The Truth About AT&T Network

[co.ag.2005]

All that being said... It's nice to see AT&T get hosed for once considering they've been doing it to their customers for years.

I've had Cingular/AT&T for close to 9 years now and I have yet to get "hosed" by them. Sure, coverage may be an issue in some places but it is a non-issue for me (espcially since a new 3G tower was put near my home recently). Plus their customer service is excellent! With that being said, I truly realize that everyone's mileage may vary.

 

[Blazer24K]

I've had Cingular/AT&T for close to 9 years now and I have yet to get "hosed" by them. Sure, coverage may be an issue in some places but it is a non-issue for me (espcially since a new 3G tower was put near my home recently). Plus their customer service is excellent! With that being said, I truly realize that everyone's mileage may vary.

Their customer service is excellent???? Are you kidding me? You obviously have some sort of affiliation with AT&T, because no one in sane mind would declare AT&T's customer service "excellent."

If AT&T spent half the time improving their customer service as they did attempting to defend it, they'd be amazing...

 

[dhartung02]

BTW ..... I had no clue about the A-list thing. Is that new?

It came out around Sept/Oct of 09. Its pretty much exactly the same as the other competitors Fav 5, or circle of friends. Its pretty nice though. I was able to drop my land line and add a few work numbers and now use my cell phone for work without using up minutes.

 

[rjohnstone]

Their customer service is excellent???? Are you kidding me? You obviously have some sort of affiliation with AT&T, because no one in sane mind would declare AT&T's customer service "excellent."

If AT&T spent half the time improving their customer service as they did attempting to defend it, they'd be amazing...

Their customer service is very excellent.
No complaints at all. And no, I don't work for them.

Here's a hint to getting great customer service.
Don't call them and act like a douche.

The person on the other end is a human with feelings and emotions.
Piss them off and they will give it right back at you.

Back in the day when I did CS work, I had no problem putting a jerk through 9 levels of hell if he was a disrespectful.

You get what you give.

 

[thetexan]

AT&T's 3G coverage sucks where their map indicates good 3G coverage. In my hometown I have found that their 3G network was like swiss cheese with holes everywhere. The places I needed to use my phone the most I was only able to get an EDGE signal even though the online coverage map indicates 3G. Since I've moved to Verizon I have had a constant 3G signal everywhere I've went.

For a more accurate representation of AT&T's 3G coverage take their map and punch a lot of random holes in their 3G coverage.

 

[waffle911]

My point is, the gap in information left by AT&T seems easier to jump (erroneously) from A to B than the gap in information left by Verizon.

Or put another way, it's easier for the average to infer from AT&T's commercials that overall coverage=3G coverage because the mind tries to fill in blanks, like when someone says "son of a..." and is interrupted. Most people would jump to the conclusion that the next word in that sentence was "b****", but he could have said "gun" or "biscuit" instead. Granted, AT&T's advertising isn't this blunt about it, but the way they word it is intentionally confusing.

The thing is, the complete picture (or something close to it) is only painted when you combine both Verizon's and AT&T's claims together to fill in each others' gaps. Verizon's version is more complete from the get-go, with most of the spotty areas covered lightly. AT&T's version leaves the spotty areas blank for the most part. Combine the two, and the spots are mostly filled in.

Two half-truths make a whole. End of story.

 

[co.ag.2005]

Their customer service is excellent???? Are you kidding me? You obviously have some sort of affiliation with AT&T, because no one in sane mind would declare AT&T's customer service "excellent."

If AT&T spent half the time improving their customer service as they did attempting to defend it, they'd be amazing...

I have no affiliation with AT&T whatsoever. However, I do have a FAN discount and may receive special privileges based on my corporate discount. Before I had my corporate discount, I never had any issues with their customer service. If I ever have issues with service/billing/etc., they have always resolved them quickly (or at least made every attempt to resolve them quickly).

As I said in my previous statement, everyone's mileage with AT&T might vary, but I know I am not the only one that has had good experience with the company.

 

[Steve686]

Their customer service is excellent???? Are you kidding me? You obviously have some sort of affiliation with AT&T, because no one in sane mind would declare AT&T's customer service "excellent."

If AT&T spent half the time improving their customer service as they did attempting to defend it, they'd be amazing...

After having Cingular transform into AT&T several years ago(I've been with "them" for over 10 years now), the service, both cellular and customer, have improved. Any issues I ever have, which have been about zero with my service, has been taken care of promptly and courteously. I think it boils down to pure human relations. You treat them nicely, they treat you nicely.

Not to flame or judge you, but just your inferred tone alone sounds like you may go into a situation agitated on the phone and get reciprocated. There is no conspiracy against the consumer and you don't need an "affiliation" to get good service from them.

Other point, do you ever take their online or phone surveys to let them know how you feel about their service? It actually does go through channels and is heard from execs.

 

[thelatinist]

Their customer service is excellent???? Are you kidding me? You obviously have some sort of affiliation with AT&T, because no one in sane mind would declare AT&T's customer service "excellent."

I have had Cingular and AT&T phone service since 2002, and have always received excellent service from them. Any time I have had to call they have been courteous and as knowledgeable as I expect any low-paid CSR to be. And they have always fixed any problems I've had. They even unlocked my in-contract Samsung phone so I could use it with a foreign SIM when traveling internationally. No run-around, and it took all of 10 minutes. I also find their billing clear and straightforward (if a tad expensive).

In all, I have never had any complaints. And, for the record, I have no affiliation with AT&T. And I do consider myself sane.

 

[ntrigue]

Unfortunately, AT&T service has declined in my area this month. Wondering if it's due to iPhone Christmas gifts.

Since November 2008 I had 3G 4+Bars blanketing my drive Carmel to San Jose with one dropzone.

Since December 2009 that has become 30% Edge and four dropzones

I will not hesitate to ETF over to Verizon.

 

[thetexan]

Unfortunately, AT&T service has declined in my area this month. Wondering if it's due to iPhone Christmas gifts.

Since November 2008 I had 3G 4+Bars blanketing my drive Carmel to San Jose with one dropzone.

Since December 2009 that has become 30% Edge and four dropzones

I will not hesitate to ETF over to Verizon.

I'm on Verizon, I have no idea what a "dropzone" is.

 

[ct2k7]

I still love AT&T

I hope AT&T continue to offer the iPhone exclusively!

 

[Looon]

Their customer service is excellent???? Are you kidding me? You obviously have some sort of affiliation with AT&T, because no one in sane mind would declare AT&T's customer service "excellent."

If AT&T spent half the time improving their customer service as they did attempting to defend it, they'd be amazing...

lol I like how everyone who says Verizon is good is a normal person but the second you don't hate AT&T you must work for them.
AT&T's customer service has been good in my experience too. Not too long ago I didn't have enough money to pay my bill, so I called them and told them and they said it was no problem and basically said pay it whenever you can. The time before that they actually put a $50 credit on my account because I was on hold for 1/2 an hour.

 

[Jeffrosproto]

over 100k apps --- don't tell you it only on one phone

You have to remember, this isn't a press release, it's an email. Was the op activating an iPhone? Then its not inaccurate at all, as the email was sent to an iPhone owner.

I'm not up to date on AT&T advertising, however, and if they are spreading this around elsewhere without info that it's for the iPhone only, that is deceptive.

 

[LinMac]

Population covered is an interesting point, but in reality it isn't all that impressive.

I live in a city with at&t 3G and have an iPhone. It works well and I generally have few problems with the at&t network, but that changes quickly when I travel to cities near here. My coverage quickly goes from 3G to EDGE and stays that way while Verizon has EVDO Rev. 0 for hundreds of miles in nearly every direction.

at&t can talk about coverage all they like, but Verizon wins hands down in 3G coverage. I liked the "There's a map for that" advertising a lot because it pins at&t on their crappy network.

I want 3G on the interstate when I'm traveling. I want 3G in the small town 75 miles southeast of here. I want 3G when I'm in a small airport few people have ever heard of. I want 3G wherever I am.

 

[elppa]

I think any company who employed Stanley Sigman as their CEO deserves a bit of slack. He was comedy gold!

Stan Sigman strolled slowly across the stage, hands in his pockets, in a manner you might expect from, say, a legendary football coach from the SEC about to face the press before the big game. He spoke slowly with a friendly laid-back manner, and at first he spoke from the heart. Then the cue cards came out, the head went down, and it was all down hill after that.

 

[yg17]

I'm on Verizon, I have no idea what a "dropzone" is.

You will if Verizon ever gets the iPhone and the millions of data using customers that come with it

 

[thetexan]

You will if Verizon ever gets the iPhone and the millions of data using customers that come with it

Not really, CDMA uses separate channels for data and voice. If data floods the network voice is still protected. Unless iPhone users talk a whole lot more than users of normal phones Verizon customers will be fine. Worst case scenario data slowdowns.

 

[alpha1]

ok, I had the first generation iphone and gave it away because I refused to pay at&t's ridiculous prices. now that there is all of these new jailbroken and unlocked iphones, someone help me understand something.

1. Is it better to buy one and unlock it yourself, or buy one already unlocked?
2. once you have an unlocked iphone, who is the best service to go with? I see t-mobile has unlimited talk, text, web for 79.99. is that the same as data?
or do you purchase a talk and text plan, then a data plan?

if "you" have an unlocked iphone...what plan do "you" have?

3. does "unlocking" work on all models? 3g, 3gs, ect.?

 

[stockscalper]

I find that AT&T marketing here is much more deceptive than what Verizon did. Verizon was crystal clear on what they were comparing.

AT&T on the other had is trying to trick you into thinking otherwise.

over 100k apps --- don't tell you it only on one phone
Coverage -- imply that it is all 3G


On Verizon they make it clear they are comparing 3G only. Now yes it tricks some people but for most people I think they can understand the difference. AT&T is much more difficult to figure out it out.

Really? Verizon doesn't even have 3G, they have EVDO which to properly compare if Edge is 2.5, EvDo is 2.75, which is why it is slower than AT&T's 3G. Verizon is also misleading because their map shows high bandwith coverage available from their roaming partners. Where I live I notice they show 3G coverage in areas where they only have voice coverage. So, no they're ads are very misleading.

 

[alent1234]

ok, I had the first generation iphone and gave it away because I refused to pay at&t's ridiculous prices. now that there is all of these new jailbroken and unlocked iphones, someone help me understand something.

1. Is it better to buy one and unlock it yourself, or buy one already unlocked?
2. once you have an unlocked iphone, who is the best service to go with? I see t-mobile has unlimited talk, text, web for 79.99. is that the same as data?
or do you purchase a talk and text plan, then a data plan?

if "you" have an unlocked iphone...what plan do "you" have?

3. does "unlocking" work on all models? 3g, 3gs, ect.?

unlocked iphones won't run on T-Mobile's 3G network since they don't support their 3G frequencies. Just like the Nexus ONe can't use AT&T's 3G frequencies. you will be limited to EDGE speeds.

 

[TAJones99]

Sounds like they are trying to build some positive PR.

As for the App thing, Apple is not the only company that has Apps. All the WinMo phones have Apps, as do most of the new Nokia and Samsung phones, and that is not even counting the Android phones coming soon.

TEG

Yea but apple apps are making all money