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AT&T screwing its EDGE iPhone users?
Cell phones, like other wireless communications devices, have certain radio bands they communicate on. While previously the company had been primarily relying on the 850 MHz band that offers a more robust signal, including superior indoor reception, company technicians confirmed to OFB that transmitters for the 2G signal used by the original iPhone and most other handsets, including most AT&T offered BlackBerry and RAZR models, have been shifted to the weaker 1900 MHz band in some areas. This shift has resulted in customers past their 30-day return policy, but still with relatively new phones, finding themselves stuck with equipment no longer able to pick up signals properly in previously strong coverage areas, even though the equipment itself is without defect. OFB was able to confirm this situation for itself using multiple devices in St. Louis, MO, and also obtained information on similar cases across the country. Reports suggested the problem started to appear as AT&T ramped up its 3G network in preparation for the iPhone 3G in early 2008. Each AT&T technician OFB talked to concerning this problem offered the same solution: that the customer should purchase new, 3G-enabled equipment at the customer’s own expense. This has created a troubling situation for many owners of the original iPhone, a device that was as recently as May of 2008 selling for $400. These users are being told their expensive phones should not only be replaced at the subscriber’s expense, sometimes less than a year after purchase, but also at an increase in the monthly service rate of $10 for data and $5 for text messaging. Typical AT&T move...maybe it is best to take AT&T's own advice: As an alternative, OFB was also advised by one AT&T customer service representative to consider terminating AT&T service. The representative then suggested using unofficial information on the Internet to unlock the iPhone for use on another cellular network. ( Filed Under: )
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Comments
not surprising
and i suppose apple knew nothing about this? i'm sure they aren't interested in selling a s#!t ton of new phones. it's hard not to be cynical these days.
Yes, and I'm sure Nokia
Yes, and I'm sure Nokia conspired with AT&T to wipe out analog phones and replace them with digital GPRS service as well, just to sell more phones. And Intel with Apple in the switch from PPC to Intel. Are you seeing the fallacy in your logic yet?
Let's stop embracing dead technology, please. AT&T has rapidly been expanding their 3G network nationwide. Take a look at all the blue on the map. I went to visit my parents, who live in East Jesus, USA, and was ever so pleasantly surprised to find 3G coverage where there was once Edge.
Well AT&T has been screwing
Well AT&T has been screwing everyone cause 3G is not what they claim it is ether. I used less than 500mb of bandwith every month cause thank god this thing switches itself to Wifi when i get home or am at work, Dude 3G is shit, but hey anything is better than nothing and it sure is a bit just a bit faster than edge
What are those of us that
What are those of us that have a 3g enabled phone, but only have access to Edge because AT&T doesn't have 3G in our area? Now my Edge sucks and I'm still paying for 3G I can only use on trips.
Yeah I noticed this a while
Yeah I noticed this a while ago. EDGE is much slower and about a 1/4 of the time it won't activate. This is in addition to the already poor service here in Baltimore, MD. My contract with AT&T is up in a few months, I'll keep my iPhone as an 8gb iTouch and I'm switching back to Verizon. Their phones are the worst in the industry but at least they make calls, which is a phone's primary job.
this has always been my
this has always been my opinion - you get a mobile phone to make calls and send text msgs- that is the reason that i never got the hots for the iPhone. i like verizon's coverage best and have a mobile for the phone service - not the add on glam. now if verizon starts to sell the iPhone i would probably get one but................
I have excellent coverage in
I have excellent coverage in Baltimore. I'm in my cube right now on the third floor in the center of the building with full 3G service
Two letters a week.
Two letters a week.
I hope this isn't true
My wife has the original iPhone and I have the 3g. I see the problem of connectivity between hers and mine (her incoming calls all seem to go straight to voicemail), but no recent change to it in my area. I would really like to see a Sprint and Verizon iPhone introduced to make the competition come back alive. This makes me feel sick just thinking about it. We still love our iPhones though.
AT&T hasn't added one square
AT&T hasn't added one square inch of new 3G coverage in Oklahoma this year. In January they announced they would be adding two(!) new towns but never got around to it. In fact they are still building new EDGE towers like the one half a mile outside my town, but after it being constructed in April 08, it still doesn't work. No one's phone will connect and stay connected for more than a few minutes before showing no signal unless the phone is rebooted. After waiting 25 years for any cellphone signal here, this is totally unacceptable.
love the ATT deathstar.....
love the ATT deathstar.....
Thank God, I dropped AT&T
Thank God, I dropped AT&T like third period French after eight years because of poor Customer Service and realization that they don't understand what direction the money flowed. Although Verizon kills many options on their phones, they are committed to good Customer Service and I may stay with them.
Funny
I left Verizon simply due to poor customer service and poor signal in my house and neighborhood (within a two miles from the intersection of two of the country's largest interstate highways and a couple hundred feet from a major local highway).
Say what you wish about AT&T, but nothing sucked for me as bad as Verizon. Oh, and Verizon was a lot more expensive to boot.
I live outside of Boston and
I live outside of Boston and have found AT&T coverage quite adequate. I typically get 3G where ever I go - that being said, I get dropped calls like crazy, especially in my home (even though it says I have FIVE BARS). The only people I know with Edge iPhones basically just use it for email, seeing as how using the Internet on Edge is near worthless even at it's best.
http://www.woopid.com
I was happy with ATT in my area until recently
I am still using my first gen (first day of release) iPhone. I live in Las Vegas. Lately, I've noticed a shift in quality of Edge connections. I never had trouble browsing web pages on Edge until about 3 months ago. Now, all pages, no matter how simple, load very slowly. This seems to verify the premise of this article. I think ATT is degrading Edge performance to force us to upgrade.
I find it annoying that ATT is forcing me to buy a new phone, but it's not the end of the world. I had planned to buy a new iPhone when they release 32gb models anyway. Once those hit the shelves, I'll likely make the switch. If ATT wants to throw us Edge users a bone for screwing us, they should reduce the price of 3G service to match Edge.
9to5@rtinteractive.net
Is AT&T looking for a class action lawsuit?? Anyone who bought a 1st generation iPhone in the last 18 months is stuck in a 2-year contract. Better work GREAT until then or I can see a lot of early adopter lawyers with iPhones and a bunch of their friends loving this.