Comments on: AT&T's LTE Plans Taking Shape In Slow Motion

By: Will Huawei Win the 4G Sweepstakes?

Will Huawei Win the 4G Sweepstakes? — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:41:15 +0000

[...] signed up European carriers Telnor and TeliaSonera as customers for its LTE gear; and it’s in the running to become a supplier to AT&T for its 4G [...]

By: Time to think about the iPhone 4G

Time to think about the iPhone 4G — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 04:44:32 +0000

[...] with higher up- and download speeds. AT&T will also roll out its LTE network, but most likely not in 2010. The iPhone 4G will support 3G, HSPA and [...]

By: Time to think about the iPhone 4G — iphonephotovideo.com: iPhone Photo Video

Time to think about the iPhone 4G — iphonephotovideo.com: iPhone Photo Video — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:22:37 +0000

[...] with higher up- and download speeds. AT&T will also roll out its LTE network, but most likely not in 2010. The iPhone 4G will support 3G, HSPA and [...]

By: AT&T Moves Up Its LTE Rollout, Admits To Network Issues

AT&T Moves Up Its LTE Rollout, Admits To Network Issues — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:56:46 +0000

[...] been insistent that its 3G network has a lot of headroom and it doesn’t need LTE right away. It had hemmed and hawed, saying it wouldn’t begin testing until 2010 or 2011, with full deployment coming after that. [...]

By: AT&T Reshapes Itself As a Smartphone Carrier

AT&T Reshapes Itself As a Smartphone Carrier — Fri, 15 May 2009 15:00:49 +0000

[...] something Apple appears to want. AT&T is moving forward on an HSPA upgrade, diverging from an LTE network Verizon and others are exploring. [...]

By: Russ

Russ — Sat, 09 May 2009 09:13:26 +0000

I just read that Verizon’t LTE deployment will be on their 700MHz spectrum, that it will become their primary data platform, but it will coexist with – not replace – their CDMA network which will continue to be used for voice traffic through at least 2018 and perhaps 2020.

This announcement came from their CIO, I believe, not some third-part analyst or hack.

By: Stacey Higginbotham

Stacey Higginbotham — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:33:02 +0000

Jerry, you make some really good points and I wonder what Verizon has to say about it. Although given how popular CDMA networks are, I imagine there is more equipment provider and device support for making this transition than there was for Sprint after it bought Nextel. The iDEN networks in 2005 weren’t as prevalent as the CDMA world is today. Wouldn’t that make a difference?

By: SS

SS — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:02:36 +0000

VZ will never do a deal with APPL.
1. they are really not hurting w/o appl – churn is low, data arpu is high….
2. their ebitda margins are ~45%..~8% higher than ATT and they cannot maintain these high margins with a APPL deal
3. dual mode lte/cdma devices are still 2 years away — 2011 1q at the earliest
4. this is appl using the media to get wt they want with att – and this time around its not the MSM media, but the mac bearing blogosphere that is being used…..

By: Jerry Fleckhiemer

Jerry Fleckhiemer — Thu, 07 May 2009 19:57:16 +0000

As mentioned, Verizon’s margins will take a significant hit as did AT&T (Cingular) on choosing GSM. Running multiple networks and have interoperable devices that can jump between the two will be new ground for Verizon. They will now experience some of AT&T’s pain and AT&T will experience the conveniences Verizon had riding the CDMA wave. Because Rev. B is not viable as a transitional technology for Verizon, they will have to overly a LTE network over their CDMA network and take the hits AT&T has grown accustom, too. Even though AT&T is effectively running 2 networks in most of their market HSPA is matured enough and has the roadmap to all them to propel themselves far ahead of Verizon during their transitional period that will last over the next 10 years.

Verizon will require that extra avenue for capital from Vodofone to fuel the learning curve to launch LTE. There are many obsticles and hurdles that they will have to overcome to attract customers and retain them. For all intent and purposes, this could be a CDMA/iDEN experience for Verizon. They will have interoperability issues between the air interface. Handset avalability and distribution to exploit the new network. Also, should have phones that can move between CDMA and LTE as AT&T does with GSM, UMTS, and soon LTE. Engineering staff learning curve with new technology. Adjusting the business model to maximize return from LTE.

AT&T has done this already when things were managable in the technology evolution realm and now Verizon will be pressured by a maturing HSPA+ with alot of legs and a expected Federal Broadband “mandate”. All I can say is “I hope you the worst” since I am with another carrier. :)

By: Alan Cheslow: AT&T’s LTE Plans Taking Shape In Slow Motion | Consumer Electronics, Social Media, and the Digital Home

Thu, 07 May 2009 19:20:21 +0000

[...] Cheslow AT&T’s LTE Plans Taking Shape In Slow Motion – http://gigaom.com/2009… 9 minutes ago – Comment – [...]

By: Gary

Gary — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:51:01 +0000

The Apple Verizon rumour are occuring suspiciously during a period where Apple is re-negotiating it’s exclusive with AT&T. I wouldn’t put it past Apple to be using the communication with Verizon or the media placements as negotiating leverage.

As far as iPhones on LTE, not this upcoming (June 2009 rumoured) generation of hardware. The LTE handheld device chip sets will not be ready in mass market optimized size and power until 2011/2012.

By: Gary

Gary — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:51:00 +0000

As far as iPhones on LTE, not this upcoming (June 2009 rumoured) generation of hardware. The LTE handheld device chip sets will not be ready in mass market optimized size and power until 2011/2012.

By: Unstrung - Jonestown - AT&T: Hurry Up & Wait

Unstrung - Jonestown - AT&T: Hurry Up & Wait — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:41:38 +0000

[...] to Rate Post a Comment Share | Email This | RSS 2:40 PM — AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is said to be lining up vendors for its first Long Term Evolution (LTE) trials. UBS Research reports that [...]

By: Jan Dawson

Jan Dawson — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:20:19 +0000

It’s not just cost with adding CDMA, it’s the fact that from then on they’ll be dealing with essentially two different devices, with different costs, different components and so on. Every time they make changes to the device they’ll have to do it twice over. Since there won’t be any significant scale on the CDMA components for the foreseeable future they might have to take lower margins or charge more for the CDMA version, etc.

I think it’s more complicated than many people suggest. It might still be worth it, but with Verizon itself pooh-poohing the idea I have to be skeptical.

By: phil swenson

phil swenson — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:13:15 +0000

it’s not “switch networks,” it’s add networks.

I’m guessing they will have a GSM/EDGE/HSDPA/LTE model and a CDMA/EVDO/LTE model. Ain’t that hard, most other phones have two versions.

This notion that they go straight to LTE only is insane. It’s going to be a LONG time before verizon or AT&T have full coverage with LTE. Look how often you still see EDGE only on AT&T. 3G is only in metro areas and is still spotty even there. Same goes for all 3G networks (Sprint, Verison, TMobile).

So my point is they will have to do a CDMA phone if they go verizon. And why not? can’t cost that much to do compared to the huge potential.

By: Jan Dawson

Jan Dawson — Thu, 07 May 2009 17:59:12 +0000

The reason AT&T isn’t moving more quickly to LTE is because it has more headroom with its current HSPA technology, whereas Verizon doesn’t. Verizon has to go LTE more quickly because it’s the only way it can get a significant speed boost – AT&T has the luxury of taking an intermediate step in the interim and going LTE later.

This idea that Verizon will somehow be far ahead and therefore become a compelling partner for Apple is therefore rather overblown at best. And to reiterate, to work with Verizon, Apple needs to release a CDMA device – and Verizon itself has said they don’t believe Apple will do that. Not sure what their incentive would be to say that if it wasn’t true.