iOS 4.2 for iPhone has new technology to ease network congestion and improve battery life
iOS 4.2 for iPhone supports a technology known as Network Controlled Fast Dormancy which enables the cell network and the handset to work together to create the best conditions for smartphones to work quickly yet have a longer battery life, and minimize network congestion.
Interestingly, it is Nokia Siemens Networks and not Apple that has brought this to everyone’s attention. Nokia Siemens Networks has posted the news on its own blog page.
Tests by Nokia Siemens Networks have shown that iPhone iOs 4.2 supports a technology called Network Controlled Fast Dormancy. To overcome the problem Nokia Siemens Networks introduced a method that, instead of putting the handset into idle or keeping it always active, keeps the handset in an intermediate state. From here, a smartphone can wake up much more quickly and needs to send far fewer signals to and from the network to start a data connection. You get a fast network response and longer battery life.
As Nokia Siemens Networks point out, this technology is a good thing for the user and the actual network. Users gobble up less data and get a better overall experience; especially battery life. The network receives less demand and can provide a better service to its users.
So have any of our readers noticed any improvement in data retrieval times and more importantly battery life since updating to iOS 4.2? Let us know in the comments.
UK editor at iMore, mobile technology lover and air conditioning design engineer.
There are 38 comments. Add yours.
It actually makes me a little uneasy that a brand new technology was implemented in iOS 4.2.1. I probably wouldn't have upgraded until it was proven to be reliable. How do we know it doesn't make the network operators happy at the expense of the user. I don't care if my battery life is better if my phone doesn't work...
I've definitely noticed an improvement in battery life of the iPhone. I was able to use my phone for 2 days of moderate usage, and it was only down to 25%. In fact, I don't think I've ever gotten my phone down to 10% battery life or lower, even before the update.
Yes battery used to last me about 36 hrs on a charge, now I'm getting closer to 50. Moderate-heavy usage of browser, twitter, pandora in background, and google voice app. 4.2 has been great.
What I've noticed on TELUS here is since I went to iOS 4.2.1 my iPhone 4 has a lot more tendency to go to "No Service" - maybe 3 or 4 times a day, which I can solve by popping the phone to Airplane Mode for 1 second and then back, or rebooting the device - meanwhile my Blackberry is maintaining the same connectivity no problem.
Needless to say, I definitely noticed that something has changed.
this is typical of the most annoying Apple tendency with updates... the add features and make changes without announcing them. I feel like with each update, for example, i have to re-learn how to use the iPod app on my iPhone all over again because they change the playlists are sorted, etc.
My battery life doubled since I upgraded to iOS 4.2.1 !
It seems like my battery life has gotten worse since update. My phone was jb 4.1 before 4.2.1 update so maybe I should try a full wipe and clean install
Definitely noticed an improvement in battery life since upgrading!!!
Seems about the same to me, perhaps 10% better at most if at all, could be imagination.
My battery life has increased with 4.2.1. Normally I would begin the day @ 100% and by 8 pm I would be down to 45%. Did I mention I'm a heavy user? Since the update, I'm usually @ 65% by 8 pm. Overall, I'm happy with the update. BTW, I've noticed my wifi connections at work and home seem to have better reception. Anyone else notice this?
Explains why they waited to launch the "Longer" commercial until 4.2 was just about ready to go.
http://www.youtube.com/user/Apple?v=FHngLJ0RlNg&feature=pyv&ad=564779286...
I'm not getting anywhere close to that Steve. Did u do a clean install or just update? Also do you use gmail sync?
key fact left out: it requires the network to support it too.
Ok. Once again asking for that untethered jailbreak so us "dirty" people can upgrade to 4.2.1 and get that battery advantage too.
Much quicker, better reception and now 'Field Test Mode' is back! Exchange email flies now and no longer sits in the outbox waiting for me to send it again; bugs fixed. My 3GS is as fast as it used to be before I updated to OS4.
Honestly...my data retrieval has been worst...maybe its just me.
This is odd. My Battery used to die at 10% or 7% all of a sudden with iOS 4.1. I installed 4.2.1 on my Factory Unlocked 3GS and now I can say that I do see an increase. I am not sure whether this has any role in it.
I used to get at an average, regardless to which firmware, anywhere between 6 - 6.5 hrs of usage. My first day of using iOS 4.2.1, I was able to push 7 hrs and 40 minutes with 25 hours stand-by, until it died at 2%.
I have 3G Off, WiFi Off, BT Off, Push and Exchange on, brightness to 25%, auto lock to 2 minutes.
This is the second day of usage and so far I have 79% battery life remaining with 2 Hrs and 9 Minutes of usage and 6 hrs and 2 minutes stand by.
Crossing finger that these results last.
Yes I definitely noticed faster data times. I primarily use 3G and websites load much faster with 4.2.1. The battery is also improved.
Overall, not really any noticeable change for me.
I'm not seeing any noticeable changes in battery times. I didn't really check the speed tests over time, but recent ones seem decent (good ping time/transfer is 1 meg up/down).
However, I still have issues with disconnects watching videos over Justin and Ustream over 3g (so not really any change there).
I have noticed no improvement whatsoever. My battery is lucky to last me 9 hours. I'm a heavy data user and being on AT&T...pffft...here in Honolulu it is horrible no matter what they do. I can sit sometimes and just watch it trying to get to a website and eat a full course meal.
I don't know how "heavy users" have 25-80% left at the end of the day, I'm lucky to make it past 5 o'clock without a plug in
Does this new "tech" effect only the cell radio or the WiFi and bluetooth radios as well?
From the first sentence in the article, Cell network and handset. So doesn't affect wifi or bluetooth.
Well I was inclined to agree after first getting 4.2 but not now. Battery is no where near what it was when I first got it. Still think something happened to wifi, when ever I leave it on my battery is crushed. So far today, 1 hour 56 minutes of usage and 16 hours of standby my battery is at 65%.
This is all really odd, my battery life has clearly decreased.
iPhone 4 has a lot more tendency to go to “No Service”
Telus Network, all i have to do is hit airplane mode and back .
Fix this PLEASE
Running wifi, it does seem like battery life is better. I will get the battery low pop up at 20%, but it takes a little longer to auto shut off. usually around 5%.
My battery has been fanominal and speed is up.
According to an article at Mac Rumours, your provider would need to be using Nokia Siemens' network equipment to see an improvement.
Hmmm I did notice an increase in battery life but thought it was only my perception. Looks like it really has increased!
I synced my phone last night for the first time since I updated and I talke back what I said earlier, my battery life is better today
Is this automatically supported by all 3G networks or does it need a network upgrade as well?
There's no way my phone is not defective. If I take my phone (iPhone 4) off charge at 8am, by 1:30, I'm in the red. So I don't see how "heavy users" are making it to 8pm with 25% battery left. Should I complain and exchange my phone? This is the first time I've ever experienced horrible battery life with an iPhone.
My phone is losing battery faster than ever now. I'm losing roughly 5% an hour without doing anything on it. I've been screwing around with the settings and which apps are open to see if that changes things with no luck yet. I'll probably roll back if I can't figure out what's causing this.
My battery is doing great, now if I could just use the data service I am paying for. This #$%*-ing update has wrecked my data connectivity. If I have my 3G enabled I frequently now miss calls or get the annoying "cannot connect to cellular data network". People are constantly telling me that my phone is going straight to voicemail. The only thing I have found that alleviates the problem is turning off 3G and going on Edge network only. What good is awesome battery life if you can't use the phone. Pay attention Apple this is exactly why I will never own a Windows Mobile phone again. It used to get all excited and think the battery life was too low and turn off all phone features but I could still read my contacts. Brilliant move on their part and now.... yes YOURS Apple. I am posting this stuff everywhere in hopes of warning others. STAY AWAY FROM 4.2.1 it is screwed up right now.
Stephen
I had the same battery problem with the update, as well as an over active Usage meter.
A full restore from iTunes solved everything.
That said, this new occasional dropping to "No service" whilst using apps, is a pain in the backside.
Can Apple not fix the damn "phone" part of the iPhone. It's ridiculous with this No Service BS! I'm absolutely sick of it! Like others, I'm on the Telus network and I also have a work BlackBerry also on the same Telus network yet it's only my iPhone dropping service. This is ridiculous, especially if I ever need to use the phone in an emergency. I'm at a point now where I'm ready to jump ship. I've had enough!
I have a 3G iphone and since the upgrade my battery life has dropped, I have to charge it every day sometimes twice because the battery level drops too low.