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AT&T Misleads Customers by Updating Phones With Fake 5G Icon (theverge.com)
As promised, AT&T has updated three smartphones from Samsung and LG to make them show 5G connectivity logos, even though none of them are capable of connecting to 5G networks. From a report: Now, when the Samsung Galaxy S8 Active, LG V30, or LG V40 are connected to portions of AT&T's LTE network that have received some speed-boosting updates, they'll show an icon that says "5G E" instead of "LTE." That "E" in the "5G" logo is supposed to tip you off that this isn't real 5G -- just some marketing nonsense. But there's no way of knowing that just from looking at the logo. The "E" is smaller than the rest of the icon. And even if you do learn that "5G E" stands for "5G Evolution," it isn't immediately clear what that means.
Isn't this an old story from a couple of days ago?
"File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
The e is for evil
Because 5G is actually what 4G should have been in the first place.
They did this with 4G and HSPA+ as well.
There's a special place in hell for marketeers.
It's called "Ring 9 E".
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What a free market you have there, SO FREE, so free to be fucked. LOL.
The icon on mine says 11G . . . most phones only go up to 10G . . . but mine goes up to 11G!
Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
There's a windows sticker or two on my laptop that seem to be super glued on.
I've run windows on it twice.
Once to create a backup in case I need to re-install if I resell it.
The second time was to see if there was any way to manually control the system fans. (there wasn't)
After that, it was scorched earth for windows. I've run linux on it exclusively for like 7 or 8 years.
Moral of the story is, a sticker is just a sticker, unless you're trying to lie to people about supporting something that doesn't exist. (Shame on you AT&T)
"Unlimited" ?
The icon looks real to me.
I'm sure the marketing department worked very hard on it.
Nevertheless I will want until the 6G icon comes out before buying.
I'll see your senator, and I'll raise you two judges.
The AT&T Logo should serve as the BS flag. I only had AT&T once in my life, on a work test phone (had an phone or sim card for each carrier in the US and Europe). AT&T was the worst cell provider customer service I ever experienced - they always tell you what you want to hear, facts be damned.
Should be 4.5G as 5G tower are backwards with MU-MIMO to older phones and this will help with throughput. So with out empirical testing I would suspect 25% or more throughput for a single 4g phone on the phone side of the equation.
Since the 5G "Evolution" protocol is in theory different from the existing 4G protocols, having the phone indicate that it is using the different protocol is useful. Sure the icon itself implies something that isn't true (aka marketing) and we can grumble about the inaccuracies of the symbol, but having the phone indicate what kind of network it is talking to is information that I like to have.
to get upset over shit like this. The horror of it all!
How about a moderation of -1 pedantic.
What, the world's scummiest phone company is doing something shady, deceptive, blatantly anti-consumer and borderline fraudulent?
Well, I am shocked, absolutely shocked. Someone call the FCC, who will - I'm sure - step forward to defend the customers.
Aaaaand that's my allowance of snark used up for the week. Damn, is it still only Monday?
No they won't. They didn't win last time when AT&T did the same shit labeling HSPA+ as "4G". There were articles just like this saying that they were misleading customers then too and nothing at all happened to them over it. Just another day of companies lying to us.
I pressed it but it didn't do anything.
For that marketing non-sense. All those who speak of 3G, 4G and/or 5G instead of using the actual technology name, or network speed are to blame.
I have ATT, and just picked up the LG V35. I see no 5G icon showing. Why would they skip a model for this?
Anonymous comments are as pathetic as the anonymous "sources" that contaminate gutless journalism from the New York Time
Seriously? That "E" is really visible.
What a free market you have there, SO FREE, so free to be f######. LOL.
Dude, the free market can kill AT&T for this as well. This could be a nightmare for their PR department as they try to "fix" the damage should this go viral or something. (and no, Slashdot is NOT going viral..)
The customer is free to leave, subject to their contract restrictions of course, should AT&T squander all their good will with their customers.
"File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
To provide a slightly contrary opinion -- I am of the general belief that if you are unaware or unable to tell the difference in performance about something (and be honest with yourself), then don't make decisions based on that as a symbol of what you think you need. If you don't know what LTE or this "E" after 5G means, or even what 5G is, then don't throw your money after it. You are bound to be deceived or end up paying for something you don't need.
Just like Rolexes or other status symbols -- if I can see only the same performance as a good old quartz wristwatch, I'm much safer not opening myself up to be defrauded by fakes and knockoffs by chasing things I can't perceive the value of.
4G showed as LTE, but when showed 4G is was 3G on their home networks. Then 3G was 3G on other networks. Am I remembering that correct?
Like I said before, "how expensive can it be having the marketing department put "5" stickers over the 4 in their advertising?"
Put on your tin foil hat for this one... A long time ago, the carriers figured out that it is way easier to demand the cell phone manufacturers modify the signal strength reading from "numbered decibels" to the now common "5 bars" icon, than to actually upgrade their networks. You see, this was back when providers charged "per minute", and they realized that users seeing a "low signal" meant that they were less likely to place a call. Same thing with the battery indicator. In the same vein, they also knew that people who thought they were low on battery were also less likely to place calls. The thought was, "let the users _think_ they have good signal and a strong battery, so they will make more calls, and increase our bottom line." Since all phones had to be purchased through carriers, it was pretty simple for them to get the phone manufacturers to do their bidding. I wish I could find the original article from about a decade ago... It was titled something like, "Your phone is lying to you".
The controversy and confusion comes from the fact that Verizon Wireless’s new LTE technology and AT&T’s enhanced 3G technology are both referred to as 4G. Once again, no standards are in place to prevent such confusion. This has created a situation where advertisements can claim that AT&T has a larger 4G network than Verizon Wireless, without informing customers that the two networks are vastly different. Verizon Wireless’s 4G LTE is up to 10 times faster. To further complicate matters, AT&T realized the limitation of its 4G network and has also started developing an LTE network of comparable speed . At this point, AT&T’s LTE network is much smaller than Verizon Wireless’s –approximately one tenth the size at time of publication of this article.Another issue is latency, which is the delay that occurs when wireless signals are being transmitted to and from a phone through the tower and network. LTE latency is approximately one quarter the latency of 3G service and significantly less than 4G networks that do not utilize LTE. This is especially important for video conferencing, streaming video and other real-time data applications that require latency of less than 50 ms to function effectively . If a distinction is not drawn between 4G LTE and 4G that is simply enhanced 3G, customers can end up with a disappointing user experience. The bottom line is that few customers are aware of these differences, and without regulations or industry standards, they are vulnerable to highly misleading, yet technically accurate claim
What is old is new again.
should AT&T squander all their good will with their customers
I laughed so hard soda came out my nose!
How does a mobile network company update a customers phone? Do they intercept traffic with to Samsung and LG's update servers? This cannot be legal, even in the US...
You think customers in the US get their phones directly form Samsung and LG?
ROTFL
They get them from the cell providers who load the phones with custom crap to lock them into their network and load crap like F-Book and other nuisance software that can't be removed without permission.
That comment just made clear how many tools the world has so I just bought more ATT stock. Go T!
brandelf -t FreeBSD
And people complain about Apple.
Is a bundled phone cheaper in the US than a SIM-only subscription and a separately bought phone?
Why was this very relevant question modded down?
They're not lying about 5G; it's just a serving suggestion.