BGR reports, “They seem to be focused on prepping the network to compensate for unannounced devices and also future devices that will use ‘heavy data.'”
Full article, with a tethering tease, here.
MacDailyNews Take: Because the clueless SOBs did such a great job prepping their network for the iPhone, we’re sure this’ll be a huge success.
[Attribution: Electronista. Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
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Use the maxiPad on heavy data flow days and the miniPad on light data flow days…
P.S. Tethering will only be available between the iPhone and maxi/miniPad.
@Snow Leopard
I’m waiting for January 27th with my <strike>legs</strike> fingers crossed!!!
I’m a PC, and I think two cans and a piece of string are advanced telecommunications technology.
. . . and I don’t have the slightest idea what you’re all talking about!
The person writing the MDN take is starting to scare me. I see way too much bitterness creeping out. Is it time for an intervention?
3 words: f*ck AT&T;. Waitt… That was only two, let’s try that one more time: Fu*k AT&T;AGAIN!!
They didn’t do anything right to prep for massive iPhone traffic. A few years later, with their network falling apart, they are “preparing” for a new device?!!
I hope the apple tablet does NOT end up on AT&T;… If it does, then what’s left of their rusty network will catch fire… And then we’ll truly see how much “coverage” AT&T;has.
I hope they also loose their dirty clutches on the iPhone. I have resigned myself to and iPod touch until the iPhone load is distributed amongst enough networks to ensure good coverage.
Crapple is…
Er..What Mom? Why are my pants down here at the computer? er..uh…I uh… Leave me alone in the basement Mom! I’m studying!
I find MDN’s takes on this to be really inconsistent. At times, you apologize for the carrier with the premise that the horde of traffic that appeared practically overnight would have been enough to choke any network – a sentiment with which I agree fwiw – and then at other times you take the less informed ‘AT&T;screwed the pooch’ approach. Personally I don’t care that much which side you fall on, but at least be consistent.
MDN should just buy BGR and get it over with…
I would say it’s for the additional bandwidth needed for tethering, not an unannounced device.
Wow. Doesn’t anyone see what is going on here? iPhones will be able to be tethered to the upcoming Apple Tablet. Knowing Apple, they’ve undoubtedly designed the Tablet with a place to secure your iPhone. In addition, while your iPhone is tethered, you’ll also be able to receive and make calls and texts right from your Tablet’s screen. Whoever thinks the Apple Tablet is going to come with a contract is insane.
Oh, and with the recent acquisition of the mobile-advertising company and the building of the server farm in North Carolina, Apple will be poised to offer MobileMe for free. Can you imagine how many people will be upset if they buy the Tablet then have to pay another $99 for MobileMe? That would be ridiculous.
@ Willie G
The same thought occurred to me.
MDN usually defends any criticisms of ATT’s network by contending that ANY carrier faced with the traffic caused by the iPhone would be having problems. Then in the next breath they are calling them “clueless SOBs” for not doing a better job prepping their network.
This MDN take just leaves me scratching my head…
I’d say that MDN’s take is spot on. AT&T;deserves nothing but scorn for the quality of their service and the emptiness of their promises, especially to iPhone customers.
@ WIllie G and The DataDude,
Not to worry, it’s merely a mild case of schizophrenia. The meds will level things off after the 27th.
ATT is obviously upgrading their network for two reasons:
1) They have the benefit of hindsight, and they don’t want to repeat their mistake of underestimating the growth of bandwidth that the iPhone represented, and
2) They know they are going to have to compete with other carriers going forward.
In the final analysis, the iPhone will have accomplished something no other phone manufacturer ever dreamed of: Getting the dumb-pipe companies to compete on services, rather than on handset specs.
Again, Apple redefines the landscape and re-writes the rules.
Snow Leopard:
Apple has always been adept at stringing us along. And menarche only half the market. The buying cycle is ripe.
All the blowhards complaining about AT&T;service probably couldn’t tell the difference between a fiber optic cable and a tree root.
If you’re so damn good at providing wireless data services start your own company, purchase spectrum from the FCC, and sell wireless data services. I’m sure VCs would love your business plan.
Otherwise, STFU.
“probably couldn’t tell the difference between a fiber optic cable and a tree root”
That’s a fascinating challenge.
“MacDailyNews Take: Because the clueless SOBs did such a great job prepping their network for the iPhone, we’re sure this’ll be a huge success.”
Until the iPhone NOBODY envisioned the degree to which customers would surf the web using their iPhone.
Only clueless SOB’s, sitting in their Morning Morning Quarterback chair would denigrate ATT, while ignoring that Verizon’s CDMA network wouldn’t have been strained by the influx of iPhone data users, it would have collapsed.
@Charlie… No offense but your analysis is retarded.
“iPhones will be able to be tethered to the upcoming Apple Tablet.”
Yes, this is possible, but with AT&T;struggling for 3 years to keep up with iPhone data demands, I see a rocky road ahead if they open up tethering for a popular new Apple device.
“Knowing Apple, they’ve undoubtedly designed the Tablet with a place to secure your iPhone.”
This is where the retarded part comes in. There’s no way in hell that Apple would add the bulk necessary to accommodate attaching a phone to it. This is more the sort of idea that Microsoft would come up with.
Personally, I prefer the idea of equipping the tablet with an ExpressCard slot, allowing owners the option to purchase cellular data service from any carrier. They could then promote the tablet as primarily a WiFi device, with cellular data service as an option. An ExpressCard slot would also allow for cellular connectivity without compromising the tablet’s appearance, since the card would not protrude form the tablet like a USB cellular dongle would.
“In addition, while your iPhone is tethered, you’ll also be able to receive and make calls and texts right from your Tablet’s screen. Whoever thinks the Apple Tablet is going to come with a contract is insane.”
So you think AT&T;is going to open up tethering just in time to accommodate this new device, plus allow users to make phone calls and send text messages, placing a huge additional burden on their already much maligned and overwhelmed data network, all without charging an extra penny for it? I think you need to reconsider your definition of insanity.
“Can you imagine how many people will be upset if they buy the Tablet then have to pay another $99 for MobileMe? That would be ridiculous.”
That’s not how MobileMe subscriptions work. I have a single MobileMe account which I use with my iPhone, MacBook Pro, and iMac. Apple does not charge per device.
@Snow Leopard
Again, how’s that iPhone nano going?
Should Apple release a tablet, I seriously doubt they’ll come in two really different models.
I hope at&t;gets the tablet. Why? Because I HOPE that the same carrier I have my iphone with will give me a bundled discount or offer to add a tablet. If I have to have a Verizon account to cover my tablet, that’s an extra, unbundled expensive charge I’ll have to eat every month on top of my at&t;charges.
Well, ATT said the software upgrade to 7.6 mbits has been completed. That is a faster service and will be deployed as the backhaul is completed to each site. AT&T;did at least indicate as much fiber as possible to increase the pipes to the network backbone. I do recall ATT had the fastest backbone available. Though I am not sure if it is different for home and mobille. If both are served, then ATT should have a greater advantage on data movement.
Hopefully, the back haul will happen quickly and upgrade to 7.6 in large sections. Would love it a lot at LAX- Did you hear that ATT!
Wake up people! The “MDN Take” is their way of trolling their own comments sections to get readers to respond and check back for responses and generate more hits…
Just skip their “take” and draw your own conclusions.