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How to download more than 20 mb over 3G from App Store?

Can this be done? I'm not always in Wifi and can't download apps more than 20mb. So technically the iphone isn't as portable or advanced as Apple say because its not completely independant and still limited by wifi. We have unlimited data plans.

Imac, Mac OS X (10.6.3), 4gb ram 500gb HDD 3.06ghz Iphone 3GS

Posted on Dec 30, 2010 5:11 AM

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18 replies

Dec 30, 2010 5:34 AM in response to clarkkent27

I'm not always in Wifi and can't download apps more than 20mb. So technically the iphone isn't as portable or advanced as Apple say


FYI:

That limit is imposed by the carriers, NOT Apple. Fact is, the carriers do not want users clogging THEIR networks with downloads from any source. It was Apple that raised the download limit from 10MB's to 20MB's and that drew anger from the carriers.

Dec 30, 2010 6:17 AM in response to clarkkent27

The limit used to be 10MB's. Apple, quietly raised that limit for iTunes content to 20MB's, that really sent the carriers into a tizzy. Same reason you can only use FaceTime over WiFi at the present. The carriers simply do not have the capacity to handle all of this data. If the download limit were "unlimited" and FaceTime calls were permitted over 3G, etc., you most likely would never be able to make or receive a simple phone call-the networks would simply be clogged.

Nov 4, 2011 7:13 AM in response to wjosten

The carriers do not want FaceTime over 3G because it will eat away their cell phone usage and long distance revenue. It already is with people using it over WiFi and jailbroken phones... I read somewhere that FT is eventually going to be an open standard so that people will eventually be able to video call any system/device that supports it, so don't expect this limitation ever to be removed. The limitation on FT and on the amount of downloads has nothing to do with network congestion, because you can download 10 20MB apps at the same time, but you can't download one 200 MB app. The reason for the limitation is the because of the limitation on FT. If they didn't have the limitation on the amount you could download then people would have a stronger argument that network issues are not the reason if they only limited FT over 3G.


Technical studies have been done on these 3G networks and the amount of data you can squeeze through one frequency is mind boggling. Sorry I don't have any references at the moment, but they are out there.

Dec 18, 2011 6:38 AM in response to clarkkent27

Absolute rubbish. Rudegar is correct, you can tether iphone to pc then download to itunes on pc and then sync app to iphone. So if u can download OVER 20mb with iphone tethered to pc, then you are still using the same sim card and carrier. All you need is to by pass the pc and download straight to iphone. You can also video call (face time) on any android device OVER 3G if set up with your carrier and your android device has front facing camera. Come on APPLE sort it out. Also I would like LIVE wallpapers. YES i know it will drain my battery more, but thats MY choice to use them or not and should not be 'blocked' by APPLE. the technolagy is out there but not implemented in any ios.

Dec 18, 2011 9:34 AM in response to clarkkent27

UPDATE: I can also use cheap htc wildfire as a wireless wifi hotspot and connect my iphone to it via wifi and download over 20mb files using the htc phone/simcard/carrier(service provider). So it is not a carrier block but implemented by APPLE??????

The htc can also download over 20mb apps/content over the air, ie on 3g and NOT using wifi.

I then put my iphone sim into the htc and could also download over 20mb content straight to the htc phone over 3g on my current tarrif/sim card provider/carrier.

Put sim card back in iphone and back to no downloads over 20mb.

There for this is down to APPLE restriction AGAIN.

Jan 25, 2012 8:32 PM in response to wjosten

Why is there the dabate?


If you try to directly download 20+ MB from Apple using your iPhone you will be told, by Apple, that you must be connected via wifi. Any method that circumvents this direct connection of iPhone to app store over 3G circumvents the "limitation." The limitation is intentionally imposed and could be intentionally iliminated, but with what consequences.

How to download more than 20 mb over 3G from App Store?

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