iPhone 3G Alaska
Posted on April 30th, 2008 in Alaska Business, Technology |
The iPhone is no doubt a great device and will only get better with the expected hardware update. Anyone who already has the iPhone will most likely tell you how cool it is, but the wireless Internet browsing is painfully slow. Well, there’s some good news for those who waited!
Hardware updates
First, the iPhone update will definitely be 3G capable, which means faster Internet over the cellular network. While it’s pretty easy to find free WiFi in many Alaska coffee shops, this improved capability will be a great addition for those times you find yourself hiking across a frozen lake in the middle of winter and still manage to find one or two bars of cellular connection. As for all the recent rumors about GPS, touch feedback and so on - who knows for sure. But I’m 100% certain that 3G capability will be there.
3G in Alaska
Currently, Alaska has no 3G option for cellular service. Here comes the not-so-good news, I seriously doubt we’ll see at&t roll out 3G until late 2008 (at the earliest). Hopefully they will surprise us and get things rolling sooner. Just don’t hold your breath.
Buy or not to buy
So, if 3G is not coming until next year and the new hardware will be the only improvement…should you jump in now? For me, that will be a yes. I suspect the new hardware will be here sooner than predicted (before June 2008) and my gut tells me it will be worth the buy. Plus, the latest rumor has it that at&t may be offering some great promotional deals (with 2-year contracts of course).
Final thoughts
Disclaimer: I’m a fully converted Mac user and certainly admire Apple products.
Until now, I really felt fine with my Motorola RAZR and couldn’t justify the leap to the iPhone. Buying the 3G enabled iPhone will at least “future proof” the expense (or investment) to some degree.
So take that government freebie* and run down to the nearest at&t store as soon as the new iPhone hits the shelves!
/kk
*More on the “stimulus check” when I muster the energy to take on that FUBAR situation.
8 Responses
ACS has had 3G since 2004.
Hi Ryan, True, however ACS uses xDMA technology which is only used in the USA and Korea. The 1x EV-DO available from ACS is pretty good, however GSM (used by AT&T) is more of a global standard. The latest version of GSM 3G will outperform ACS’s implementation of EV-DO…it’s just taking forever to get here. Most important to this article is that the Apple iPhone cannot be used on any of the xDMA providers such as ACS.
Kevin,
I’m bringing a group up to north pole Alaska this summer for a mission trip. I was hoping to be able to blog via my iPhone. How is service up there? Thank you. I
My father works for AT&T here in Anchorage, and he said they are working feverishly to have 3G coverage up here by the July 11 release date - here’s hoping!
Brandon, cool, I certainly hope they roll 3G… but I’d be willing to wait for better than 3G at this point. Either way, more is more and that sounds good to me. Thanks for the comment.
Steve, re: North Pole - I’m pretty sure you can get cellular service, but if you do get any blogging done, I’d be looking for some open WiFi access instead of cellular.
I’m not a walking wireless knowledge base, but as an iPhone user (early adopter) I’ll give big credit to AT&T for their reach! More bars, more places is right enough! I’ve used ACS for years and have wished they “were there” when I needed them.
In regards to 3G, my understanding is AT&T dumped all future investments developing 3G and focused on their own 4G wireless broadband services, however that’s not due until I think 2010. So a better 3G here in Alaska may only be as good as it already is today.
There’s a lot of reasons as a content producer that I want a solid 3G connectivity - Let’s all say together Qik.com, which is available on iPhone
As for my purchase of the new iPhone… I’ll be waiting for Kevin’s review of the new Alaska 3G from AT&T before I buy.
Good reading as always and thank you!
Scott
7/7/08 There is no iReady process in place in Anchorage if you’re thinking of preparing to get an iPhone on July 11 you have to do it when they go on sale. I went to AT&T’s main customer service center today around 11:30 and they said they are not equipped to do that. No apology, no nothing. Too bad AT&T is the only carrier in the U.S. for iPhones.