AT&T touts 20% boost in 3G data speeds

It looks like AT&T is getting a bit more generous these days, with the company now following up its supposed plans to offer free WiFi to LaptopConnect and smartphone users with a promised 20% boost in 3G data speeds. That translates to "typical" downlink speeds of between 700 Kbps and 1.7 Mbps (up from 600 Kbps to 1.4 Mbps), and uplink speeds of between 500 Kbps and 1.2 Mbps (formerly 500 to 800 Kbps). To get those slightly improved speeds, however, you'll have to use one of the company's aforementioned LaptopConnect cards, and no doubt situate yourself in some prime signal real estate. What's more, AT&T says those speeds are only a taste of things to come, with it promising that peak data speeds will eventually reach 20 Mbps as it switches over to HSPA+ between 2009 and 2010.

[Via Gear Diary]

[Splunkster @ Jun 4th 2008 12:52PM]

Just in time for the 3G iPhone!

/ducks for cover

[AJ @ Jun 4th 2008 1:28PM]

**hits Splunkster in the head with a LaptopConnect card**

[Mike10010100 @ Jun 4th 2008 2:10PM]

I'm curious to know what the dowload and upload speeds are for things like the EVDO Rev A of Sprint. It would be nice if someone would make a list of the most updated specs for wireless throughput.

Also, that list of CPU benchmarks would be nice as well.

Thanks to anyone who has an idea.

[heffeque @ Jun 4th 2008 8:01PM]

I wonder why the cellphone data speeds are so slow in the US compared to Japan and Europe. I guess that since most people in the US drive to work instead of going by train, subway, bus or walking... people don't really have the need to use them as much I guess. And yes, I said by subway. A lot of cities have cellphone coverage underground too.

[loosely_coupled @ Jun 4th 2008 10:48PM]

@Mike

go look at dslreports.com (and NO, the site is NOT just about DSL)

[loosely_coupled @ Jun 4th 2008 11:03PM]

@Mike

There was a recent study put out that compared their speeds in a few areas. Basically, the conclusion was that if you can get AT&T 3G service, it is almost always going to be faster than Verizon EV-DO, and Sprint is slower than both. I believe it was around 30% faster for both upload and download than Verizon's network.
I m trying to find the link right now... Ill post it here when I locate it.

On the other hand, Verizon does have a much larger suburban and rural coverage area, although AT&T has speed up their 3G rollout for the last few years and should eventually come pretty close to Verizon in the end.

[catachip @ Jun 4th 2008 12:56PM]

No doubt Apple rushed them to get this out before the 3G iPhone release on Monday. Exciting times for us iPhone users (and prospective users).

[SeditioN VII @ Jun 4th 2008 1:08PM]

In Phoenix at&t's laptop card is already the fastest around. I purchased a VZW EVDO rev a card, at&t card and the sprint one all at the same time and compared them for about two weeks. The most impressive thing was that the at&t card had a CRAZY upload of over 2mbps on average. Almost three times the download. Nuts.

[iEye @ Jun 4th 2008 1:15PM]

Wow, just wow... there must be something big in the AT&T pipelines that could warrant such a MULTI release of REVOLUTIONARY services...

Anyone care to TOUCH on the subject?

[Phoenix @ Jun 4th 2008 1:33PM]

1) go to hell
2) I fail to see how they are launching multiple services, just a speed increase, still behind Britain etc...
3) see above, I fail to see how it's revolutionary. It's still behind other countries.
4) did I mention that you should go to hell?

[DWells55 @ Jun 4th 2008 1:33PM]

Why isn't this idiot banned yet?

[p3t3b2 @ Jun 4th 2008 1:51PM]

Wait a minute, I thought ATT was to have HSPA at the launch of the new iphone... All the people who called BS on that other article were correct in saying ATT wouldn't have HSPA until 2009/2010 (2010 more likely). I still question 20Mbps since the test conducted were location specific "LABORATORY" test!

There is no way ATT handsets will get 20Mbps on HSPA, especially since their network is over utilized at it is. I still say the new iphone will have 3G-Edge at a slightly faster speed than what Edge is on 2G.

This comment from the article puzzles me; "That translates to "typical" downlink speeds of between 700 Kbps and 1.7 Mbps (up from 600 Kbps to 1.4 Mbps), and uplink speeds of between 500 Kbps and 1.2 Mbps (formerly 500 to 800 Kbps)." -How is ATT going to achieve those speeds solely on 3G? 3G is a faster wireless access, example Sprint and Verizon have 3G but their data uses EVDO.

[ChillyCat @ Jun 4th 2008 2:41PM]

Please..... someone BAN this ass-wipe

[p3t3b2 @ Jun 4th 2008 3:03PM]

For what, stating the facts?... You haven't contributed anything other than an insult!

[Phoenix @ Jun 4th 2008 3:15PM]

He didn't state facts, he just spouts iPhone propaganda in articles which have very little (or nothing, but not in this case) to do with the iPhone. And the fact he seemed to be trying to be subtle... it's not funny. it doesn't win the iPhone any supporters.

[p3t3b2 @ Jun 4th 2008 3:36PM]

Scratch my last comment, I mistaken thought ChillyCat's comment was directed at me.

[Brad Fisher @ Jun 4th 2008 1:20PM]

They also seem to be introducing 3G into more cities as we type. 3G just got official today in Springfield, MO.

[Galley @ Jun 4th 2008 3:22PM]

Add Greenville, SC to that list.

[sprint employee @ Jun 4th 2008 1:21PM]

iEye = uber troll...

Am I the only one in this god forsaken world of technology that hasn't ever experienced 3G GSM? I live in the boondocks and AT&T is rampant here... with EDGE.....

[matt @ Jun 4th 2008 1:51PM]

No, GSM 3G is based on WCDMA and requires a lot of very expensive spectrum, thus will only ever exist in large markets. You'll have to wait for LTE and 4G before most Americans will ever see any decent data service from AT&T

Personally, I find these AT&T services update posts laughable. I've been consistently getting 700 Kbps - 1Mbps downstream on my Rev 0 EVDO phone for 2 years now and coverage is pretty much everywhere (and I live in bumble f%@#). I just flashed the radio on my phone to Rev A and now I get over 1 Mbps rather frequently. So yeah, good job to AT&T for being two years behind everyone else.

[michas_pi @ Jun 4th 2008 1:58PM]

No, you're not the only one. Some parts of Cleveland and its suburbs are have terrible 3G signal strength but very good EDGE/GPRS signal strength.

I'm in my house right now and my RAZR V3xx is having a hard time deciding whether to use EDGE or 3G, even though there is a fucking AT&T-owned tower a mile from my house.

[GreatSunJester @ Jun 4th 2008 1:22PM]

Speed aside, what is the latency like?

[bob cobb @ Jun 4th 2008 6:17PM]

If the iPhone is priced right ATT is going to have a TON of new customers this month

[digitallysick @ Jun 4th 2008 1:44PM]

Check the att 3G coverage map and you will be highly disappointed, half the country doesn't need a 3G iphone because only a handful of cities are supported so whats the point.

[jj @ Jun 4th 2008 2:15PM]

seems to have been a down graded for me...
had decent 3G in NY, now in the 3G / Edge bouncing game, with my battery draining twice as fast.
great upgrade? more like a shell game...
perhaps the AT&T office building got an improvement at everyone else's expense... and perhaps an Apple showroom or two...

[Neeko @ Jun 4th 2008 2:17PM]

NO IPHONE BASHING HERE.

So basically the biggest problem with iphone 1.0 was the EDGE services. Now for version 2.0 everyones safely assumes 3G will be avail....BUT like most of us know At&T doesnt even have 3G avail in half the country..SO WTF. WHAT happenes when everyone decides to upgrade their 1.0 IPHONE to the new one just to find out u paid for some new software basically.

Unless APPLE is being really shy about giving details cause its soo HUGE and they love the HYPE. Or there really isn't anything to get excited about and AT&T dropped the ball and didn't get their 3G service up and running fast enough.

No I am NOT a APPLE hater. I can appreciate the technology in the IPHONE.. You would be dumb to deny that. But without a good service it doesnt matter what kind of phone you have.. Esp if your buying a overpriced media machine phone which is crippled on the SLOWEST 3G DATA NETWORK AVAIL.

[p3t3b2 @ Jun 4th 2008 2:27PM]

Just think about the mass of iphone 1.0 owners who are sadly misinformed, they actually think they will have 3G with the 2.0 software update. Not realizing 3G is the radio.

[Splunkster @ Jun 4th 2008 3:05PM]

I haven't met anyone who thinks they will get 3G with the 2.0 update.

[p3t3b2 @ Jun 4th 2008 3:42PM]

I have co-workers who were actually told by ATT in store EMPLOYEES that the software update will include 3G and that current iphone owners can benefit form it.

[Phoenix @ Jun 4th 2008 4:16PM]

What the shit... I'm not sue-trigger-happy like some Americans (not all of them!) but if I was told that by an employee of a shop, I would sue the shop for telling me that and having incompetent employees. I'm 15 and I seem to know more than the people in a lot of phone/pc shops

[conor @ Jun 4th 2008 3:03PM]

Just in time for VZWs LTE roll out!

[morrowsnow16 @ Jun 4th 2008 9:27PM]

20 mbps? Really? I'm more than satisfied with 10 mbps cable and I don't see wireless getting there soon.

[Darrin DeTorres @ Jun 12th 2008 11:37AM]

i know the DL speeds of Rev A peak at 3.1Mbs

[pal @ Jun 21st 2008 5:15AM]

Yeah, the truth is Verizon's (and Sprint's) data is the fastest in the US. Any tests that say ATT is faster than Verizon or Sprint have been for surfing over data cards on their pc's, not using phones. And still probably suspect. Look, if you calculate '2.4% faster than edge', that's averaging in the 350-500ish K's. A few Apple reps even admitted this at a few different Apple stores. Verizon (and Sprint)'s phones easily hum at constant 720+k's, and usually over DSL reports, real tests rarely show under 1.5 mbps. So, sorry, even though I'm a major Mac fan, this 3G iphone hype is going to be only that. BUT, hey, much better than Edge! Just, once again, too bad there's not also a cdma version. the debate's been over long ago, cdma currently pretty much rocks speed and quality over anything else, unfortunately just not worldwide accessibility. it's just too proprietary (qualcomm).