It's pretty amazing how network conditions beyond signal strength can have an impact on battery life... Sigh, how I wish Verizon hadn't left Puerto Rico, we get every other US carrier except the one seemingly doing the best job of improving it's network. #pityparty
The nice thing is that enabling these features are as simple as pushing out a software update for Ericsson/Alcatel-Lucent, so the same should happen for AT&T (or maybe already has) and other LTE networks.
I really hope it happens on the AT&T network.... at my work we're turning in our iPhone3gs for Droid options. I like the Nitro or SG2-skyrocket, but co-workers are reporting the battery life SUCKS!
No way to turn off the LTE other than to turn off data altogether which isn't a fix. (I looked online....didn't see any LTE off option)
You mean on the AT&T LTE devices? Try under *#*#4636#*#*, Phone Information, then the menu there. AT&T is removing options wherever possible to let you use 2G or 3G for obvious reasons - they want fewer people on those carriers so they can run fewer. There's usually a way to hop back down though if you look for it.
There is truth to the fact that AT&T LTE devices are getting marginally better battery life too since they don't have another radio camping 1x all the time. It's either WCDMA or LTE (or GSM/EDGE) for the MDM9200 in those devices.
These sorts of features are not specific to Verizon. If you look at the 3GPP roadmaps (they are not secret) you will see that there is constant modification to subtle issues (like the state machine governing how handsets transition between idle, more-or-less connected, and more-or-less transmitting/receiving data) to reduce power.
These changes aren't as sexy as adding QAM64 (changing download max speed from 14 to 21Mbps) or spatial-multiplexing MIMO or (soon to come) wide (bonded) channels for UMTS, but they are part of each successive spec, release 8, release 9, and so on. And because they are part of the spec, they do get rolled out into everyone's equipment in time. VZW seem to be more aggressive than the other telcos in not allowing truly crappy radio equipment in their mobiles, and in rolling out (or at least publicizing rolling out) upgrades to their towers, but at the end of the day the differences across carriers are more like a year or so differences in precisely when something gets rolled out, not much more than that.
I would assume so given that the three share identical cellular architectures and basebands. I just don't know what version of the Bionic software/radio includes the update, so I can't say for sure.
We’ve updated our terms. By continuing to use the site and/or by logging into your account, you agree to the Site’s updated Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
7 Comments
Back to Article
Impulses - Friday, February 3, 2012 - link
It's pretty amazing how network conditions beyond signal strength can have an impact on battery life... Sigh, how I wish Verizon hadn't left Puerto Rico, we get every other US carrier except the one seemingly doing the best job of improving it's network. #pitypartyBrian Klug - Friday, February 3, 2012 - link
The nice thing is that enabling these features are as simple as pushing out a software update for Ericsson/Alcatel-Lucent, so the same should happen for AT&T (or maybe already has) and other LTE networks.-Brian
Souka - Saturday, February 4, 2012 - link
I really hope it happens on the AT&T network.... at my work we're turning in our iPhone3gs for Droid options. I like the Nitro or SG2-skyrocket, but co-workers are reporting the battery life SUCKS!No way to turn off the LTE other than to turn off data altogether which isn't a fix.
(I looked online....didn't see any LTE off option)
Brian Klug - Saturday, February 4, 2012 - link
You mean on the AT&T LTE devices? Try under *#*#4636#*#*, Phone Information, then the menu there. AT&T is removing options wherever possible to let you use 2G or 3G for obvious reasons - they want fewer people on those carriers so they can run fewer. There's usually a way to hop back down though if you look for it.There is truth to the fact that AT&T LTE devices are getting marginally better battery life too since they don't have another radio camping 1x all the time. It's either WCDMA or LTE (or GSM/EDGE) for the MDM9200 in those devices.
-Brian
name99 - Sunday, February 5, 2012 - link
These sorts of features are not specific to Verizon. If you look at the 3GPP roadmaps (they are not secret) you will see that there is constant modification to subtle issues (like the state machine governing how handsets transition between idle, more-or-less connected, and more-or-less transmitting/receiving data) to reduce power.These changes aren't as sexy as adding QAM64 (changing download max speed from 14 to 21Mbps) or spatial-multiplexing MIMO or (soon to come) wide (bonded) channels for UMTS, but they are part of each successive spec, release 8, release 9, and so on. And because they are part of the spec, they do get rolled out into everyone's equipment in time. VZW seem to be more aggressive than the other telcos in not allowing truly crappy radio equipment in their mobiles, and in rolling out (or at least publicizing rolling out) upgrades to their towers, but at the end of the day the differences across carriers are more like a year or so differences in precisely when something gets rolled out, not much more than that.
nyonya - Friday, February 3, 2012 - link
Is a similar update being pushed to the Droid Bionic? Or any other LTE phones?Brian Klug - Friday, February 3, 2012 - link
I would assume so given that the three share identical cellular architectures and basebands. I just don't know what version of the Bionic software/radio includes the update, so I can't say for sure.-Brian