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View Full Version : Help Document iPhone 3G Network Speeds Around The World


Edward Kirk
August 14th, 2008, 03:54 PM
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Apple's iPhone 3G ads tout the new iPhone 3G as being fast, but just how fast is it? The ads make it seem a little utopian, showing it loading webpages almost instantaneously. However, while almost everyone agrees 3G is an improvement, it's not <em>nearly</em> that fast in real life. Secondly, speeds differ for everyone. So, the only real way to find out how fast the iPhone 3G is is to ask people who use it in your area, and that's exactly what <em>Wired</em> is doing.<!--break-->

Apple's iPhone 3G ads are about as far from an accurate rendition of download speeds as you can get. Gizmodo decided to put them to the test, trying to replicate the speeds in Apple's US ad titled "<a href="http://www.apple.com/iphone/gallery/ads/unslow/" target="_blank">Unslow</a>". Of course, it wasn't even close.

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Still, it was only tested in one location. Chances are it will be different for just about everyone depending on where you're at at the time. That is why the people at <em>Wired</em> are asking for your help to document the iPhone 3G's download speeds at locations across the world, once and for all.

To participate, test your network speed at <a href="http://www.testmyiphone.com/" target="_blank">TestmyiPhone.com</a> using the 3G network in your area. Once you have the numbers, register for a ZeeMap account and enter the information on their global ZeeMap.

The result of this will (hopefully) be a once and for all documentation of AT&T's network and networks around the world, and the iPhone 3G's performance on them.

Full participation instructions are on <a href="http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/08/iphone-global.html" target="_blank">Wired's post</a>. Let us know if you'll be participating in the comments.

[via <a href="http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/08/iphone-global.html" target="_blank">Wired</a>]</div>

warlock
August 14th, 2008, 05:45 PM
many people i know have complained about 3G coverage and Im ready for all the US coverage to improve... HURRY AT&T!

exbusfish
August 14th, 2008, 07:11 PM
Don't buy the hype about the Wired site. I tried it today and had many DB connection errors and other site problems. Not sure how reliable their results are if they can't even build a scalable site!

Stephen007
August 14th, 2008, 09:09 PM
I did the test a few times in a row, after a fresh reboot of the phone.

Got 275kbps one times & 1.2Mbps another time. Exact same spot in my house with no change. That's a wide difference.

sikosis
August 14th, 2008, 09:31 PM
Can't register with zeemap ... so I'll just tell you here.

Brisbane, QLD Australia - Optus 3G = 411 Kbps / 287 Kbps

Unregistered
August 15th, 2008, 02:17 PM
A couple days ago I was shocked to get 1.11 mbps over 3G. I usually get 300 kbps. I'm not sure why, at times, I can get so much. Has anybody else experienced this?

Stephen007
August 15th, 2008, 03:26 PM
1.18Mbps at my "sucky" work location with 3G where my old 1st gen phone wouldn't work for data or (just barely) phone calls.

Switched 3G off. The test wouldn't load multiple times but finally loaded with a speed of 74Kbps. Wow. 1.18Mbps on 3G to 0.07Mbps on EGDE. Needless to say I love my 3G iPhone.

Just goes to show how variable everyone's experiences can be, though. Last night I had wildly varied results in 1 single spot. Today at work my 3G is far, far superior to EDGE whereas I see many posts of people with better EDGE results at times.

Unregistered
August 16th, 2008, 02:17 AM
Hi there.

I just did a wifi test from my laptop (Develop menu in Safari, changed user agent to iPhone), and guess what?
It must be because I'm in Norway and the server in... I have no idea. But the results are just faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar from the truth for me.
It tells me that I have a 2 mbps connection.. Other tests reveal the real speed of my connection, 12 mbps.

So, take those test results with a pinch of salt.

Cheers.