iPhone 4 on ATT 4g network?

No. The iphone 4 is NOT a 4G phone.

When AT&T's LTE network is first rolled out next year, it will probably be rolled out in some select major markets only at first with additional major markets to follow. Verizon will be doing the same with their LTE network.

When an LTE (4G) network compatible phone for AT&T's LTE network is released, the phone will need to be a combination LTE and GSM phone since AT&T's GSM network will not be going away anytime soon and their LTE network won't be available in all major markets initially and may not be available everywhere after being completely rolled out just as AT&T's 3G network isn't available everywhere now.

The same will apply to Verizon's LTE (4G) network. When an LTE network compatible phone for Verizon's LTE network is released, it will need to be a combination LTE/CDMA network compatible phone for the same reasons.

If you live in an area where AT&T has rolled out their LTE (4G) network at the time and assuming the next generation iPhone will be a combination LTE (4G)/GSM phone, the answer is yes since the iPhone 4 is not an LTE (4G) network compatible phone.

But this won't be like the last time when all of those who were on the original iPhone missed out on all the 3G features? The iPhone 4 will still be "compatible" it just won't be able to run on the 4G network? And by what you are saying, it will be a long time before the 4G network is fully rolled out to the entire nation, correct?

it will be a long time before the 4G network is fully rolled out to the entire nation

12 - 18 months?

Ziatron wrote:

it will be a long time before the 4G network is fully rolled out to the entire nation

12 - 18 months?

Why don't you ask AT&T, it is their network.

But this won't be like the last time when all of those who were on the original iPhone missed out on all the 3G features?

The primary difference between the original iPhone and the iPhone 3G is the original iPhone is not a 3G network compatible phone, and AT&T's 3G network is not available everywhere.

The iPhone 4 will still be "compatible" it just won't be able to run on the 4G network?

Correct. As AT&T starts rolling out their LTE (4G) network in select major markets only at first, AT&T's existing 3G/EDGE/GPRS network will not be going away in those markets. Both will be available and remain available for a long time after AT&T's LTE (4G) network is expanded to all areas where they plan on making it available. There are still plenty of AT&T subscribers with "dumb" phones - phones not in the smart phone category which are not 3G network compatible phones, which is primarily for internet access via AT&T's cellular network only - for faster internet access via AT&T's cellular network with phones in the smart phone category that include internet access.

And by what you are saying, it will be a long time before the 4G network is fully rolled out to the entire nation, correct?

I'm not sure how long AT&T's scheduled LTE rollout will take for all areas where they plan on doing so - probably over a 2-3 year time frame, which should be available where AT&T's existing 3G network is available now at a minimum, and AT&T's 3G network is not available across their entire network coverage area.