iPhone 4 3G speeds: 5x faster upload, 2x faster downloads
by Justin Horn on Jun 26th, 2010 @ 7:01 pm
I’ve been using the Speedtest.net app a lot over the last few days to test the iPhone 4 signal issue. Checking whether the signal was actually degraded or if it was just a display issue. That’s a post for another time, but most of the time the signal was actually degraded.
During this testing I’ve discovered that when I have a good signal, my upload speeds have gone from an average of about 0.25 Mbps to 1.21 Mbps last night. I’ve also hit new 3G speed record for download, 4.6 Mbps. I was never able to hit speeds faster than about 2.5 Mbps with my 3GS even though it was capable of using the 7.2 Mbps network AT&T supposedly finished installing in Miami earlier this year.
The real test will be when I travel to New York City in a few weeks!
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Real AT&T security breach today?
by Justin Horn on Jun 15th, 2010 @ 4:41 pmReading a thread over at forums.tipb.com some user are reporting that when logging into their own accounts they were presented with another users information.
User ugahairydawgs reports:
Had that happen to me too. Logged in and was looking at the account for some guy from Wisconsin who works for IBM.
I thought I had hit the jackpot and that the AT&T computers had messed up and given me full upgrade pricing, but then I realized that the name at the top of the page didn’t quite match the one on my drivers license.
This is a much more serious issue than the iPad email leak last week. This also explains why no one could preorder a phone due to the check with ATTs servers during the order process.
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Where in the world is the 3G Skype app? (Updated)
by Justin Horn on Mar 24th, 2010 @ 5:20 pm
First a quick recap…
On January 27th Apple updated their terms to allow 3G VoIP apps. With Skype’s official stance on the subject being they had the 3G version ready, everyone expected the new app to hit the virtual shelves within a couple days.
Then on February 3rd, when we all expected to download the 3G version to our iPhones, Skype said it would be delayed in order to get it right. Even though it seemed a bit suspicious since they were supposed to have the 3G version ready and waiting, everyone was just excited that VoIP over 3G was finally a reality.
…end recap!
Here we are, 2 months later and still waiting. With no official word since February 3rd, the excitement has been replaced with frustration. Many people, myself included, are starting to wonder if the Skype – Verizon deal is the reason for the iPhone app delay.
After digging around I stumbled upon a thread in the Skype forums where a user claimed that Peter Parkes told him:
The deal with Verizon included exclusivity so Skype is not going to issue an update for the iPhone that will allow it to work over 3G.
As plausible as this is, I doubt anyone from Skype would let this slip to a random person. I guess we’ll see what happens tomorrow after the Verizon Skype app is released.
UPDATE In another thread the same user made the claim, but in this case Peter Parkes responded directly to this claim:
There’s no way I would have said that we’re backing away from iPhone, let alone not releasing a 3G-capable version, quite simply because it’s not true.
We’re absolutely committed to the iPhone platform: I cannot emphasise this enough. We’ll be releasing the 3G-capable version of our app very soon indeed.
Thanks to @paulmontag for the link (via @PhoneinCanada)
As I continued my search, I found two official responses on the matter.
First, Twitter user Dakota Allen claimed to get an official tweet saying the app was “coming soon” on March 23rd. I did a little fact checking and was able to confirm this claim:
@dakotadallen: Is Skype for iPhone over 3G coming? Or has Verizon paid to ensure that doesn’t happen? (view tweet)
@skypemobile: it’s coming soon – watch this space (view tweet)
Second, taking a look back at the comments on the February 3rd update, Peter Parkes finally replied to all the questions:
Nikunj and others – I appreciate your patience. Unfortunately we don’t have any additional information to share right now. Our iPhone team is working hard to get the updated app ready to release – when it is, we will get it to you as soon as we can.
So the official stance is basically the same as it was on February 3rd, we are are still working away and it should be coming soon. I’m not 100% satisfied with this response, but any response is better than none. At least we know they are still working on it…right? I’ve also contacted Skype PR for an official response, but not holding my breathe that they’ll respond.
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iPhone’s AT&T 3G app download limit increased to 20MB
by Justin Horn on Feb 18th, 2010 @ 10:17 amI happen to stumble upon this last night when going through my regular 3 hour check on app updates for Skype.
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AT&T starting to look better, SlingPlayer going 3G soon
by Justin Horn on Feb 4th, 2010 @ 9:36 amWe recently got some 3G VOIP love from AT&T now that Apple’s terms have caught up to AT&T giving the all clear last year. Now AT&T has taken the next big step in allowing the SlingPlayer iPhone app to stream over 3g. According to Engadget:
AT&T says it has been testing an “optimized” version of the app on its 3G network since December, and Sling says the dynamic bandwidth adjustment should keep the app from bringing the network to grinding halt — in not so many words. The 3G-friendly version will be a free upgrade to the $30 application, and should be available as soon as the revised software makes its way through the App Store approval process.
Looks like AT&T is feeling more secure as they start rolling out their 7.2 network this year.
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Skype provides an excuse for the delay of the 3G capable iPhone app
by Justin Horn on Feb 3rd, 2010 @ 6:12 pmAs you know we just reported a week ago about Apple finally updating the developer agreement to allow 3G VOIP calls. A couple of apps have come out of the gate already with this feature, but everyone is really waiting for Skype to update their app. Today Skype has finally confirmed they are going to release it “soon”:
Many of you have been asking when we’ll release a version of Skype for iPhone which supports 3G calling. Well, the simple answer is soon.
My problem with this is they have been saying they’ve had the 3G version ready to go for a while now and were just waiting for Apple. Seems like they might not have been the full truth as they provide this excuse for the delay:
You may have seen other apps offering calls over 3G, but we’re holding ours back for a little bit longer. Why? So that we can give you the very best audio quality we can. When our 3G-capable Skype for iPhone app is released, it’ll let you make calls in wideband audio, giving you greater clarity and fidelity – because that’s what you expect from Skype.
Either way let’s just hope soon actually means soon.
Oh, and you can check video from Skype explaining the process of bring 3G to the app
(via iPhoneinCanada)
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