Galaxy S5 on AT&T, Verizon and Sprint lacking Download Booster feature

[Joe113]

Re: Download booster disabled

I'm getting my Sprint S5 tonight at BB - I'll check back in and let you guys know for sure in about 3 hours.

I can understand AT&T and Verizon not having it. But Sprint? Sprint has Unlimited Plans. Why disable it for unlimited users?

It's already confirmed that no carrier besides T-Mo has DL Booster.

 

[Joe113]

CONFIRMED: DL Booster disabled on Sprint/Verizon/AT&T!!

Every carrier except T-Mo will NOT include/implement the DL Booster feature. This sucks and is so wack, sue the carriers for hampering our devices, who the hell gave them that right?! It's bad enough that they took away calling+4G LTE web browsing, but now this too -___- #FAIL

Espcially Sprint which has unlimited data plans... da faq?

 

[planoman]

Re: Download booster disabled

Are you'all that are mad is it over the principle of att removing it or is there really an issue downloading files over 30MB on wifi as it? Although I have unlimited data on wifi (5GB on LTE plan) I usually download large apps or updates to apps on wifi anyways. Just seems like no big deal to me.

 

[UJ95x]

Re: Download booster disabled

Are you'all that are mad is it over the principle of att removing it or is there really an issue downloading files over 30MB on wifi as it? Although I have unlimited data on wifi (5GB on LTE plan) I usually download large apps or updates to apps on wifi anyways. Just seems like no big deal to me.

I also have unlimited data, and while I don't have an S5, it would definitely bother me if it wasn't included. For one, my WiFi is painfully slow (I'm talking 2-3MBPs down, 1 up). Not sure about everyone else here, but if that's the case it seems like a legitimate reason to be upset.

Sent from my Galaxy S4 running SlimKat 4.4.2

 

[mackie99]

Download Booster For The Galaxy S5 Seems To Be A T-mobile Only Feature

Download Booster For The Galaxy S5 Seems To Be A T-mobile Only Feature | Androidheadlines.com

 

[planoman]

I also have unlimited data, and while I don't have an S5, it would definitely bother me if it wasn't included. For one, my WiFi is painfully slow (I'm talking 2-3MBPs down, 1 up). Not sure about everyone else here, but if that's the case it seems like a legitimate reason to be upset.

Sent from my Galaxy S4 running SlimKat 4.4.2

If your WiFi is that slow even bother trying to use the booster? Just use the network or visit a Starbucks for goodness sake.

ATT and all except Sprint have been blocking a really useful feature for years- Google Wallet. Hardly a peep from the masses yet three or more thread on this? I guess people have different priorities....

Sent from my Moto X!

 

[Netherscourge]

Just got back from Best Buy. They made a mistake and told people they could pick it up today. But they sent a correction email an hour ago saying its tomorrow. Soooo, no phone tonight

The guy in the store said he's been turning people away all day long because of the goof up in the auto-Email system.

 

[Netherscourge]

If your WiFi is that slow even bother trying to use the booster? Just use the network or visit a Starbucks for goodness sake.

ATT and all except Sprint have been blocking a really useful feature for years- Google Wallet. Hardly a peep from the masses yet three or more thread on this? I guess people have different priorities....

Sent from my Moto X!

D-Booster combines your wifi and LTE downloads. It's would be faster for him.

 

[UJ95x]

If your WiFi is that slow even bother trying to use the booster? Just use the network or visit a Starbucks for goodness sake.

ATT and all except Sprint have been blocking a really useful feature for years- Google Wallet. Hardly a peep from the masses yet three or more thread on this? I guess people have different priorities....

Sent from my Moto X!

True lol. I don't tether to my PC or my PS3, and I'm not going to take those to a Starbuck's to download...

Sent from my Galaxy S4 running SlimKat 4.4.2

 

[planoman]

D-Booster combines your wifi and LTE downloads. It's would be faster for him.

I get that, but I was wondering out loud how helpful a 2-3 mbps download would be on top of LTE...but I guess I am just perplexed and amused by the push back on removing this feature.

 

[iN8ter]

Re: Download booster disabled

The GS5 includes new WiFi capabilities (2x2, MIMO) as well as being an LTE Cat 4 device, which means support for carrier aggregation. See this post. The download booster itself allows for simultaneous coordinated download over WiFi and LTE, but the only extra "load" on the carrier networks would be due to users downloading more data as a result. As carriers are beginning to launch CA networks, it would seem counter-productive to disable a feature that adds additional speed on top of that through the use of WiFi. It may still be in testing for use with the CA networks.

That said... AT&T is one of the two major U.S. networks that don't allow for unlimited data, and they make more money as users consume less data. Sprint and T-Mobile perhaps stand to benefit more from promoting use of the feature on their networks. They allow unlimited data, and the feature significantly increases speeds without putting the entire demand on their network.

Fixed the title too.

The feature can lead to users naively using their mobile data when they thought they were using *only* Wi-Fi. Yes, it will put more strain on the carrier's networks because instead of data going over Just Wi-Fi when Wi-Fi is enabled and connected, it will also be going over their cellular network.

None of the explanations about "it won't be putting any extra strain on their networks" make sense, because the Download booster is designed to allow LTE data transfer where it currently isn't available on current phones. The whole point is to utilize the carrier networks to augment lower Wi-Fi speeds to enable faster downloads, otherwise it mind as well not exist.

On carrier with limited data plans, customers can forget that was turned on (especially without the notification in the drop-down) and use a ton of data downloading stuff over Wi-Fi + LTE that they normally would only use Wi-Fi for, like saving an entire HD video for offline viewing. Some content may cause the customer to blow through their entire data allotment in one sitting, and they can simply tell the carrier they didn't know, were confused, or whatever because the download booster used that data without them knowing.

And yes, it will slow down the data networks for everyone else, because it's going to be extra use going through the networks.