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Jul16

Really AT&T? Really?! Just kill us already.

att-noWell, what a surprise, AT&T is now behind on MMS messages for the iPhone again. This time the delay is said to be keeping the service out of our hands until September. Not to mention rumors of a $55 upgrade fee for tethering ability with your iPhone.

The delays are frustrating, yes, but compared to the bullshit I deal with daily on AT&T’s network a two month delay for MMS is laughable. In fact, I’d go as far as to say I would sacrifice MMS altogether just to get some decent service from the company.

Let me recap briefly some of the issues I have daily while using AT&T as my wireless provider:

  • Appalling 3g coverage – AT&T’s 3g network is horribly inconstant. It frequently drops in and out of reach, even in heavily populated areas. And, when it does work, the speeds are mediocre at best. I’ve used it on three different iPhones and a Sony Ericsson w600i. In comparison to Verizon or Sprint the 3g AT&T offers feels childish.
  • Weird network restrictions – AT&T has a ton of network restrictions, some applications on iTunes can’t be used unless on wifi, iTunes store downloads over 10megs are disallowed, yet we as users pay a fee for 5gigs of data per month. Why should I be limited to 10megs per download if I pay $30+ dollars a month for 5gigs of bandwidth?
  • Regular plain old cellphone coverage – It’s one thing not to get wicked fast 3g speed all over the city, but it’s another to simply not get cell coverage at all. I live in the middle of Downtown Denver, yet, I at this moment I have no service on my phone. In fact, if I want service I would need to walk over to my window in the other room and sit within a 10 foot radius. This isn’t just limited to my apartment though, it happened at my previous house, and still happens to this day at the Imulus workplace in Boulder.
  • Dro…
  • Dropped c…
  • D…
  • Dropped calls!!! – I’m not kidding, everyone I know on AT&T has calls dropped so frequently it’s literally become a joke. I recognize this would most likely be tied to cell service area, but I get dropped calls even at full bars. I swear if AT&T offered a land line it would still drop my call. I get at least 7 dropped calls daily. Daily!

The point is that AT&T is terrible when it comes to wireless cell service. It’s a travesty that the iPhone, which is an amazing piece of technology, is limited to such a terrible network. It’s like having a Formula-1 racer and only being able to use it on dirt roads.

The truth is if Apple doesn’t bring the iPhone to another network in the next year, I’ll honestly consider switching phones. Simply to get away from AT&T.

posted in: Apple, failures, iphone, opinion, rant

This post was published on Thursday, July 16, 2009 at 2:03 am

Leave a comment


Comments

1

Ted

July 16, 2009 at 6:58 am

I’ve had so many dropped calls on my phone that I’ve taken it to the Apple store to complain. They ran some diagnostics and said “oh, you only have about 12% of calls dropped. That’s really good. If it’s up around 30% we usually try to get the person a new phone.”

Uh huh.

Thanks.

The Apple Genius also recommended that if I know I’m going to be on a call to turn off the 3G network and just be on Edge. So when I’m wandering around the house talking on the phone and go to the basement where there’s no 3G coverage, the call won’t drop. Every time it switches networks it drops the call. I asked if it’s a hardware or a software fix that would be needed to make the switch seamlessly.

“Uhh, probably software.”

Horseshit, I say.

I should not have to keep flipping 3G off and on to just USE THE PHONE reliably.

Not to mention the fact that there’s literally NO AT&T coverage in South Dakota. When I go home there my phone is utterly useless. Yeah, they have a network leasing deal with Alltel so I can do roaming, but I might as well just not even bring a phone for all the good it does.

A little competition would be good for the monopoly that AT&T has yet again become.

2

Taylor Smith

July 16, 2009 at 12:55 pm

Yep. AT&T considers it average for about 25% of your calls to be dropped. That’s why Apple only considers it be a problem with the phone if you’re above that percentage.

I love hearing fellow iPhone owners curse AT&T’s name excessively mid-sentence as their call drops. In fact, Steph did it just moments ago.

3

Kathryn

July 16, 2009 at 1:00 pm

I seriously hope Apple talks to Sprint as soon as possible. I think I have had all of 5 dropped calls ever. EVER. Not kidding. My family is all on Sprint, and my dad is a pilot for United. So obviously he flies all over the U.S. and he swears by Sprint.

Plus, their customer service is awesome. You can walk into a Sprint store claiming you lost a charger, and BAM! Free charger. I love them.

The Palm Pre is pretty damn cool, but let’s face it, it’s no iPhone.

4

George

July 16, 2009 at 1:58 pm

The funny thing here is that my Gen 1 iPhone must have less then 2% dropped calls. I’m nervous to “upgrade” to 3GS when my performance is so good on my old phone.