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Giz Explains: What You Didn't Know About the iPhone's 3G
Posted by Matt Buchanan at 5:00 AM on June 12, 2008
Yeah, yeah, you get it: The new iPhone uses AT&T's best-in class (in NYC at least), 3G high-speed network, one that's getting faster and more spread out all the time. But there's a lot you probably didn't know about the technology involved: How fast can you really go on the thing? Why did AT&T feel the need to cap the iPhone's speed? If you want answers to these and other questions, you came to the right place.
AU: This is all very US-centric, but there are some interesting considerations that our own networks will have thought of with their release of the iPhone as well.
Hokay, the iPhone 3Gness makes browsing a whole 2.4x faster than EDGE in Apple's test. (One thing that we can't explain: Why did Apple choose lonelyplanet.com for its performance benchmarks?) The 3G goodness is real: We've been conducting our own testing of AT&T's HSDPA in the New York area (including suburbs) and it really is faster and more readily available than Verizon's EV-DO 3G network. 
But the iPhone 3G is rated for 1.4Mbps, a nice clip but not the 3.6Mbps downstream that AT&T's HSDPA is capable of. (The carrier loves to brag that it'll have 7.2Mbps by the end of the year.) So why not crank up the iPhone to those better data rates? Turns out, according to AT&T people we talked to, 1.4Mbps is the capped bandwidth for all mobile smartphones on the network for a few reasons.
(UPDATE: AT&T is saying they're not capping the phone at 1.4mbps, but that's what its capable of doing now, due to factors below. There's no difference except intent, and AT&T is careful around words like "Cap" these days.)
A major one is battery life--the faster you burn, the faster your battery dies, so going full steam at 3.6Mbps would cut you well short of that nice round five hours. A second one is cell site congestion and backhaul (carrier-speak for size of the wired dataline that connects cell sites to the actual telecom infrastructure). While everyone at AT&T, from the top down, is adamant that AT&T is "comfortable" with their ability to meet the huge data draw once 3G iPhones hit the streets, it's not like the pipe is unlimited.
AT&T wasn't able to give a breakdown as to how many of their towers have fiberoptic pipes as opposed to slower copper T-1 lines. Nor could they say how quickly they could add capacity to a site that is pummeling their demand expectations, since it varies from site to site. Ones in dense urban areas are loaded up with more backhaul and can handle more users than one closer to the edge of their 3G footprint. Still, generally speaking, more users on a site means more congestion, so if you're slurping from a site that's really slammed, it will be slower. As with all radio technologies, proximity also matters. (Hint: For the absolute fastest speeds, wait until 3am and then go sit right next to your favourite cell site.)
Something we missed, or you still wanna know? Send any questions about 3G, GPS, G-spots or anything else to tips@gizmodo.com, with "Giz Explains" in the subject line.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
Phil Pierotti
Posted June 12, 2008 11:38 AM
So this being the Gizmodo AU site, the question still burns brightly: Is this cap something hardwired/builtin to the iPhone itself (ie max speed of the 3G chip?) or purely a limitation being imposed by AT&T in the US.
Will us DownUnderItes see the same throughput Limitation here in the land of FullNationalCoverage at 14.4Mbps? Or will we see absolutely *godlike* speeds (with suitably satanic data charges, naturally)
ProSeven
Posted 4:29 AM 12/6/08
Jobs says that they've learned from the mistakes with the iphone 1. Well, I didn't see or read anything about custom ringtones or sms delivery reports or sending and receiving files via bluetooth. I am 100% sure that none of those features are going to be added to the new firmware. The only thing they have learned is to introduce penalties to those who don't activate their iphones 3g within 30 days after the purchase.
ProSeven
Kaiser-Machead's got LindsayJoy's cookies on the SuperDrive
Posted 4:27 AM 12/6/08
I'm curious to see how this thing fares on other networks when it gets jailbreaked(broken?).
Kaiser-Machead's got LindsayJoy's cookies on the SuperDrive
sorensilk
Posted 4:27 AM 12/6/08
The more I hear about the 3G iPhone, the more I think I might keep my 1.0 iPhone...
sorensilk
jwardell
Posted 4:27 AM 12/6/08
What gets me is they say two antennas, and then list four.
jwardell
Kaiser-Machead's got LindsayJoy's cookies on the SuperDrive
Posted 4:25 AM 12/6/08
@Kaiser-Machead's got LindsayJoy's cookies on the SuperDrive: sorry, there will be NO juice to produce. Damn
Kaiser-Machead's got LindsayJoy's cookies on the SuperDrive
rockstar
Posted 4:24 AM 12/6/08
Matt, do you write for Wiki also. You always write the most informative articles. Thanks for the info.
Off the subject: if I unlock it, will I lose my 3G capabilities? Since the other GSM network, Mr. T(mobile).in the US will be on a different 3G band eventually.
rockstar
Kaiser-Machead's got LindsayJoy's cookies on the SuperDrive
Posted 4:22 AM 12/6/08
@GeekyNerdGuy: Hoping to avoid being graphic, I'm pretty sure a stripper is not turned on by a bunch of casual gawkers that want to shove money into their panties. So needless to say, there will be "juice" to produce.
Kaiser-Machead's got LindsayJoy's cookies on the SuperDrive
Kaiser-Machead's got LindsayJoy's cookies on the SuperDrive
Posted 4:18 AM 12/6/08
@soggy_cheerio: That's where all of our minds are. It's just a matter of how we act so that it doesn't get us in trouble.
Kaiser-Machead's got LindsayJoy's cookies on the SuperDrive
GizmoTheGremlin
Posted 4:16 AM 12/6/08
But how quickly can it download a Crysis iso? No seriously, does this mean that the current weak 3G speed is a network limitation and not a device limitation? i.e.- as the network improves in future,the iPhone's 3G speeds will go along with it? Not really sure who i'm asking lol.
GizmoTheGremlin
kittenman
Posted 4:16 AM 12/6/08
oh ya, 7.2Mb? omggg, so i can ditch my Verizon DSL already?
kittenman
redrabbit
Posted 4:15 AM 12/6/08
Well thanks God, Nobody's gonna be getting fucking lost anymore. And you STILL had to pay all this money...
redrabbit
Chromeo
Posted 4:15 AM 12/6/08
@GeekyNerdGuy:
Lady Juice? Is that some sort of new Energy Drink?
Chromeo
GeekyNerdGuy
Posted 4:14 AM 12/6/08
You guys suck. Strip clubs, g-spots ... now I'm wondering what lady juice would do the touch screen if the stripper was to scroll through some webpages for me.
GeekyNerdGuy
nystreetfilms
Posted 4:12 AM 12/6/08
whats and iPhone?
nystreetfilms
Totorototoro
Posted 4:10 AM 12/6/08
Thanks for the clarification, matt. There has been a lot of mis-information about the iPhone's GPS/A-GPS. Based on a lot of comments I've read, a lot of people think the A-GPS is some weak version of GPS. But it sounds like it is better than just plain GPS.
Totorototoro
Chromeo
Posted 4:08 AM 12/6/08
Gracias Giz! More info is always appreciated!
Chromeo
ramman345
Posted 4:08 AM 12/6/08
Nice writeup! I was wondering about the 1.4Mbps performance - thought that was low for the demo.
ramman345
bobdobbs
Posted 4:07 AM 12/6/08
You forgot the whole laser-targeting interface to Skynet. Sure, it's "mostly" secure, but some Chinese hacker gets up on the wrong foot one day and kiss your asses goodbye, 3G iPhone users.
bobdobbs
soggy_cheerio
Posted 4:07 AM 12/6/08
@Kaiser-Machead's got LindsayJoy's cookies on the SuperDrive: Your mind is so far in the gutter right now, I'm afraid to ask if aGPS helps you find ass.
soggy_cheerio
weatherman
Posted 4:07 AM 12/6/08
OKAY OKAY! I give! All this coverage (and coverage about coverage) has finally convinced me! I'll get one already!
weatherman
Kaiser-Machead's got LindsayJoy's cookies on the SuperDrive
Posted 4:04 AM 12/6/08
Sorry, but I already have sources on this site where I can ask about G spots. But good to know you're willing to contribute.
Kaiser-Machead's got LindsayJoy's cookies on the SuperDrive
behavin
Posted 5:29 AM 12/6/08
@ProSeven: I'm curious as to what these "penalties" might be, nd how they can even apply penalties to a product once it's already purchased. Short of sending a bunch of goons to my house to break my kneecaps and force me to sign a contract, I'm not seeing what they can do.
Also, according to some of the other commenters here, the 3G iPhone won't be compatible with the 3G network T-mobile is rolling out here in the states (it's only tri-band, not quad). That might just be the deciding factor for me, at least for this iteration.
behavin
pdditty
Posted 5:27 AM 12/6/08
@sorensilk: why is that?
pdditty
praevalesco
Posted 5:26 AM 12/6/08
how quick will Apple and AT&T crap their pants with the utorrent iPhone client hits the app store vetting process? Guesses, anyone?
praevalesco
Fermo
Posted 5:26 AM 12/6/08
@walkerdarin2003:
If you mean bluetooth tethering, then no because the bluetooth only allows a headset.
Fermo
praevalesco
Posted 5:24 AM 12/6/08
Until I can download movie ISO's on my iPhone its a no go. Screw that lame ass speed cap.
praevalesco
itchytooth
Posted 5:24 AM 12/6/08
@Kaiser-Machead's got LindsayJoy's cookies on the SuperDrive: jailbaroque
itchytooth
GeekyNerdGuy
Posted 5:23 AM 12/6/08
@Chromeo: Shhhhh ... you're not supposed to notice it's gone!
GeekyNerdGuy
Gizmo
Posted 5:23 AM 12/6/08
Can it be used as a modem?
Gizmo
GeekyNerdGuy
Posted 5:23 AM 12/6/08
@shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog: I seem to have that effect on the ladies ...
GeekyNerdGuy
Fermo
Posted 5:23 AM 12/6/08
What I would like to really see is a real world comparison of the 3G iPhone, the Nokia N95, and Treo 750 (UMTS) in a real world comparison loading webpages. Something tells me that Apple might have been using the latest bandwidth ratings for the iPhone and the old slower ones for the other phones. I had the Treo 750 and had the HSDPA enabled and was getting 800 Mbps download over one year ago with the old bandwidth, can someone do this as a real world test? Editors can you make this happen?
Fermo
walkerdarin2003
Posted 5:23 AM 12/6/08
My biggest concern is if I can actually tether my 3G iphone to my laptop. If the battery will degrade that quickly then I will connect it via sync cable.
walkerdarin2003
shiftyeyedgoat
Posted 5:22 AM 12/6/08
@Chromeo: behold!
shiftyeyedgoat
shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog
Posted 5:22 AM 12/6/08
@GeekyNerdGuy: I just threw up a little bit in my mouth.
shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog
Rabid Penguin
Posted 5:21 AM 12/6/08
People already know the iPhone can be worshiped, but did you know it can also make phone calls?
Rabid Penguin
Chromeo
Posted 5:21 AM 12/6/08
Bye bye GPS info?
Chromeo
Sottren
Posted 5:20 AM 12/6/08
@dcmidnight: MMS mate... Being anal I know...
Sottren
HJTravels
Posted 5:18 AM 12/6/08
Enough with the iPhone crap. I'm over it all already.
HJTravels
GeekyNerdGuy
Posted 5:16 AM 12/6/08
@Kaiser-Machead's got LindsayJoy's cookies on the SuperDrive: Yeah, but that's why we bought the iPhone. To get those ladies juicy.
Just don't get your face too close -- my friend caught pink eye.
GeekyNerdGuy
dcmidnight
Posted 5:10 AM 12/6/08
No SMS, no 32GB phone, no new bluetooth - and a "cheaper" phone. Oh wait, its $240 more every two years because of the data plan price increase. So more money and some real missing features.
Sigh.
(back into my windows mobile slum until iPhone 3.0)
dcmidnight
Kaiser-Machead's got LindsayJoy's cookies on the SuperDrive
Posted 5:09 AM 12/6/08
@ProSeven: What kind of penalties?
Kaiser-Machead's got LindsayJoy's cookies on the SuperDrive
ice2032
Posted 5:51 AM 12/6/08
Where did the GPS stuff go?
ice2032
Thrubeingcool
Posted 5:51 AM 12/6/08
It seemed disappointing at first, but in retrospect the 3G iPhone is a very good upgrade. Apple has never been into slapping on secondary features, like FM radio and voice recording on the iPods. Likewise they won't worry about things like a better camera on this. It's meant to be a mobile phone/media player/internet device, and it does those things ever better now.
Thrubeingcool
bspence
Posted 5:41 AM 12/6/08
@bspence: I mean, I hope I AM the first to write that...
bspence
bspence
Posted 5:40 AM 12/6/08
I hope I'm not the first to write this, but they used NationalGeographic.com, not LonelyPlanet.com. It's a fairly graphics intensive website, which is why they used it to show how slowly they old iPhone would load it.
bspence
92BuickLeSabre
Posted 5:38 AM 12/6/08
"wait until 3am and then go sit right next to your favorite cell site"
As with many users, that's already how I get most of my "best" surfing done, so this shouldn't ultimately be a problem.
92BuickLeSabre
shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog
Posted 5:36 AM 12/6/08
@GeekyNerdGuy: Hmm, there is just something about pink eye and the word juicy in the same post.
shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog
GizmoTheGremlin
Posted 5:35 AM 12/6/08
@Fermo: "I had the Treo 750 and had the HSDPA enabled and was getting 800 Mbps download over one year ago" 800Mbps?! really??
GizmoTheGremlin
ferrdidly
Posted 5:34 AM 12/6/08
Now for all the people that usually complain about the lack of quality or substance in Giz articles... shut up!
ferrdidly
MrBlahBlah
Posted 6:25 AM 12/6/08
does this mean that fewer peopele will be on the edge network, thus speeding it up for those of us who don't upgrade?
MrBlahBlah
gamecrazychris
Posted 6:12 AM 12/6/08
I just wish I could download songs over 3G but I'm not paying more than 99c per song.
gamecrazychris
drdamour
Posted 6:09 AM 12/6/08
Copper T-1's to a cell phone tower? how would that even be possible? That's only 1.544 Mbits. basically you'd need a T-1 per iphone.
I really doubt that them having copper is the limitation...
drdamour
phor11
Posted 6:47 AM 12/6/08
@MrBlahBlah: "Does this mean that fewer people will be on the edge network": YES
"thus speeding it up for those of us who don't upgrade?": NO
phor11
JoeMarioZ
Posted 7:16 AM 12/6/08
So, att says they only have 1.4 mbps but how much is the iphone capable of?? I have been told is 7.2 do please tell me....
JoeMarioZ
matt buchanan
Posted 7:14 AM 12/6/08
@bspence: Official Apple benchmark uses Lonely Planet, check the fine print on their page about 3G.
matt buchanan
matt buchanan
Posted 7:51 AM 12/6/08
@JoeMarioZ: Won't know for absolutely, positively sure until someone cracks it open and splays the guts for all to see.
matt buchanan
SudiptiCepheus
Posted 6:23 AM 12/6/08
How do unlocked and unbranded 3G phones behave on the AT&T network? For example, I have a Nokia E65i that is running factory firmware. Is AT&T throttling the 3G speed at the phone or at the cell site? - xnok
SudiptiCepheus
cornflakesla
Posted 6:04 AM 12/6/08
Giz, I want to know why 3G gives us better reception and better voice quality. I though 3G was only for data. Does 3G give more bandwidth to voice too?
Also why was the iPhone 3G faster than the other 3G phone in the keynote demo?
cornflakesla
ProSeven
Posted 10:53 PM 12/6/08
@Kaiser-Machead's got LindsayJoy's cookies on the SuperDrive: I have no idea what kind of penalties as there is no word about the amount of money you will have to pay. Only one thing is sure, you will not be able to buy the iphone in ATT without activating it. You might be able to buy a iphone in apple stores without the activation, but you will receive penalties if you don't activate your iphone within 30 days.
ProSeven
Den Dragon
Posted 11:33 PM 12/6/08
@Chromeo: Dude, your pic is in the exact same position as the "no image available" guy. He's like your anti-Kirk.
Den Dragon
G2GdoB2B
Posted 1:30 AM 13/6/08
The 3G industry is being overwhelmed by the excess demand in bandwidth but that is not being properly rewarded on the revenues side. People want a lot more bandwidth, but are not really ready to pay what it takes to deliver it.
Here is a nice article regarding the breakdown of the 3G industry, from devices to bandwidth use: [www.internetevolution.com]
G2GdoB2B
KLanD
Posted 1:12 AM 13/6/08
For the love of god! How many bloody articles are you people gonna post about this POS. Come on, there is a lot more tech out there than the latest dumbed down thing Apple has to offer.
KLanD
JoeMarioZ
Posted 2:42 AM 13/6/08
@matt buchanan: thanks matt that was what i thought too but why doesnt apple show all of this
JoeMarioZ
toyotaboy
Posted 3:48 AM 13/6/08
I'd be fine with 5 hours of surfing@3.6mbit, I'm lucky if I get that now on helio.. But I can understand them not wanting to go full throttle with suddenly everyone with an iphone sucking up bandwidth. Besides, with unsecured wifi floating around everywhere who needs mobile data?
toyotaboy
SCHPMP
Posted 7:25 AM 13/6/08
Sorry about last post acciedentlly hit the return key to early.
Anyway until I can play any type of video from any site with some sort of flashplayer or something within the iphone to me it is not worth upgrading and getting faster speeds to view pictures and utoob.
SCHPMP
SCHPMP
Posted 7:24 AM 13/6/08
So whats the big deal here anyway. I di dnot see any annocement about a flash player or anything of that nature. I do not need massive badwidth to view pages of text or pictures. Until an Iphone 3.0 or whatever gives me the ability to view video from any web site supporting .WMV q
SCHPMP
nomadmnemonic
Posted 12:22 PM 12/6/08
I would have to see the thing in action, and load up graphics heavy sites like la.curbed.com, gizmodo, crave.cnet.com, engadget, Yahoo News, dlisted.com, and others.
I currently have one of AT&T's Sierra Wireless 3g cards for my laptop, and I am impressed while out and about on the bus or train, I am less than amused at work or at home.
If they plan on capping the download speed, why are they charging more?
nomadmnemonic
woreno
Posted 8:54 AM 12/6/08
USA sucks ehe
woreno
binaryspazz
Posted 6:35 AM 12/6/08
@weatherman:
binaryspazz
HayesTantalus
Posted 6:31 AM 12/6/08
What I'd like to know is if us folks still in edge land are going to get stuck paying the new 69.99 rate or will we still be able to get 59.99?
HayesTantalus
AmberThreeTwo
Posted 4:24 AM 12/6/08
OK cool, but can the IPhone act as a modem? That is the question.
AmberThreeTwo
lemonsaab
Posted 1:27 AM 14/6/08
I'm pissed at the new way we have to activate the new phone and if you are too send feedback to apple. Here is the link.
[www.apple.com]
lemonsaab
justinpe
Posted 7:00 AM 14/6/08
Anyone else notice that there was no "Install Flash" link on the speed demo on either the the 3G or edge screens? Maybe 2.0 will have flash support?
When I load the page on my iPhone, there is a link that reads, "This presentation requires flash." and then a large button that reads, "DOWNLOAD FREE FLASH PLAYER."
justinpe