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Question

4G on ATT iPhone 4S

Mar 13, 2012 3:10AM PDT

Today when my home WiFi was accidentally unplugged, I turned my 4S on and it showed 4G. This is the first time it has shown that, all the rest was 3G.

I don't live in a city with LTE so I'm wondering if 4G is the new 3G for ATT and what difference it makes if any.

Thanks...

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Not what you think....
Mar 13, 2012 3:41AM PDT

This has been reported on numerous forums. With the latest iOS update, the indicator now shows 4G when in an HSPA/HSDPA coverage area. Those are not true 4G networks and you are not getting LTE on your phone. Based on the release of the new iPad later this week, every indication is that the next iPhone will support LTE data, but not with any current iPhone.

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Technically, there is no 4G in the US
Mar 13, 2012 7:05AM PDT

None of the speeds offered by any of the carriers comes anywhere near close to actual 4G speeds

The 4G standard calls for 100mb/s for fast movers, cars and trains and 1Gb/s for slow movers, pedestrians and stationary devices.

Still a ways to go before we get there.

P

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Agreed
Mar 13, 2012 7:22AM PDT

It is true that the US cellular carriers are taking a lot of liberty with the term 4G on their networks. Just clever marketing and the majority of users don't really understand the true meaning of 4G. There was a funny Saturday Night Live "fake" commercial last month that poked fun at a Verizon store rep confusing a curious customer with the jargon commonly used to describe cellular technologies.