AT&T to begin implementing N-SET in an effort to reduce 3G network strain

Also wouldn't it lessen the possibility of dropped calls from hard handoffs since voice stays on 2G?

 

Hmmm, I don't lilke the sound of this. In the city, 2G was so overcrowded that voice become garbled due of half rate. With 3G things improved dramatically. I hope they don't random switch me back. I'm not sure what they mean by "iphone users will not be affected".

Anyone know?

 

I would guess that the iphone dosent have that capability to be controlled like that, or some such nonsense.

 

...hmm...shouldn't AT&T already be using some kind of load balancing settings in their network? :headscrat I've never heard of the term "N-SET" used before, so it must be some internal AT&T name. But all 2G/3G network operators must have some type of load balancing in their network, whatever they want to call it ("N-SET", or whatever). Maybe AT&T is just trying a different strategy, by forcing voice to 2G and reserving 3G for only data.

I would guess that they will now start to force all phones to camp on 2G and only switch to 3G when a data session is set up? If so, I can see a million people looking at their 3G phone and asking "hey, where did my 3G symbol go"?

I think in the short-term AT&T will have alot of problems/complaints with this strategy, but in the long-run it maybe a good idea...

Also, as a last comment, AT&T is a multi-vendor network, so each vendors equipment has different settings and will do load-balancing differently. So it won't be the same accross the country.

PS- And how will the iPhone and BB's be immune? Will they force Apple and BB to stay on 3G based on their IMEA? That will be a strategy I never saw before...

 

It may be that since iPhone and Blackberry plans come at a premium that those users would be allowed to stay on 3G all the time, or that the devices simply don't have the capability to be switched back and forth by the carrier.

-Jay

 

It somewhat sounds like that maybe what they are trying to do. As for load balancing, yes they should have something but having had Ameritech/Cingular/AT&T all my mobile life I have yet to figure out their logic.

I don't like the sound of it either, under the same conditions the calls are clearer on 3G than on 2G for me also. I wouldn't mind being pushed to 2G at times when the network is crowded but don't like the idea of this happening as a general rule, specially if certain devices are going to be exempt when all smartpohones are charged the same for data usage.

I guess if the IPhoners are exempt, I will just have join the herd then - :lmao:

 

The one thing I have noticed between my 3G 760i and my EDGE speeds on the 580i, the 580i connected to Media Net and I was able to browse the web a lot smoother than on the 760i. I found the 760i prone to freezing up and painfully slow web browsing.

 

Would that be a herd of cows or iSheep Charlyee?:lmao: Just kidding, I will say one thing I did like about the iPhone was it's web browsing.

 

I am watching the 3G indicators on my HTC Tilt and Nokia 6555, to see if I'm sent to 2G in my familiar urban areas. I think I've seen it once since this N-Set was announced. I'll keep watchiing.

COtech

 

For some reason, I see problems with this. Either with dropped calls or call failed message because of bad handoffs. For me 3G sounded better by a long shot. Now, there is no reason for me to spend lots of money buying expensive 3G phones when I might as well get a cheaper 2G phone instead. I also find it kind of funny because, AT&T had always been talking down Sprint/Verizon because of CDMA saying the technology is at a dead end causing them to still use 2G for voice while 3G is for data....yet they are now doing the same thing it seems.

 

I'm showing HSDPA on my TIlt right now, and I live in a fairly urban area...

 

Hmm, if I understand this right, it will always show HSDPA if available when the device is dormant. However, when used for voice it will switch you to 2G, I guess the only way to verify is to keep checking your phone while on a voice call.

Just my 2 cents.
Palm850/v0100 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.11)

 

I just made a voice call, and it stayed on HSDPA the whole time. Now, I do have the phone hacked, I can disable 2G and force it to use 3G if necessary.

 

That's good to know. I can force mine to stay on 3G also (sorry RR ), standard option on mine. I wonder if voice calls would even go through in that case?

Palm850/v0100 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.11)

 

That's an interesting point, if people who force their phone on 3G only mode will have problems making voice calls. I did a project a year ago for an operator in EU where we had a second 3G (5Mhz) carrier reserved for HSDPA only, any other traffic would get pushed down to the first (5Mhz) carrier.

...but generally speaking, I would imagine AT&T would want everyone camping (ie: ideling) on 2G, because if you are ideling on 3G then call set-up time will be alot longer, and that will be noticeable. For data it might not be as noticeable (plus most people still use their phones for voice calls). But then, I have no idea of AT&T's strategy...

PS- I forgive you Charlyee for forcing your phone on 3G...but AT&T's N-SET may not be as forgiving as I am

 

Interesting, I didn't think about the call setup time, thanks.

The first time I see my phone switch to 2G in this very strong 3G area, I will switch it to 3G only & see if I can still use it for voice.

Thanks for forgiving me. .

BTW, I didn't have any Kopi Luwak, it is just not my cup of joe or should I say not my cup of sh*t.

Palm850/v0100 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.11)

 

If you disable the 2G radio they have no choice but to let you use 3G. Its like when I disabled 850 on my V551 so I could camp on the Blue network... Yeah, my phone wanted to be on orange, but it never saw an orange tower.

 

It can depend alot on how the parameters in the network are set. They can disable all voice calls on 3G, and in that case if you set your phone on 3G only, you won't be able to make any calls. However, I don't think that's the route AT&T will take, especially since they said iPhones and BB's can use 3G voice.

I worked with a few Indonesian guys who were all telling me that if I'm in Indonesia that I should try the Kopi Luwak, how it's the most expensive coffee in the world, and it's unique "processing" ...then when I asked them how it tasted, they said "Oh, we never drank it, that stuff is for tourists" :lmao:

 

That is probably part of it, but also the OP said iPhones and BB Bold, not all BB's. Maybe they are excluded because they have full HTML browsers, instead of WAP only browsers that use less data?

Who knows if the N-SET is even real. I've only found the boygenius reports and copies of that.

If true, maybe the other possibility is to unload phones that are 3G, but customers that have no data plans or limited data planes. For example, someone who owns a Nokia 6555 3G phone with no data plan, doesn't need to be on 3g voice.

The iPhone, is required to use a $30 plan, and uses a full browser. So is the Bold. Perhaps the other BB, data requirements are not straining the network so badly.

Using 2g for voice and then switching to 3G for data sounds unworkable, Most likely a non plan data user will be on EDGE for voice and data.

So far I have seen no changes in the Boston city. But then I have an iPhone. Gotta get something for the $30!

But maybe boygenius is blowing smoke. Has before.

 

viewfly & Jay, all SmartPhones on AT&T require a $30 data plan not just the iPhone & the Bold.

Palm850/v0100 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.11)

 

...that's what I'm thinking as well. One "blog" isn't like a press release, or at least several reliable reports... meanwhile I'd take this N-SET with a grain of salt...

 

Yes, but not all smartphones have full browsers that consume data downloads.

And not all 3G phones require any data plans!!!

 

Hmm, in other words because the iPhone & the Bold are data hogs they get to stay on 3G all the time, wheras all other SmartPhone owners paying the same, will be on 2G for voice?

Also a 3G standard phone owner who does not use data, will never see the "H" or the "3G" on their phone?

These would result in so many disgruntled customers that I don't believe AT&T would make such a move.

I agree with you, either BG is "blowing smoke" or something has been taken out of context & mis-stated.

BTW, I have been on unwaivering "H" as always. I will be traveling into a more urban area today (more network congestion)& I will see if anything changes.

Palm850/v0100 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.11)

 

Actually, strictly speaking only the iPhones require an unlimited data plan (both original & the 3G). You can have any other smartphone and not have a data plan at all or even have the data blocked, except if you have iPhone. But unlimited data for a smartphone is indeed $30 instead of $15 (except if you're using an unbranded smartphone, then it's $15). Case in point — AT&T Nokia E71x vs. unbranded Nokia E71

 

What! Use an unbranded SmartPhone & miss out on all the bloatware & crippling? :lmao:
Palm850/v0100 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.11)

 

That is one thing Apple managed to release from ATT: the iPhone has no 'bloatware' or ATT stuff on it. Not even a logo on the case!

 

I'm thinking if there are a lot of customers you have a 3G phone, but didn't get a data plan, they would be moved off of 3G. I'm thinking of the Nokia 6555 in particular. That make sense, or at least they would not notice the difference. I just don't k now how many people that includes.

BB's went for years with no 3G, even just a year ago, the popular Curve was only 2G.

But the whole rumor or it's exact meaning may be hogwash. Don't lose any sleep over it. It is so contrary to the whole 3G concept anyways. At most it would be an interim solution in weak 3g areas.

 

lol viewfly, I am not losing any sleep over it.

Why do you say 6555 owners will not notice the difference? Seems to me that they will since their much advertised 3G phone is going to show *E* in the idle state (ref: RR's post).

Palm850/v0100 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.11)

 

Yeah, sure. You'll have one eye open, staring at the '3G' icon. Sort of like the lightbulb in the refrig. Is it on when the door is closed.

I pick the 6555 as an example of a entry phone (cost is $0), small screen that one might buy just as a phone and not for data usage. Eventually, the GSM carriers like ATT will want everyone on 3G and retire GSM. But not all users are 'data hogs' (I prefer the term, 'enchanced web interrogation techniques')

Of course the icon will change. Er, unless, ATT is clever and keeps it on 3G so no one knows any better. Realistically, ATT cannot afford to reduce the data speeds of any user, after the flak they received after the release of the 3G iPhones and the networks became overloaded. That is what makes me think that this is bogus, or limited to a small group of users that will not really be affected, such as voice heavy 3G users.

The bonus they get will be 2x battery usage!