Inauguration Overloads Cellular & Wireless Networks in Washington

Despite the 100+ posts per second volume on Twitter during Obama’s swearing-in ceremony, millions of cell phone users and would-be wireless Twitter users weren’t able to call, post, text, or tweet due to cellular and wireless networks being completely overloaded with traffic.

Twitter itself has been cracking due to the huge volume of updates, but social media sites like Facebook and Tumblr have maintained live updates and steady streams of information.

How long will it take for DC residents and visitors to get back up and running — and will we see a delayed tsunami of inaugural updates later in the day?

Don’t Twitter via cell phone. Don’t send photos or videos using your mobile. And don’t hold your breath waiting to make or receive a call if you’re in the D.C. area. You’re going to be frustrated. And you may have to wait.

As anticipated, wireless networks, despite preparation, are getting crushed with traffic from an estimated 2 million people who have come to the nation’s capital for the inauguration of Barack Obama.

“The general consensus is that cell phones aren’t working. Text messages are working; it’s just the calls that aren’t working out so well,” said Matthew Schlesinger, 22, a D.C. resident who was in the Mall crowd this morning.