Telecom exec says 3G iPhone to support 42Mbps HSPA

[AppleInsider]

A senior executive for Australia's Telstra wireless carrier has allegedly told the region's ChannelNews that Apple's upcoming iPhone revision will be capable of supporting an advanced 3G connection at speeds of 42 megabits per second.

"We know what is coming, we have seen the new device and it will be available on our network as soon as it is launched in the USA," the unidentified executive is reported to have said. "By Xmas this phone will be capable of 42mbs which will make it faster than a lot of broadband offerings and the fastest iPhone on any network in the world."

The report goes on to say that Telstra already has 3G iPhones on hand for testing and that the device will be made available to the carrier's customers "very soon after its June 9 unveiling" by Apple chief executive Steve Jobs at the company's annual Worldwide Developers Conference.

If true, the claim by the unnamed Telstra exec would suggest that Apple is building a wireless broadband chip into its next-gen iPhone that supports an advanced High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) protocol known as Evolved HSPA. In addition to downloads of up to 42 Mbps, Evolved HSPA networks also supports uploads at up to 22 Mbps.

Stateside, AT&T is putting the finishing touches on its own standard HSPA network that currently offers download speeds of 1.4 Mbps and upload rates around 800 Kbps. However, the US carrier promises to follow through on a plan that will boost download speeds to 7.2Mbps in the next year, eventually hitting 20Mbps sometime in 2009.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[Bageljoey]

Damn, this is getting exciting. I hope things pan out the way the rumors are going or there is going to be some serious disappointment...

[melgross]

Considering the size of the files that would be downloaded, this seems about as fast are would ever be needed. I wonder what the true usable speeds will be though.

It should allow for a 4 MB song download in about 4 seconds assuming the usual problems with wireless.

[Lafe]

An interesting side-note to this story is that it highlights the HUGE difference
in data infrastructure available in other countries vs. what is available to us
in the USA. AT&T's wonderful 3G upgrade still doesn't get us anywhere near
most civilized countries. And it's not just the speed of the pipes. There's
no DSL where I live, and it's 2008 for goodness' sakes. That's right: If I'm
not at work (in another town), I'm on dial-up.

And we wonder why our students are not as savvy in the info-tech fields.

[Foo2]

This news kinda takes the wind out of the Bluebaby Thunder rumors.

[Shogun]

Sounds like a good fit for video iChat.

Back in early 2005 I told a friend that if I had cash I'd buy as much AAPL stock as i could get. "Why?" he said. "Because," said I, "look at all the cash their pulling in on that iPod. You know that they're putting it all right into R&D for something extraordinary."

If I were Apple I would bet the house on an in-freaking-credible iPhone with bells and whistles of the most significant kind coming out of its ears.

Consider, the current iPhone was designed almost 2-3 years ago. There's no reason but battery power that this iPhone shouldn't have everything including GPS, two cameras, iChat AV, a business suite, and even a few colors or sizes.

Actually, the more I think about it the more likely it seems to me that there may be an iPhone Pro that is back up to $499 territory as well as a regular iPhone and then the Touch.

I'm just saying, within 3-5 years they want to completely dominate the top 70% of mobile computing and telephony, and there's absolutely no reason why they can't, shouldn't or won't.

[solipsism]

I see nothng about this story that can be substantiated.

1. We do have evidence that that the chip is most likely the S-GOLD3H which has a max download of 7.2Mb/s.
2. I don't think there is even one cell phone that has a 14.4Mb.s chip in it (will research this more)
3. I'm certain there are no commercailly available chips that can handle 42Mb/s
4. The iPhone's processor, RAM and Flash couldn't handle those DL speeds

[ctwise]

Originally Posted by Lafe

An interesting side-note to this story is that it highlights the HUGE difference
in data infrastructure available in other countries vs. what is available to us
in the USA. AT&T's wonderful 3G upgrade still doesn't get us anywhere near
most civilized countries. And it's not just the speed of the pipes. There's
no DSL where I live, and it's 2008 for goodness' sakes. That's right: If I'm
not at work (in another town), I'm on dial-up.

And we wonder why our students are not as savvy in the info-tech fields.

It's a consequence of being a big country with an extensive existing infrastructure. Many countries concentrate their population densities in relative few areas. Telecoms don't have to divide their infrastructure investments across many geographies. In addition, some countries have either no infrastructure or minimal infrastructure and thus a much sharper need for new build-out.

[lhvide]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

If true, the claim by the unnamed Telstra exec would suggest that Apple is building a wireless broadband chip into its next-gen iPhone that supports an advanced High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) protocol known as Evolved HSPA. In addition to downloads of up to 42 Mbps, Evolved HSPA networks also supports uploads at up to 22 Mbps.

Stateside, AT&T is putting the finishing touches on its own standard HSPA network that currently offers download speeds of 1.4 Mbps and upload rates around 800 Kbps. However, the US carrier promises to follow through on a plan that will boost download speeds to 7.2Mbps in the next year, eventually hitting 20Mbps sometime in 2009.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

Damn. If I can bridge this connection to to my MBP (even better to my AEX), I can get rid of my $60/month DSL. Could almost get rid of cable TV while I'm at it.

[SpamSandwich]

Steve's going to have that Telstra exec's head on a pike by the end of the day.

[Foo2]

Originally Posted by solipsism

I see nothng about this story that can be substantiated.

1. We do have evidence that that the chip is most likely the S-GOLD3H which has a max download of 7.2Mb/s.
2. I don't think there is even one cell phone that has a 14.4Mb.s chip in it (will research this more)
3. I'm certain there are no commercailly available chips that can handle 42Mb/s
4. The iPhone's processor, RAM and Flash couldn't handle those DL speeds

You're talking now; the Telstra guy said by the end of the year. The iPhone 1.0 most certainly can handle 42 Mbits/second via its USB interface.

[bluedalmatian]

if youre standing directly under the cell tower and no one else is using it

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by Foo2

You're talking now; the Telstra guy said by the end of the year. The iPhone 1.0 most certainly can handle 42 Mbits/second via its USB interface.

The USB2.0 interface can, but other data transport mechanisms cannot. I don't think we'll see 14.4Mb/s chip int he iPhone by Xmas either. Much less a radio chip that can handle 42Mb/s.

...But I would love to be proved wrong here.

[ncee]

Great and likely ONLY to be available in the BIG cites. I say this because of how slow this kind of technology takes to get to Maine, and knowing we aren't alone when it comes to Ma Bell, or any other company to provide the latest and greatest to places out of the way.

Great and NOT likely to really happen … way to big a jump from one iPhone to the next. Apple LIKES baby steps. In makes it easier to get the kinks out, as well as insures customers for the next new latest and greatest issues as they come about. Of course maybe the newest stuff afterwards - could be Computers?

Hey, I've got a bunch of stock, so in one since I don't much care, but I have been a Mac guy for MANY years, and my desk has a lot of Mac stuff sitting on or around it, and I can't wait for the latest and greatest to come out.

Skip

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

Steve's going to have that Telstra exec's head on a pike by the end of the day.

Damn right! I'd wager Apple in all its super secretiveness has contracts that forbid disclosing such unreleased products and probably have steep penalties associated with it.

[aegisdesign]

Originally Posted by solipsism

I see nothng about this story that can be substantiated.

1. We do have evidence that that the chip is most likely the S-GOLD3H which has a max download of 7.2Mb/s.
2. I don't think there is even one cell phone that has a 14.4Mb.s chip in it (will research this more)
3. I'm certain there are no commercailly available chips that can handle 42Mb/s
4. The iPhone's processor, RAM and Flash couldn't handle those DL speeds

I agree. It'll be a pleasant surprise though if they can get a full 3GPP Release 7 implementation in the next iPhone. The CPU, RAM and Flash isn't really an issue though other than for data use on the phone itself and you're not going to really need that kind of speed on a dinky screen like on an iPhone.

Where the 42Mbps is useful is tethered to a laptop which is something that so far they've not allowed/implemented.

[quinney]

Originally Posted by Shogun

Sounds like a good fit for video iChat.

Back in early 2005 I told a friend that if I had cash I'd buy as much AAPL stock as i could get. "Why?" he said. "Because," said I, "look at all the cash their pulling in on that iPod. You know that they're putting it all right into R&D for something extraordinary."

If I were Apple I would bet the house on an in-freaking-credible iPhone with bells and whistles of the most significant kind coming out of its ears.

Consider, the current iPhone was designed almost 2-3 years ago. There's no reason but battery power that this iPhone shouldn't have everything including GPS, two cameras, iChat AV, a business suite, and even a few colors or sizes.

Actually, the more I think about it the more likely it seems to me that there may be an iPhone Pro that is back up to $499 territory as well as a regular iPhone and then the Touch.

I'm just saying, within 3-5 years they want to completely dominate the top 70% of mobile computing and telephony, and there's absolutely no reason why they can't, shouldn't or won't.

I admire your enthusiasm and I would be happy if you were right, but there are many
other companies spending a lot of money to capture those markets as well. I don't think
it will be easy for Apple.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by aegisdesign

I agree. It'll be a pleasant surprise though if they can get a full 3GPP Release 7 implementation in the next iPhone. The CPU, RAM and Flash isn't really an issue though other than for data use on the phone itself and you're not going to really need that kind of speed on a dinky screen like on an iPhone.

Where the 42Mbps is useful is tethered to a laptop which is something that so far they've not allowed/implemented.

Not clear whether the story is true, but if it is true, it would certainly bolster the video conferencing iPhone rumors.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by aegisdesign

I agree. It'll be a pleasant surprise though if they can get a full 3GPP Release 7 implementation in the next iPhone.

Thank you, I knew I forget something in my previous post.

5) 3GPP Release 7 not finished.

[fpsanders]

Originally Posted by Shogun

I'm just saying, within 3-5 years they want to completely dominate the top 70% of mobile computing and telephony, and there's absolutely no reason why they can't, shouldn't or won't.

Wouldn't that be nice. Welcome to Jobs-Land...

[NOFEER]

So "by Christmas.....it will be capable of."...does this mean a software upgrade to this level, or do you think there is another hardware iphone v3 that would be needed?

[melgross]

Originally Posted by bluedalmatian

if youre standing directly under the cell tower and no one else is using it

Not really. Speeds are expected to eventually go to well above 100 Mps. to 400 Mps from what some in the industry are saying. Actual speeds will be lower, but that's still quite a bump.

I remember when I was networking with LocalTalk (still have all the cables and such in a draw) at 256 Kbs, and thought it was like lightning. That was as fast as the HDDs of the day.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by NOFEER

...or do you think there is another hardware iphone v3 that would be needed?

I'd wager that a new chip (which isn't even on the market yet) will be required for 14.4Mb/s, much less 42Mb/s. No software update is going to enable this.

Or does anyone think that Apple has created there own 3G chip and the S-GOLD3H code was a jsut a red herring?

[NasserAE]

So now everyone who signed a deal with Apple or designed a screw for the iPhone is becoming an iPhone spokesman?!

Executives are taking advantage of the iPhone hype now while they can if you ask me.

[melgross]

While there are denials here about this speed, it's interesting that they said that they had samples of the phones, and were working with them. That's certainly possible. And if so, why would he say it worked at that speed if it didn't? Unless it was a clear mistake, one that is hard to understand, there could be something we don't yet know about.

[Tofino]

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

Steve's going to have that Telstra exec's head on a pike by the end of the day.

... and will have the whole launch scrapped for Australia.

[Tofino]

Originally Posted by solipsism

Damn right! I'd wager Apple in all its super secretiveness has contracts that forbid disclosing such unreleased products and probably have steep penalties associated with it.

yes... just ask ATI!

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by Tofino

yes... just ask ATI!

I don't think I know that story. Please elaborate.

[echosonic]

Originally Posted by solipsism

I see nothng about this story that can be substantiated.

1. We do have evidence that that the chip is most likely the S-GOLD3H which has a max download of 7.2Mb/s.
2. I don't think there is even one cell phone that has a 14.4Mb.s chip in it (will research this more)
3. I'm certain there are no commercailly available chips that can handle 42Mb/s
4. The iPhone's processor, RAM and Flash couldn't handle those DL speeds

Yes, however, consider:

1. Did the guy lie or did the journalist lie?
2. Didn't apple just purchase PA (i think) semiconductor, a firm that has specialized in military computing hardware since its inception?
3. how do you figure?

[Tofino]

Originally Posted by ctwise

It's a consequence of being a big country with an extensive existing infrastructure. Many countries concentrate their population densities in relative few areas. Telecoms don't have to divide their infrastructure investments across many geographies. In addition, some countries have either no infrastructure or minimal infrastructure and thus a much sharper need for new build-out.

I hear that same argument in Canada all the time, 'big country, blablabla' but here, as well as in the states to a certain degree, most of the population IS concentrated in the big cities and even there we are far behind other parts of the world. the providers have not done much to keep their infrastructure updated and have instead oversold their bandwidth and raked in the money. the way Canadians get shafted on mobile internet access is legendary...

[NasserAE]

Originally Posted by echosonic

Yes, however, consider:

1. Did the guy lie or did the journalist lie?

well, remember Intel comments few days ago?!

We will probably read something like this tomorrow:

"No Telecom exec has said anything about any future Apple product" Telecom spokesperson said.

Those people love attention and news sites love the extra traffic.

[Tofino]

Originally Posted by solipsism

I don't think I know that story. Please elaborate.

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/emergingtech...2080337,00.htm

a choice paragraph from it:

The immediate fallout of the incident: Jobs ordered all Radeon boards be pulled from Macintosh PCs in Apple's booth, removal of any mention of ATI products from his keynote address on Wednesday and the cancellation of a keynote demonstration of the new Radeon graphics chip.

But do check out the article. it's a good example of how serious jobs is about it and what the consequences can be if a company thinks they need to upstage him...

[aegisdesign]

Originally Posted by solipsism

Thank you, I knew I forget something in my previous post.

5) 3GPP Release 7 not finished.

Yup. It'd be a miracle for a hardware manufacturer to roll out Release 7 hardware during the final stages of the spec being agreed although Qualcomm at least were claiming silicon that implements it back end of last year. It's not 42Mbps or even 14.4Mbps but they're somehow claiming Release 7...

http://www.qualcomm.com/press/releas...ngle_Chip.html

I doubt they'd change from Infineon's chips but perhaps there's something up their sleeve for 3G and they've got killer silicon just waiting for a firmware upgrade to reach the spec when finalised.

edit: I'm not sure the spec isn't final already. Wikipedia says 'In progress Q2 2008'. 3gpp.org lists release 7 as being Oct 2007 and 7.1 in December. But still, silicon that implements the full spec seems unlikely.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by Tofino

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/emergingtech...2080337,00.htm

a choice paragraph from it:

The immediate fallout of the incident: Jobs ordered all Radeon boards be pulled from Macintosh PCs in Apple's booth, removal of any mention of ATI products from his keynote address on Wednesday and the cancellation of a keynote demonstration of the new Radeon graphics chip.

But do check out the article. it's a good example of how serious jobs is about it and what the consequences can be if a company thinks they need to upstage him...

I always liked stories with a happy ending.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by Tofino

I hear that same argument in Canada all the time, 'big country, blablabla' but here, as well as in the states to a certain degree, most of the population IS concentrated in the big cities and even there we are far behind other parts of the world. the providers have not done much to keep their infrastructure updated and have instead oversold their bandwidth and raked in the money. the way Canadians get shafted on mobile internet access is legendary...

There's much more concentration in Canada than in the States.

This is all very expensive. The estimate is that it's going to cost Verison over $100 billion, and as much as $200 billion, to bring FIOS to most of the potential customer base in the US. Other major carriers will have to spend amounts that are a large fraction of that as well.

I've seen numbers that suggest it may cost $1 trillion to bring high band to all customers in the US.

[solipsism]

This is the most advanced chip I could find. Note that it has a max download rate of 14.7Mb/s and won't be available for mass production until 2009.

• http://www.qualcomm.com/press/releas...ngle_Chip.html

[noirdesir]

This rumour already has a sub-heading and paragraph in Wikipedia...

[Wiggin]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

the device will be made available to the carrier's customers "very soon after its June 9 unveiling" by Apple chief executive Steve Jobs at the company's annual Worldwide Developers Conference.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

Not any more they won't! Move to the end of the line. You'll get your iPhones after everyone who didn't blab about it before it was released.

[wizard69]

Everyone here is all wrapped in the need for silicon to support the newer data rates but that may not be the limiting factor right now. The issue is that of a Software Defined Radio (SDR). While a certain amount of new electronics will be required much of the radio technology could be implemented as a SDR. This means improvements to the new iPhone 2 could come as software upgrades. So what is possible at launch and three months later could be a function of software.

Now I don't know if Apple is going this route or not, but I believe that much of the future of cell technology is going that route even for the hand held terminals. If Apple is able to implement this on a dual core chip, they might even be able to implement SMP processing for apps that are not using the radio. SMP being dependent on their ability to free up the core handling SDR chores when not on line. The possibilities are really interesting and the only thing that strikes me as an issue is that I thought hardware to produce such things was coming in 2009 not this year. However they (Apple) may of had PA Semi working on the required hardware. The other possibility is an early release from Qualcomm.

In any event we only have a few days until this is all fleshed out. Exciting isn't it.


Dave

[SpamSandwich]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software-defined_radio

Very cool. I suppose something like this may have been inevitable, given the push toward digitization of all media and communications.