Is your hometown iPhone 3G ready?

In Puerto Rico we also have, Mayaguez and Hormigueros covered from the west area… most of Cabo Rojo is also covered! Why are these places (among much others) not on that list… and more importantly… if we have AT&T and Apple here… how come the iPhone is not making its way to Puerto Rico? When it was first announced it was said that it was coming! Confirmed by Jobs and the Apple website… along with information from AT&T and other News Paper articles (Caribbean Business, etc). What made them change their minds? Is Apple leaving Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands out again? Why? When? I know the economy is NOT at it’s best… but if you are going global… why not start in your own backyard? Why?

It’s articles like this that drive the ignorance of technology in the USA such as the Ace Wireless phone store in Gardena, CA that claims and will bet money (but not pay up) that AT&T has no 3G voice because the 3G isn’t voice, and 3G isn’t WCDMA.

3G IS WCDMA is UMTS is HSPDA that encompasses VOICE AND DATA. There is no dual-mode usage of GSM GPRS/EDGE data and 3G voice, nor 3G voice and 2G data. It is a one spectrum technology that performs both at the SAME TIME and is the major technological advantage over Sprint’s/Verizon’s CDMA-EVDO where the DO means Data-Only.

It’s much like claiming the optical outputs from your receiver carry electrical analog audio!

The major issue is even MOST AT&T customer representatives do not understand this either and automatically assume if you talk about WCDMA, it has to be Sprint’s/Verizon’s network, and then hang up on you.

Now back to the point topic, from my experience in the SoCal area, actual 3G coverage is pretty wide-spread if you’re either in a metropolitan area, or in a flat valley area (Riverside). However, definitely NOT in hilly points such as mountains north of Irvine, hilly routes of the 101 in LA, nor the underground subway system (unlike the rest of the world).

Where did this city list come from? It lists Pullman, WA but if you go to AT&T’s page listed in the article, it is NOT 3G!

ex ped: It came from AT&T’s list of cities covered.

This doesn’t seem to be complete either. I had 3G on AT&T in Myrtle Beach, but it’s not listed for SC.

Whoever wrote this article, as well as Scott McNulty of TUAW, is making the public more stupid. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VOICE AND DATA 3G. In fact, I have not a clue what 3G voice is! 3G coverage is 3G coverage, and that’s it! Unless AT&T has started using VoIP over its data network, there is no such thing as 3G voice. Wow.

ex ped: The confusion stems from AT&T’s coverage tools, which offers two sets of 3G maps, one for voice, the other for data.

Yuki of Pinehurst (7/5/08 at 7:59) - I would agree with your statement about the iPhone not being as good etc if you had instead phrased it as “I don’t like the iPhone as other people seem to based on what I’ve read and heard”. Saying it is not as good as others say is like telling the vast majority of iPhone users that they are full of it. Because you have not doubt noticed that iPhone satisfaction has blown away all prior satisfaction of nearly every consumer product ever made that has had a satisfaction survey. On the other had I fully agree with you about the next release because if there is any one thing that seems to be true in technlogy, ex=specially as Apple seems to have it wired, that would be that the next release of anything seems to be a significant improvement. Perhaps when that happens, it would be a good time for you to reflect on all that doesn’t measure up to your standard and then find more reasons to dis it.

I have been using cell phones for many many years for personal and business use both here and in Australia and I can say that while there are aspects to the iPhone that I too would like to see different, implemented or improved upon, there is no question that for me at least it has raised the bar far beyond anything in this sort of technology that I ever imagined.

personally the iphone isnt as good as people say it is. It has no mobile tv like many smart phones now. this is because apple is notorious for finding ways to attach hidden fees for their products, like they want you to buy the shows for $2.00 a pop. It also has no Picture MMS. and the iphone has no replaceable batteries as with most all apple products. and honestly i think it is best to wait before buying the new iphone because watch, by christmas time rols around apple is going to realse yet another iphone.

Whatever you do, don’t buy a BlackBerry. My trackball wheel is CONSTANTLY sticking, making it unusable at the worst times. It is a universal problem. Here is one of the many links http://www.blackberryinsight.com/2007/06/13/how-to-clean-your-blackberrys-trackball Buy an iPhone, buy a Palm, buy anything than a BlackBerry. You will be in hell (and btw, I have been a BB user for years)

Roy Said “90% of the population of the US would be served by 3G. 98% by next year.”

While that is possible that is not really the whole truth. 90% of the population may have 3G in the area they live and/or work but travel just a few miles east - west - north or south and you get EDGE or none at all. So yea it may be nice for a large part of the population as long as they don’t travel too far from a major population center.

BTW yes I am an AT&T customer - no I don’t have an iPhone - yes I uses Macs - my area is EDGE only and 4G will be old news before we get 3G

any argument that 3G isn’t worth it because it’s not available everywhere on the date of iPhone release is hilarious. do you think new networks get turned up nationally overnight? amazing that anyone would think that capitalism isn’t driving roll-out locations and schedules. if a few extra shillings a month are too much to trade-off for your time waiting for downloads, then save your money and buy a box of Cracker Jacks. sorry, but technology doesn’t get held up until we are absolutely sure that every person in Montana has the exact same access as the guy in midtown. don’t like it, then friggin’ move. if you like the slower life in the country, then the slower downloads should fit right in with that lifestyle.

The iPhone is more than just a phone. That will become readily apparent a week from now. I could use my iTouch for the new programs and my existing phone for calls and such, but then I’d need to carry around both. The iPhone lets me integrate the two into a single appliance. The iPhone is also a better system for accessing the web than the iTouch.

As regards 3G, it’ll be nice to have it where it’s available, and acceptable to be able to operate where it’s not.

Finally, for my wife, one of the main features will be the GPS capability.

The point is, keeping your old phone means giving up other things as well, even without a local 3G setup.

Cupertino and tons of the bay area cities are covered. They didn’t list all the cities covered in the text version, so going to the coverage viewer on their site and clicking on one of the cities nearby will give you a clear picture.

The only cities that don’t seem to be covered fully are: burlingame, half moon bay, maybe belmont, and stuff to the south like Boulder Creek, Morgan Hill, and to the east past Livermore.

Check out: http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer
Where it says “View 3G/Mobile Broadband coverage (in select areas)”, click that and then choose a city from the list. If you click Data, you’ll see how widespread the 3G service is now (in the bay area), and the edge network spreads out past that. You’ll get a much more accurate picture for your specific area, don’t trust the text listing completely.

I’m surprised the city of Cupertino (Apple’s headquarters) is not covered. All the neighboring cities in the Bay Area have 3G coverage.

ex ped: According to AT&T’s mapping tools, Cupertino is covered. You have to do a lot of zooming and recentering to see it, but except for the top of Stevens Canyon Road, Cupertino is all deep blue.

Wow Down Under in Australia the Top 3 Carriers have Mobile Coverage in all the State Capitals & over 150 Regional Markets all on HSPA+ networks same as AT&T Wireless. Data travels @ 7.2Mbits & it be 20Mbits by mid 2009 & 50Mbits by 2010,so America might take note with the lead on that. The iPhone,Blackberry Bold & HTC Diamond will kick on in Australia.

E: mavenglobal@gmail.com

There should be ZERO distinction between AT&T’s 3G voice and data coverage area. They are the same.

AT&T uses HSPA/WCDMA (UMTS) technology that utilizes voice and data transmission simultaneously unlike its older network where the distinction was obvious.

AT&T unfortunately has a long way to go to reach the 3G breadth of Verizon and Sprint. It’s quite obvious to me that their only incentive to upgrade their network was for the iPhone period. They upgraded their EDGE network prior to the 2G iPhone and now they’re in a rush to deploy 3G. What kind of network planning is that? On the fly? Really sad.

AT & T’s 3G network is relatively new and it is going to take years for them to build it out. I’m just glad they are finally doing it. I’ll pay the extra and enjoy the service wherever it’s available.

May I whine? Some of us who are US citizens cannot participate in the iphone 3G , Edge or by telegraph. Apple and AT&T will not even let us buy one. That said I suppose we are a little tougher than big city folk and at least don’t have to sit in a traffic jam and surf the web because were bored. signed NO IPHONE FOR YOU in Montana.

I am a current att customer that upgraded to a non-iphone in feb-2008. I am not able to get upgrade pricing until july-2009. How can they say some people can upgrade in 3 months and others can upgrade in over 12 months.

Basically they can say it will cost one person this much and it will cost you this other amount. Their upgrade pricing policy is based on some shady practices.

Also, if i wantd to get a new iphone this month it will cost me $399 AND I have to sign up for another 2 years instead of just continuing the contract of an additional 2 years I did when I got the other phone in feb 08. Their policies blow.

90% of the population of the US would be served by 3G. 98% by next year.

All of those maps are horrible. The names of the states need to be left off the maps, the state names obscure far too much important visual information and don’t help in the least. If you are some idiot who can look at a map of the US and still not know which state is yours you do not deserve a smart phone . . . it won’t make you smarter. Take the state names off the maps and you will see more.

you must realize that there is still half of the united states population that would like a new iPhone but won’t benefit from 3g service. Improved speakers and longer battery life would be great. There should be an option on having 3g service or not. Until that happens or 3g gets a 30% increase in size I’ll stick it out without the new iPhone.

Now back to roadhouse on VHS

I agree with delaying jumping on the 3G iPhone. I live in an area that has a population of 200,000 (city and counties) and we only have EDGE still. The person who commented that the 3G is where people live must think that those of us in smaller cities just don’t count.

Well, golly, it looks like there is a massive coincidence at play here….3G coverage seems to be mostly limited to areas where there are PEOPLE. Which, surprisingly, is where iPhones will predominantly be. Shocking news. Anything to try and rain on the parade, eh? So let’s overlay with Verizon & Sprint 3G coverage maps and see if the massive coincidence is still in play…by jove, it appears to be a conspiracy! Apparently, these carriers are all trying to make money and are discriminating against iPhone-toting coyotes in the middle of nowhere. The audacity. Don’t upgrade to the new phone? Good idea….and how’s that VHS still working for you?

I think the main point of the map is that for the extra fee AT&T charges for 3G (and it’s worth noting that EDGE is not 3G) - large sections of the country won’t be able to take advantage of the 3G speeds.

This is because according to the maps that AT&T publishes those regions show no 3G data coverage.

The data map you’ve posted makes things seem a little better — until you back out the slower EDGE regions (light blue).

Then you are right back to where the original map starts - with not much deep blue (3G).

Point is — most people can upgrade their existing iPhone to version 2.0 of the iPhone software and get nearly all the features of the 3G iPhone — and if they aren’t in a 3G coverage area then their money is probably better saved until AT&T rolls out 3G in their region.

ex ped: Point well taken. I’ve added a sentence to try to make that clearer.