Blame the iPhone's 3G network woes on you, me
Lots of apps means lots of data.
(Credit: Matt Hickey)There's been a lot of talk lately of AT&T customers--especially iPhone users--getting fed up with the quality of service they're getting with AT&T. Issues include dropped calls, shoddy coverage, and slow data speeds. People are upset that they have a fancy device that loses much of its usefulness when the network drops out. I can feel their pain.
Indeed, I saw the effect myself this last weekend. The Penny Arcade Expo (PAX), one of the world's largest gaming conventions, took place in Seattle, where I live. Thousands of the world's nerdiest nerds were here, and, as you'd expect, many were using iPhones, meaning many were using AT&T's 3G service.
PAX, which opened Friday, also had a handy guide on expojunkie.com for convention goers made especially for the iPhone. It featured maps, agendas, and other quick reference information to make PAX a better experience. The side effect was thousands of visitors using Seattle's 3G coverage at the same time--in addition to the thousands of locals who already use it. Service slowed to a crawl.
By Saturday, the service was back up-to-speed for most of Seattle. AT&T may have hit a switch and turned on more towers. It has a team that monitors areas with major events and tweaks the network when one causes problems. Whatever the company did fixed it.
The blessing and the curse
But here's the question: what are we to expect from AT&T when Apple sells millions of units of a revolutionary product that depends on its network and then provides millions of apps that put a huge burden on the same network? Do we really expect AT&T to be able to handle that much data?
The easy answer is, "Yes. We pay for the service, we want it to work correctly." Which, of course, is a fine answer. Users of the iPhone pay more for their data than other AT&T smartphone customers (we're leaving regular phone customers out of the debate, even those who use data, for simplicity's sake).
But iPhone users also use far more data per device than other users, even those on the same network. One technology analyst, Chetan Sharma, estimates that while the typical wireless subscriber consumes 120MB per month, typical iPhone owners use four times that. That's 480MB, or almost half a gigabyte.
So let's take that data at face value and then consider that AT&T has 11.8 million smartphone users and more than 9 million iPhone users. So there are almost as many iPhone users as standard smartphone users, but each uses four times more data than the smartphone users.
Sure, there are other smartphones out there. And most have downloadable, third-party apps. And many of those are data-intensive. But here's the thing about iPhone users: they actually use their apps. Smartphones have been around for quite a while, but iPhone users actually stream video, browse the Web often, and get directions. It could be argued that nobody has ever done as much with a device as iPhone users do. And that's the blessing and the curse.
Simply put, because of iPhone users, AT&T simply has far and away more demand for data than its competitors. AT&T currently has more capacity as well, which is why the iPhones work at all. If not for the rapid deployment of system upgrades--it has spent billions over the last two years to try to keep up with the 350 percent increase in traffic--then the million of iPhones on AT&T simply wouldn't work at all.
The problem as I see it isn't AT&T, which is clearly working as fast as it can. I'm putting the blame squarely on the iPhone users themselves. And I'm one of them.
I'll admit it, I'm part of the problem.
(Credit: Matt Hickey)No other network could keep up with the demand that we iPhone users are asking for better than what AT&T is doing right now.
Out of the frying pan...
You can find many entries in online forums where people cry, "Forget AT&T, I'm going to Verizon!" or something equally angry. But they're not getting the big picture: by switching you'll lose your beloved iPhone, but you'll also be on a network which, if it gets the iPhone soon as rumored, could end up having the exact same problems AT&T is now, perhaps even worse.
Think about it: if the other networks are so much better service-wise, but AT&T has more data capacity, why is there a problem? It's the iPhone.
One unanswered question is this: Did Apple consult with AT&T about bandwidth considerations before launching the App Store, which undoubtedly is responsible for a lot of the data AT&T is pushing?
If so, then yes, AT&T has a responsibility to beef up its network to compensate, which it is doing. Any network connection can be overtaxed. Sometimes I wish my BitTorrent downloads would go faster, but when my neighbors are also downloading, it affects me, too. But I don't blame Comcast.
If, though, Apple didn't consult with AT&T before launching the App Store, then it's hard to blame AT&T for not being able to cope with the massive amount of unexpected data. And it's definitely not fair.
Another option, and one that bridges these two answers, and the one I feel is the most likely, is that it's possible that both AT&T and Apple misjudged the amount of data-intensive apps that would be made available in such a short time.
Indeed, most in the industry have been surprised by the success of the App Store, which in roughly a year delivered more than 1.5 billion apps to iPhone and iPod Touch users. If Apple and AT&T had expected that kind of reaction it would be reasonable to be angry at AT&T for not being able to keep up with demand. But if not then, again, it's the users themselves who are bogging down their own network.
Imagine AT&T's 3G to be an all-you-can-eat buffet. Say this buffet has 110 customers a day. Now imagine a normal person will make three trips to the buffet, and then the iPhone users come. There are 90 of them--in addition to the 110 customers already being served--and they're making the equivalent of 12 trips a day to the buffet. Each. This is because they are data gluttons. Suddenly there's not enough food to go around because the gluttons (again, I'm one too) are eating more than anyone else had expected. Would it be the fault of the restaurant that it's out of prime rib and mashed potatoes?
AT&T: We're working around the clock
I don't think so. Especially considering that iPhone users are sticking around day after day. AT&T spokesman Seth Bloom, the company's "Blogger Guy," says the buffet is ordering more prime rib and mashed potatoes--to the tune of $17 billion to $18 billion this year alone.
He also says AT&T expects that 3G network capacity will match the growing user demand for data soon. "Crews are working around the clock to implement more than 1,900 new cell towers nation wide and doubling its fiber backbone to take up the rising customer volume," he told me over instant message.
This line of thinking won't quiet the critics, of course; it's easy and fast to lambast your cell carriers on the Internet. It's easy to insult me, too (I'm sure I'll get my share of slams for this post), and I'm not trying to calm those people down. I don't think anything can.
Should AT&T have anticipated this amount of demand? Perhaps. But it's still the iPhone users themselves who are causing the problems they're experiencing. In the near future the situation will be fixed, according to Bloom, and jumping ship isn't going to help your situation any.
With more than 15 years experience testing hardware (and being obsessed with it), Crave freelance writer Matt Hickey can tell the good gadgets from the great. He also has a keen eye for future technology trends. Matt has blogged for publications including TechCrunch, CrunchGear, and most recently, Gizmodo. E-mail Matt. 
"Yes, we pay for the service, we want it to work correctly."
What more needs to be said?????
Matt: you state valid reasons that the blame for the service quality should rest squarely on AT&T, then proceed to defend them with excuses. Is it possible that you have a need to justify spending your hard-earned cash on a service that falls below your expectations?
Some important facts:
(1) Data usage does not affect voice usage. Using your smartphone has nothing to do with the low quality voice service.
(2) All of AT&Ts competitors have better reception at lower cost.
(3) AT&T earned $124 BILLION dollars in revenue in 2008 and had profits over $12 BILLION!!! Their profit was more than T-Mobile's revenue!!! That means after paying all of their executives incredible amounts of money and everyone else in the organization, they still had more money left over than all the money T-Mobile received from all of it's customers BEFORE paying a single employee!
The real problem is that Americans are financially illiterate and don't understand why a monopolies and oligopolies need more regulation.
AT&T is five years behind Japan/Korea and three years behind Western Europe.
AT&T is struggling to roll out reliable 3.6Mbps service to major metropolitan markets and often throttles down service to 1.8Mbps. And it's the users' fault?
Because if one Eastern European country had cellular speeds like America's some crazy fool here would be screaming, "No, you're wrong! The Republic of Nowhere still has 3.6Mbps, just like America!"
The traffic problems in major cities are the fault of the drivers. See, it's not the fault of the designers of the roads or the failure of municipalities to keep up with demand, it's the fault of drivers who are using their cars to drive places. Shame on them.
The Panama canal is overcrowded because ships are using it. Sure, a second channel is being built, but it's because no one ever imagined that building something like the Panama canal would actually be used.
Common, the point of the iPhone is that you can do everything over the air. That's supposed to be the appeal. This argument is just as much balony as telecoms saying that broadband should be defined at only 768kbps downstream. ATT charges extra for iPhone users, so I guess I think that ATT should provide enough services for the iPhone to run right. I guess I'm crazy for believing in getting what I pay for.
I agree that the traffic problem is partially because people drive too much and that there are too many drivers.
how bout more sensible driving habits?
I still don't understand why AT&T can't give priority to voice calls. I never knew what it was like to have calls drop when I was on Verizon.
Let's say I go into to your buffet, but after paying for the meal I find that most of the dishes are empty and won't be refilled. Aren't you going to ask for a refund? More to the point, are you ever going back to that restaurant?
I'm not going to comment on the rest of your argument, as there are simply too many flaws for me to fix at this point, but suffice it to say I am generally happy with my service on my crappy iPhone (I get 2-3mbos consistently here in Dallas area).
ONLY the MediaNet plans, which are NOT for smart phones are $20/month.
It IS TRUE stupid because the N97 is not an official AT&T phone (ie, unsubsidized) thus AT&T has no control over the data plan you put on it, and technically, if you did not tell them that it is a smartphone, you could get away with the $15. I personally recommend that, as data is data is data. The difference between the plans is the proxies it routes through.
And yes, data plans for MediaNet did drop from $20 to $15 about a year ago.
Please, people, USE WINDOWS MOBILE! Do it for the children. And do it for me. I needs my iPhone data speed...
1) to call PAX "one of the largest, .." makes the rest of your article's facts suspect - would PAX even hit the top 10 worldwide?
2) apple decided in their control mongering ways to go with one carrier mainly for greed reasons ( so they could negotiate the best $ percentage). That decision -- take the money , screw the customers -- was apples doing.
3) most customers pay for way more that 500Mb a month - so your "us iphone users use too much data" is silly - most pay for much much more ( 6GB typically!) , so saying we are wrong because we use a fraction of what we are charged for is ridiculous
4) ATT is an apple fanboy scape goat. - this is apples world and they gave you bad service by the 'more money for them exclusive deal' they made. like they have done many many times before they could really break it if they want, just like they could open up the apps store - they just don't want too. if this issues breaks through the hipness zone, they would break it in a sec - but with you doing articles that 'it is our apple zealousness that is wrong and not apple - you are just playing the hip card an they can sit back.
Move back to Cuba Comrade.
Jealous Apple haters are so cute, the way steam comes from their ears...
Gen Con Indy 2009: 27,900+
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gen_Con
PAX 2009: 60,000+
http://www.examiner.com/x-1280-Seattle-Xbox-360-Examiner~y2009m9d7-PAX-09-PAX-facts
Get your facts straight (yes, it took a few minutes of Internet research to find decent numbers)
Point 2:
Control? Yes. "Screw the customers"? Possibly.
Point 3:
Any citation for 6GB? That just seems a little over the top to me.
Point 4:
Apple's world? To a certain extent. They DON'T own the network! If they did, then I'd say it's their fault (entirely). I'd only say its partially their fault in this situation.
Would I like a faster data connection? Well, duh. Who wouldn't. But then I pay extra for a 20 mb internet connection and I probably consume into the gigabytes when downloading on my internet connection. (And no, I do not stream movies or illegally DL music). Thankfully the iPhone defaults to my wireless connection here at home. Anyway, I just wanted to say that there are those of us out here who actually are happy with AT&T.
I choose to live in the boondocks. I hate big cities. And for what it's worth AT&T actually has the best coverage in this area. Cingular bought out the original service that had excellent coverage and was in turn bought by AT&T. Worked out fine for me. :-)
- by nexgenmax September 8, 2009 4:14 PM PDT
- Simple, Apple created a ground breaking device, AT&T bid on it and won. AT&T will profit from such device.
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- by September 8, 2009 7:51 PM PDT
- 1. Why would you opt out?? That is soooo stupid. That's buying a plasma TV and then opting out of Cable, Fiber Optics, Satellite, streaming services, or DVDs because you "just want to watch your VHS collection". DOn't be an idiot. Do you think your iPhone would be half as useful/cool/fun/working if it didn't have an always-on data connection?? Stupid... Try it! Flip on the Airplane mode for a day and see what happens. Open those apps, the email program, the browser, the visual voice mail, the maps, or anyhting else. See how long you last before you crack when nothing works. Idiot...
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Showing 1 of 3 pages (77 Comments)Now, AT&T backbone has proven that it can't handle the network traffic from the iPhone users. I blamed AT&T for bidding in the first place. I blamed Apple to create such great device (lol).
Two years later, calls still dropping and 3G network is still suck. Charging $30/mo data plan on iPhone without giving a consumer to opt out or just using edge, it backs fire on AT&T. Paying $30 data plan has made consumer to realize that they want to make sure their money it's up to par to the service.
If AT&T were allowing people to opt out from the data plan or just using edge, network traffic will be less. For those who paid $30/mo for their data plan, they will use it as much as they can. I will set my 3G when i'm about to drive. Somehow, I have to use it since i paid $30/mo.
As soon as iphone available for different networks or carrier, i will definitely cancel my AT&T and move to a different network. Yes, even if I have to pay the early cancellation fee.
As for the edge option, YOU HAVE IT!! DUUUURRRR... It's called going into the settings and shutting off 3G... duuuuuuuhhhh... No 3G + Data= Only Edge....