FYI: I posted this on the Apple forums and they deleted it.
I really do wish it wasn't on AT&T. I live in eastern MA for the record. I loved the device even with issues, but I couldn't get past AT&T.
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I didn't mind living without features I had on the sprint mogul (ppc 6800). I thought it was a good trade for what the iPhone added.
My coverage driving to work around home was worse than sprint. My wife was way worse at work. It would work near a Window but not at her desk without it being garbled. The sprint phone would work in her pocketbook INSIDE an all steel desk.
The plans were so much cheaper for sprint too. With no special discounts from either. Sprint was 30% cheaper. It was cheaper than the plan I had prior with sprint.
AT&T Family plan of 2 phones 550 minutes, data, nights start at 7 is $97.00
Sprint Family plan of 2 phones 550 minutes, data, nights start at 7 is $70.00
Right now it's $75.00 but sprint said I could still get the $10.00 data plan which brings it down to $70.00. I could also get insurance for $7.00 a month. But I got the new Sprint phone so cheap I may pass on it now.
I noticed if I got 4 bars or less on the iPhone the conversation was often garbled. 4 Bars according to "Field Test" is a poor signal level. I think AT&T really rigs there meters to give you a false impression of good signal.
I was also told by a friend that another third party found AT&T to be the worst for dropped calls. And the thridparty that supplied the data that AT&T quotes as "fewest dropped calls" has requested AT&T stop misrepresenting the data.
AT&T was pretty nasty when I said I was returning the iPhone. They didn't know I swapped the phone and extended the return date by doing so (thank god I did it took a good while for the coolness to pass and reliability to focus in on). I told them that but they still ensisted I could not return it. I did and I didn't even pay restocking fee. Two AT&T reps blurted this out with out my really asking.
One other nasty is. When I returned my wifes Razor I didn't want to cancel the line until I got the # ported back. So he said sure keep the SIM card. But when I returned the iPhone Apple refused. So they still have my Activated SIM card which is wrong. That card is ME (my line) which is not canceled yet.
This SIM thing makes me very uncomforable too. I think because Apple is getting a cut there are no discounts at all. And to keep things locked they are violating the normal protocal with SIM cards. They have defeated the advantage SIM cards have.
I also found new Sprint Moguls on Ebay for $99.00 with contract and new line. I had previously paid $400.00. Since I have to create a new line I qualify. I won't mind paying full price for the next phone that replaces Mogul. iPhone should hopefully really push the competition.
One other thing that drove me insane on iPhone is. It's supposed to be the best "iPod" (an audio device) yet it's very impolite to audio devices around it because of GSM. I also thought iPhones (modern iPods) had optical output (minitoslink) but they don't (even though some web sites advertise a minitoslink cable for iPods). No iPods or iPhones have optical output.
I thought Apple might add voice command. But there is no button on the phone for it. So I was concerned Voice Command would never come around on this version of iPhone.
This was insane. More money, no insurance, maybe never get Voice command, poor Voice reliability on GSM (for me and my wife) and made computers, TV's and car radios go nuts. Not all the time but it shouldn't at all. This is nuts, I gotta shut the phone off for noise free operation on my Meridian very expensive audio system.
I don't mind the EDGE speed at all. But it bugged me calls went to Voice mail while I was using it.
I've also been reading 3G is a battery pig. I was planning to stick with AT&T and iPhone. But current 3G devices have serious battery issues. My wifes AT&T V3xx Razor was horrible on battery. It's my understanding it's because it has the 3G. And she doesn't do data. Not even a text message. It wouldn't last a day.
Also while in the store returning my wifes razor. A lady was buying a 2G Razor (V3). She had 5 bars. I had 5 bars. But she could not make a call to activate it. I couldn't make a call either. The sales guy said all the 2G phones run like crap since the 3G tower went in. WTF is that all about. It may be the reason I'm having issues. Maybe I'm driving by 3G towers.
Another issue was with AT&T. I tried to resolve it. All phones drop calls now and then even my Sprint phone. But I was getting some dropped, some garbled, some one way. But I had dropped calls. Everytime I called AT&T their computer said I had no dropped calls.
None of the issues above could get fixed with a software update.
I'll be watching for a CDMA or V2 or V3 of iPhone. Apple (the engineers did a great job). The Marketing guys that cut the deal with AT&T didn't.
I really do wish it wasn't on AT&T. I live in eastern MA for the record. I loved the device even with issues, but I couldn't get past AT&T.
===================================================
I didn't mind living without features I had on the sprint mogul (ppc 6800). I thought it was a good trade for what the iPhone added.
My coverage driving to work around home was worse than sprint. My wife was way worse at work. It would work near a Window but not at her desk without it being garbled. The sprint phone would work in her pocketbook INSIDE an all steel desk.
The plans were so much cheaper for sprint too. With no special discounts from either. Sprint was 30% cheaper. It was cheaper than the plan I had prior with sprint.
AT&T Family plan of 2 phones 550 minutes, data, nights start at 7 is $97.00
Sprint Family plan of 2 phones 550 minutes, data, nights start at 7 is $70.00
Right now it's $75.00 but sprint said I could still get the $10.00 data plan which brings it down to $70.00. I could also get insurance for $7.00 a month. But I got the new Sprint phone so cheap I may pass on it now.
I noticed if I got 4 bars or less on the iPhone the conversation was often garbled. 4 Bars according to "Field Test" is a poor signal level. I think AT&T really rigs there meters to give you a false impression of good signal.
I was also told by a friend that another third party found AT&T to be the worst for dropped calls. And the thridparty that supplied the data that AT&T quotes as "fewest dropped calls" has requested AT&T stop misrepresenting the data.
AT&T was pretty nasty when I said I was returning the iPhone. They didn't know I swapped the phone and extended the return date by doing so (thank god I did it took a good while for the coolness to pass and reliability to focus in on). I told them that but they still ensisted I could not return it. I did and I didn't even pay restocking fee. Two AT&T reps blurted this out with out my really asking.
One other nasty is. When I returned my wifes Razor I didn't want to cancel the line until I got the # ported back. So he said sure keep the SIM card. But when I returned the iPhone Apple refused. So they still have my Activated SIM card which is wrong. That card is ME (my line) which is not canceled yet.
This SIM thing makes me very uncomforable too. I think because Apple is getting a cut there are no discounts at all. And to keep things locked they are violating the normal protocal with SIM cards. They have defeated the advantage SIM cards have.
I also found new Sprint Moguls on Ebay for $99.00 with contract and new line. I had previously paid $400.00. Since I have to create a new line I qualify. I won't mind paying full price for the next phone that replaces Mogul. iPhone should hopefully really push the competition.
One other thing that drove me insane on iPhone is. It's supposed to be the best "iPod" (an audio device) yet it's very impolite to audio devices around it because of GSM. I also thought iPhones (modern iPods) had optical output (minitoslink) but they don't (even though some web sites advertise a minitoslink cable for iPods). No iPods or iPhones have optical output.
I thought Apple might add voice command. But there is no button on the phone for it. So I was concerned Voice Command would never come around on this version of iPhone.
This was insane. More money, no insurance, maybe never get Voice command, poor Voice reliability on GSM (for me and my wife) and made computers, TV's and car radios go nuts. Not all the time but it shouldn't at all. This is nuts, I gotta shut the phone off for noise free operation on my Meridian very expensive audio system.
I don't mind the EDGE speed at all. But it bugged me calls went to Voice mail while I was using it.
I've also been reading 3G is a battery pig. I was planning to stick with AT&T and iPhone. But current 3G devices have serious battery issues. My wifes AT&T V3xx Razor was horrible on battery. It's my understanding it's because it has the 3G. And she doesn't do data. Not even a text message. It wouldn't last a day.
Also while in the store returning my wifes razor. A lady was buying a 2G Razor (V3). She had 5 bars. I had 5 bars. But she could not make a call to activate it. I couldn't make a call either. The sales guy said all the 2G phones run like crap since the 3G tower went in. WTF is that all about. It may be the reason I'm having issues. Maybe I'm driving by 3G towers.
Another issue was with AT&T. I tried to resolve it. All phones drop calls now and then even my Sprint phone. But I was getting some dropped, some garbled, some one way. But I had dropped calls. Everytime I called AT&T their computer said I had no dropped calls.
None of the issues above could get fixed with a software update.
I'll be watching for a CDMA or V2 or V3 of iPhone. Apple (the engineers did a great job). The Marketing guys that cut the deal with AT&T didn't.
