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Apple, Inc.'s (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone 3G has admittedly caused problems for wireless partner AT&T, Inc. (NYSE: T). Little did AT&T know that so many iPhones would be sold and so much data would be pumped over its wireless network.
What would happen if a newer iPhone was announced and released this year that featured front-facing camera videoconferencing? Would the millions of iPhone users start sending out even more bucketloads of data doing a ton of live video over their iPhones?
AT&T's wireless network couldn't handle that, even though the company is very careful about not saying so. The #1 reason non-iPhone owners won't buy an iPhone is because of AT&T's network. That's not exactly a vote of confidence, and if a ton more data started flowing over AT&T's network soon, could the company even try to keep up? Will network upgrades come fast enough?
If not, AT&T's slowness to satisfy legions of data-hungry iPhone subscribers could sour the second-largest wireless carrier in the U.S. to a large degree. One thing is for sure -- Apple's continuing parade of upgraded iPhones won't hold back on the features -- and AT&T doesn't have "years" to deploy huge upgrades to its networks to keep up with a rapid iPhone base that just keeps on growing. Video chat for personal and business reasons could be a huge hit on a new iPhone -- if only AT&T can handle the load.
If not, AT&T's slowness to satisfy legions of data-hungry iPhone subscribers could sour the second-largest wireless carrier in the U.S. to a large degree. One thing is for sure -- Apple's continuing parade of upgraded iPhones won't hold back on the features -- and AT&T doesn't have "years" to deploy huge upgrades to its networks to keep up with a rapid iPhone base that just keeps on growing. Video chat for personal and business reasons could be a huge hit on a new iPhone -- if only AT&T can handle the load.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-29-2009 @ 3:35PM
dbcn said...
nice article, but obviously you haven't been paying attention to the tech blogs. AT&T has been working to upgrade their systems prior to the new launch of the new iphone.
it probably won't be good enough if every iphone user is video-chatting at once, but it will certainly be better than the existing network.
nice piece of FUD.
5-29-2009 @ 5:14PM
beanspants said...
AT&T already offers video conferencing on many other 3G cell phones, and it's not exactly a hit product.
Of all the iPhone services, they probably aren't worried about that one very much.
5-29-2009 @ 9:37PM
Eric said...
This kind of completely skips over the fact that AT&T is doubling the speed of it's 3G this year to 7.2mbps and is adding 2100 new cell sites, and doubling the capacity in most metropolitan areas (350) and is adding 20 more metropolitan areas and is starting implementation of 4G as well. And AT&T has the right to block video conferencing if they don't think that their network could handle it. Apple wouldn't put something that they know would never work.
5-29-2009 @ 11:15PM
Jamie said...
AT&T should go 4g like sprint!
5-31-2009 @ 2:51AM
verizonplease said...
iPhone on AT&T sucks so-very bad - I can't make reliable calls on most evenings in the LA area.
With no land line, I'm using Skype, especially when talking with toll-free customer support number with those long waits, to make calls on the phone - that's how bad it is.
Please, put it on Verizon!