AT&T is looking to deploy an upgraded high-speed packet access (HSPA) network in six US cities this year. The company spoke of doubling its 3G networks from a 3.6Mb/s downlink to 7.2Mbps months ago, but failed to define a specific launch plan. Today it announced that it would bring the upgraded network to customers in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Miami.

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Is it necessary to upgrade to 3G first, then to 4G? It seems that's what they're doing. Wouldn't it be more economical to cut out the mid-path and go to the desired upgrade?

AT&T has never been logical, or economical. It's going to take them years to roll out the upgrades everywhere, and right about the time the finish, they'll announce that there's a new network that WILL actually load web pages faster than I can draw them with an etch-a-sketch, and the ipod touch still won't have a camera.