iPhone 4S demand continues to overwhelm US carriers a month after launch
Wireless carriers in the U.S. continue to struggle to keep up with demand for Apple's iPhone 4S more than a month after the handset first went on sale.
Wireless carriers in the U.S. continue to struggle to keep up with demand for Apple's iPhone 4S more than a month after the handset first went on sale.
Some owners of Apple's new iPhone 4S have been hit with SIM card error messages, even if they are connected to a CDMA carrier that does not use SIM cards.
Before launching the first iPhone, late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs wanted to replace established mobile carriers by creating a proprietary network specifically for the handset by leveraging an unused license-free spectrum band.
Consumer interest in the iPhone 4S has not waned since the handset went on sale last month, as one new analysis has found most Apple stores run out of stock on a daily basis.
Wireless operator Sprint has said it is taking seriously reports of problems with iPhone 4S download speeds on its network, but the carrier has yet to consistently reproduce the issue.
AT&T announced it will expand its 4G LTE coverage from 5 markets to 9 this week, while also introducing two new 4G Android phones. Apple's iPhone users on AT&T should benefit from sharing the same improved backhaul as LTE.
Sprint's top executive said this week that Apple's new iPhone is its most network-efficient smartphone, using some 50% less data than comparable Android handsets.
The iPhone will be a $15 billion investment for Sprint over the next few years, as subsidies for Apple's smartphone carry a price 40 percent greater than other competing handsets.
Competition among 4G-capable long-term evolution smartphones is predicted to intensify in 2012, when industry insiders believe Apple will join the fray with its own LTE iPhone model.
AT&T announced on Thursday that it activated 2.7 million iPhones last quarter, while it activated more than 1 million of the iPhone 4S alone since it launched last Friday.
Three Democratic members of the U.S. Senate introduced on Thursday the "Next Generation Wireless Disclosure Act," which aims to clear up confusion surrounding 4G high-speed wireless data networks and control what carriers can and must say in their advertisements.
The new iPhone 4S features a redesigned antenna design that allows for better reception and faster wireless data speeds, a tweak that should further distance Apple from the "antennagate" controversy that occurred around the launch of the iPhone 4.
Contrary to initial reports, Sprint will not sell an unlocked micro-SIM version of Apple's iPhone 4S, forcing users to pay roaming fees when traveling abroad.
Just 24 hours after opening up pre-orders for the new iPhone 4S, Apple has rolled back expected shipping times for the device from expected delivery on the Oct. 14 launch date to an estimate of 1-2 weeks.
AT&T, Apple's original wireless carrier partner for the iPhone, announced on Friday that it had received more than 200,000 pre-orders for the iPhone 4S in the first 12 hours on offer, making it the most successful iPhone launch ever for the company.
Apple on Friday began taking preorders for the iPhone 4S, and also revealed its next-generation handset will be sold unlocked and contract-free in November starting at $649.
America's third largest carrier Sprint is finally able to carry the iPhone, and is celebrating by offering a $69.99 unlimited data plan with 450 voice minutes and unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling, or a $99 plan with unlimited data and calls.
Before iPhone 4S preorders begin this Friday just after midnight Pacific Time, some customers can check their eligibility for discounted upgrade pricing through Apple's official website.
America's third largest carrier Sprint is finally able to carry the iPhone, and is celebrating by offering a $69.99 unlimited data plan with 450 voice minutes and unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling, or a $99 plan with unlimited data and calls.
Apple demonstrated fast new 14.4 Mbps data downloads that technically put the new iPhone 4S in the realm of 4G LTE competitors, but US residents won't benefit much from the increased potential because domestic carriers don't support it.
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