Next generation iPhone gets super-fast data connection – 3G iPhone does 42Mbps Evolved HSPA
By Will Park on Friday, May 23rd, 2008 at 8:55 PM PST In Apple, Devices, Rumors, iPhone
Sure, it’s great and all that the next-generation iPhone will launch with the 3G bits to finally get jiggy with 3G networks the world over. But, even the 7.2Mbps HSPA data connection that’s expected to be in the cards for the 3G iPhone would only make the faster, second-generation iPhone as fast as other high-end handset offerings on market – a bit of a joy-kill, but it’s true.
So, with that in mind, it’s interesting to hear that the 3G iPhone could possibly launch with support for 42Mbps HSPA data speeds – possible through a more advanced HSPA technology known as Evolved HSPA. That kind of blazing speed is usually reserved for experimental trials and proof of concept technology, so excuse us if we’re just a tad bit skeptical.
A Telstra Wireless exec is purported to have told Australia’s ChannelNews that the next-generation iPhone is expected to be capable of super-fast 3G speeds upwards of 42Mbps. “We know what is coming, we have seen the new device and it will be available on our network as soon as it is launched in the USA,” said the telecom exec. “By Xmas this phone will be capable of 42mbs which will make it faster than a lot of broadband offerings and the fastest iPhone on any network in the world.”
The executive goes on to say that Telstra already has 3G iPhones handy for network testing and that the carrier will go live with the iPhone successor “very soon after its June 9 unveiling.”
But, let’s consider a couple points. First, the fact that the Telstra big-wig basically confirms the announcement of the iPhone at Apple (NSDQ: AAPL)’s WWDC on June 9 seems a bit fishy. Loose lips sink ships, but this kind of slip is almost unforgivable. Did the exec really out the next-generation iPhone before Apple?
Secondly, while the prospect of having 3G/HSPA speeds that would make our high-speed cable-broadband connection seem insignificant is almost enough to make us cry, it seems too good to be true. The US is about to see its very first HSPA network fully up and running, courtesy of AT&T (NYSE: T)’s network upgrades. But, the HSPA network rollout only delivers 1.4Mbps on the downstream and 800Kbps on the upstream – a far cry from the 42Mbps that is rumored to be supported on the 3G iPhone.
So, is Telstra seriously expecting the next-generation iPhone to support Evolved HSPA? Or, was the exec simply mis-quoted?
The executive was quoted as saying that the 3G iPhone would be “faster than a lot of broadband offerings” and would be the “fastest iPhone” in the world. But, that seems like a bit of an understatement.
Not only would Evolved HSPA make the 3G iPhone the fastest iPhone in the world, it would be the fastest handset (in terms of data speeds) on the planet. And, considering that we’d be hard-pressed to find anyone out there rocking a broadband data connection faster than around 11Mbps for residential service, Evolved HSPA is faster than almost all broadband connections, not just “a lot” of them. Of course, bigger businesses use broadband connections with faster speeds than any residential hookup could ever deliver, so that could be what the exec was referencing.
Did the Telstra exec simply say that the 3G iPhone would be capable of “4 to 2 Mbps” and was mis-understood as saying “42?”
Like all other 3G iPhone rumors, this is all speculation at this moment, and a grain of salt would be a wise investment. Don’t get me wrong, I’m the first person to cross my fingers for 42Mbps Evolved HSPA support in the 3G iPhone. But, its a good idea to keep yourself grounded when it comes to iPhone rumors.
[Via: Apple Insider]
“But, its a good idea to keep yourself grounded when it comes to iPhone rumors.”
Cant you see the irony in that sentence considering you just wrote a long article on HSPA for the iphone!? :p;)
wow!!!!!!!!!!!
42MBPS. thats hell of a speed.
i hope 3G proves to be a good advantage and apple on its way to give the best for customers.
SuReSh – I’d eat my hat if this were true..
Though Apple are often first out the door with new hardware features like multi-touch, they’ve hardly proved cutting edge when it comes down to the numbers. You have to shell out thousands for a Mac Pro to get anything which even comes close to a PC equivalent at half the price.
Well, HSPA is already confirmed in the iPhone 3G. We should keep ourselves grounded when it comes to Evolved HSPA making its way into the next-generation iPhone.
I guess it is ironic that I say keep yourself grounded, but I only meant to temper any speculation of Evolved HSPA with some skepticism. As far as the length of the article, I just wanted to make sure to hit on a couple points of discussion about what the telecom exec *could* have meant.
And, I’d eat my hat in joy if this turns out to be true (take grain of salt now).
Someone on Mac Rumors suggested necessary chips aren’t even available to support the claims made by the rumour. Personally I think this’ll just be another one of those cases where maybe a certain chip in the phone supports 42mbps, like those people who thought the 1st gen iPhone was capable of secret 3G because of that chip in there that supported it.
Frankly I don’t give a shit whether it supports it or not, while the networks don’t it’ll be useless and by the time it’s looking reasonable to have E-HSPA at 42mbps there’ll probably be a far more efficient and effective technology out which’ll mean capping E-HSPA just because it’s not worth the upgrade for outdated technology.
For me it won’t be the selling point though, I hear Apple are making changes to the European pricing models to make it more competitive (I still haven’t seen one in the wild here in the UK, despite at least 5 shops in my city selling it). I’ll never buy it unless they bring it down to a £25 per month one year contract and subsidize the phone. Even after that I’d still want unlocked bluetooth.
It seems too good to be true. I’m not mocking at anyone, but however, it’s a shame that US is still setting up it’s first HSPA network, while Sri Lanka already has two HSPA networks. Maximum prefer are 14.4Mbps download and 3.2Mbps upload.