If you have a new Atrix 4G smartphone on the AT&T network or if you are thinking of buying one you new to know an important detail. Evidence has surfaced that AT&T is capping the upload speed of 4G Android handsets like the Atrix. The caps significantly decrease the upload speeds the handsets are capable of.
The real kick in the pants for 4G Atrix users is that on the AT&T network the iPhone 4 with the 3G radio out performs the 4G Android handsets. Is this a way for AT&T to still funnel buyers to the iPhone while offering Android handsets or what?
Phandorid reports that testers have found that the iPhone 4 averages 1.5Mbps upload speeds and the 4G network that is supposed to be faster see uploads of around 300kbps on the Atrix thanks to the cap. The radio inside the device is capable of up to 5.7Mbps uploads. So what gives AT&T?
[via Phandroid]
No they aren’t actually. They disable HSUPA in modem firmware of their devices, the iPhone is able to get around this because AT&T has no control over the iPhone firmware. Not really a mystery, maybe a bait post, but no mystery.
When HSPA+ is widely active and available this won’t matter. Remember, HSPA+ is deployed, but they didn’t say it was switched on.
This affects any device AT&T gets a say in firmware on. On 4G or 3G, Blackberry or Android, or webconnect modems. Only the Nexus 1, Dell Streak, iPhone 4, and custom rom’d phones are exempt from AT&T’s artificial cap…
I’m just surprised that users would be surprised that att would neuter their service (speed in this case) simply because they have to on their inefficient and impotent network.
I’m just surprised that users would be surprised that att would neuter their service (speed in this case) simply because they have to on their inefficient and impotent network.