AT&T goes cheap, renaming 3G to 4G

[bazar6]

Not too much to do with Droid... but AT&T jumping on the bandwagon, renaming their 3G network to 4G, without making any upgrades to it at all.

AT&T Renames Its 3G Network a 4G Network - Marketing move could be driven in part by rumored Verizon iPhone

 

[bthomp21]

sounds like a steve jobs move

 

[Martin030908]

... moved to off-topic.

Is this even legal? Couldn't AT&T stand to get in trouble for claiming something they don't have?

 

[bthomp21]

its in the topic

AT&T can get away with the marketing move because the International Telecommunications Union hasn’t actually set firm standards for what constitutes 4G

 

[bazar6]

... moved to off-topic.

My bad... Thought it was news-worthy to at least laugh at. I know I did.

Is this even legal? Couldn't AT&T stand to get in trouble for claiming something they don't have?

Supposedly it's not, because there's no standard for 4G. I would think they could get in trouble, but if someone were to say it's false advertising, it's only because it would be in comparison to the competitors, and not the actual definition of 4G; because I guess there isn't one.

 

[Big Ry]

Read the full WSJ article quoted by the original article in the OP. LTE is still set to launch around summer 2011 for AT&T...however they are actually renaming 3G which is sad.

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[wctaylor79]

I am no 4G technical guru here, but technically speaking if you do a little researech no carrier really has true 4G.. True 4G is a tech that has yet to be prefected.. Now Sprint and Verizon do have 4G speeds, but if I am correct LTE/Wimax are both still not TRUE 4G?

Still T-mobile and ATT&T using the HSPA network and calling it 4G is something to laugh at...

+1 to Verizon/Sprint

UPDATE:
Here is an interesting link for this thread.. Most people that want 4G have no idea what it is..

http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/07/4g-shocker-study-finds-consumers-want-what-they-fail-to-underst/

 

[pc747]

Sounds like we are about to get duped.... interesting to see how much they charge people for 3.5g aka 4g.

 

[Big Ry]

I am no 4G technical guru here, but technically speaking if you do a little researech no carrier really has true 4G.. True 4G is a tech that has yet to be prefected.. Now Sprint and Verizon do have 4G speeds, but if I am correct LTE/Wimax are both still not TRUE 4G?

Still T-mobile and ATT&T using the HSPA network and calling it 4G is something to laugh at...

+1 to Verizon/Sprint

UPDATE:
Here is an interesting link for this thread.. Most people that want 4G have no idea what it is..

4G Shocker! Study finds consumers want what they fail to understand -- Engadget

Youre right. But thats just business. You kinda gotta accept it and more on lol.

edit: but true 4G is based on LTE or WiMax. So not even having either is pretty bad. VZW plans to upgrade in the future to fully utilize LTE and have "true 4G".

 

[RETG]

Who or what is 'newser.com?' I did a search and could not find any other stories to back this one up. However, I have to admit, I have been wondering why the Atrix is designated 4G.

 

[furbearingmammal]

Sounds like AT&T is desperate to keep customers.

 

[mikehal38]

Wow this it's the funniest thing I've read all day... they might as well just said they were a 5g network because out sill won't help them compete with big red lol.

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[Big Ry]

AT&T is all over this 4G with their commercials during this Eagles/GB game. All there commercials say though is something like "AT&T, now with 4G" pfft! What a joke!

 

[mikehal38]

I'm seeing the commercials to. They are cracking me up. I can't wait for vzw to come out with a commercial trashing at&t for lying about there new "4g" network lol.

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[hemorrdroid]

I was in target the other day when I heard a few guys talking phone tech, so I motives over near then to have a listen. They were from att and had some paperwork regarding stuff from CES. He had some paperwork on the atrix, and said it had a release date of no later than q1. Anyway, I asked one about the renaming of 3g. He went on to tell me about changing the back something (related to bandwidth) and this would allow for a new max bandwidth of up to 22kbps on their current hardware, vs the current theoretical max of 7.2kbps (which I NEVER saw when I was at att). Not the biggest techie when it comes to the companies tech, but he sounded like he knew his stuff and knew it well. I wish now looking back that I had asked what his title was, but at the time I hadn't been scouting info for here our I would have.

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