Apple iPhone Speeds on Sprint Nextel Very Slow | Jeff Kagan Tech Analyst

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Jeff Kagan

Tech Analyst

     

Oh no. Not again. Over the years we have been hearing about very slow Apple iPhone speeds on AT&T Mobility.

Now the iPhone is available on Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel and C Spire. We were hoping spreading the usage among four carriers would solve the problem.

It did solve the problem for AT&T Mobility. Now there is a new problem. Sprint Nextel is having very slow download speeds for users of the iPhone.

This was not expected. Verizon also uses a similar CDMA network and they are not having the same problem.

Therefore Sprint can handle the usage IF they can isolate and fix the problem.

Sprint told us they have plenty of capacity. Plenty of room on the network to handle the iPhone demand.

So what happened?

Sprint generally uses Clearwire service for fast 4G connections. The problem is Apple iPhone cannot use this Clearwire service.

So Sprint has to send iPhone data usage over their slower CDMA network. On the face of it that is not the problem because Verizon Wireless also uses a similar CDMA network with no problems, yet at least.

It’s like the first iPhone several years ago. Remember when AT&T was building a 3G network, but the first iPhone couldn’t access it? So as the iPhone used AT&T’s slower 2G network complaints started.

The same problem is happening again, but now with Sprint Nextel.

Customers didn’t like it back then with AT&T Mobility, but since it was new they gave it the time they needed to bring everything up to speed.

However with Sprint customers depended on the same speedy connections as users get with AT&T, Verizon and C Spire.

So what is the solution and when can customers expect improved service. That is the multi-million-dollar question.

No one knows yet.

Sprints CDMA network should be performing much better than it is currently. Isolating and fixing the problem and quickly is now job number one at Sprint.

The problem is iPhone users use quite a bit more wireless data than ordinary smart phones users. That is why they buy an iPhone.

None of this is a surprise. I don’t have an answer.

Let’s hope Sprint can fix this problem as quickly as possible because every day it goes on will cost the company new customers.

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Please attribute to Jeff Kagan, Tech Analyst with www.jeffKAGAN.com

If you would like to discuss, call me at 770-579-5810 or send an email to jeff@JeffKAGAN.com

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Jeff KAGAN| Tech Analyst w Atlanta based jeffKAGAN.com

Analyst sharing perspective on the changing industry for 25 years

~ Also Columnist, Author, Consultant, Speaker

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Phone 770-579-5810 Email jeff@jeffKAGAN.com Web www.jeffKAGAN.com

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