AIS 4G Trials Kicked Off

[negreanu]

iPad3's worldwide will be the US frequency version they have not changed the freqs. for the asian/european release.

It's gonna be a bit of a mess - especially when the iPhone 5 come's along with the same freqs.

Edited March 11, 2012 by negreanu

[lomatopo]

iPad3's worldwide will be the US frequency version they have not changed the freqs. for the asian/european release.

It's gonna be a bit of a mess - especially when the iPhone 5 come's along with the same freqs.

I believe there are two different iPad 3 WiFi + 4G (/3G) models: One for AT&T and one for Verizon. While either would function here on 3G I suspect the AT&T version might be launched/marketed in Asia?

http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/

Wi-Fi + 4G for AT&T model: 4G LTE (700, 2100 MHz)3; UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

Wi-Fi + 4G for Verizon model: 4G LTE (700 MHz)3; CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1900 MHz); UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

Further I think there were/are two different versions of the iPhone 4 ( a GSM model and a CDMA model ), but just one version of the 4S?

Not that that is relevant to this proposed AIS trial.

[bkk_mike]

Why wouldn't it be relevant to the trial...

What's LTE for? - Answer: Fast data access.

What devices do you want fast data access for - laptops, smartphones and tablets.

Apple has > 50% market share on tablets, not quite so much of the market share on smartphones, but still > 50% of the profits on smartphones (and it's been shown that individual iPhone users use more bandwidth than individual Android users).

How can AIS's frequency choice being incompatible with apple devices not be relevant when Apple hold so much worldwide market share for 2 of the 3 main categories of devices that you'd want to connect with LTE. Especially in a country that is a major tourist destination. (unless none of the mobile companies introduce LTE on 700 or 2100 MHz here so that tourists are stuck on HSPA+ speeds, or the trials are on a different frequency than the final service).

I will admit there's possibly a market in Thailand for home users using LTE in place of wired broadband where they can't get a decent ADSL service. (i.e. me... - as I'm too far from the exchange so have a pitiful 1MB service in Bangkok from True, and although it's a lot faster, our TOT service at our place in Jomtien is hugely unreliable...)

Edited March 12, 2012 by bkk_mike

[lomatopo]

Why wouldn't it be relevant to the trial...

Because any current Apple products, including the iPad 3, do not support the frequencies which AIS will be trialing.

If you are asking why AIS chose these frequencies, instead of those supported by Apple, for this tiny, controlled, non-commercial trial you might want to direct your questions towards them. I suspect that it is a combination of available bandwidth which might not interfere with other frequencies, and the equipment sponsor. Apple's LTE support is really meant for AT&T and Verizon, both of which have robust and widely-deployed LTE networks.

Any tourists with iPads or iPhones can avail themselves of multi-megabit 3G networks now. Easy-peasy, why make things more complicated?

Edited March 12, 2012 by lomatopo

[IsaanUSA]

Too many Apple fanboys in here. I don't think a telecom company is going to change their tech because of an Apple product.

Meanwhile in China, We're not issuing 4G licenses for another two to three years

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/251498/china_will_not_issue_4g_licenses_for_another_2_to_3_years_says_official.html