iPhone AT&T vs. Verizon EVDO Network

Internet connectivity with any phone, really doesn't compare well to internet access via dedicated data device like a PC or Expresscard or USB modem.

Here is an ongoing sampling of fastest mobile speed tests by a well recognized site:

http://www.dslreports.com/mspeed?domains=1

note that on the whole, iphone users on mycingular.net connections are slower than sprint but faster than verizon.

however, none of those phone speeds are anywhere near fastest of dedicated EVDO device. check out these fastest recorded downloads by members of http://www.evdoforums.com

http://evdomaps.com/Fastest+Downloads

If what you are after is fastest mobile broadband, you'll want EVDO dedicated data device attached to your laptop.

If you want it on your phone, one way to do that is get it on your laptop, and then share it via wifi to your iphone!

Or, there is this idea: http://www.evdoinfo.com/content/view/2028/63/

> Is there any speculation that AT&T will roll out a new or at least
> improved network anytime soon?
>
> And, are we in for more substantive changes to the iPhone anytime
> soon?

AT&T *is* rolling out faster data, which is in place in some areas,
including most major ones. (It sticks its nose across the Tacoma
Narrows bridge, but that's as close as it's gotten to me short of a
ferry ride.) Doesn't matter for the present iPhone, since the phone
lacks hardware to use it. And the available hardware eats batteries,
per rumor. It will be interesting to watch what the iPhone hardware
sold in Europe supports in the way of data.

Here (upper right corner of the Olympic Peninsula, which is the upper
left corner of the lower 48), EDGE is quite fast. That's because
it's quite new--first thing I did after the MacWorld keynote was look
for local EDGE, and I was way outside the edge--it's been built out
here since. Since EDGE is new here, there likely aren't many users,
hence it's doing about as well as it can. Fast enough to check news
while waiting for a restaurant meal. It's slower than EVDO (except
possibly where EVDO infrastructure is oversubscribed). Where EDGE is
strained, it is slower.

I've changed my use of machines here, particularly on weekends. I
now shut off my main machine after clearing the overnight reports,
and check company mail--even here at home/office--on the iPhone
through the day. And I usually do that via EDGE, saving battery by
leaving iPhone WiFi off.

EDGE (everywhere I've tried, including aboard the Spirit of
Washington Dinner Train out of Tacoma towards Ta'homa (ok, Mt
Rainier)) is plenty fast for the Google maps application. It was
fast enough to be usable for mailing a couple of pictures from the
train.

Would faster be better, at the same battery life? Yes. Is the phone
usable with EDGE? For me, definitely yes. YMMV.

   --John (who charges iPhone about every third day, having it on
7x24 as a pager)