Tucson News NowAT&T admits to hobbling 4G phones

 

AT&T admits to hobbling 4G phones

Updated:
Responding to consumer complaints lodged with the Better Business Bureau, AT&T apparently admits that the Atrix and Inspire are HSUPA-capable devices, but that the company simply hasn't enabled HSUPA service on the phones (image courtesy of AT&T) Responding to consumer complaints lodged with the Better Business Bureau, AT&T apparently admits that the Atrix and Inspire are HSUPA-capable devices, but that the company simply hasn't enabled HSUPA service on the phones (image courtesy of AT&T)

By Geoff Duncan
Provided by

Mobile broadband fiends who hopped on the Motorola Atrix and HTC Inspire from AT&T hoping to revel in the glory of full HSUPA mobile broadband have experienced a rude shock. Although the phones are able to pull in data at speeds exceeding AT&T's 3G devices, their upload capabilities have been less than stellar—in many cases even lower than upload bandwidth that can be achieved by less-capable phones. Responding to consumer complaints lodged with the Better Business Bureau, AT&T apparently admits that the Atrix and Inspire are HSUPA-capable devices, but that the company simply hasn't enabled HSUPA service on the phones. AT&T says it is in "testing and preparations" to activate the service.

AT&T says it expects to enable HSUPA service for the Atrix and the Inspire in April. The company also notes that its forthcoming Samsung Infuse 4G will ship with HSUPA enabled by default.

AT&T has been operating HSUPA service in portions of its markets for as long as three years.

The fracas highlights some of the disputes (and consumer confusion) in the mobile marketplace over what constitutes "4G" service. Original industry definitions essentially held that services like WiMax and LTE could be classified as 4G services, but T-Mobile burst that bubble when it pushed its HSPA+ network into bandwidth ranges that had previously been solely the realm of 4G technologies. Not to be outclassed, AT&T quickly followed suit, touting its own HSUPA technologies as "4G." The Atrix and Inspire are marketed by AT&T as 4G phones, even though—the company now admits—4G features aren't actually functional.

  • More Top Headlines

  • Monday, May 21 2012 12:10 PM EDT2012-05-21 16:10:33 GMT
    A woman hiking on a trail near the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Dove Mountain died Saturday afternoon of apparent cardiac arrest, Northwest Fire Capt. Adam Goldberg said. The woman was hiking with a group on
    The woman was hiking with a group on the Wild Burro Trail in the Tortolita Mountains when she suffered a heart attack.

  • Monday, May 21 2012 12:09 PM EDT2012-05-21 16:09:35 GMT
    With the Hobby Lobby and other retailers moving into the old Mervyn's in east Tucson later this year, some real estate experts say they're seeing more businesses take up commercial leases. However more
    With the Hobby Lobby and other retailers moving into the Tucson area later this year, some real estate experts say they're seeing more businesses take up commercial leases.  However more tenants doesn't necessarily mean the local economy is actually improving.

  • Monday, May 21 2012 12:07 PM EDT2012-05-21 16:07:31 GMT
    A 30-year-old woman died in a rollover accident Sunday afternoon on the southwest side. Christy Anne Dalrymple was transported to a local hospital after the one-vehicle collision at West Irvington Road

    Christy Anne Dalrymple was transported to a local hospital after the one-vehicle collision at  West Irvington Road and South Westover Avenue around 12:50 p.m.

  • Monday, May 21 2012 12:05 PM EDT2012-05-21 16:05:48 GMT
    A wildfire is burning tonight in Southern Arizona near the small town of Dragoon off Interstate 10. The fire has burned near 200 acres, according to Cochise County Sheriff's spokesperson Carol Capas.
    The fire burned 85-100 acres near Dragoon, Cochise County Sheriff's spokesperson Carol Capas told Tucson News Now on Sunday.

  • Monday, May 21 2012 9:55 AM EDT2012-05-21 13:55:18 GMT
    Portions of this story are from the Tucson National Weather Service.A near record high of 105 forecasted for Tucson today.  The record high is 107 set in 2005.  Even though the forecast is just shy of
    Even though the forecast is just shy of the record, today could still go into the books as one of the earliest 105 days on record.
Content provided by
INFORMATIONAL DISCLAIMER The information contained on or provided through this site is intended for general consumer understanding and education only and is not intended to be and is not a substitute for professional financial or accounting advice. Always seek the advice of your accountant or other qualified personal finance advisor for answers to any related questions you may have. Use of this site and any information contained on or provided through this site is at your own risk and any information contained on or provided through this site is provided on an "as is" basis without any representations or warranties.