AT&T Pins 4G Label to Existing Network

This is the result of a series of steps that each seemed somewhat reasonable — like a marketing version of path dependence (or maybe ratcheting). Clearwire called WiMax 4G because it's an incompatible, more advanced, and dramatically faster protocol than EV-DO or WCDMA. Then T-Mobile introduced HSPA+ which is technically an incremental evolution of 3G but is actually faster than WiMax; thinking that it's unfair for a faster network to have fewer Gs, they called it 4G. Now AT&#38;T will be penalized if they call their HSPA+ 3G, so they also call it 4G.<p>Honestly, the traditional G naming scheme was too arbitrary and confused users.

They should have just pulled a Gillette and gone straight to 5G:<p><a href="http://boingboing.net/2005/09/14/gillettes-5blade-raz.html" rel="nofollow">http://boingboing.net/2005/09/14/gillettes-5blade-raz.html</a>

Originally the ITU ruled that neither WiMax or LTE were 4G in October: <a href="http://www.infoworld.com/d/mobilize/4g-defined-wimax-and-lte-dont-qualify-683" rel="nofollow">http://www.infoworld.com/d/mobilize/4g-defined-wimax-and-lte...</a><p>Which meant neither Sprint's or Verizon's network were 4G, but that didn't stop them from advertising.<p>In December, the ITU changed their mind and now WiMax, LTE, and HSPA+ can be called 4G: <a href="http://www.intomobile.com/2010/12/18/itu-reverses-its-decision-lte-wimax-and-hspa-are-now-4g/" rel="nofollow">http://www.intomobile.com/2010/12/18/itu-reverses-its-decisi...</a><p>At this point, I think 4G is just mostly a marketing phrase now.

T-Mobile seems to have gotten away with it, so it was probably just a matter of time. 4G is just much catchier that HSPA+.<p>Coming soon: LTE aka 5G.

<i>He says consumers generally won't notice the difference in speed between AT&#38;T's HSPA-plus and upcoming LTE networks, so it makes sense to call both 4G ...the carrier will speed up the LTE network build out in 2012 and 2013.</i><p>basically, they got the ceo of ATT wireless to say on-record that there would be no speed improvements on their network for a very long time... They probably won't have good (geographic) coverage on the new network for at least 2-3 years...<p>Can anyone comment on why they are just starting to build a network with tech that isn't higher speed than their current network? I'm sure that's a lot of money spent, and you'd think that if they went to the trouble they'd deploy something that was faster.

Seems that "4G" is the new "2.0"

That's pretty ambitious of them considering I don't even have 3G service from ATT in my area. I'm still stuck on the Edge.

Now Walt Mossberg and John Gruber can praise Apple for making a 4G iPhone. That sure was easy.

Lying isn't right, so I tell my children. I am sure consumers don't really understand the technology, but clearly stating something you don't have is material the FTC should be investigating.

In a persuasive setting words are currency. Gresham's Law (bad currency drives out good) applies. Since the words in question are actually numbers we get slapped in the face with it this time. Or we get a chuckle, depending on your prior level of cynicism.

Hey AT&#38;T, why don't you forget 4G for now and concentrate on making Edge and 3G work first.

This is a remarkably poorly written article.<p>I can see highlighting AT&#38;T's change in marketing and seemingly trying to confuse customers by dropping mention of 3G. However, I don't see any evidence here that AT&#38;T is starting to use the term "4G" incorrectly. The article papers over this inconvenient lack of perfidy on AT&#38;T's part by using the term 4G on average once per paragraph.<p>Is this the WSJ or is it techcrunch?

This reminds me of when Heroku was acquired... I call it Cloud 2

The only solution is see for Verizon and Sprint is to advertise actual speeds.

I just...<p>I, I mean... I...<p>I can muster nothing but expletives. Wow. Absolutely nothing more than expletives.<p><i>Fuck these guys.</i>

I want to see my iPhone status bar to read "AT&#38;T 4G" right now!!! I want my 4g speed, even if it is just a relabeling.