“Buyers of the iPad will grapple with the question of whether spending the extra cash for a model outfitted for wireless data over AT&T’s overtaxed network will be worth it,” Jenna Wortham reports for The New York Times.
“But it’s not just tablet computers, which some analysts estimate could sell in the low millions this year, that AT&T has to worry about. In its most recent earnings release, the company said it activated an additional 3.1 million iPhones on its network during the fourth quarter,” Wortham reports. “During a call to investors and analysts on Thursday, John Stankey, president of AT&T’s operations division, said the company was gearing up for the introduction of new smartphones and the iPad on its network.”
MacDailyNews Take: While we wait to use the 7.2 HSPA capability on our iPhone 3GS units, where’s that iPhone tethering you promised us so long ago, AT&T? And, if it ever arrives, will be able to tether our iPads to our iPhones (and we do we highly doubt that will be the case)?
“The company said that this year it plans to pour an additional $2 billion into its wireless network and the wired data infrastructure that supports it, bringing its total expenditure into the range of $18 billion to $19 billion,” Wortham reports. “As part of that spending, the company said it would be adding 2,000 new cell sites and upgrading existing cell sites with fiber-optic connectivity to help increase capacity, among other things. The company also pointed to its recent efforts to roll out its 7.2 HSPA update to existing 3G cell sites, which it says will double the speed of data transfers.”
“In some of the cities where AT&T customers complain heavily about spotty service and dropped calls, like San Francisco and New York, Mr. Stankey said the company was ‘closing the gap,'” Wortham reports. “In the next three months, the company plans to increase the amount of 3G radio capacity by more than one-third in the more high-traffic areas of Manhattan, adding additional radio network controllers on existing cell sites. Mr. Stankey said zoning problems in San Francisco had hindered the company’s ability to improve its network there, but he said the company was working to improve performance.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: 1. The AT&T plans are month-to-month, so you can try it to see how their networks performs in your area (believe it or not, AT&T’s 3G is fast and reliable in many places across the US). 2. All iPad 3G models are unlocked and use new GSM micro SIMs.
Flora Graham reports for CNET UK, “The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), which sets the standards for SIM cards, tells us that except for the size of the plastic around the chip, micro SIM cards are identical to the SIM cards we normally find in phones. That means in theory, nothing is stopping us from trimming down a standard SIM card and popping it in the iPad. We haven’t tested this yet, so we can’t guarantee it will work — but as soon as we get our hands on the 3G iPad for a full review, we’ll be giving it a try to confirm it.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Sara R.” for the heads up.]
AT&T;, how about allowing tethering? Hmm?
ATT: “We gotcha broadband right heya…..”
But is the plan like the one for data cards if you buy your own? IOW, if you cancel 3G service and want it again after several months, will you have to pay a reconnection fee? It’s $25 on the data cards.
T-Mobile might get slammed with iPad Traffic!
Yeh..it’s they iphone they can’t handle lol
iPhone to ipad tethering should be a free perk to owners of both. Sadly it won’t be
Can ATT handle Apple’s iPad data demands?
No, not in some areas. But they’ll take the money anyway.
On the other hand, the price is good if your in the right area. (I am)
ATT – thanks for the MicroCell in Denver! Works great!! Thanks for the tethering! Lovin it!
I could have used that Tethering thing AT&T;!!!! I just moved so I had two weeks without internet at my home. Almost killed me.
AT&T;better figured out quick and allow it before the iPad comes out. I’ll jump ship real quick and get a plan from another vendor (sorry Verizon).
I have an iPhone and I use tethering on a daily basis in Finland (Sonera is the carrier), I absolutely love it, haven’t had any problems whatsoever.
Btw..this is Nokia-land, but you have to wait several weeks to get an iPhone from Sonera (I waited 5 weeks for mine)..the demand is *that* big.
Yes, but can the a**holes at AT&T;handle TETHERING on the iPhone!?!!!! Clearly NOT!
How can AT&T;handle the iPad when they can’t even handle the iPhone? When they are still afraid to allow tethering? They’re lying through their teeth, as usual.
moste people don’t need it. Just like most laptop users don’t need a cell modem card. WiFi is fine. For the unexpected while away from WiFi, an iPhone does the job.
When a new laptop comes out, do people fear it will bring down AT&T;?
‘I would like to see AT&T;*also* modify the iPhone plan to include the option for 250 MB and unlimited data. I’m okay with keeping my iPhone on a contract – but give me the ability to step choose between 2 data levels there, too.
Give AT&T;some credit and the guts to do this for Apple. You think Verizon would even consider it for Apple? No way. So enjoy the great deal that AT&T;is giving us future iPad users.
AT&T;cannot even handle my iPhone GS, how in the name of god will they be able to handle anything else? I’m hoping Verizon will let these on their net.
AT&T;cannot even handle my iPhone GS, how in the name of god will they be able to handle anything else? I’m hoping Verizon will let these on their net.
What exactly is the difference between voice and data on the atnt network? Are they not both converted to something?
If I have an AT&T;plan through my iPhone, then the iPad 3G should share my account and cost me nothing extra!!
If I am not an AT&T;customer, then I should be charged what they announced at the keynote address.
When you keep adding fees and costs to an already expensive plan, the money always runs out.
You all realize that the only reason we are getting the 2-tier pricing on the iPad, and a decent price is because Apple agreed to stay iPhone exclusive with ATT longer. Think about it. With a bluetooth headset, an iPad and a vonage/fring/skype app you have an unlimited cellphone plan with 3g data for under $40/month.
http://www.ipadmods.net – Ipad info , spces, release date info, Mods – use other carriers for internet service. hacks mods tweaks all here for you
Knock knock. Hello? MDN? Yeah, hi it’s me. I just wanted to remind you that a few short weeks ago you boldly predicted that an iPhone OS devices was going to be available on Verizon’s network. Remember that? Yeah, well it turns out that not only did Verizon not get the iPhone, but they won’t get the iPad either. Oh, and the other thing? Yeah, that was MY prediction.
iCal that?
And we should believe AT&T;…. why?
Remember the Fewest Dropped Calls campaign that was completely bogus & the FTC made them pull the ads?
Or how about them having a fat Luke Wilson standing in the middle of an orange map of the US, trying to fool people into thinking their 2G coverage is really 3G?
or how about their More bars in more places…. AT&T;actually had their handset manufacturers add an extra bar on the screen of their phones so they could make the claim, as they have 5 bars when everyone else’s phones had 4….
I don’t trust AT&T;anymore than I can throw them.
BTW people, new iPhone models and announcements come out in June, not January.
I buying iPad and case cover from here http://www.cheapstates.com/search-All-ipad-1.html
but I not sure for internet service in my town ( Provo, Utah)