 hours until the vaunted iPhone was to be unleashed on a waiting world, the sign posted outside the AT&T store on Grand Avenue Thursday night was more about anticipation than reality.

"iPhone Line Begins Here. Thank You."

Number of people in line as of 9:15 p.m. -- two. But they were a dedicated pair, having set up Eddie Bauer camp chairs and parked their car a few feet away for even more comfort.

» Click to enlarge image

Michael Schmidt ? mschmidt@scn1.com Unlike many outlets around the country, the AT&T store at 7075 Grand Ave. in Gurnee had no one waiting in line at noon Thursday to get an Apple iPhone.

» Click to enlarge image

"I can't wait to try it out," said Brad Lehigh of Wildwood, who was set to receive an iPhone from his mother, Fran, as an early and combined birthday and Christmas present.
While the Steve Jobs crowd has raved for months about the bells and whistles on the new $600 must-have device, Lehigh said he has a practical need for the world's first cellular phone with a touch-screen interface.

"One of my reasons for wanting it is I'm handicapped and have trouble using my hands," he said. "Since it has a touch-screen, I'm not going to have any problem using it ... Over the years, every cell phone I've had, the buttons are too small or just don't work for me at all. I had one phone that had one button with three functions, and I couldn't use it."

This in mind, Lehigh said his interest was spiked when he read about the iPhone.

"My last phone broke last year, so it was time for me to get a new one (and) I read about this one three months ago. I said, 'I'll wait and see what it does.' When I head about the glass touch-screen, I decided to get it."

Lehigh and his mother arrived at the Grand Avenue store around 5:30 p.m. and were planning to spend the night mostly in their sedan. They said other prospective line-participants had wandered by, but decided to come back later after seeing the low turnout.

The Gurnee store was planning to follow the same plan of action as other AT&T outlets today -- shut down at around 4:30 p.m. and reopen within 90 minutes for iPhone sales exclusively.

"The revolutionary iPhone (will) be launching at 6 p.m. on Friday," said an automated message on the store's direct line late Thursday. "We hope you visit us to share in the excitement."

While that invitation had yet to produce the lines seen along Grand Avenue just last fall for the latest in video game technology, Friday morning and afternoon might produce the "extraordinary demand" predicted by that outgoing message.

inteller
Sociopaths always win.

join:2003-12-08
Tulsa, OK

Re: Fever for Apple iPhone runs tepid Today's the day, so where

there is nothing revolutionary about a 8Gb storage device running on a 2.5G network. this is yesterday's junk.

58483323
Gurt me

join:2003-06-23
Normal, IL

1 edit

Re: Fever for Apple iPhone runs tepid Today's the day, so where

I agree. They're charging a revolutionary price ($500-600) for something that many phones can already do.

Hold up... this thing doesn't have IM?!

brooklynman4

join:2004-09-07
Brooklyn, NY

Get ready??

Does it come with low jack?? if not get ready for them big eyes out there.

Mike
Premium,Mod
join:2000-09-17
Pittsburgh, PA
clubs:

Re: Fever for Apple iPhone runs tepid Today's the day, so where

nope. apple didn't port ichat to ichat mobile.

hayabusa3303
Over 200 mph
Premium
join:2005-06-29
clubs:
·QuantumVoice
·AT&T Southeast
·RoadRunner Cable

Cell phone EH?

With all this bs about the iphone, what good it is when your say out in the sticks? Still need youtube then?

IMO: nice flashy but really the network its on blows. I have a better idea than any cell phone.
»www.iridium.com/ and »www.globalstar.com/

When you can beat those two in coverage wake me up till then im going back to sleep now.
Forums » AT&T, Apple Brush Off EDGE/iPhone Concerns


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