EDGE Network Use Blocks Incoming Calls

No, the phone didn't ring but there it was - a voice message waiting for me. I must have missed a call. I made sure it wasn't in the vibrate mode, checked the ring volume, sighed and contemplated the latest fashions in hearing aids.

Now it turns out the problem could simply have been I was on the 'net. Like the dial-up modems of old, if I happen to be transferring data via the EDGE network, no phone calls can get through. Ouch

According to the iPhone Atlas:

... stems from the fact that there are two types of EDGE network types, NOM1 and NOM2. When your iPhone is connected to a NOM1 network, the data transmission will generally be interrupted, and the incoming call allowed to come through. When your iPhone is connected to a NOM2 network, however, the EDGE data transfer process cannot be interrupted, and the call will generally go to voicemail.

To see which network type your iPhone is in, go into the iPhone Field Test mode by entering *3001#12345#* with the phone keypad and press Call. Under the GPRS you will see either 1 or a 2 assigned to the nom field. Don't get your hopes up too high. Apparently the ATT network is primarily NOM2 and it is not a certainty that the iPhone can even handle NOM1.

The solution? Use the Wi-Fi mode whenever you can.

I checked the voice message. It was a telemarketer. I wonder if they sell smart phones?

I made a call on my iPhone.

The most comfortable way for me to make a call on the iPhone is by using those ear plugs with the built in microphone. The sound quality is excellent and people on the other end of the call can hear me clearly. If I am listening to music when a calls come in, a simple squeeze on the built-in microphone pauses the song and picks up the call. Another squeeze ends the call and resumes the music.

The speaker phone is another story. The speaker volume is simply inadequate and even at the maximum volume I have to be within 12 inches of it to hear the caller. It may just not be possible to output much sound with whatever hardware can be packed within confines of the iPhone but when the phone rings it's loud and clear. Strange.

I also like the Apple's Bluetooth device. The interface is intuitive and the sound is clear enough. However, callers report a lot of background noise so, maybe that's not quite ready yet. I am not totally comfortable with the gadget-in-my-ear look but I can adapt.

I was really surprised to learn that I already knew how to put a call on hold and pick up another incoming call. Just press the big red "Hold + Answer" button. Nice. I've not mishandled a single call yet which, given my track record with telephony, is truly amazing.