AT&T / Cingular improving EDGE speeds for Apple iPhone launch!
By Will Park on Tuesday, June 5th, 2007 at 12:48 PM PST In AT&T, Apple, Rumors, Services, iPhone, iPhone OS
According to reports from AT&T (NYSE: T) internal documents, the Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) iPhone’s exclusive carrier is hard at work to improve the quality and efficiency of their EDGE network. As we all know by now, the Apple iPhone does not have any 3G (UMTS/HSDPA) capability, and in efforts to keep the Internet-browsing experience (something that is highly touted on the iPhone) from being too disappointing, AT&T is 
optimizing cell towers to give priority to data transfers. The plan, codenamed “Operation Fine Edge” (how clever), also makes provisions to add additional high-speed T1 lines in hopes of preventing network congestion and increase minimum EDGE data speeds.
The upgrades is intended for the Apple iPhone, but will benefit every EDGE phone on the network. Minimum data speeds should increase from about 40Kbps to 80 Kbps (that’s almost double, just to be clear). Peak speeds for EDGE data are pegged at 200Kbps, which is about half of AT&T’s 3G (HSDPA) network. Still, for internet browsing, we should see decent EDGE performance (depending on your location) from “Operation Fine EDGE.”
If the upgrades are completed on-time, we can expect to see improved EDGE performance by June 15 – a good while before the launch of Apple’s iPhone. We’re hopeful that the upgrades will allow our iPhone to serve up IntoMobile.com in a timely fashion.
via: electronista
It’s such a marketing stint that Apple didn’t make the first generation iPhone HSDPA compatible. There will be a second generation iPhone coming in about nine months that will be compatible and all those people that paid $600 for their first generation will want the second. Just like Apple’s strategy with the iPod.
Regardless, I think their marketing campaign is working. The new commercials are making me want one. I guess I have 25 days to save up… I’ll see ya’ll a the freeway exit wearing my bum outfit carrying an empty Jack in the Box cup!
“There will be a second generation iPhone coming in about nine months that will be compatible and all those people that paid $600 for their first generation will want the second”
Based on fact? Doubtful. Will other blogs report that as fact? Probably.