RSSIPhone users take note: Nokia Siemens speeds up EDGE
By Tim Conneally | Published March 27, 2008, 3:37 PM
Nokia Siemens Networks has announced that it can double the data speeds possible on GSM/EDGE networks with only a software update.
By the third quarter of this year, the company claims it will be able to take existing EDGE-capable GSM networks to speeds up to 592 Kbps with its Downlink Dual-Carrier EDGE software solution.
Good news for iPhone users, 85% of whom, according to M:Metrics, accessed the mobile Web during the month of January.
"Locked" iPhone users are typically accessing the mobile internet via AT&T's EDGE and HSDPA BroadbandConnect networks. AT&T's EDGE network, according to its proprietor, is available in over 13,000 cities and along 40,000 miles of highway, providing between 75-135 Kbps.
HSDPA access is dramatically faster with speeds around 1.5 Mbps, but available in only a fraction of the markets; its rollout was only in 165 major metropolitan areas.
Nokia Siemens' simple software upgrade to GSM/EDGE networks could bring data traffic up to speeds that HSDPA promised several years ago between 400-700 Kbps. The company considers this the first step in EDGE's Evolution, which they predict could reach speeds of 1.2 Mps downlink and 473 Kbps uplink with its still-in-development EGPRS 2.
The simple fact is that none of the providers can ever deliver on their stated d/l speed because so many other factors enter the equation.
Look at history- with 56k modems, you never achieved 56k. you were lucky to achieve 40-45. Cable? I defy anyone to truly show any of the cable providers providing 6-10meg d/l. Network Cards? This is hit or miss depending where you are at in a blg. and don't even get me started on these silly phones that try to do everything and end up not doing much. Iphone may have decent video player but d/l speed makes it near worthless. Everyone that i have talked to has nothing but complaints about DSL especially if you're 10,000 feet from the main station.
To be honest, I get better, on average, d/l speeds by piggybacking on someone's WiFi than any other option except cable or a t1 or t2 and it is free.
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I wonder if this will do anything about EDGE's atrocious latency?
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""Locked" iPhone users are typically accessing the mobile internet via AT&T's EDGE and HSDPA BroadbandConnect networks."
Where do you find an HSDPA iPhone?
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You can find one on AT&T's wireless website. I believe the Nokia 6555 is one of them. The trouble is finding a place to use it at the touted speeds. The website has listed only about 40 metro areas in the U.S.A. Their t.v. adverts mention "worldwide" rather than nationwide since they know they don't have the coverage, but they're supposedly increasing coverage to support the 3G data-enabled iPhone that's due this summer.
Sprint had more of a 3G data network in 2006 than AT&T has today and they continue to make progress. If the U.S.A. weren't so big, hopefully, coverage would be as good as Europe or Asia.
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just another addition to the long list of outstanding upgrades and features.
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But EDGE still remains so far behind HSDPA. We already have a 14.4Mb/s network available here (but only 7.2Mb/s devices for now) and apparently it will be upgraded to around 40Mb/s by the end of the year. I think EDGE is a dying technology - even mobile WiMAX is doing a better job. :p
EDIT: sorry, 'here' is Australia, btw. :p
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EDGE was a cheap temporary solution to provide higher speed internet access until GSM mobile phone companies were able to upgrade their hardware to faster equipment.
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Is this software update on the client (my phone) or the server (AT&T's HSDPA)?
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Awesome. I'll be looking out for this.
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Awesome?
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