AT&T identifies Alcatel-Lucent as slow upload culprit, fix in the works

As we'd suspected, AT&T isn't intentionally limiting upload speeds on iPhone 4s in some markets where things suddenly got slow over the weekend. Or that's the company's claim, anyhow -- and seeing how they're actually calling out a supplier in the process, we tend to buy it. Specifically, AT&T says that some Alcatel-Lucent equipment (which isn't used in all markets) is causing uploads to fall back to non-HSUPA UMTS speeds "under certain conditions" affecting "less than two percent" of the company's customers, and that they're working on developing a fix. "Less than two percent" seems a bit optimistic, but regardless, at least it shouldn't be a permanent condition for anyone. Here's the full statement:

"AT&T and Alcatel-Lucent jointly identified a software defect -- triggered under certain conditions – that impacted uplink performance for Laptop Connect and smartphone customers using 3G HSUPA-capable wireless devices in markets with Alcatel-Lucent equipment. This impacts less than two percent of our wireless customer base. While Alcatel-Lucent develops the appropriate software fix, we are providing normal 3G uplink speeds and consistent performance for affected customers with HSUPA-capable devices."

[mikemanblah Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:05PM]

Finally, i can upload a whole photo album to facebook!

[MattsZ Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:09PM]

In 7 seconds

[Nanosman1994 Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:11PM]

@mikemanblah SPRINT IS BETTER !!!!

[JONNNathannn Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:15PM]

@okok only Apple Fanboys bought i

incorrect

and your username is beyond comprehension

[zsmorr Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:44PM]

@Nanosman1994
SKY IS BLUE!

[vjice Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:54PM]

@Nanosman1994 yes Sprint is much better!!!!

[iantolee Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:06PM]

goody!

[steel Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:43PM]

@iantolee

Seriously, does AT&T actually test their equipment anymore?

Apple, this is your chosen partner? Still?

[Jase Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:45PM]

@steel

birds of a feather flock together.

[ryuuzaki89 Posted Jul 7th 2010 1:01PM]

@steel it clearly says SOFTWARE.

[MrPacMan36 Posted Jul 7th 2010 2:15PM]

@ryuuzaki89

which Apple claims the problem is, so @Jase is right.

[SirNoDroin Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:06PM]

Why does this have anything to do with the iPhone4? Wouldn't "AT&T isn't intentionally limiting upload speeds on 3G HSUPA-capable wireless devices" be more accurate? Last time I checked, iphone4 isn't the only 3g phone with wifis on AT&T

[Aubrey Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:08PM]

@SirNoDroin
AT&Ts Statement was blanket... no mention of iPhone4 there... that's just the EngadgetTouch™ your seeing here.

[Chris Ziegler Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:10PM]

@SirNoDroin If you'd followed the backstory, you'd know that the iPhone 4 is how the issue got identified and called out.

[BigBeardsElite Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:15PM]

@SirNoDroin

Excellent post, my friend.

[Ziv Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:28PM]

@SirNoDroin 95% of 3G users on AT&T that care about upload speed use iPhone. this is why they wrote iphone

[Jase Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:46PM]

@Ziv

wouldn't those people still care just as much if it didn't say iPhone?

[REP Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:09PM]

AT&T....Your world....Shafted....

[MRCUR Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:09PM]

I don't like that AT&T's statement is in the past tense... This is still very much an issue for me.

[snugs Posted Jul 7th 2010 1:06PM]

That sucks. I just tested again and I'm at 4200/2250 with 121ms latency. That's up from last nights 480/65 with 4221 latency @2 AM.

[MRCUR Posted Jul 7th 2010 2:05PM]

@snugs - Just ran another test in Wyomissing, PA -

2,456Kb DOWN
96Kb UP

[dsgorham Posted Jul 7th 2010 7:58PM]

@snugs
I'm still at 1790/100 in Ann Arbor, MI

[milklee Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:11PM]

whatever, AT&T is just trying to cover up that some (it looks like a good portion of it) defective iPhone 4 cannot upload as fast as they should. Maybe this is due to the antenna again?

[MRCUR Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:12PM]

@milklee - Uh, nope.

[milklee Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:15PM]

@MRCUR

wow, apple fanboz are fast to defend their God phone. Trying too hard?

[Ninetysix Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:16PM]

@milklee You must have missed yesterday's comments where the non iPhone users experienced the same issue. Haters gonna hate.

[milklee Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:25PM]

@Ninetysix

How do you know that is not something iPhone 4 users made up? How about I tell you I also own an iPhone 4? How do you know if I am telling you the truth? I just think most of the iPhone 4 users must hate themselves (inside, but they love apple too much to express the anger out loud) for buying a phone without knowing anything about the phone, and they are trying to justify their actions right now. so yeah, hater gonna hate, and they are bleeding inside.

[MRCUR Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:31PM]

@milklee - I have a Nexus One you dope.

[Ninetysix Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:35PM]

@milklee Keep on telling yourself that :) No matter what people say, you'll never believe it.

[Canucker Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:40PM]

@milklee
How about sticking to the published facts? No need for conspiracy. The enhanced upload speeds were bogging down due to a network switching glitch. It's not as though this is unprecedented and just reveals inadequate testing by Alcatel-Lucent and AT&T. Can't really see how it makes any sense to blame the users.

[milklee Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:47PM]

@MRCUR

of course you have a Nexus One, because iPhone 4 cannot function as a phone. Normal people who need to call other people on the go will not use an iPhone. Why do you need to point that out? it is like telling me sky is blue.

[MRCUR Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:50PM]

@milklee - You really are insane. I pointed it out because you immediately called out AT&T for "covering up" iPhone 4 antenna issues with this Alcatel Lucent statement. You then claimed I was an Apple Fanboy because I responded to said original comment.

Go back under your rock.

[Ninetysix Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:50PM]

@milklee oh look an Android phone. Haters gonna hate :)

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/comment/4/2010/07/6a4a4d932e5c6ef93fdc22c80bff29c6/original.png

[milklee Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:51PM]

@Canucker

It just seems (at least to me) that all the problems iPhone 4 have are because of other people "not doing/holding the right way." There must be something going on (conspiracy?) when it is always other people's fault.

[milklee Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:52PM]

@Ninetysix

Photoshop? How hard it is to fake a screen shot?

[Ninetysix Posted Jul 7th 2010 1:01PM]

@milklee As easy as being downranked!

Screenshots here:

http://gizmodo.com/5580418/att-is-capping-upload-data-speeds

[milklee Posted Jul 7th 2010 1:01PM]

@MRCUR

Just because you have a Nexus One does not exclude you from being an Apple fanboz (fanboz need functional phone, too). Your first reply is only two words without any explanation. At least I bother to type out what I think instead of "apple sux."

[MRCUR Posted Jul 7th 2010 1:05PM]

@milklee - You really are absurd.

[milklee Posted Jul 7th 2010 1:07PM]

@Ninetysix

The problem is that, gizmodo is under apple's legal press so I don't trust them when they say non-bad things about apple. Engadget has too many apple fanboz so I don't believe them either. Unless I am also experience slow down on my phone. I don't believe that.

[milklee Posted Jul 7th 2010 1:21PM]

@MRCUR
oh, oh, I know, you are a closeted apple fanboz.
Is Nexus One your beard?

(I am sorry, but it is just too funny not to type it out. I hope you don't take this too seriously. It is just a joke)

[AJerman Posted Jul 7th 2010 1:26PM]

@milklee Wow, you really are delusional aren't you? I'm sure people photoshopped screenshots on Android phones when you were the only one that thought this was an iPhone issue and not an AT&T issue. They faked it all for you buddy! Try getting some fresh air once in a while my friend.

[seeloesix Posted Jul 7th 2010 1:30PM]

@milklee

I would normally never respond to someone of your low caliber....

but, your an idiot. (I feel better already).

You sound like Ahmadinejad denying the Holocaust. Because you didn't experience it, you don't believe it.

Open your eyes, Loser.

[milklee Posted Jul 7th 2010 1:36PM]

@AJerman

I guess you cannot read? I never said it is all for me. I am saying that there are people trying to create an illusion suggesting that the slow down is not iPhone's fault. I am sure AT&T has other HSUPA devices before iPhone 4 was released. Why this only happened when iPhone 4 is around? Why no one else is complaining before this?

[Valicore Posted Jul 7th 2010 1:38PM]

@milklee Uhhhh are you on the crack?

[milklee Posted Jul 7th 2010 1:39PM]

@seeloesix

wow, you bring out the Holocaust already? I have not even bring out "Steve Jobs = Hitler" yet. You beat me to it. I am too slow : (

[milklee Posted Jul 7th 2010 1:40PM]

@Valicore

no, just meth

[MRCUR Posted Jul 7th 2010 2:18PM]

@milklee - You are a dedicated Apple hater, that's for sure.

[Martin C Posted Jul 7th 2010 6:22PM]

I have emailed myself a link to all the comments you make. Entertainment is scarce sometimes.

[ThreeDee912 Posted Jul 8th 2010 12:33AM]

@milklee

lol. Obvious troll is obvious.

[dhamp2g Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:11PM]

Yeah yeah this is why I dropped my iPhone