What AT&T Doesn’t Want You To Know About The iPhone 3G
To start things off let me say that I’m a very happy iPhone user. But will I be buying the new iPhone 3G? No. And here’s why.
What AT&T doesn’t want you to know, is that their 3G HSDPA networking service is only available for a select amount of metropolitan areas. I mean, this thing is very, very limited.
In fact, the 3G access is so limited, that the main coverage map doesn’t even cover the service area. Instead, AT&T provides a pop-out menu with the list of areas where 3G is available, each city having its own map of locational service.
So what about the iPhone user who lives in Montana (a state in which AT&T doesn’t offer any 3G access at all)? Or even in a New Jersey suburb? To say it lightly, you’re screwed.
If you purchase the iPhone 3G and don’t live in a major metro area, you’re essentially paying for the 2G iPhone with GPS. Simple as that. So the extra expensive data plan you’ll be forking over for from AT&T is basically just a hole in your wallet.
So who is the 3G iPhone good for? Traveling business men and city-dwellers. And that’s pretty much it.
Filed under Tech |12 Responses to “What AT&T Doesn’t Want You To Know About The iPhone 3G”
Leave a Reply
Dispointing. I’ll be keeping my 2G for now then since I’ll be living all over the US in the next 2 years. I’ll wait for coverage to get better before getting it and paying more for the data line. Thanks for the heads up.
I suppose that a $200 2G iPhone with GPS is better than a $400 2G iPhone with no GPS. If I were in the market for an iPhone, I’d be happy that I waited, despite the lack of 3G service in my area. I remember waiting years and years for DSL service to come to my sleepy little town, so I won’t hold my breath for 3G service.
Michael
michaelandchrissy.com
@Michael: But you’d be paying more in the long run for the 3G service cost, which you wouldn’t even be able to use!
I just bought a 2G iphone used. I have no use for 3G or GPS.
What is on the current iphone is sufficient enough.
Good info - I’ll try to spread the word.
AT&T has always been anti-New Jersey… Having worked in Oradell and lived in Monroe, NY (Orange County) I learned that anything in NY outside of Manhatten is considered NJ and there is almost no 3G… very sneaky!
[…] is that the iPhone isn’t cheaper. The cost of the plan has increased. To top it off, 3G coverage is limited, so it’ll be difficult to those that like to travel around. You can find AT&T’s […]
[…] What AT&T Doesn’t Want You To Know About The iPhone 3G–Jersey, Suburbia “What AT&T doesn’t want you to know, is that their 3G HSDPA networking service is only available for a select amount of metropolitan areas. I mean, this thing is very, very limited.” (tags: apple iphone att mobile phone) […]
[…] the blogosphere is full of opinions. Engadget has a good overview of the new iPhone here. Andrew Dobrow checked the AT&T coverage map for the New York City area and claimed that the 3G coverage was […]
well i was expecting to say i am not at all surprised that 3g is limited to a few metro areas but then i checked the at&t coverage map and my suburb and the surrounding areas are all covered.
who knew? damn…now i might have to get it.
thanks a lot!
Supposedly, you will be paying for increased battery life. I don’t live in 3G area and probably never will.
Can anyone confirm the battery life is supposed to be better?
I’ve also read the display smudges easier than the original iPhone. My dad, brother & sister in law have the first gen iPhone. It doesn’t smudge too bad but it smudges enough that I wouldn’t want it to get any worse.
Yes, and I happen to be from Montana. I’ve been looking for a new 2G but it looks like it’s not even in the market anymore; Apple and AT&T are gearing up for 3G’s and encouraging people to buy only them.
And I also heard something about how they’re requiring that you buy the iPhone already with a service contract to prevent people from unlocking the phones. This keeps me from buying a 2G from a source other than Apple Stores.