[Maced] An iPhone Question

[Quentin Hall]

On 15/06/2008, at 8:44 AM, Matt Darby wrote:

>> Actually the 3G iPhone does support the Telstra NextG network (850  
>> MHz) -
>
> It Supports UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz)

and

GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) - so at least in the country the  
other networks will still work - all be it slower.   Apparently the  
lower frequencies work better distances (ie it's cheaper to put up ONE  
tower than 4 in an area of low return).  Battery life is improved  
using the EDGE - something which could be handy as you can't change  
the battery in the iPhone "on the fly" with a fresh one.    I wonder  
if my TuneJuice (which I purchased in the US for my iPod) adapter  
would keep the show on the road when the main iPhone battery is nearly  
dead?




> 2100 MHz is what Vodafone and Optus use in it current 3G network -  
> mainly in major cities

Very true. More towers required to get a good coverage seems to be the  
rule of thumb - but that might be a benefit, "load sharing" data being  
downloaded, maybe?



> What it does not support is the 900 MHz band that Optus is using to  
> extend its 3G Network and its claimed 98% Coverage

So not all handsets will work on 3G "out in remote parts of the  
country (and some metro bits)".  However, they should fall back to  
good old GSM/EDGE.    As someone told me "Telstra claims 98% coverage  
on NextG - have they tried to actually make an outgoing call on "one  
bar of strength"?   So everything is subject to "where you wish to use  
it - maybe down to "which ROOM you wish to use it".



I'm still going to use WiFi for the bulk of my Internet - why pay for  
extended sessions of expensive phone networks or are we all "just  
hanging out for the next email to arrive at BLISTERING speed".  I  
think using the web to find a phone number of someone's address will  
be my main use of the Internet.






Regards



Q