As for 3G vs. 4G, HSPA+ is theoretically fast enough to qualify under the ITU's standards as "4G". "4G" doesn't mean anything any more. 3G barely does.
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iPhone 4S w/ 5.1 on AT&T reporting 4G usage
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It is just a display thing.
But maybe they updated your local towers backhaul recently with hspa+ speeds.
Where is this information coming from??? I see people saying this but what is the source?... or is it just MacRumors people pulling things from their behind?
My service sucks. Not updating to 5.1 yet. Even if it showed I was on 4G it probably still feels like E(Edge). lol
Source would be your carrier. For example on Verizon you dial *228 to update PRL (preferred routing list). I don't believe it works on AT&T something different with GSM network.
I'm not sure it can do it with an OS update either.
Anyway if that's what the people you are hearing mention then it does have some merit.
I personally think 4G looks better than H+.
I'm sure Apple will think of something for LTE ... or they'll just leave it at 4G. But H+? Naahhhh.
You seriously need a source?
You think somehow with the 5.1 update your iphone grew an LTE chip inside?
You still got the same hardware inside your phone that you had before.
Same HSPA+ radio etc...
Yep, we're pulling it from our behind
It was cheaper to buy the lobbyists that got the definition changed rather than build out the network
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After I updated my iPhone to 5.1 after the keynote. My iPhone has said that I was on AT&T 4G and I noticed dramatic difference in speed.
Any chance you can post your homescreen wallpaper?
I am so jealous! Honestly no matter where I go I never see anything even comparable to 4g speeds... I have checked with the AT&T store in my area and they claim that the area has the enhanced data backhaul... To me HSPA+ is useless and in no way 4g.
This is double stupid for my phone to show 4G because I am using a wap.cingular APN (go phone prepaid) which doesn't get HSPA+, proving it is just a marketing label and has nothing to do with what you actually get.
I believe the correct APN to get HSPA+ is just phone, which of course does not work with a go phone plan.
The indicator doesn't even have anything to do with signal, I can barely get data at my house.
I believe the correct APN to get HSPA+ is just phone, which of course does not work with a go phone plan.
The indicator doesn't even have anything to do with signal, I can barely get data at my house.
The iPad 3 has the LTE logo to indicate LTE data. You can see the logo on Apple's website.
From what I could tell at the keynote yesterday and the images on apple's site.....it has LTE up there when it's LTE. 4G for HSPA+ and 3G for HSPA and Ev-Do
Your APN doesn't determine what type of signal the phone receives, the radio and firmware in the phone determines that.
The APN settings only determine the data path to use once a session is established.
The wap.cingular APN works just fine over and HSPA+ session.
It's the default fallback setting on all non-LTE AT&T smartphones.
All AT&T LTE phones are configured to use the newer PTA APN setting, but you can manually enter the wap.cingular APN if you like.
Your APN doesn't determine what type of signal the phone receives, the radio and firmware in the phone determines that.
The APN settings only determine the data path to use once a session is established.
The wap.cingular APN works just fine over and HSPA+ session.
It's the default fallback setting on all non-LTE AT&T smartphones.
All AT&T LTE phones are configured to use the newer PTA APN setting, but you can manually enter the wap.cingular APN if you like.
The radio and the SIM you mean? It has been mentioned before that switching to the wap.cingular and using a Go Phone SIM nets you normal 3G speeds, not the HSPA+. For example, if I switch to the phone APN I get no data at all.
Man how I envy you guys - the UK data speeds are shocking tbh. I get 3G at home and some other places but most displays that woeful 'o' (or GPRS in other words) and occasionally 'E' for Edge (although this mostly never actually loads a page on Safari)..
How we long for decent data speeds and coverage here
Yes and no.
Your SIM provisions which APN's will work, but the APN itself has no impact on whether you get a UMTS or HSPA/HSPA+ signal.
The phone's radio and firmware determine that.
I feel bad for the people at the Apple Store that will now have to explain to all the people who really don't know what 4G is. Now, once LTE is on the iPhone, everyone is going to be confused because they'll think they already have it.
According to the ITU, HSPA+ is 4G.
On December 6, 2010, they released the following statement:
“It is recognized that [4G], while undefined, may also be applied to the forerunners of these technologies, LTE and WiMax, and to other evolved 3G technologies providing a substantial level of improvement in performance and capabilities with respect to the initial third generation systems now deployed.”
Agree that HSPA+ is not LTE and the speeds are different, but officially, they are both 4G (regardless of how many lawyers it took to make that chage).
I see what you mean now but regardless of how it's accomplished go phone prepaid does not get HSPA+/4G speed.