Is AT&T to Blame for 3G's Performance in the iPhone?

Having been buried in work & on holiday for much of the past month, I hadn't really caught up with some of the news about the 3G iPhone. There seems to be widespread consternation about the performance of the device when connected via 3G, both in terms of connect speed and download performance.

About 200-300kbit/s seems to be a typical connection speed in the US, with some people reporting much worse performance (on the fringes of coverage). However, according to Wired's 3G iPhone performance map, many users in Europe are getting 1-2Mbit/s quite easily.

Various fingers of blame are being pointed - is it the AT&T (T) network in the US? Is it the Infineon (IFX) chipset?

Or is this just another manifestation of my favorite bugbear - the disconnect between mobile network designers and device developers (and thus by extension the 'real' user experience)? Is it simply the case that the original usage cases envisaged for HSDPA didn't include the type of rich, demanding applications (and implied traffic patterns) that iPhones generate?

Some thoughts:

- First, this could well be a manifestation of the HSDPA "idle mode" latency I discussed a few weeks ago. For iPhone users used to always-on, instant-connect WiFi, or even a nailed-up EDGE connection on a matured & optimized network - the initial "time to connect" could well be notably worse.
- Second, in many countries, 3G is deployed in a higher frequency band than 2G (1900MHz vs. 850MHz for AT&T, or 2100MHz vs 900/1800MHz in Europe). This means it will have shorter range, lesser coverage, and crucially worse indoor penetration.
- The audience of 3G iPhone users is fairly self-selecting: almost all actually use the data capabilities. While some of that is attributable to the phone's usability, it's also the case that it has attracted existing data-oriented users. It also tends to come bundled with data plans. This contrasts with most other popular 3G phones, for which only a small minority regularly use data (or even have a data plan). I'll bet the average Nokia (NOK) N95 or SonyEricsson K-series user wouldn't notice a lousy 3G signal, because they only fire up the browser once a month.
- Various blogs have commented on the new 2.0.2 firmware release, wondering whether it contains changes to the radio stack. Some have claimed that they're seeing more bars of signal strength subsequently - although the cynic in me suspects it's easier to change the signal-strength indicator software, than the underlying radio.
- AT&T has not previously had the consumer 3G dongle phenomenon take off the same way it has in many other countries (reflecting different pricing strategies). So its network engineers may be a little behind the curve on dealing with massive, sudden ramp-ups of data traffic growth, often in new and unexpected geographic locations. They're probably faced with a whole range of optimisation headaches, and may even be needing to split cells & find new locations.
- Expectations of WiFi-like performance by end users reading about HSDPA's "headline" speeds may have been unrealistic. Normally, WiFi AP's only have 1-3 users attached simultaneously, whereas a 3G base station might have hundreds with the available capacity in a sector shared amongst them all. Then there's another set of questions about the backhaul capacity from the cell site, in comparison with WiFi which usually has a home/office broadband connection to exploit.
- Somewhere there must be some side-by-side comparisons of an iPhone running next to another 3G handset (Nokia, Moto (MOT), whatever) connected to the same operator's network. If there was a big performance delta, that would point the finger of blame clearly at the phone/chipset rather than the network.
- It could be that the radio chip or antenna has worse performance on AT&T's 1900MHz band than on most European operators' 2100MHz for some reason.
- I'd imagine that the density of iPhone users in the US is higher than in most other countries, and thus more likely to put a strain on AT&T's network in dense urban areas.

Based on what I've been reading, I'm more inclined to point the finger at AT&T than at Infineon. Its 3G network has (to date) been geared more towards corporate PC + datacard users - and I suspect it's realizing that mass-market consumer usage patterns are very different indeed.

Comments

[dithers:]

Reasonable article, good points raised.
I agree with the writers conclusion that AT&T dont 'get' the iPhone data usage, which is a new thing.
Evidence supporting this is the fact that the iPhone is top of the list in ALL mobile browsers, by a long way.

2008 Aug 20 10:12 AM

[:-D:]

absolutely. i've noticed substantial differences in my iphone's data retrieval performance depending on the time of day (best late at night), location (urban areas best), outdoors (better), and whether or not i'm on the road/moving. so anyone standing outside using their iphone in midtown manhattan at 3 am is in for a treat :-/ i am also using the data features much more than i anticipated, so it's not a stretch to think that many others are as well, and that the scale of the data traffic bump wasn't appreciated by both at&t, and probably by apple, which presumably would have better warned at&t! despite all that, i'm loving the phone and optimistic about future improvements in service.

2008 Aug 20 10:25 AM

[Addict:]

I would be more inclined to think that problem is AT&Ts fault if it were not for the fact that the problems are occuring with other carriers overseas. Based on that, I believe the problem lies with the chip or software.

2008 Aug 20 10:25 AM

[Ted Landry:]

to check your actual signal strength, here is how to put your iphone in field test mode...

Dial: *3001#12345#* (* =STAR)
Touch: Call

(then in the upper left corner you'll notice a tiny gray number, and that's your current signal strength)

2008 Aug 20 10:45 AM

[FreeRange:]

Ted - what's the scale/range for comparison strong to weak signal?

2008 Aug 20 11:01 AM

[Cho Cha:]

I tried the # Ted Landry suggested and it works, I just don't know what it means. @ 1st I had a reading of 113 in my office which usually gets very poor reception on 3g, I leaned back in my chair and it dropped to a negative 87. If someone could explain what these #'s mean I would appreciate it.

2008 Aug 20 11:21 AM

[Barnegat:]

Ted- I have 97 To 101 is that good?

2008 Aug 20 11:43 AM

[Iphone 3G w...:]

Field Signal Strength should be between 50 and 105 (roughly). Usually shown in negative numbers but select phones will show positive numbers...

50 would ba a very strong signal and 105 a very weak one,

2008 Aug 20 12:17 PM

[Hayweed:]

It must be the network and not the phone. Apple would not rush out the product if it was not ready. Jobs may run Apple but he does not concern himself with the day to day price of the stock. Just consider the conservative guidance every quarter and the stock drop from $200 to $115 earlier this year.

You know the phone was tested and must have passed filed tests prior to the announcement. There is no way that they put a bad chip design in knowing that they would have to do a recall.

Another issue may be that some of the chips from infineon could have a problem and those may need the upgrade. Considering the huge jump in internet traffic from the iphone, that many people are happy, I think the people that are having problems are in the minority. Mobile me had some issues but mine service was perfect.

2008 Aug 20 02:19 PM

[alg:]

It is certainly possible that it is a chip/software problem. When the phone has problems securing a 3G connection it switches to 2 G. This can happen under severe load at the cell tower. If the phone parameters are set conservatively it can switch quicker than necessary. Very hard to test this type of load condition

2008 Aug 20 03:50 PM

[monkeyman:]

Many users of 3G phones who have been switching to the iPhone 3G have reported lower performance, there previous phones were working faster on the 3G network to get the same data. The same users are also having big problems with dropped calls where there previous 3G models had no issues. These problems are consistent with reports around the world. The sources for all this information is from tech blogs , particularly gizmodo.com .

HAYWEED - "Apple would not rush out the product if it was not ready." What about the Newton? What about the current Mobile Me service that Apple has had to give back to back 60 day subscription extensions to?
What about the first gen iPod Nanos that have been melting, catching on fire, or "exploding" that Apple just recently admitted to after an investigation by the Japanese ministry (this was a battery defect, but they hid/denied it till a formal investigation...)?

2008 Aug 20 04:51 PM

[htc_user:]

For what it is worth: I use a HTC 2125 phone on the AT&T network in the SF-bay area. I rarely ever get 3G reception, and when I do, it is usualy for a very short time (think minutes). Overseas the same phone gets 3G reception 100% of the time in urban area's, even inside buildings, with much faster data transfer. Makes me think the AT&T network is simply not capable of delivering 3G connectivity in even urban area's...

2008 Aug 20 06:15 PM

[Neil Anderson:]

I'd venture the AT&T network is overwhelmed.

2008 Aug 20 09:09 PM

[Robcal1:]

AT&T is totally to blame for HORRIBLE reception everywhere in Northern Orange County (Anaheim specifically) California. Their own stores try to sell you on this incredible 3G coverage which is an absolute LIE!!! Oh and by the way, my white 3G iPhone is NO BETTER than the original iPhone with regards to phone reception whether 3G is enabled or not. Yet their new service plan dings you for extra money because of this network. Yes, when I have 5 bars on 3G; the iPhone is incredible! But these instances are few and far between no matter if I'm in L.A. or Orange County. And as far as I can see, that new update yesterday has done nothing at all to increase reception. I'm constantly on the verge of calling Apple and getting my money back like I did for the first iPhone. But no other cell phone maker makes a phone even remotely as good as the iPhone. I really wish AT&T would finally get their act together. It's so amazing to me how Verizon's service is "by a landslide" better than AT&T's. At least here in Southern California.

2008 Aug 21 12:46 AM

[Jon T:]

I also support the 'overwhelmed' suggestion.

Just read the disbelief from Engadget about iPhone usage:

"And then we ran the numbers. We could hardly believe it. So far in 2008, the iPhone, iPhone 3G, and iPod touch account for some 95.8% of all mobile views on the full site."

Game set and match I think. Better start investing in your network AT&T..!

2008 Aug 21 09:03 AM

[brewer:]

Absolutely it's the network. There will be a few random hardware failures, but the real issue is that on a lesser phone (not a mobile computer) you won't NOTICE the difference since (for example) there isn't even a credible browser.

2008 Aug 21 04:02 PM

[stan98:]

"Various fingers of blame are being pointed - is it the AT&T (T) network in the US? Is it the Infineon (IFX) chipset?"

God forbid any of you ninnies blame the manufacturer when something goes wrong, like in virtually any other, (non-Apple), product.

2008 Aug 22 09:38 AM

[Phil Dewey:]

I've had the EXACT same experience as @htc_user. Great reception in the EU (Denmark and Amsterdam) with an HTC phone. I'll retry this experiment next month in Italy.

2008 Aug 22 12:46 PM

[Bryan MacKi...:]

The 3G iPhone weak signal/reception problems are not limited to AT&T or even the US. I bought my new iPhone 3G in Japan and am trying to use it in a suburb of Tokyo. The singal switches from strong to weak and in my house, it's mostly weak to nil. Other 3G phones work just fine here. Apple says it's a Softbank problem (Softbank is the wireless carrier). The local Softbank store says it's an Apple problem. And both seem to want to transfer responsibility to the local store who sold it to me (Kojima). Kojima says it's not their problem. In other words, it's someone elses' problem which means it's mine.

2008 Aug 25 08:07 AM

[Fandango:]

Last week, I purchased two iPhone 3Gs for myself and my wife.

I'm a long-time Apple "branded" fanatic, going all the way back to my first Apple LISA ($9,000) purchased in 1983.

DO NOT BUY AN iPHONE UNTIL YOU VIEW MY VIDEO ON YouTube about my issues. My wifes phone will run 5 hours (in stand-by) before the battery fails... My iPhone is so bad, just watch the video.

Get on YouTube and type in my moniker, RoyFromTexas and look for the video, "AT&T PHONE, NO BARS IN TEXAS."

2008 Oct 16 09:18 PM