3 ms·

IPad '4G' claims face scrutiny from UK regulator

17 points by wgx 14y ago

alanbyrne 14y ago
Another unfortunate example of a US company forgetting that there people outside their own borders with different constraints and requirements. I'd rather Apple just gave a boat load of money to UK mobile networks to help them upgrade to 4G :)
- edd 14y ago
  Unfortunately money isn't the thing holding back UK 4G adoption. You can read more about the delays here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17853286 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17853286 But even then because no two countries will be using the same spectrum my understanding is that UK 4G will be incompatible with US 4G.
nl 14y ago
Apple recently got in trouble in Australia over the same issue[1]. The final outcome of that case is still pending - at least insofar as what Apple is going to have to do about it. [1] http://www.smh.com.au/business/apple-and-accc-ipad-mediation-fails-20120416-1x33y.html http://www.smh.com.au/business/apple-and-accc-ipad-mediation...
- thatjoshguy 14y ago
  Customers who bought the 4G iPad before the 28th March had until the 25th of April to approach Apple for a refund.
TazeTSchnitzel 14y ago
Also, isn't the "4G" it has on AT&T in the US not really 4G though? I mean the faster 3G, not LTE of course.
- sipefree 14y ago
  There's no one standard definition of "4G". A myriad of differing technologies all claim to be 4G, which is why it's just about impossible for a vendor to produce a device compatible with every one worldwide. If "4G" had a solid definition, and everybody was using it, but iPad didn't support it, then it would be understandable.
  - CraigRood 14y ago
    While I agree theres no standard definition, theres a general agreement between all parties that LTE is "4G" and HSDPA+ is "3G" (or "3.5G" if you will). To argue the semantics of what "3G" and "4G" really is only confuses customers even more - and thats exactly what Australia and the UK are trying to prevent.
    - chris_wot 14y ago
      Exactly. By stating that something is 4G compliant, when there is no real defined way of easily defining the term, then it's pretty misleading!
panacea 14y ago
The iPhone 3G should never have been called that and Apple should not be touting the latest iterations of the devices as "4G". They are meaningless terms in so many real world situations. I can have a xG phone near a compatible tower and the right chip set and it might get advertised speeds, or the network might be congested. I can have a xG phone in the desert and get nothing. I can have a xG phone with the wrong chip set for where I am. I can have a xG phone but the carrier roaming charges are astronomical because I'm overseas. It's a difficult problem (obviously), but I want an always connected everywhere phone with transparent and reasonable (!=cheap) pricing for data. I don't want fast mobile if I stand on one foot near the right mobile tower in the right country. I want reliable connectivity. Imagine if you were sold a 60 watt lightbulb for your home and it flickered, was dim or completely dark. It's not the bulb, it's the electrical supply you say? Well the bulb is being sold with the electrical supply in nearly all cases. Phone contracts are the bulb and electrical supply rolled into one.

17 points by wgx 14y ago

Another unfortunate example of a US company forgetting that there people outside their own borders with different constraints and requirements. I'd rather Apple just gave a boat load of money to UK mobile networks to help them upgrade to 4G :)

edd 14y ago
Unfortunately money isn't the thing holding back UK 4G adoption. You can read more about the delays here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17853286 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17853286 But even then because no two countries will be using the same spectrum my understanding is that UK 4G will be incompatible with US 4G.

nl 14y ago

Apple recently got in trouble in Australia over the same issue[1]. The final outcome of that case is still pending - at least insofar as what Apple is going to have to do about it. [1] http://www.smh.com.au/business/apple-and-accc-ipad-mediation-fails-20120416-1x33y.html http://www.smh.com.au/business/apple-and-accc-ipad-mediation...

thatjoshguy 14y ago
Customers who bought the 4G iPad before the 28th March had until the 25th of April to approach Apple for a refund.

TazeTSchnitzel 14y ago

Also, isn't the "4G" it has on AT&T in the US not really 4G though? I mean the faster 3G, not LTE of course.

sipefree 14y ago
There's no one standard definition of "4G". A myriad of differing technologies all claim to be 4G, which is why it's just about impossible for a vendor to produce a device compatible with every one worldwide. If "4G" had a solid definition, and everybody was using it, but iPad didn't support it, then it would be understandable.
- CraigRood 14y ago
  While I agree theres no standard definition, theres a general agreement between all parties that LTE is "4G" and HSDPA+ is "3G" (or "3.5G" if you will). To argue the semantics of what "3G" and "4G" really is only confuses customers even more - and thats exactly what Australia and the UK are trying to prevent.
  - chris_wot 14y ago
    Exactly. By stating that something is 4G compliant, when there is no real defined way of easily defining the term, then it's pretty misleading!

panacea 14y ago

The iPhone 3G should never have been called that and Apple should not be touting the latest iterations of the devices as "4G". They are meaningless terms in so many real world situations. I can have a xG phone near a compatible tower and the right chip set and it might get advertised speeds, or the network might be congested. I can have a xG phone in the desert and get nothing. I can have a xG phone with the wrong chip set for where I am. I can have a xG phone but the carrier roaming charges are astronomical because I'm overseas. It's a difficult problem (obviously), but I want an always connected everywhere phone with transparent and reasonable (!=cheap) pricing for data. I don't want fast mobile if I stand on one foot near the right mobile tower in the right country. I want reliable connectivity. Imagine if you were sold a 60 watt lightbulb for your home and it flickered, was dim or completely dark. It's not the bulb, it's the electrical supply you say? Well the bulb is being sold with the electrical supply in nearly all cases. Phone contracts are the bulb and electrical supply rolled into one.