How do I know 3G is 'on'?

From top left you should see Signal strength, carrier logo, 3g logo which reads "3G"

If you are in a 3G service area, you will see a '3G' on your menu on the right. If you are in an edge network, you will see an 'E'. Wi-fi, you see the wi-fi strength meter.

Glor

You should have a little '3G' icon in the top left of your screen, to the right of your signal bars and name of your network provider.

I've only got the 'E' symbol for Edge at the moment as I apparently have a weak '3G' signal indoors. Your iPhone will switch between Edge and 3G depending on the strength of network signal you have.

From the screen shot here

http://www.apple.com/iphone/features/wireless.html

it looks like there is a new icon (not the Edge icon) next to the signal strength bar and AT&T label.

But you won't get 3G everywhere, mostly in metro areas at this time. Someone posted a coverage map here:

http://www.iphoneatlas.com/2008/06/09/att-3g-wireless-network-are-you-covered/

but I can't vouch for its accuracy.

Phil

If you are in a 3G network, then you can receive calls while surfing the net. If you fall back to an Edge network for some reason, then it will forward your incoming calls to voicemail.

Glor

Hi Glor, Thank you for your post. Is the information you provided included in any documentation with the iPhone? I have been searching the web and the little guide that came with the iPhone for this information and could not find it anywhere. I've just gotten my first iPhone (the 3G) and am a little paranoid about getting an outrageous AT&T bill because of not knowing what I'm doing. So I always want to know how I'm actually connecting right now. I did not see that simple, basic question answered anywhere (before your post here). Is it out there somewhere, and I've just missed it?

There is a user manual you can download, also this http://help.apple.com/iphone/guide/
which is formatted for the iPhone.