34% of iPhone 4 owners and 24% of BlackBerry users actually believe they have 4G

[poofyhairguy]

According to a new report from Retrevo, consumer “confusion and skepticism” could impede the adoption of 4G devices. We’re not surprised. The labeling on 4G devices is apparently so confusing that 34% of iPhone 4 owners and 24% of BlackBerry users actually believe they have a 4G-capable device, but neither RIM nor Apple currently offer a phone capable of running on any 4G networks. 30% of those polled said data plans currently cost too much for them to upgrade to 4G, and 19% said they didn’t know enough about the new technology.

http://www.bgr.com/2011/07/13/confusion-and-skepticism-could-turn-users-away-from-4g-study-says/

 

[shortylickens]

Neither does WP7 at this point and only the Pre 3 and Veer have it for WebOS.

Kinda funny, folks are so happy and proud of their devices they just assume they automatically have the best technology.
Of course calling the iPhone 4 the iPhone 4 may have something to do with it.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Kinda thought the Droid X 2 would be 4G but they omitted it

 

[Bateluer]

Nice marketing. Just because your device is brand new, or has a 4 in its name, doesn't mean its a 4G device.

 

[Pliablemoose]

The carriers are to blame for much of the confusion. Although it is funny how many people think they have LTE

 

[Mopetar]

I know AT&T is claiming that their HSPA+ is 4G, so it could be that a lot of users are following that logic.

 

[Stang289]

I know AT&T is claiming that their HSPA+ is 4G, so it could be that a lot of users are following that logic.

Verizon is claiming that LTE is 4G, and Sprint is claiming that WiMAXX is 4G. Of course most people frequenting this forum know that this is not true.

29% of android owners believe they have 4G.

 

[BenSkywalker]

What do you all consider actual 4G?

Verizon is the only company using LTE atm, and all of the big four claim to have 4G. So what type of throughput would you each consider 4G?

BTW- On a technical basis none of the US carriers ever met the international standards for 3G, before people use that as a good standard

 

[Nebor]

Every company is calling something else 4G. AT&T is saying their HSPA+ is 4G, and if that's the case then my ~4 year old Sony Ericsson X1A had "4G" since it could download @ around 10 megabits per second in covered areas...

 

[Bateluer]

29% of android owners believe they have 4G.

Thats closer to the truth though. Still may be high, but at least android 4G handsets actually exist.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

verizon is claiming that lte is 4g, and sprint is claiming that wimaxx is 4g. Of course most people frequenting this forum know that this is not true.

29% of android owners believe they have 4g.

lte is 4g....

 

[Aikouka]

What do you all consider actual 4G?

Verizon is the only company using LTE atm, and all of the big four claim to have 4G. So what type of throughput would you each consider 4G?

BTW- On a technical basis none of the US carriers ever met the international standards for 3G, before people use that as a good standard

If we're to follow the actual 4G standard, none of the current standards available meet it.

It looks like the first one will be LTE Advanced:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4G#4G_and_near-4G_systems

 

[zerocool84]

In the beginning the ITU said what we have now isn't 4G but now allowed what we have now to be called 4G from a lot of pressure. I honestly don't care what they call it as long as it's faster.

 

[Bateluer]

FYI, the only carrier without any semblance of a next gen network is AT&T.

Verizon has LTE, considerably faster than their 3G. Sprint has their WiMAX, considerably faster than 3G. T-Mobile has been building the infrastructure to support HSPA+ on their GSM network for two years, making it just as fast as Wimax and LTE in a lot of cases. AT&T has just been riding their iPhone gravy train for years, without making any investments in next gen infrastructure or technologies. Heck, their LTE plans are to buy T-Mobile, kill their 3G/HSPA+, and use the spectrum for their LTE network.

 

[BenSkywalker]

Noone is going to come out and state a bandwidth number?

If people are going to argue the semantics used by the major carriers they should at least be able to lay down some numbers as to what would fall into "4G" territory from their perspective.

 

[Pliablemoose]

I was disappointed that the LTE networks are going to be incompatible

I really wish the FCC/congress would step in and force the carriers to be compatible in the LTE spectrum...

 

[Bateluer]

I was disappointed that the LTE networks are going to be incompatible

I really wish the FCC/congress would step in and force the carriers to be compatible in the LTE spectrum...

They approved and sold what . . .12<?> LTE spectrum bands? I would think that in the US, at least, they'd be able to make a phone that can be used on all US carriers.

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

29% of android owners believe they have 4G.

Considering how hugely popular the HTC EVO 4G is, I wouldn't be surprised if it was mostly true that they do.

 

[Bateluer]

Considering how hugely popular the HTC EVO 4G is, I wouldn't be surprised if it was mostly true that they do.

The EVO, Evo Shift, Epic, EVO 3D, and Nexus S on Sprint. The Exhibit, Sidekick 4G, myTouch 4G, myTouch 4G Slide, Galaxy S 4G, Sensation 4G, and G2x on T-Mobile. The Thunderbolt, Revolution, and Charge on Verizon. There's quite a few 4G phones on carriers that have 4G networks.

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

The EVO, Evo Shift, Epic, EVO 3D, and Nexus S on Sprint. The Exhibit, Sidekick 4G, myTouch 4G, myTouch 4G Slide, Galaxy S 4G, Sensation 4G, and G2x on T-Mobile. The Thunderbolt, Revolution, and Charge on Verizon. There's quite a few 4G phones on carriers that have 4G networks.

What I meant is that around 25&#37; of the people I know that have Android smartphones have an EVO 4G. The sales numbers don't really lie.

With so many Android smartphones coming out with 4G now, I think 30% is definitely feasible. It's only a matter of time before the low-end smartphones start getting it too.

 

[BenSkywalker]

The EVO, Evo Shift, Epic, EVO 3D, and Nexus S on Sprint. The Exhibit, Sidekick 4G, myTouch 4G, myTouch 4G Slide, Galaxy S 4G, Sensation 4G, and G2x on T-Mobile. The Thunderbolt, Revolution, and Charge on Verizon. There's quite a few 4G phones on carriers that have 4G networks.

Kind of curious why you included TMo if you don't consider AT&T to have 4G? They both use HSPA+ and both of them offer very close performance, actually you have the Nexus S in that list to which from what I have seen benches slower then many of the HSPA+ phones on either AT&T or TMobile.

This is why I ask what throughput do people consider 4G.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Kind of curious why you included TMo if you don't consider AT&T to have 4G? They both use HSPA+ and both of them offer very close performance, actually you have the Nexus S in that list to which from what I have seen benches slower then many of the HSPA+ phones on either AT&T or TMobile.

This is why I ask what throughput do people consider 4G.

People aren't answering you because you're just jonesing for an argument. Just sayin'.

 

[BenSkywalker]

People aren't answering you because you're just jonesing for an argument.

I want to know what people's standards are. By the international standard there is no 4G anywhere in the US now, I think saying that Verizon's order of magnitude improvement is worthy of another G has merit, but not according to them. Speaking for myself, the iPhone4 pulls ~6Mb down, a bit better then 300&#37; faster then the averages I've managed with any Verizon 3G phone. To me, I think that bandwidth level is 4G.

If people disagree with that that's fine, I'm just looking for what people are using as a guideline. In terms *I* would use, the iPhone4 is more 4G then the Nexus S(iP4 on H+ sees higher bandwidth numbers).

 

[Nebor]

I've seen speeds of 14mb\s on AT&T... I thought 4G was around 30mb\s.

 

[Aikouka]

If people disagree with that that's fine, I'm just looking for what people are using as a guideline. In terms *I* would use, the iPhone4 is more 4G then the Nexus S(iP4 on H+ sees higher bandwidth numbers).

It sounds like the problem that's plaguing your definition is simply how terrible Verizon's 3G is compared to AT&T's 3G. Verizon is known for good coverage, but they're also known for awful 3G speeds.

You know what I'd like to see? A good standard that will allow us decent transfer rates without a good signal level (say... 2 bars). AT&T's transfer rates are good, but the signal isn't when you're in a building... even if there's only a single wall between you and the outside. It's not uncommon for me to have 1-2 bars at work, but if I go to somewhere with a window, it goes to 3-4... even if said place is only a few feet down from where I normally am.

Although, I swear my signal used to be better on my phone... so I'm not sure what's going on there.