Slow and Steady 4G Wireless
(Image credit: broughturner.com and Rich Howard)
Will we see fast wireless 4G networks in our lifetimes? Probably, but they will be likely be slower in coming than we had hoped or expected.
According to a report in Unstrung, AT&T may be further behind in their 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) deployment than anticipated. But fear not because, according to Unstrung, “a senior (AT&T) VP…insisted that slow and steady will win the race.”
Where are we at with our 4G racing scorecard? Let's check:
Verizon seems to be holding steady to its LTE launch date occurring in early 2010. Unstrung reports that MetroPCS is planning their initial 4G launch to occur during the second half of 2010. Sprint indicates that their 4G variant, WiMax, is on schedule for deployment throughout this year and early next.
As for AT&T, Unstrung reports that Kris Rinne, Senior Vice President of Architecture and Planning, firmly stated that, "It's not just about speed, it's about the whole customer experience."
I’m not entirely sure what that means, but okay, I agree that "customer experience" is of utmost importance. But as most Bay Area (and elsewhere) iPhone 3GS users can attest, the "customer experience" with AT&T’s 3G network in San Francisco has been, well, somewhat less than stellar. Are we to expect a better customer experience with their 4G network when it finally makes its appearance? According to Unstrung, “Rinne said (that) she's ‘well aware’ of the backlash against spotty 3G service from iPhone users.”
One can hope that this awareness signals a future improvement in their 3G service while AT&T is trying to deploy their 4G networks. Of course, you can’t take hope to the bank as they say.
Dowsing some cold water on folks like me who await an iPhone 4G with baited breath, Unstrung reports that, “those commentators feverishly anticipating an LTE iPhone in 2010—from either AT&T or Verizon—will likely be left whistling for it.”
Whistling as charged, I suppose.
(Special thanks to Bob Larribeau.)
Comments
we have 4G in australia... the USA is just behind
We are indeed lagging in the United States when it comes to cell phone deployment, Raphael. In fact, our cell deployment has been behind Europe, Australia and Asia almost from the beginning.
I remember speaking at an Internet conference in 1997 held in Hong Kong. Although cell phones weren't unheard of in the United States in the mid 1990s, I found them to be nearly ubiquitous in Hong Kong. Everyone seemed to have a cell phone. The United States didn't reach that kind of saturation until the early part of this century.
Jeff
The US carriers are just content to rip off US consumers with shoddy service. Why should they hurry to implement a service that will already be inferior to many other services worldwide, when they can just sit back and take their time and reap the rewards (PROFITS) without the big expenditure for sub standard service. It is all a rigged game with price gouging and price fixing that the US government has let them get away with. Can you spell lobbyist and corrupt politicians?
Mike.. If you dont like the prices you pay.. Buy the stock. VZW and ATT pay pretty nice dividends, which can equate to essentially free cell service and possibly capital gains. Conservatively, 400 shares of either would give you free cell service.. Granted that would cost 11 grand.. But better yield than a savings acct right now
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