AT&T & iPhone: Enough c/o to bash?

[katyoshi]

I am just wondering about the reasons why people bash on AT&T so much. I am just curious. I see the c/o on other forums. So far so hood with my new 3gs since I decided to jump onto the boat. in Hawaii, there seems to be excellent coverage both edge and 3G and it may be because I'm living on a small island such as Oahu. I compared coverage maps from tmobile, AT&T, and vesizonor for 3g speed and connectivity, Verizon seems to have the most coverage, then comes AT&T, then tmobile. I've heard about spotty reception at times with AT&T but doesn't every phone carrier have bad reception.

 

[ThatsMeRight]

Yes, every carrier will have this problem. With Verizon, with T-Mobile, Sprint... all carriers will get complaints... but remember. People who actually have a good signal, won't complain.

You won't see thousand of topics with "GOD DAMNED! I'VE GOT SIGNAL :S"

 

[labman]

well

like with anything you will see more more people that dislike something will complain about something that those that like it. AT&T is no different you see it more here because more people are on AT&T go on a forum that is manly Verizon same thing. personally I have been with Sprint, Verizon now AT&T happiest with the latter no it's not perfect but CS speaks English for one!

 

[gloss]

Can't speak for others, but I bitch about AT&T because I get dropped calls and lack of data even when I'm sitting in the middle of a full-power 3G area.

 

[Stangs55]

I've spent nearly $500 in early termination fees and other carrier's bills over the past year TRYING to leave AT&T.

Their service is absolute horse sh|t in Houston, particularly in the medical center. I work at a hospital where I can get in an elevator in the basement with a person talking on a Verizon, Tmobile, Sprint, and a Cricket phone and ride all the way to the 12th floor and they never miss a syllable.
Me? Not only do I not even have a single bar in the basement, I don't have a single bar on the top floor either. There are about two places I can think of in the hospital where you will always find AT&T customers (doctors and patients alike) huddled with their heads cocked next to a window trying to get reception.

So I've tried to leave...multiple times. The iPhone and AT&T makeup the worst possible "phone" that has existed since the early 90s. Problem is that the iPhone is the greatest gadget that has ever been created and I simply am unable to give it up. And, even sadder, the iPhone would become the greatest "cell phone" ever made if it would just be on a good network like Verizon.

So...all in all...at work, I now have a $19 Verizon pay-as-you-go phone that works flawlessly everywhere around town. I then have my iPhone to do everything else...just don't count on it to make or keep a call.

 

[katyoshi]

Wow thanks for reply everyone. It just sort of concerns me that pol who complain about AT&T make it sound like it's the worst in the world but they have to realize that it's their location that's affecting signals? I've heard that AT&T isn't that great in Texas from my friend who lives in Texas but I've heard and seen on AT&T coverage map that San Antonio has good 3g signals. I wonder if AT&T is going to build more 3g towers around the nation? Although it wouldn't really affect me cuz covering Hawaii for both AT&T and verizon wouldn't be as difficult as covering the whole nation. Tmobile does has significanly less 3g signal than AT&T here. Verizon has excellent coverage from what I've heard and seen on their coverage map of 3g but they're well out of my price range for voice and mobile data... Also since there's no rollover. I'll be stuck with a fixed number of minutes per month even if I was to use let's say 200 minutes in one month. well I think I made a good choice by going with AT&T not only for better coverage than tmobile, but for not paying as much as verizon's voice and data and of course, the iPhone 3GS with 3g speed available to use since I was only using edge with tmobile and that would eat up my time...

 

[milani]

I think that a lot of people are going to whole-heartedly disappointed when iPhone goes to Verizon. AT&T has bent over backwards to support the iPhone's unique demands and to satisfy its growing, dynamic, and outspoken userbase. I'm not sure Verizon could (or would be willing to) do the same. If anything, the burden of satisfaction is going to be on Verizon to actually do a better job than AT&T did (which, granted, wasn't all that great, was still notable).

 

[Hankster]

Here in DC I have almost full bars everywhere, I never have issues with phone calls but I do have issues with data transfers. Sometimes I'll have full bars but I can't receive messages or use any apps that require data transfer, but I can use the Internet via the browser. It's really annoying. Though, I never have issues with phone calls.

 

[Stangs55]

I think that a lot of people are going to whole-heartedly disappointed when iPhone goes to Verizon. AT&T has bent over backwards to support the iPhone's unique demands and to satisfy its growing, dynamic, and outspoken userbase. I'm not sure Verizon could (or would be willing to) do the same. If anything, the burden of satisfaction is going to be on Verizon to actually do a better job than AT&T did (which, granted, wasn't all that great, was still notable).

Oh commooooonnnnn...."bent over backwards"? Really? We JUST got MMS and still have no tethering...add that to my story above and I have absolutely zero sympathy for their empire.

 

[nateo200]

I've spent nearly $500 in early termination fees and other carrier's bills over the past year TRYING to leave AT&T.

Their service is absolute horse sh|t in Houston, particularly in the medical center. I work at a hospital where I can get in an elevator in the basement with a person talking on a Verizon, Tmobile, Sprint, and a Cricket phone and ride all the way to the 12th floor and they never miss a syllable.
Me? Not only do I not even have a single bar in the basement, I don't have a single bar on the top floor either. There are about two places I can think of in the hospital where you will always find AT&T customers (doctors and patients alike) huddled with their heads cocked next to a window trying to get reception.

So I've tried to leave...multiple times. The iPhone and AT&T makeup the worst possible "phone" that has existed since the early 90s. Problem is that the iPhone is the greatest gadget that has ever been created and I simply am unable to give it up. And, even sadder, the iPhone would become the greatest "cell phone" ever made if it would just be on a good network like Verizon.

So...all in all...at work, I now have a $19 Verizon pay-as-you-go phone that works flawlessly everywhere around town. I then have my iPhone to do everything else...just don't count on it to make or keep a call.

They might have only a 1900mhz liscense in the area and the tower might be far away. Still that's pretty bad.

 

[kdarling]

Oh commooooonnnnn...."bent over backwards"? Really? We JUST got MMS and still have no tethering...add that to my story above and I have absolutely zero sympathy for their empire.

Verizon also (at least for every other phone) allows VoIP and Slingplayer over 3G.

And they've usually got the 3G coverage to allow it to be useful.

Verizon's CEO says they'll go along with FCC net neutrality, even if it stresses the network. ATT's CEO is still pushing back.

 

[scaredpoet]

I think that a lot of people are going to whole-heartedly disappointed when iPhone goes to Verizon.

I think it'll happen sooner than you think. If the Droid is worth half the hype the blogs are giving it, Verizon isn't going to be sitting so pretty for very long.

On the other hand, looking at the hype suddenly fading a bit and people updating their reviews of the Droid, initially warm and gushy but now a little more realistic with 256meg app storage limit, lack of pinch, and ergonomic issues, maybe Verizon is going to dodge a bullet.

 

[ntrigue]

I think that a lot of people are going to whole-heartedly disappointed when iPhone goes to Verizon. AT&T has bent over backwards to support the iPhone's unique demands and to satisfy its growing, dynamic, and outspoken userbase. I'm not sure Verizon could (or would be willing to) do the same. If anything, the burden of satisfaction is going to be on Verizon to actually do a better job than AT&T did (which, granted, wasn't all that great, was still notable).

+1

 

[xraydoc]

Can't speak for others, but I bitch about AT&T because I get dropped calls and lack of data even when I'm sitting in the middle of a full-power 3G area.

+100,000

 

[Small White Car]

they have to realize that it's their location that's affecting signals?

From 2008 into 2009 my download speeds got a LOT worse and I got a ton more dropped calls.

Then, over the last few months it has slowly started getting better again.

I'm nearly positive none of that has to do with location since my house hasn't moved in all that time.

I've heard and seen on AT&T coverage map that San Antonio has good 3g signals

Irrelevant. When I get dropped calls or 3G speeds that are slower than EDGE, that's usually ALWAYS when I have 4 or 5 bars of signal.

 

[wolfpackfan]

Actually I'm very pleased with AT&T now that I have a MicroCell unit. My house was really the only place I ever had problems. Now that I can make calls in my house, AT&T is fine.

 

[DakotaGuy]

Let's check the map...

Everything in red on the Verizon map is 3G
Everything in blue on the AT&T map is 3G

Now I understand that AT&T doesn't care about rural areas and will never care because there is not enough money to be made there, but I'm glad that Verizon does.

Any questions?

 

[nateo200]

Let's check the map...

Everything in red on the Verizon map is 3G
Everything in blue on the AT&T map is 3G

Any questions?

Yeah that map is borderline false advertisemet the way they did that. In there map they only considered 3G on AT&T HSDPA and considered there 3Gany tower that could clock over 384kbs even if it was 1xRTT. idk about you but that is bendig the rules hard.

...

 

[DakotaGuy]

...

If it wasn't for progressive companies like Verizon most of the rural areas would not have access to technology like 3G. Old Ma Bell would still have us using rotary phones. I am in the middle of the Black Hills of South Dakota on an EVDO Rev A network right now. An AT&T phone won't even make a call.

I am on what remains of the Alltel network which also freely roams off of the Verizon network. AT&T just bought the whole state of South Dakota and once my contract is up I'm bailing before AT&T takes over and starts to downgrade the network. I still have no idea why AT&T bought up the Alltel assets in our state. They have no interest in rural markets.

 

[nateo200]

If it wasn't for progressive companies like Verizon most of the rural areas would not have access to technology like 3G. Old Ma Bell would still have us using rotary phones. I am in the middle of the Black Hills of South Dakota on an EVDO Rev A network right now. An AT&T phone won't even make a call.

I am on what remains of the Alltel network which also freely roams off of the Verizon network. AT&T just bought the whole state of South Dakota and once my contract is up I'm bailing before AT&T takes over and starts to downgrade the network. I still have no idea why AT&T bought up the Alltel assets in our state. They have no interest in rural markets.

And I totally respect that. There are areas where I get 5 bars of EVDO where AT&T would get 3 bars of GPRS at best. You really have to try hard to find an area that is only covered by 1xRTT but none the less Verizon stretched the truth pretty damn hard and AT&T in reality has way more 3G coverage than that. Besides EVDO is currently not as fast HSDPA, acceptable for me certainly but hey everyone is different....

 

[DakotaGuy]

And I totally respect that. There are areas where I get 5 bars of EVDO where AT&T would get 3 bars of GPRS at best. You really have to try hard to find an area that is only covered by 1xRTT but none the less Verizon stretched the truth pretty damn hard and AT&T in reality has way more 3G coverage than that. Besides EVDO is currently not as fast HSDPA, acceptable for me certainly but hey everyone is different....

I understand what you are saying and I am not saying that Verizon is innocent when it comes to their map, but I can't remember the last time I saw 1x light up on my phone.

I am curious how the 4G rollout will go. Verizon won the auction on the nationwide C block 700 Mhz spectrum and plans to use that to roll out 4G nationwide. I know AT&T won many auctions on different blocks and are going to piece it together like a puzzle, but the nationwide block is a big deal.

If Verizon is way ahead on 4G do you think Apple will just stay with AT&T or look at Verizon? That is the question.

 

[nateo200]

I understand what you are saying and I am not saying that Verizon is innocent when it comes to their map, but I can't remember the last time I saw 1x light up on my phone.

I am curious how the 4G rollout will go. Verizon won the auction on the nationwide C block 700 Mhz spectrum and plans to use that to roll out 4G nationwide. I know AT&T won many auctions on different blocks and are going to piece it together like a puzzle, but the nationwide block is a big deal.

If Verizon is way ahead on 4G do you think Apple will just stay with AT&T or look at Verizon? That is the question.

I can't remember the last time I saw 1x light up on my phone either tbh....as for the 4G, I think verizon is going to be ahead of the rest with 4G, they ignored UMTS but when LTE was announced they jumped ahead in line making sure they were not left in the dust. I am concerned however how well the 700mhz block will work in terms of capacity....idk about you but LTE on 2100mhz would be a better way to make sure that your network didn't **** the bed when too many users ran youtube on it. They should pair 700 and 1700 together for urban and rural areas. Also Ive heard that LTE will start out for only broadband applications on things like computers not phones, not sure of the validity of this however...

 

[Consultant]

iPhone Wars: AT&T, Verizon and the evil of two lessors
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2009/08/01/iphone-wars-att-verizon-and-the-evil-of-two-lessors/

 

[nateo200]

iPhone Wars: AT&T, Verizon and the evil of two lessors
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2009/08/01/iphone-wars-att-verizon-and-the-evil-of-two-lessors/

Solid post.

For starters, anyone complaining about the holes in AT&T’s now three year old UMTS/HSDPA network will not be pleased with Verizon’s LTE network trials beginning in a very short list of cities. LTE also has plenty of bugs to work out, as any brand new technology does. Apple doesn’t sell gadgets that appeal to tiny minorities, it sells global products it can mass market to wide audiences. That makes it unlikely that Apple will get its toe wet in the LTE water for another couple years, regardless of the operator. Verizon’s LTE network won’t be built out until 2013 at the earliest.

And the bolded my friends is exactly why people need to stop assuming that the iPhone will be on verizon so damn much! Thought the entire quote region I quoted above could not be more true if they tried.

However, Verizon is still very much infatuated with the idea of controlling everything and relegating phone vendors into a humble servant’s position. It demands to operate its own software store for all the phones it sells; it is still resistant to supporting WiFi and Bluetooth; and it continues to make too much money on ringtones and music clips to be open to ceding this market to iTunes.

This is why if you ask me about a theoretical case in which the iPhone would be on verizon would be good I would answer no. They would control so much and would want to influence the UI.

Creating a unique version of the iPhone for Verizon would only make sense if Apple only sold its products in the US. Apple is extremely unlikely to create a custom model to reach a market it already addresses,

This is another solid point. I could go on quoting this article because its probably the most solid article regarding the iPhone on different carriers Ive read in month's, Ive read allot too so this sort of caught me off guard.

 

[kdarling]

iPhone Wars: AT&T, Verizon and the evil of two lessors

Typical Roughly Drafted article. They'd be great if they didn't first create strawmen, then turn around and use them anyway as the basis for all other conclusions. For example:

Apple doesn’t sell gadgets that appeal to tiny minorities, it sells global products it can mass market to wide audiences

Their EDGE first model had very little overseas sales, because there was almost no EDGE coverage outside of the USA.

However, Verizon is still very much infatuated with the idea of controlling everything and relegating phone vendors into a humble servant’s position.

Bogus. What controls are they putting on their smartphone vendors? None that I can think of.

It demands to operate its own software store for all the phones it sells

Bogus. What's wrong with having a store? At least you can use it or not. Apple gives no such choice.

it is still resistant to supporting WiFi and Bluetooth; and it continues to make too much money on ringtones and music clips to be open to ceding this market to iTunes

Yet another bogus argument. None of this has ever applied to their smartphones.

Imagine Verizon demanding, not just to snoop through and veto apps like AT&T, but also insisting on the right to act as the App Store middleman

Imagine indeed. Another strawman. Verizon has never vetted smartphone apps, and even allows VoIP and Slingplayer on 3G.