Speeds and Feeds Might Still Matter, for Marketing 4G

"Speeds and feeds" have ceased to be much of a deal in the mobile handset, tablet and PC markets. "What you can do" with any device seems to have become more important. But there still is one area where "speeds and feeds" seem to matter, at least in terms of marketing platforms: 4G networks.

BTIG Research conducted more than 1,000 speed tests in New York City to determine which was faster: the ThunderBolt, running on Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network, or the EVO 4G, running on Sprint’s 4G WiMAX network, both operated in mobile hotspot mode.

The analyst found that Verizon’s offering was consistently and significantly faster than Sprint’s 4G phone. Sprint disagrees, arguing that its own third-party tests in New York do not support the BTIG results, and also that a lightly-loaded network, as the new Verizon LTE network is, will tend to perform better than a network loaded with a fair number of users and devices.

In truth, typical users might not benefit or suffer from any of the U.S. 4G networks all that much, since the end user experience is dependent on lots of things other than the raw capabilities of the local access connection.

Verizon 4G LTE ‘blows away’ Sprint’s WiMAX in 1,000 speed tests | BGR