The Day That Apple Caved To AT&T

An Apple Store customer looks at the Apple iPhone 4S on October 14, 2011 in San Francisco, United States. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

It’s true, today I’m disappointed in Apple. Not because of the iPad thing. I’m pretty impressed with what the company announced today. My disappointment is a matter of something deeper – a sign that Apple gave in to a carrier, rather than standing up for the customers. Anyone with iOS 5.1 and an AT&T iPhone 4S will now see a 4G symbol in certain areas. The only problem? It’s not really 4G, it’s marketing BS from AT&T.

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Comments

[Perry Clease]

10:09 AM on 03/09/2012

Another click bait, an inaccurate, headline.

[DivineMovers]

09:34 AM on 03/09/2012

I almost switched my entire company (http://www.divinemoving.com) to AT&T from sprint when we heard about the 4G luckily we waited a day and read this article…

[cameoutinthe80s]

08:08 AM on 03/09/2012

I got an iPhone about 3 years ago, but AT&T's coverage & service were so bad that I couldn't wait to have the contract end. I've been away from AT&T for months now and couldn't be happier. I downloaded a free app that lets me text & call from my phone for free as long as I'm on a wifi network. Given that I couldn't make calls before, I'm getting more than I had with AT&T and I now pay nothing each month for calls/texts. Life is good.

[nhfarmer]

07:45 AM on 03/09/2012

The fact of the matter is one's mobile device speed doesn't depend much on how many Gs there are in the speed moniker. It depends primarily on how many other people are simultaneously using the same G. This will become more obvious over time because of a fact called Shannon's Law.

[F Sz]

05:50 AM on 03/09/2012

That's why I am no longer with them, although the "caving in" happened long before this. At the moment, when Apple designed their phones, so the baseband is tied to a certain company, so the phone is pretty much useless without AT&T service, that's when my phone became a very expensive digital camera.

[flyinSpaghettimonster]

03:44 AM on 03/09/2012

I completely understand the anger. It's not 4g at all. The speed is no where near 4g lte. I also think it sets a bad example if consumers let blatant lying go unchecked. I don't want companies rebranding old technology and then calling it new.

[HKR07]

04:10 AM on 03/09/2012

A lawsuit needs to be filed. Apple has many already pending. Driving them out of business would suit me fine.

[TheNitram24]

09:50 AM on 03/09/2012

Good luck with that. They have lots of money.

[jr408j]

02:25 PM on 03/10/2012

The fact of the matter is that HSPA+ is a new technology. 3G will get you speeds of up to 3Mbps, Hspa+ up to 12Mbps and LTE up to 30Mbps. Ask yourself how fast Verizon's LTE is and they call it 4G. AT&T's HSPA+ iPhone 4S is way faster than Verizon and Sprint's version and way faster than the 3G iPhone 4 on the same network. What part of it is not 4G?

[flyinSpaghettimonster]

03:17 PM on 03/10/2012

you can go onto youtube right now and see a bunch of videos with people doing verizon 4g lte speed test. I'll admit their are a lot of mixed reviews about the speed of verizon 4g lte but their are also a lot of videos averaging 20-27Mbps. And yes my iphone 4 is noticeable slower than the 4s. Even though HSPA+ is technically 4th generation it doesnt reach the 20Mbps mark. I know that 20Mbps isnt an establish standard but in my opinion thats the invisible line. I still maintain that it was shady ploy that AT&T forced on them.

[hawhite2000]

02:18 AM on 03/09/2012

Why is it assumed Apple caved? Apple did what they always do... what they want.

[cyndeewi]

03:17 AM on 03/09/2012

You said it!

[HKR07]

04:08 AM on 03/09/2012

Apple is such a tool, and the geeks who buy into their bull are even sadder. Wake up, bots, you are being PLAYED!

[stealur]

12:09 AM on 03/09/2012

From the comments:

http://www.phonearena.com/news/ITU-says-LTE-WiMax-and-HSPA--are-now-officially-4G_id15435

Seems to me that the author is QQing too much.

[I Brain You]

10:02 PM on 03/08/2012

The technologically savvy iPhone users will know that in order to have 4G, it takes a better chipset, which the iPhone doesn't have.

[MRb1000]

09:50 PM on 03/08/2012

Really! it is BS for all carriers do not have true 4G because if you ask any geek there is no true 4G up and running. They all will say no because the hardware in not all in place for it to happen! This is in America.

[HHGodd]

09:38 PM on 03/08/2012

Unbelievable how everyone is so upset about iPhones and AT&T for doing this when most "4G" phones are the same type of "4G" that iPhone 4s is. There are not many "4G" phones that achieve LTE speeds. If you have a 4G phone research if you're on LTE or simply HSPA+. You might be surprised. Also, most Android phones that are called 4G aren't 4G LTE. I'm sometimes astonished at how this site and most of the internet takes sides when it comes to cell phones. So are people going to occupy Apple Stores now?

[miamorphos]

01:25 AM on 03/09/2012

I'm not an Apple fan at all, but you're totally right. The article is just a weird attempt to slam Apple for the fact that it will be using the networks that are available at the current time. Also, the article fits in the "Apple users will obey whatever Apple tells them to want" line, which seems like an attempt to anger Apple fans, I'd say. All in all, not the most informative article I've ever read.

[HKR07]

04:09 AM on 03/09/2012

No problem angering Apple users. If you are so stupid as to be stooges for their marketing con.job, you deserve to be treated like toilet paper.

[HKR07]

04:13 AM on 03/09/2012

Stop making lame excuses for Apple. They don't work.

[OceanFive]

09:38 PM on 03/08/2012

APPLE you as a company need to BUY AT&T and turn it into an Apple company....problem solved.

[HKR07]

04:15 AM on 03/09/2012

As if that would ever pass by regulators. Please.

[TheNitram24]

09:53 AM on 03/09/2012

It could easily do so, however I do not think it would be a smart move by either party.

[GPaugam]

09:35 PM on 03/08/2012

Apple fans will listen to whatever Apple tells them to do and like it...so there is no reason to alarm them with this nonsense. Even if 3 little gerbils were inside each iPhone generating the neccessary power for operation you 'd still have enough appletons buying their kool-aid.

[MrDOB]

10:40 PM on 03/08/2012

Really? You hate Apple users that much that is what you choose to think?

[HKR07]

04:17 AM on 03/09/2012

I don't hate them. I just think it is very foolish to be beholden to any company and blind to their wanton marketing deceptions. They depend on people to be.

[cool guy99]

11:25 PM on 03/08/2012

Chill out. Life is too short to think so negatively towards people you don't actually know. Peace

[HKR07]

04:12 AM on 03/09/2012

If you allow yourself to be abused and could care less about how they treat workers overseas, you deserve a heaping helping of negativity.

[Post31]

09:33 PM on 03/08/2012

4G gate begins.

[philly282]

07:27 PM on 03/08/2012

what about all the little jeremy Lins that make the iphone? that's why i don't have an iphone...that and because im 31 and on my parent's plan