iPhone Data to be Boosted by AT&T's Operation "Fine Edge"

[Rocco Augusto]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/exclusive/iphone-data-to-be-boosted-by-atts-operation-fine-edge-265867.php' target='_blank'>http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/exclusive/iphone-data-to-be-boosted-by-atts-operation-fine-edge-265867.php</a><br /><br /></div><i>"An AT&amp;T employee who works on Operations tells us that the carrier ordered a last-minute beefing up of its EDGE throughput, latency and coverage in anticipation of the iPhone. The operation, internally referenced as "Fine Edge" will continue until June 15th, and has been going on for as many as 6 weeks. EDGE is slow, but at least at AT&amp;T, the implementation isn't limited by the protocol itself. Rather, the limiting factor is, according to our source, the data backend and the way the towers are configured to allocate bandwidth to data and calls. And according to an internal doc, they're dropping in more T-1s in their poorest performing towers, hoping to get that paltry 40kbps performance to a new minimum of 80kpbs. (EDGE's real world max is about 200kbps.) That's still painfully slow, but we're not ones to look a gift WWAN upgrade in the mouth."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/augusto-20070607-attwireless.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/><br /><br />Sometimes I sit around and wonder why certain companies maker certain decisions. Today, I'm sitting around and wondering what the heck AT&amp;T Wireless (formerly Cingular Wireless) is thinking! First they decided to sign a 5 year exclusive deal with Apple for the rights to sell the Apple iPhone on their networks, a phone in which they are not even able to sell extra batteries for. Lithium Ion batteries were the third top selling category for accessories in my store when I worked for Cingular and since you're losing a good chunk of money on each handset sold, accessories are the real bread and butter for most wireless retailers. On top of that, they take valuable resources to tweak and rebuild their dying EDGE network instead of focusing on their expanding 3G network. Seriously, I need to know, why in the world are we moving backwards instead of moving forward?! If I was in charge, instead of focusing on our slower speed data network, I would have just told Apple to stop being a bunch of cheapskates and add UMTS/HSDPA connectivity to the device. Problem solved. <br /><br />The good news is, all existing customers with EDGE compatible devices should notice the speed increase on their handsets as well. So not all is lost! :)

[hotdram]

Sometimes I sit around and wonder why certain companies make certain decisions.

Unfortunately dumb decision making seems to be the norm of many companies, common sense has all but been abandoned. For an intersting yarn, read Lee Iacocca's new book "Where Have all the Leaders Gone? "

On the plus side, I get Edge service about 99% and 3G about 1% of the time inside my house, so this might be a good thing :D
~Rob

[onlydarksets]

Nicely played, AT&amp;T. Almost as smart as choosing the "AT&amp;T" brand over "Cingular".

[Rocco Augusto]

Nicely played, AT&amp;T. Almost as smart as choosing the "AT&amp;T" brand over "Cingular".

I do like the AT&amp;T globe, I just miss Jack and the Cingular name... but hey, whats a few billion dollars in advertising just to kill a name a few years later?

[SteveHoward999]

On top of that, they take valuable resources to tweak and rebuild their dying EDGE network instead of focusing on their expanding 3G network. Seriously, I need to know, why in the world are we moving backwards instead of moving forward?!

Maybe it's not as dumb as you think. It's going to be quite some time before all their customers move to 3G. They probably figure they are going to get more customer satisfaction over the next 2 years through upgrading the EDGE speed than broadening the 3G rollout.

Just guessing ...

[Janak Parekh]

Maybe it's not as dumb as you think. It's going to be quite some time before all their customers move to 3G. They probably figure they are going to get more customer satisfaction over the next 2 years through upgrading the EDGE speed than broadening the 3G rollout.
That's one part. The other part I heard is that Apple stuck with EDGE for battery life. &lt;shrug> I guess we'll find out how the public receives it.

--janak

[hashemc]

It's my understanding that the battery isn't able to be replaced by the user. If this is correct what happens when the battery craps out?! Are you supposed to send your phone off and wait until the battery is replaced?

[hotdram]

It's my understanding that the battery isn't able to be replaced by the user. If this is correct what happens when the battery craps out?! Are you supposed to send your phone off and wait until the battery is replaced?

No, no, no. You are supposed to rush out and buy a brand new iPhone.

Planned obsolescence :)
~Rob

[Rocco Augusto]

Maybe it's not as dumb as you think. It's going to be quite some time before all their customers move to 3G. They probably figure they are going to get more customer satisfaction over the next 2 years through upgrading the EDGE speed than broadening the 3G rollout.

Just guessing ...

Nope, I'm going with 'dumb' on this move. Six months before Cingular launced 3G services in the first batch of 17 cities they had to stall deployment of 3G towers to "fix and tweak" their EDGE network. They did so for the same reasons they stated here, at least thats what they said in the memo we were handed. This was less than two years ago and I can't imagine what has happened in the past two years that made them decide to go back and fix it again.

If you're not going to do something right the first time or even the second time, it's safe to say you shouldn't be doing it at all ;) :lol:

[Rocco Augusto]

That's one part. The other part I heard is that Apple stuck with EDGE for battery life. &lt;shrug> I guess we'll find out how the public receives it.

--janak

Doesn't the iPhone have WiFi built in? If so, isn't WiFi as power hungry as UMTS/HSDPA if not more power hungry? I don't get it :(

[Janak Parekh]

Doesn't the iPhone have WiFi built in? If so, isn't WiFi as power hungry as UMTS/HSDPA if not more power hungry? I don't get it :(
Presumably, though, WiFi can be turned off. &lt;shrug> I didn't mean to say I had the reason.

--janak

[michaelp]

It's my understanding that the battery isn't able to be replaced by the user. If this is correct what happens when the battery craps out?! Are you supposed to send your phone off and wait until the battery is replaced?

Don't worry. Just remember how great the life of the iPod batteries are. Scratch that, you'll just need to get a new iPhone after a year.

Presumably, though, WiFi can be turned off. &lt;shrug> I didn't mean to say I had the reason.

Yeah, WiFi can be controlled, whereas the iPhone may not offer the ability to turn off the 3G radio when not using it. Still, I would definately take 3G and daily recharges over EDGE and better battery life.

[Janak Parekh]

Don't worry. Just remember how great the life of the iPod batteries are. Scratch that, you'll just need to get a new iPhone after a year.
Not necessarily; most iPod batteries last 2+ years, based on lots of anecdotal evidence. That said, I'm guessing that those who need removable batteries will not opt for the iPhone, unless Apple surprises us.

--janak

[dd-mj]

I have to admit that even though my Samsung Blackjack has a great 3G connection here in San Jose, I still use the Edge setting to save my battery life.

I find email connectivity is plenty fast enough with edge. what I do wish is that I could set my Blackjack to automatically switch back to 3G when I am actively web browsing, then throttle back when I am done.

Again it is about battery life. It is easy enough for me to toggle between the two speed settings.

[cgron]

Here in Los Angeles the Cingular data network can be very flakey depending on where you are. As another commentator mentioned, EDGE coverage is much more common than 3G, which flickers on and off almost randomly.

Overall, I suspect improvements to the backhaul at the cell towers will benefit 3G as well as EDGE. On a tower supporting both standards the increased bandwidth helps them both (doubt they have separate T1s). When the EDGE towers eventually upgrade to 3G the better backhaul will be ready. In other words, I would not be surprised if the internet side of even the new 3G supporting towers is limited.