AT&T completes 7.2 Mbps software updates, but faster iPhones still in the future

AT&T's perceived "ball-drop" in regards to handling the iPhone is not a new story. What is new, however, is that AT&T has announced completion of a large-scale software upgrade that paves the way for AT&T to get back in the game. Once ready, the iPhone 3GS will be able to take advantage of its full 3G potential.

Remember when AT&T was under fire for not spending any money on network upgrades, a claim which was duly refuted? Well, it turns out that AT&T wasn't blowing any smoke and has completed widespread software upgrades for their network infrastructure. The software is intended to ready cell sites for the much-hyped and rarely-delivered HSPA goodness with its 7.2Mbps 3G connection.

While this is all well and good for press releases and Wall Street analysts, the real magic comes from AT&T upgrading its backhaul connections. In other words, AT&T has upgraded the software but still needs to upgrade the hardware. Even though AT&T is already testing HSPA in several markets, the network-wide software upgrade is a big step towards bringing high(er)-speed 3G to the masses.

[via MacRumors]