Decreased iPhone speeds caused by 2.0.2 firmware?
updated 01:20 pm EDT, Thu August 21, 2008
iPhone speed issues
The iPhone 2.0.2 update that was supposed to improve 3G connectivity may have had an unexpectedly negative effect on download speeds, accounts say. Test My iPhone is a site that allows users to test their iPhone's download and upload speeds, and also keeps track of average speeds recorded in the last 24 hours. The site has completed just over 600,000 speed tests, and has previously shown an average speed of around 2,224Kbps; in the last 24 hours however, this has fallen 30 percent to 1,578Kbps.
Cult of Mac reports that this decrease could be related to Monday's v2.0.2 update, though it speculates that there might be other reasons for a sudden speed reduction. Some suggestions include meteorological conditions, a spike in traffic on AT&T's network, or a bug in the site's reporting tool. It is noted that average global download and upload speeds are the same, which is a rare phenomenon. One reader comments that the global decrease could be simply be generated by users performing more EDGE tests versus 3G or Wi-Fi.
Complaints about 3G connectivity have surged in recent weeks, with one user going as far as to file a lawsuit against the company, arguing that Apple's claims of "twice the speed" are untrue.
No
08/21, 02:04pm reply
The report is accurate. I have quite a noticeable slow down and weakening on my iPhone.
dmsimmer
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2005
DON'T RUN THIS TEST
08/21, 02:08pm reply
Until the folks behind testmyiphone.com explain why their test rebooted my first gen. iphone during the d/l (wifi) speed test......
319please
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2006
Re: Don't run...
08/21, 02:24pm reply
Maybe you should be asking apple how running a web page could cause your iPhone to reboot?????
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Noticed a slowdown but..
08/21, 02:25pm reply
I may have noticed slower speeds but it is more stable and consistent and GPS seems to work in less than 10 seconds now.
Even with the slowdown, it is still 5X faster than Edge.
aristotles
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
OR...
08/21, 02:29pm reply
It could be on purpose to help AT&T with service issues, reduce the speed on the phone will reduce demand on AT&T's pathetic network so there is less issues.
Athens
Addicted to MacNN
Joined: Jan 2003
yes
08/21, 02:40pm reply
The report is inaccurate. I have quite a noticeable speed up and strengthening on my iPhone.
rytc
Mac Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2001
Huh?
08/21, 06:51pm reply
The numbers quoted are for ALL connection types. I don't see any value for the aggregate and last 24 hours just for 3G.
Its not clear to me that any of the numbers (other than the value you get from your specific test on your specific phone) can be correlated to anything, there's just not enough data.
carlmuck
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2006
Questions or answers?
08/21, 09:43pm reply
For the love of Mike, MacNN, stop putting question marks at the end of your headlines. If you know something to be true, say it in the headline. If you don't know it to be true, say Cult of Mac reports this or Test My iPhone says that. But please stop asking me questions with your headlines.
FXOLeary
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2002