Zach Spear
The update to the iPhone's carrier settings arrives on the heels of AppleInsider's report on AT&T's 3G solution to patch iPhone dead zones just last week.
Apple's Knowledge Base offers few details on carrier settings updates, saying only that patches contain small files with changes to the default APN (which is how the iPhone connects to the cellular data network), special dialing codes, and default settings for web apps like Stocks, Maps, Weather, and others.
However, MobileCrunch has explored the package contents of the latest update and discovered that it consists largely of two images named "Default_CARRIER_ATT M-Cell.PNG" and "FSO_CARRIER_ATT M-Cell.PNG".
The images are simply carrier logos to replace the default "AT&T" logo at the top of the iPhone's screen whenever connected to the MicroCell.
Additionally, commenters at TUAW point out that Apple has added carrier settings for Mobily (Saudi Arabia) and Etisalat (United Arab Emirates) as well. This seems to coincide with reports that the iPhone will be available on those networks before the close of the month.
iPhone 3G users stuck in an AT&T dead zone at home or at work will be able to purchase and plug in a MicroCell from the carrier that provides a strong local signal for up to 10 phones and four simultaneous voice or data connections via a connection to broadband Internet.
Bon Adamson
Wesley Hilliard
Christine McKee
Malcolm Owen
AppleInsider Staff
Amber Neely
40 Comments
So, let me get this straight. I pay monthly for access to a voice and data network for my iPhone, but the coverage is so bad I have to buy, set up and power a device in order to get the service I should already paid for? Why doesn't ATT just provide sufficient coverage?
So, let me get this straight. I pay monthly for access to a voice and data network for my iPhone, but the coverage is so bad I have to buy, set up and power a device in order to get the service I should already paid for? Why doesn't ATT just provide sufficient coverage?
Because they're an incompentent player and rated at the bottom of Consumer reports?
How hard would it have been to replace this:
A recent carrier update delivered to iPhone users through iTunes ...
With either this:
A recent carrier update delivered to iPhone users in the USA through iTunes...
or this:
A recent carrier update delivered to iPhone's AT&T customers users through iTunes ...
... thus being, you know minimally polite to the majority of the world who are not actually living in the USA?
So, let me get this straight. I pay monthly for access to a voice and data network for my iPhone, but the coverage is so bad I have to buy, set up and power a device in order to get the service I should already paid for? Why doesn't ATT just provide sufficient coverage?
I'll get you straight, this IS how AT&T is providing sufficient coverage. You don't actually think that any cell phone carrier actually owns all their cell towers do you? Many of them share and many of them lease towers from others, you could put a tower up in your backyard if you want and lease it to a carrier. (Providing you get all the proper permits) Sprint and Nextel do not own a single 3G tower (notice their ads say they provide ACCESS to the "fastest 3G network in the country" ) what you are paying for in your contract is access to the network AT&T have setup, your payment goes to paying the contracts AT&T has leases with as well as service on their own infrastructure. In this case, AT&T was required in their contracts with these additional carriers to change how their equipment connects to them, this update allows you to do that. No biggie, it happens all the time, I'm actually surprised this is even news really. only reason it is is because the update is being done through iTunes instead of being delivered to your phone from the wireless network.
Could you imagine what it would look like is instead of one tower in a location you see 3 or 4 because each carrier had to put up their own?
How hard would it have been to replace this:With either this:or this:... thus being, you know minimally polite to the majority of the world who are not actually living in the USA?
Yeah but we all WISH we lived in the US. Ummm... don't we?