Category: Cell Phone Talk
Here is a article I read on A T and T dealing with the Iphone. Read then just curious post your appinion. As the carrier with the highest number of dropped calls, lowest customer satisfaction rating, and smallest 3G coverage area, AT&T's lifeblood over the last few years has been its iPhone exclusivity.
However, the company seems to be deluded in its thoughts on how it will be affected once this exclusivity deal ends, reports Cultofmac.com. AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson spoke about the issue at an investor conference in New York, saying it's unlikely the customer base will drop AT&T just because the iPhone goes to another carrier.
He said that 2/3 of all iPhone owners were previous AT&T customers. So somehow this Stephenson guy thinks 1/3 is a small number, and if 1/3 of all iPhone owners dropped AT&T it wouldn't be a problem. Umm, most people would disagree with that.
Now, of course, no one is expecting that the moment a Verizon iPhone arrives, there will be a mass exodus of AT&T customers. However, with the iPhone no longer exclusive to AT&T, future iPhone buyers are going to be extraordinarily less likely to choose AT&T. By all metrics it is the worst of the four major carriers in the US. And Stephenson just doesn't get it. Of the millions of people who now have an iPhone in the US, 33% of them were not AT&T customers before. That's a big number.
Despite what anyone at AT&T corporate might say, losing iPhone exclusivity is a big deal. Like, a really big deal. Its profits are going to fall off a cliff as soon as another service provider announces its own version of the iPhone. Case closed
So... leave your thoughts, ideas and feelings here. Just please take inconsiteration not everyone has your same feelings.
So if it has the smallest area of 3g coverage, then why is it the second largest carrier in the country?
because of the iPhone for one thing, and that will change. Server side AT&T has a lot of problems and has had for years despite Apple fandom. In fact, the iPhone should have propelled AT&T to upgrade their servers / fix the issues but they haven't.
But what about the $2,000,000,000 that they've come up with to upgrade their network and fix those issues? The reason I'm arguing about this is not because I'm taking the heat for it, it's because they've come a long way ever since I had AT&T when it was Singular. And that was 4 years ago. I had one of those sucky go phones where you pay as you go. Anyway, one of my friends had the iPhone 3g s, and she kept telling me how awful AT&T was as far as dropping calls and things like that. But since they've improved their network, that has improved quite a bit. I haven't experienced any dropped calls whatsoever and I've had this iPhone for almost 2 months. You know why 63% of the iPhone users want to stick with AT&T when it loses its exclusivity? Because they like it. Apparently they're the ones who aren't having any issues at all with the phone service, and this article just blows that so far out of proportion.
I have been an ATT customer for the passed two years. I've noticed that the network quality has improved greatly over that time although still not quite as good as verizon. If I could get the same phone on both ATT and Verizon I'd probably stick with att since Verizon doesn't have an equivelent of the $15 a month for 200 meg data which I like.
And while I have had the occasional dropped call it doesn't happen very often. Most of my problems have, I suspect, more to do with my phone itself than with AT&T. Not to say I might not switch if given the opportunity but nor do I hate AT&T.
The big problem that I see with this article is that they're blowing stuff really out of proportion. Folks, AT&T is not all that bad, and you can trust me on that. It's been improved greatly and it's still improving. I have had Verizon before, ad while I do like it, I wanted the iPhone, so I had to go with AT&T, which really didn't matter to me. So in reality, I think Apple actually made a good move by going with this carrier, only because this network has so much potential for improvement, and I'm sure that in this 4g network that's coming out next year, it will improve.
I agree. Unless I suddenly start having major problems I don't necessarily plan on switching from AT&T, particularly since it seems to have the best coverage for where I live.
AT&T is not that bad. To the contrary...Wal-Mart in our area has stopped carrying vorison do to issues they have had with the company, and that says a lot to me. Also, my Mom goes through vorison because it is what her work uses, and she has complained many times about being overcharged on bills, problems with phones, etc; though she has not complained about coverage...I much prefer AT&T, and I will continue to go with them...
Ah, your mom wouldn't be the only person I've heard complaints from about Verizon. I think my mom and I are going to go over to the AT&T store soon and find out how much it's going to cost me and what all is required for me to get off of her plan and onto my own. I just hope it won't be too expensive for me. I'm not necessarily big on minutes since I do most of my voice chatting during the evening after seven when I have unlimited night and weekend but I'd still like unlimited texting since my fiance and I keep in touch that way when she's on break at work.
i've considered switching to AT&t, but a lot of my contacts are vzw, and they have the best coverage when i'm at my true home. i guess it'll strongly depend on one, if there's good coverage here, and two how much it'll impact those i talk too who are on the vzw network.
Verizon generally has good coverage, but the costs aren't very good.
This month I was randomly charged $50.00 in excess to my bill and I still have not gotten a call back yet.
See, we were overcharged as well when I was on a family plan with my parents. Just this month, my AT&T bill was $117, $60 for the minutes, 20 for the unlimited texting, and 25 for the internet usage, plus the tax, which is about $13. The more I use my iPhone, the more I like AT&T.
Exactly. My mom and I have been with AT&T now for two years and we really haven't had any problems. The main reason my mom's switching is tat she occasionally makes trips up to Battleground, Washington to visit a close family friend and it just happens that AT&T doesn't have good celular service there. So I'm going to try to get on my own plan and get an IPhone as soon after that as I possibly can.
Well, think about it like this...I can't recall anytime verizon has had a dropped call, so atnt sucksjust for that. The way I look at it, if I want a service that has dropped calls I can just go back to using Team Mobile...yes, verizon do try to charge over on the bills, it has happened here before, but it can also happen with atnt, I know someone it has happened too. So, it's not anything wrong with either of the services, it just depends on what you like and what you feel is comfortable. My biggest fear with having atnt is, do any of you ever get worried that your phone want have any signal if you get lost or need it most? See, with Verizon you want have to worry about that.
And if you just call verizon and threaten them one good time, I promise you; you want have another problem with them again.
And when I say threaten them, I meant to curse and fuss that you would switch companies and stuffs like that.
You want to worry about that? I've only had the very occasional dropped call with AT&T, not enough to make me switch. And as I said in another topic it's T-Mobile, not Team Mobile.
and now verizon is getting rid of the unlimited data plan and givig a 6 teer plan it looks like
I imagine most if not all carriers are going to be ditching their Unlimited plans. At least that's what I've been hearing.
Honestly, I haven't dropped a call yet on my iPhone that wasn't user error on my end. (accidentally hitting end, hanging up with the headset)
This all being said, i'll probably stick with at&T until they give me reason to switch, or a network really proves to be faster and better where I live.
Down here its AT&T as the best, followed up by sprint, then T-Mobile and then Verizon. Though in other regions i'm sure its different.
Same here. Until they give me a reason to switch I'm sticking around.
never before have I seen people passionate about their carrier. To fanboy proportions I mean. I happen to use T-Mobile whose customer service was great, and faves plan was good for having a teenager in the house. Verizon five years ago sucked big time ... but one thing I guess AT&T has got out of this with the iPhone is they now have fanboys. I'd switch from t-mobile in a heartbeat on end of contract if something better came along: I neither defend nor curse them ...
Actually prior to the iPhone AT&T was the second largest cell phone company in the states, and they deged out verizon briefly as the largest untill verizon acquired all tell and took the lead back as the largest.And whhile verizon does have slightly better coverage around here AT&T really isn't as bad as i thought it would be and service has definately improoved since i became ans AT&T customer, which btw was prior to owning an iPhone. One Advantage to being on a GSM network like AT&T that verizon and sprint can't compete with is is the ability to use data and voice at the same time. And by Data and voice i mean talking on the phone while browsing the web over 3G. U can only do this if you are connected to wi fi on a verizon phone. iPersonally never had any of the issues most people here complain about with verizon with beingover charged or etc a nor have i had any customer service nightmares with AT&T either, but untill i have a compelling reason to switch i wont be jumping to verizon even if they get an iPhone. So People use whatever network has good coverage in your area and will get you the phone you want to use, doing so doesn't make you a fan boy it just makes sense to you.
But, but, but, if the iphone wasn't here you all wouldn't be saying this stuff. And Bryan, you know what I meant...I don't care if it was Fartsmobile.
I have to disagree...I do not have an IPhone, nor do I want one. I have your basic phone, which works just fine for me. And, as far as dropped calls with AT&T, I have never experienced that. I also have damn good coverage considering I live in the country...a million miles from no-where. :) So, unless the prices with other companies drop, and/or I am given a good deal, I will stick with the one I know and trust...BTW, been with them for 5+ years now.
hmm good responses, how ever, I have no dropped calls with T-mobile there customer service to me is one of the best. As for the Iphone, I will weight until t-mobile gets one or just go ahead and by the HTC HD2.
I thought about joining T-Mobile but that was back in the days of the dreaded Owasys 22C, which even with the three-hundred-dollar discount you got for signing a contract it was still almost as expensive as buying a phone and then the screen reader, and the speech on that phone wasn't worth the price. And Miss Devious, some people would indeed still be saying these things about AT&T if the IPhone wasn't here because they genuinely like the carrier. I'd probably feel the same way. It just so happens that in my case the carrier that offers the IPhone is the one I happen to already be with.
In my case, for where I'm at AT&T is just best at getting the job done, its nothing about being a fanboy, its just the way things are. If another network had the iPhone and not at&T, around here, it might not have been nearly as tempting. That being said, if one of the networks becomes better and gives me a reason to switch, I would, so no. Its by no means all about the iPhone.
i love AT&T. i have had them since 2003, and i have had no trouble with them. i had t-mobile for 3 months, but i found that i was on AT&t's towers more than i was t-mobile's. as far as overcharges go, it seems that all companies will mess up sometime or another, but that's life. but... AT&T has a lot of work to do, but i think they can make it. although i am not a big fan of the 2 gigs for 25 dollars, when right now i am paying 5 dollars more and getting unlimited. the day they make me swich to 2 gigs, is the day i swich companies. and... i'm sure they will come up with some reason. to be honest, i haven't had problems with AT&T until they got the iPhone. i love the iPhone, but i am honestly thinking about porting it over to t-mobile, because i will get the same coverage i am now for a cheaper price, and keep unlimited data.
sure a cheaper price after the cost of unlocking and jailbreaking te iPhone so you can get it on T-Mobile's network, and you will loose some features like the way the phone handles voicemail on the AT&T network.
Actually Team-mobile UK I suspect soon the US carier will have the Iphone 4g, so no need to jell brake it. You do bring up a point Monkey share why I want jell brake the phone. Team-moblile has 4G speeds now. So I will stay where I am smile.
I'm not sure I care how many gigs as far as the data plan, just as long as it works. I don't know how much web browsing I'll do on the IPhone if only because I have a laptop for that. I may download an Ap here and there but probably not a whole lot.
Well Striker if that really does happen, I hope you can take your existing device, or that iTunes will port all your data. I know there are parts of the country where AT&T is really stellar, and it's not bad out here. However, reception is only one part of the plan people consider especially when buying into family plans. T-Mobile doesn't offer the Faves option anymore, we were grandfathered in. So who knows? Coulda been us on AT&T though I'm still at present not paying for a data plan.
I just wish we'd fix the infrastructure in general, sort of like what the power grid or even the telephone grid is like, where carriers bid into existing infrastructure. I'm not anti-carrier, it's just the proprietary nature of signal handling right now adds to the expense, yours and your carrier's. Open standards / standardized infrastructures always yield enormous savings to customers, but also profits to corporations (those who hire people).
Study the innovation of the interstate highway system in the 1950s and see what you think: transport costs immediately dropped while giving rise to the trucking industry as a viable career for many, and the environment conducive to the supermarket, for one.
This infrastructure problem is not the fault of a single carrier: as a nation we just have to move from seeing data as a luxury to seeing it as goods being transported, and build the infrastructure en totale to support it, IMHO.
its the iPhone 4 not the iPhone 4G it has nothing to do with 4g data, and just because T-Mobile has it in the uk doesn't meant T Mobile is getting it anytime soon here.
why are all carriers starting to ditch the unlimited data plans? What's a 6 teer plan anyway, and for some of you who complained about being overcharged with verizon, you're not allone. Mom used to complain about the bills each month from verizon because they overcharged her for stuff she didn't even use. like the get it now software which she doesn't even know how to use it. once, i had problems with my phone charger and the technical support people at verizon gave me a very rude atitude because i only asked her to check my phone because my charger is not working politely. she said that i broke the phone and that i shouldn't jam things into the phone. I told her that i never do that stuff because i'm not a rough person. and whe left the store dissatisfied with the service so we switched toat&t because my brother had a phone which we had to send out 5 times because it wouldn't work. his phone was an LG voyager phone which would totally stop working and the screen would break down so we thought it was because he was rough on the phone, but every 3 months, he had to send the phone because the sircuitboard would keep breaking. so, my brother decided to get an iphone instead and then i got myself 1 in about a month because i got into the hype but out of the previous phones, i haven't experienced any problems
I think your brother was buying one of those phones offline? If so, they are only taking it apart and putting it back together and your brother bought the phone. Things like that happen, but it's not the company...just choose your phones carefully and after you get on to them enough, they'll get it right then.
i really like the Iphone! i've not had no problams.with it. smile... i'm happy with at&t......
I was with T-mobile with no complaints about their service. the service was good, customer service was good, and the bill was always what we expected. however, I really needed a new phone, and it seemed, at least at the time, T-Mobile didn't have many options in terms of accessibility without buying a screen reader separately, so I switched to AT&T because of the iPhone, and have no complaints so far. however, if not for the iPhone, I would've stuck with T-mobile.
If things go as A T and T plan they will own T-mobile bla!. Shoot me in the head!.