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What is EDGE and what it does mean for me as I use my new iPhone?
I've heard the EDGE network is slow, so if this is the case, just how noticeably slow is it?
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Inappropriate?Wikipedia gives a fairly technical explanation of what EDGE is here. "Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) or Enhanced GPRS (EGPRS), is a digital mobile phone technology that allows it to increase data transmission rate and improve data transmission reliability...."
And here's a less technical explanation from PCMag. "The Cingular EDGE network is the closest thing to a truly nationwide cellular high-speed data network available today. While those high speeds may feel more like dial-up than broadband at times, you can't beat EDGE's availability—you can access the Internet from almost anywhere you can get a Cingular cell-phone signal...."
As for what it means to the iPhone, here's what Information Week says. "The early reviews of Apple's iPhone are in and, while there is near-unanimous consensus that the handset is wonderful, most reviewers point to a major weakness: the slow AT&T network on which the iPhones will operate.
The Edge (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) network can be painfully slow; it generally operates at between 75 and 135 Kbps. In a broadband world of users accustomed to the instant gratification of 600 Kbps to 3 Mbps, that slow speed will frustrate many iPhone subscribers...."
I hope that helps!
I’m anxious
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Inappropriate?great info Amy.
having used the iphone in the bay area since launch, i'll add my subjective datapoint. basically, edge is almost always available (but not invariably), and the speed varies dramatically. it is sometimes competitive with wifi (as far as iphone-end-user experience goes), and sometimes it slows to almost a complete stop.
edge is good enough that i can generally use the mapping/traffic feature and email while in the car.
i kind of view edge as i viewed the analog-vs-digital in the old days. if wifi is available, then i have great performance on the device. if it isn't, then edge is my fallback that works reasonably well.
now, this means that if the bulk of your environment lacks wifi, you will not enjoy the iphone experience in the same way. (add to that the fact that safari on the iphone doesn't remember passwords very well, making stuff like starbucks tmobile support a hassle)
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this answers the question
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Inappropriate?HOW DO I GET MY QUESTIONS ANSWER
