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“We're Shutting Down Our 3G Network”

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Re: “We're Shutting Down Our 3G Network”

#121

Post by jrockway »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #29
jrockway wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeeed. Last time I looked these chips were $1300 each in quantities of 1000. Too expensive for even a luxury car. I think the answer here is an internal USB modem or something. Easy to upgrade. Just up to the car manufacturer to commit to writing new drivers. (I assume that they don't want to do this, so are probably happy when technology changes out from under them. Everyone has to buy a new car!)

What makes this silicon so expensive?

High complexity, low volumes, I would imagine. A few of the answers below talk about it being a car part but SDRs that can do 3G/4G are targeted at people developing cheaper chips. Electronic test gear is much more expensive than cars (at least at the bleeding edge), so the pricing doesn't preclude it from being used there.

Re: “We're Shutting Down Our 3G Network”

#122

Post by pantalaimon »

lxgr wrote: post #115
donatj wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> As sombody who always buys unlocked phones I have no expectations from my carrier to support or replace them. As someone who buys unlocked phones, I wouldn’t use a carrier who didn’t support them. They’re a bad abusive carrier not worth your money if they do not. I don’t understand why anyone would be more ok with their cell provider dictating what device you can use than they would be with their internet provider…

> their internet provider dictating what computer they can use A better analogy would probably be an ISP dictating what modems/CPEs are supported on their network – and isn't that common practice?

Certainly not for DSL.

Re: “We're Shutting Down Our 3G Network”

#123

Post by sudosysgen »

upofadown wrote: post #98

Could you just port your number to an IP VOIP supplier and skip the VoLTE issue entirely in the case where you have working 4G data?

Yes, but 2FA SMS (short code SMS) support is spotty.

There are even MVNOs that send you a data-only SIM card and activate a VoIP app, for example Fonus. 911 calls go through the SIM-less system and are automatically routed to whatever carrier has the best reception.

Re: “We're Shutting Down Our 3G Network”

#124

Post by metaphor »

Link to the AT&T 3G whitelist[1][2] that the blog alludes to.

I was one these longtime AT&T customers that jumped ship a month ago; I have several unlocked BlackBerry Key2 and essentially don't use data (roughly 1 GiB on any given month per unit over the past 2 years). The cost of these phones approach flagship territory, and there still isn't a suitable replacement on the market as integrated physical keypads go IMO, so it was a no-brainer.

That the much older KEYone and Priv models would continue to be supported on their network, yet the newer Key2 and Key2 LE models aren't on their whitelist despite supporting VoLTE and receiving an unusual number of system updates in the past year alone, was at first baffling. As I understand it now, the situation is a business decision (not tech constraint) to whitelist only older VoLTE-compatible models previously sold by AT&T---whereas the Key2 supposedly never was.

After all the periodic SMS reminders and dealing with their batshit annoying bot that would entitle itself to interrupting the first 30ish sec of my voice calls, I got really tired of it and burned a random Sunday afternoon porting over---saving over $300/yr per phone with still more than adequate data. Never looked back.

[1] https://www.att.com/support/article/wireless/KM1324171/

[2] https://www.att.com/idpassets/images/support/wireless/Device...

Re: “We're Shutting Down Our 3G Network”

#125

Post by fogihujy »

chasil wrote: post #75
xedeon wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's not accurate. You don't need to upgrade the MCU/infotainment computer and the retrofit is only $200. "A source has informed me that due to AT&T shutting down its 3G network by Feb 2022, Model S's without an LTE-capable modem will lose connectivity features unless connected to WiFi. HOWEVER, Tesla will offer retrofits for $200. Affected vehicles are pre June 2015." "Tesla will be offering retrofits for these ve…

I really appreciate my 2011 Civic's lack of a cellular modem.

Ditto with our 2003 Citroën. This always online paradigm will cause more and more problems down the road, as the first IoT generations lose Internet access.

Re: “We're Shutting Down Our 3G Network”

#126

Post by iofiiiiiiiii »

> That’s my boring story of entitlement.

Damn straight. Call me a soulless corporate drone but I completely understand AT&T here. Sometimes you need to drop old and unprofitable services.

With millions of customers, you can't afford to cater to everyone who wants to be treated as a special case. There are genuine special cases that need the attention, and "but I like my phone" is just an example of a modern Karen in the wild.

Times change and we must change with them.

Re: “We're Shutting Down Our 3G Network”

#127

Post by perryizgr8 »

quaintdev wrote: post #97
jimmar wrote: post #28

I have an old OnePlus phone that still works fine, but it won't work with AT&T's network changes. I called and AT&T said I could get an iPhone SE for free, but when the contracts came for me to confirm, there was no mention of getting a free phone, and instead I was committing to paying $400 over three years. The AT&T reps assured me I'd get be credited at some point in the future and that the phone would end up bein…

Wow this is crazy. In India, operators have no incentive in what handset their customer uses so they cannot interfer with user's choices. Besides, they can't disable 3G/2G because of the sheer amount of people who still use these networks from villages.

> Besides, they can't disable 3G/2G

Jio has no 2G/3G and they have one of the widest ranging networks encompassing most remote villages. It has never been a problem. I suspect Airtel and Vodafone will turn off their 2g/3g soon.

Re: “We're Shutting Down Our 3G Network”

#128

Post by anticensor »

ksec wrote: post #117
anticensor wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Turkey, device whitelisting is required by law, but it is done by the government itself, not by the carrier operator.

Interesting. What is the rational of that? So I cant bring in a obscure phone that no one have heard of before into Turkey and expect it to work on any mobile network? This is hardly "Mobile" at all.

Not like that. It is done by IMEI-IMSI-personal ID number matching, not by device types. If any one component of that triplet changes, you have a month to register it to yourself again. Otherwise, no service to you anymore. And yes, they will probably refuse to register an IMEI for a device that is not previously certified to operate in Turkey.

Re: “We're Shutting Down Our 3G Network”

#129

Post by fuball63 »

I'm really glad I saw this. I have a ~2015 Blackberry Classic that I love, and when I got the texts, went to the store. I asked them that, since my phone supports 4GLTE (from the icon on the screen) would I be alright. The salesperson said it would work, so I forgot about it. But I didn't realize there was a different network for calls/data. And from how they are apparently forcing phones upon people, sounds like I need to be proactive in getting a phone I will like.

So yeah, thanks OP.

Re: “We're Shutting Down Our 3G Network”

#130

Post by [deleted] »

29083011397778 wrote: post #107
shadilay wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cingular, not AT&T. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2007/01/09Apple-Chooses-Cingu...

This is bizarre. After you pointed out my error, I went to Wikipedia to verify before saying anything more. I was wrong originally; you, me, and your link all know it. But Wikipedia says it was AT&T that first carried the iPhone [0]. I assume it's because AT&T bought Cingular, but it feels off not noting that it was branded under Cingular instead of the separate (at the time) AT&T. It's an eerie feeling finding error…

[deleted]
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