AT&T Promises a Faster 3G iPhone by June

Jacksonville – AT&T has begun testing its new, faster 3G service in Chicago. Since the advent of internet-capable phones, especially Apple’s iPhone, cell providers have been in a race to provide more bandwidth and higher speed for users. AT&T is the carrier of choice for iPhones, and so particular attention has been paid to the speed of its much-vaunted 3G network. Up until now, speed limitations on that network have hampered users getting full functionality from their iPhones. What’s the point of being able to get ste-by-step directions to the closest pizza place if it’s going to take so long to do it?

AT&T has therefore been working hard to almost double the speed of the 3G network that allows devices like the iPhone to use the internet. The new network architecture will allow download speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps, up from the current 3.6 Mbps. Speeds as high as 14.4 Mbps may even be possible. A simple software upgrade will allow a significant increase in speed according to AT&T spokesperson Mark Siegel. For now AT&T plans to upgrade their system incrementally through software, rather than requiring significant hardware changes. Even so, Apple plans to release an iPhone in summer, 2009 that will have a chip capable of coaxing the highest possible speeds from AT&T’s architecture improvements.

Rival carrier Verizon has been putting a lot of pressure on AT&T. Verizon currently revealed plans to jump away from a 3G to a 4G network later in 2009. That move has the potential of offering Verizon customers download speeds of close to 100 Mbps. If Verizon is able to accomplish that feat, it will put AT&T at a distinct disadvantage. Even if all goes to plan, availability of download speeds this high on AT&T are a long way off. Verizon may end up putting pressure on Apple to permit usage of their iPhones on other, faster networks.

Testing of AT&T’s improved 3G network is currently limited to the Chicago area.