AT&T readies its network…for the new iPhone. Bloomberg Boot Camp, a report on today’s technology. The new iPhone arrives…at a cheaper price for the phone…as low as 199 dollars with a new two year AT&T contract. But the service plan will cost more….a minimum 70 dollars a month…plus at least an extra 5 dollars for text messaging. What the new iPhone will give users…is the ability to use AT&T’s high speed data network. About what that will mean for customers, AT&T executive network director Mike Maus says…

“Well the ability to refresh screens and access the different data portals that are provided on the device, just the period in which you’re going to see a mapping function, as an example. I was using that this morning finding out where an individual was living. You put it in there, you search for the map and the speed at which it refreshes, the speed at which it pops up, all of those will be dramatically improved. Our voice service will still be the same great voice service that we provide on our 2G side of the house.”

AT&T high speed data network uses what is called HSPA technology….and with wireless cards or USB devices…provides impressive performance on notebook PCs. About whether that network will be overwhelmed by the addition of all of those new iPhones, Maus says…

”We’ve done a lot of prep work to make sure that the capacity choke points have been cleared. And we’re confident that we’re going to be able to stay up with the growth that’s in front of it.”

AT&T’s Mike Maus. Bloomberg Boot Camp, I’m Fred Fishkin.