Is AT&T the best mobile network for iPhone?

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Permalink Reply by Brett Davis on April 22, 2009 at 9:50pm

I was with AT&T before I got my iPhone. I've always been with AT&T and I haven't had any problems with them. Can someone here tell me why AT&T is bad?

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Permalink Reply by Deanna Sipe on April 23, 2009 at 3:03am

Brett, you would just have to experience having all those people standing behind you everywhere you go to understand. I have been so lonely since I switched because I turn around to ask for the time and no one's back there anymore. :)

Just kidding. Seriously I have so many more call drops. I was in the middle of a serious negotiation when I lost a call and then, of course, couldn't get the guy back on the line. When I did it was too late, the momentum was shot.

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Permalink Reply by Deanna Sipe on April 23, 2009 at 2:52am

I had Verizon before I bought the iphone and I was sorely disappointed with the service change I experienced. I have been tempted on several occasions to switch back to the treo.

Then again, I was even more sore about it when I found out that if you have an iphone and you have service interruptions there is no compensation for it PERIOD. That is because it is an Apple policy. If you have service problems with AT&T and you have any other phone they can give you some money off you bill or what ever to make you happy. The staff members said that they will lose their job if they break that policy it's strictly Apple.

The insurance thing - also an Apple policy I was advised by AT&T. No insurance is available for the iphone. You break it, you buy another at retail.

I don't know for fact, but I suspect that AT&T was the only phone company that was willing to agree to all Apple's custom terms. Apple wants to play the wireless phone game and write new rules into the game midplay. Wasn't iphone the first phone with such a high price tag to be banned from insurance coverage through the phone company or other service provider?

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Permalink Reply by Adam Cmejla on April 23, 2009 at 9:33am

Deanna-

A couple of thoughts and comments on your post:
-I switched over from Sprint because of bad reception and also terrible customer service. However, with that said, I'm not that impressed with ATT's coverage as well, specifically with the call drops! I have had more call drops with my iPhone in the last month or so that I ever have! I'm not sure what happened or what software upgrade caused this glitch, but it's terrible! I'm right there with ya...I've been on calls with clients and we're in the middle of conversation and then...boom!...call dropped! Then I have to call back, apologize, and figure out where we left off in the conversation!

I also think it's a very expensive plan for the minutes that I need. I envy the Alltell users out there with unlimited "fav" minutes as well as some other specials. That's the unfortunate thing about brand loyalty...both Apple and ATT execs know how loyal we are to our iPhones and there's not a whole lot we can do about it!

As far as the breakage, that part doesn't bother me. Consumer reports has said that cell phone insurance is one of the biggest wastes of consumer dollars: You pay $7 or more per month for insurance (at least $84 a year) for the coverage. Then, if something happens, you have to pay (in my experience) a $50 deductible for the phone, send in your broken phone, wait (what seems like an eternal) couple of weeks, only to get the same phone (if you're lucky) or a refurbed model that is "similar to your original phone." I'd much rather fork over the extra cash and have a phone in pocket by day's end.

Overall I have been less than impressed with ATT since switching over. Sprint customer service was terrible, but at least their coverage and reliability of their network was better than I've experienced.

Have a great Thursday!

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Permalink Reply by Justin Bryant on April 23, 2009 at 9:57am

The iPhone is the greatest mobile concept thus far IMHO. The service of the plan and the fact AT&T carrier service suck, make it hard to swallow. I hate dropping calls with clients. No excuses!

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Permalink Reply by Colin Clark on April 23, 2009 at 10:58am

I'm just going to throw this out there... I HATE AT&T. I don't want to seem overdramatic, but AT&T ruins people's lives. Has anyone ever tried to get their at&t DSL working and had problems? Ever been on hold for 2 hours only to find out that the department you needed to talk to is closed? Talk about a nightmare! I used to do b2b sales for them up in Chicago and it really is hard to even comprehend the absolute hatred that some people have for AT&T. I can't understand why they're still in business. It's not fair to all the great companies who actually provide services that work reliably and provide good customer service.

Now I must admit that their wireless division is by far their best-run (probably because they inherited their processes from Cingular which was a fantastic provider). However, I think that it was foolish for Apple to sign with at&t to begin with. They should have picked Verizon. Everyone loves them. Seems like you always have service and never get dropped calls. I absolutely love my iPhone, but as far as I'm concerned AT&T should be ripped apart bit by bit.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Herbert on April 23, 2009 at 11:08am

I am a proud owner of an iPhone. I moved to Indy from an area in the west where AT&T wasn't available and I immediately switched from Verizon to get an iPhone. I haven't been disappointed. I had a Treo when I was with Verizon and it was nice but bulky, heavy, and not nearly loaded with all the app store offerings the iPhone has. I know that At&T reception sometimes leaves something to be desired but the capabilities of the phone are worth it. I use my phone daily to manage two businesses and I use a host of apps that help me tremendously. I will certainly say that if the iPhone expanded to other carriers I might switch back to Verizon someday, but I really don't see much of a difference and the phone is the dealbreaker for me not the service. Just my two cents. :)

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Permalink Reply by Brooke Randolph on April 23, 2009 at 1:38pm

I will be switching to AT&T to have an iphone and my whole family plan is coming with me. We have had Verizon and I have had no complaints (other than possibly options on phones); once when a phone was stolen, they even helped me figure out how to recover most of my contact numbers. I am concerned because I once tried to get DSL at home through AT&T and it was a horrendous experience from beginning to end that drug out for way too long considering the service never actually worked. I pay more for my Verizon broadband device but it was certainly less of a hassle and it travels with me. It is unfortunate apple isn't working with Verizon.

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Permalink Reply by Adam Yale on April 23, 2009 at 2:13pm

I've been on ATT forever and never really had a problem with them. There customer service has always been satisfactory for me.

One big difference I see is that ATT uses the GSM band while Verizon uses CDMA. As far as I know, GSM is more of a world-wide standard. If you travel out of the country much, you need a GSM phone. I believe Verizon only has a few "world-phones."

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Permalink Reply by Michael Nolan on April 23, 2009 at 2:55pm

The carrier is the entire reason I don't have an iPhone. I live in a remote rural area and AT&T doesn't have any coverage here. My company publishes books about iPhones and mobile technologies and I can't even think of getting one. And don't tell me about the Touch; I don't want ANOTHER device of any kind.

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Permalink Reply by Milford C. Hutsell III on April 23, 2009 at 3:24pm

I will not buy anything from AT&T's mobile division. I would love to have an iPhone but not at the expense of having very bad cell service. I have several execs here at the plant I work at and they all have AT&T Blackberrys and they are always complaining about them. a few of them have jumped ship to switch to Verizon since Verizon appears to have the better service in Indiana (that is unless you live in Cass or Clinton County).

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Permalink Reply by John R.(Dick) Troll on April 23, 2009 at 9:27pm

IMHO the 3G iPhone is the best man/machine consumer device ever made. As for AT&T, I have been a customer for several years. Their service seems OK. Not great not horrible. I would not let their service stop me from getting an iPhone-especially now that you can get a reconditioned 3G phone for $100.00

It was a surprise for me to learn that the model/brand of phone can influence the phone service. A few years ago,an AT&T tech encouraged me to switch to a Nokia phone and it markedly improved my service. But if you hate ATT you can buy an unlocked iPhone on eBay and use it with the other carriers.

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