A lot of this would not be true if AT&T was not the only iPhone carrier in the US.
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AT&T Addressing Network Performance in Manhattan and San Francisco, High-Bandwidth Users
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What the heck is that supposed to mean? How about LOWERING the data plan cost for light users? Give them credit back if they only use less than 200MB a month or something.
By the way, where the heck is tethering? 2009 is ending already. Sounds to me there will be no tethering for the iPhone in the US, ever.
I got a better plan for AT&T. Cut the paycheck of the top 5 executives by 50%, and use the money to improve the network.
How exactly are they going to "incentivize" the 3% that use 40% of the bandwidth, and eventually move into usage-based pricing? I bought my iPhone because I wanted to move into the next step of the mobile era; we're supposed to be moving forward; not backward!!! - nd not have to be told "whoa buddy. you have to ride your bicycle inside these pre-determined lines." what the? With the heated battle between AT&T and Verizon, usage-based pricing will never happen. Verizon has AT&T right where they want them; Verizon will never make the change if AT&T comes to them and wants to make an agreement. "Incentivize" ? You mean like "you are using waaay too much bandwidth compared to others; we will give you half off your next bill if you cut your usage by half." But then EVERYONE will start using huge bandwidth and then try and get the discount. It will be counterproductive.
MAYBE AT&T JUST NEEDS TO UPGRADE THEIR NETWORK!!!!!!!! (now there's an idea
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MAYBE AT&T JUST NEEDS TO UPGRADE THEIR NETWORK!!!!!!!! (now there's an idea
)AT&T was one of the first groups trying to kill-off net neutrality and helped start the whole battle from the very beginning. You're doing your readership a disservice if all you're going to do is regurgitate quotes without digging into the actual issues behind them.CEO Ralph de la Vega said:
Most of you who don't like this probably use less than you think - AND you would benefit from crimping the hogs who are tethering their laptops and DLing god knows what. You can't bitch about bad network service AND defend the hogs at the same time. It's one or the other. 3% is ruining it for the rest of us.
How about regular old East Lansing, population 114,000. Since August- dropped calls, poor signal and diminished 3G coverage. My iPhone is working fine.
Most of you who don't like this probably use less than you think - AND you would benefit from crimping the hogs who are tethering their laptops and DLing god knows what. You can't bitch about bad network service AND defend the hogs at the same time. It's one or the other. 3% is ruining it for the rest of us.
More companies should take note of this kind of response. When you can't deliver on your promises or contracts, and customers get angry, use statistics to have the customers turn upon themselves. If only we could lynch those dam tetherers...
I had Sprint before. When I started with them I had poor coverage. Within a few months they had dramatically improved coverage in my home and state. When I left them, I had excellent coverage everywhere I went in the whole nation. I assumed all cell companies were the same.
When I signed up for AT&T I noticed coverage was very poor. I "assumed" they would fix it. Here we are 18 months later and I have seen ZERO improvement in their coverage. I get next to no coverage at my house even though I'm on their 3G map. 3G coverage in this state is only in a few major metro areas. Everywhere else is EDGE. And large swaths of the state have no coverage what so ever. Sprint has 3G coverage everywhere.
AT&T has failed to improve their service. Talk is cheap. I don't care how much money they say they've spent on improvements. What I see is them ignoring customers saying coverage isn't working and I see no improvement in coverage.
I am a diehard Apple fan and I'm ready to pull the plug on AT&T. Android is good enough. I don't like Verizon's customer service and high cost, but at least they have coverage.
I hope they change the terms of my contract to charge for data so I can bail sooner.
I really don't have a problem with dropped calls on AT&T (data is a different story). I have hour+ conversations with no problem, even with AT&T users in other areas of the country. I often have problems with Sprint users and dropped calls.
Data on the other hand is extremely inconsistent. I tried to send a 1.2MB picture this morning via email and it took several tries as it repeatedly lost the network connection. When it finally finished the send process, nearly 10% of the battery had drained.
It's actually on iPhones too and all 3G devices. It's rarely enforced by At&t on any plan.
I assure you that a cap of 5GB is about to be enforced with the introduction of tethering.
Another commentor made a good point ... People who have good At&t service have no incentive to complain - complaining is also the "cool thing" to do - some are legit - most feel they can bandwagon to stick it to the man.
All of you are having fun complaining about AT&T, but you really should just be complaining about cell technology in general.
If you actually understand how cell phones work you would be a little more sympathetic to AT&T's position. Unfortunately there are only so many frequencies in the radio bandwidth. There is a limit as to how many devices can be functioning in any given area without interfering with each other. The concern here is that someone streaming data constantly is using an entire frequency spectrum and it can never be shared.
The entire cell phone concept was developed on a shared frequency model. With more and more people requesting data more frequently the whole model falls apart. Sure they can make cell sites smaller and smaller so as to cover less of an area (and therefore less people), but that has limits too. You can end up with weak signals and more dead spots. In high population areas this is a big problem. As time goes on and more and more people are constantly trying to receive/transmit simultaneously we will eventually run into limits.
Sure there are new technologies coming all the time to help, but they can't be implemented fast enough.
AT&T is quickly realizing this new direction the wireless industry is taking. They are struggling to keep up. No cell phone network has had as much data demand as theirs, ever, thanks to the iPhone. They can't just 'add' more capacity like some of you want them to. There are FCC limits, only a narrow frequency range they can use, cell site boundaries have to be redefined to limit interference.
This is all highly simplified, but it's the basics.
If the iPhone comes to Verizon and there is a mass exodus from at&t to them, trust me, you will have the same exact issues. Verizon's current supposed superiority will no longer exist.
If you actually understand how cell phones work you would be a little more sympathetic to AT&T's position. Unfortunately there are only so many frequencies in the radio bandwidth. There is a limit as to how many devices can be functioning in any given area without interfering with each other. The concern here is that someone streaming data constantly is using an entire frequency spectrum and it can never be shared.
The entire cell phone concept was developed on a shared frequency model. With more and more people requesting data more frequently the whole model falls apart. Sure they can make cell sites smaller and smaller so as to cover less of an area (and therefore less people), but that has limits too. You can end up with weak signals and more dead spots. In high population areas this is a big problem. As time goes on and more and more people are constantly trying to receive/transmit simultaneously we will eventually run into limits.
Sure there are new technologies coming all the time to help, but they can't be implemented fast enough.
AT&T is quickly realizing this new direction the wireless industry is taking. They are struggling to keep up. No cell phone network has had as much data demand as theirs, ever, thanks to the iPhone. They can't just 'add' more capacity like some of you want them to. There are FCC limits, only a narrow frequency range they can use, cell site boundaries have to be redefined to limit interference.
This is all highly simplified, but it's the basics.
If the iPhone comes to Verizon and there is a mass exodus from at&t to them, trust me, you will have the same exact issues. Verizon's current supposed superiority will no longer exist.
How about a Spite AT$T Event?
So - AT&T certainly doesn't keep their customer's best interests at heart.
Those 3% of users taking 40% of the bandwidth - good for them. 90% of the time, I'm in a wifi area, so I'm not leveraging their network as much as most, but the agreement does say "UNLIMITED DATA". Is it unreasonable?
Has anyone ever tried to schedule a "Spite AT&T with a saturation event" - say some specific date and time, everyone on an AT&T data plan decides to download a 50 MB file off the web, or steam an hour long video on YouTube? Just to see how few people need to actually take part to bring AT&T's network to it's knees?
So - AT&T certainly doesn't keep their customer's best interests at heart.
Those 3% of users taking 40% of the bandwidth - good for them. 90% of the time, I'm in a wifi area, so I'm not leveraging their network as much as most, but the agreement does say "UNLIMITED DATA". Is it unreasonable?
Has anyone ever tried to schedule a "Spite AT&T with a saturation event" - say some specific date and time, everyone on an AT&T data plan decides to download a 50 MB file off the web, or steam an hour long video on YouTube? Just to see how few people need to actually take part to bring AT&T's network to it's knees?
Most of you who don't like this probably use less than you think - AND you would benefit from crimping the hogs who are tethering their laptops and DLing god knows what. You can't bitch about bad network service AND defend the hogs at the same time. It's one or the other. 3% is ruining it for the rest of us.
I agree.
Right now I'm paying for unlimited, so I should get unlimited, AT&T should state there is a 5GB limit.
That being said I use about 700 MB on a heavy data usage month...
Set the typical data plan limit to something like 2GB a month (which most people will never hit) and if someone wants more they can pay 75% more for their data plan. Sometimes cost averaging across your entire customer range is a good idea, but if it's coming at the expense of everyone's experience than it's prob a better idea to redistribute the costs to dissuade those users. Why should I pay (in more ways than one) for their exorbitant consumption?
These kinds of things happen all the time. Ever heard of a disaster situation? I live by the 35W Bridge in Minneapolis and when it collapsed nearly nobody in the area could make a successful call because everyone was trying. It happens to every network. They are not designed to handle some freak event where everyone is trying to connect. No carrier does that because it makes no economic sense.
Staging an event like that would prove nothing. You could do it to any carrier anywhere in the world successfully if you had enough coordination.
Hate ATT love iPhone
In short iPhone great ATT poor.
ATT Message: ATT coverage website shows full 3G coverage
Reality: Phone has no-service
ATT Message: We are investing Million, the most in the industry
Reality: Phone has no-service
ATT Message: ATT has the biggest world wide network
Reality: It is most likely due to other providers in the World, it is not ATT owned network
here a ATT FaceBook exchange.
AT&T:Tommaso, we checked with the local and currently there aren't any plans for that zip, but we'll do our best to keep you updated on future upgrades.
Tommaso Esmanech: AT&T thank you for the reply and honesty...so what is your recommendation?
Tommaso Esmanech...still no answer...surprise?
In short iPhone great ATT poor.
ATT Message: ATT coverage website shows full 3G coverage
Reality: Phone has no-service
ATT Message: We are investing Million, the most in the industry
Reality: Phone has no-service
ATT Message: ATT has the biggest world wide network
Reality: It is most likely due to other providers in the World, it is not ATT owned network
here a ATT FaceBook exchange.
AT&T:Tommaso, we checked with the local and currently there aren't any plans for that zip, but we'll do our best to keep you updated on future upgrades.
Tommaso Esmanech: AT&T thank you for the reply and honesty...so what is your recommendation?
Tommaso Esmanech...still no answer...surprise?
A place like Moscone is covered with micro-cells. Verizon has more than 40 micro-cells inside Moscone. (Some friends and frustrated Iphone users watched the MBA keynote "live stream" with me on my Verizon WinMo phone - I could pick up the feeds easily but the AT&T network was fried.)
Admittedly, though, MacWorld is a "perfect storm" for AT&T wireless coverage in the city....
I know a thing or two abot cellular technolgy, and what AT&T customers are complaining about is AT&T - not the WCDMA technology.
AT&T must put up more cell-sites and reduce each cell-sites footprint, add more carriers and upgrade to WCDMA with 21 Mbit download - that is how *every other* WCDMA operator in the whole world adds more capacity and coverage.
I'm still wondering if we are on the same planet. Okay I live in another country but we have *nation wide* WCDMA 21 Mbit service and a datacap at 20 GB/month. Excellent coverage from downtown to the rural areas where only old farmer Joe and his dog lives.
I have excellent service and I use both streaming music and teathering daily. And my operator only uses 2100 Mhz spectrum - we don't even have access to a lower WDCMA frequency spectrum like 800 or 900 Mhz.
Guess what... My service is excellent and I seldom have less than 2-3 Mbit download speeds.
Try this coverage map:
Green indicates 21 Mbit service (up to 16 mbit download in real life).
I really sympathize with you guys but please stop complaining about the WCDMA techonology. The technology is just fine everywhere else in the world - except in the USA.
AT&T is to blame - not the technology and not the AT&T customers.
I was with Cingular before it became AT&T. Then one the iPhone 3G came out I dumped my non-smart phone to the iPhone 3g. When ity was still cingular I never had a dropped call with that 3G. Then came the AT&T buyout and AT&T name change the drop-outs starting coming almost everyday. I will bet the farm saying the cost cutting that went on from the old Cingular really hampered the wireless network during the "consolation" process. To me they just want the profits without spending any more money.
I say even if Apple offers T-Mobile (US) the phone you will see a whole sale defection from AT&T. So all you investors sell your AT&T stocks before the end of the exclusive Apple iPhone agreement ends!
I say even if Apple offers T-Mobile (US) the phone you will see a whole sale defection from AT&T. So all you investors sell your AT&T stocks before the end of the exclusive Apple iPhone agreement ends!
lol No kidding, eh?
“If you can’t handle the network traffic, stop selling a device and a promise of unlimited service.”
That pretty much sums it up.
http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/12/iphone-caps
And this CNet comment says it all:
by labjr61 December 9, 2009 3:45 PM PST
"Oh so blame the customers for the problems with your network. AT&T ! And charge for unlimited usage that is capped. Is it really only 3% or is it all iphone users? You just want the public to think there's only a small proportion of offenders because it makes you look better if you label them as "abusers". Everyone I know who has an iphone uses the them constantly that's why they paid $300 for them and an extra $30 a month so you can make the tons of money you do without spending any money to improve the infrastructure. Please spare us the BS. Logically, the problem lies with the small number of cell cites you have since the land based network is not the problem. You need to watch the Verizon commercial and look at your map."
And I say: Let's all look at the pretty wrapping paper a la paid celebrity spokesman Luke Wilson flipping postcards to areas where they have coverage (well, duh, of course you have coverage across the continental US; what good does it do telling us where if its faulty). Wheeeeeeee!!!!
Not to point a totally redundant comment, but... AT&T iphone service in NYC is HORRIBLE.
I had Sprint for 5 years here and maybe had 5 dropped calls in that time. I kid you not. Sprint's customer serviced was one step above the Khmer Rouge, but their phones f*cking worked when you needed them.
Now I basically have given up on making or receiving calls in Manhattan. 30% is LOW for dropped calls for me. Well, no, maybe it's 30% when they actually go through. Data is equally unreliable. Texts often arrive an hour after they were sent.
A couple of weeks ago this miraculously changed. I thought AT&T had finally gotten their act together and justified gouging us with overpriced texts that cost them nothing and exorbitant fees for data that barely ever works.
Turns out it was Veterans' Day and no one was at work, so no one was using the network. HAHA! The joke was on me.
Sigh.
I had Sprint for 5 years here and maybe had 5 dropped calls in that time. I kid you not. Sprint's customer serviced was one step above the Khmer Rouge, but their phones f*cking worked when you needed them.
Now I basically have given up on making or receiving calls in Manhattan. 30% is LOW for dropped calls for me. Well, no, maybe it's 30% when they actually go through. Data is equally unreliable. Texts often arrive an hour after they were sent.
A couple of weeks ago this miraculously changed. I thought AT&T had finally gotten their act together and justified gouging us with overpriced texts that cost them nothing and exorbitant fees for data that barely ever works.
Turns out it was Veterans' Day and no one was at work, so no one was using the network. HAHA! The joke was on me.
Sigh.
ATT or any other cell carrier can't just throw a tower where ever they please. They have to get approval from states and towns and a lot of people fight placement. So it is not that easy as just dropping a tower. I'm sure ATT would love to blanket the country with towers but they can't.