AT&T Nervous About Upcoming iPhone MMS Launch?

[newyorksole]

lmao ok so first AT&T says we won't get MMS until late summer. they have had PLENTY of time to boost there network.

it turns out that they need an extra 3 DAYS after the summer is over to release MMS.

NOW they say they won't be prepared for the overload still?

WTF. use that damn money we are giving you to boost up the damn network to handle it. AT&T is hilarious....

 

[diamond.g]

I think people fail to realize that ending the AT&T exclusive _would_ make the overall iPhone experience better. Here is why.

Right now, everyone in the US (well, except for unlockers) is using AT&T. They are a clear bottle neck that can't handle the current load of iPhone users. Lets say T-Mobile were to get the iPhone. They couldn't handle it exclusively, they would crumble even faster then AT&T did. BUT, many people would leave AT&T to go for T-Mobile. Reducing the strain on the AT&T network and distributing the load across multiple carriers.

Each area has a different dominate carrier. In the Bay Area AT&T is presently doing awful. I am not totally sure who would be better, but with an option to switch I sure as hell would try to find a better carrier. If my next choice sucks, I will just switch again until I find a fit.

Will Verizon get the iPhone ? Sure, only a question of time. Will they get it before they switch their network to 4G ? Very doubtful. Adding CDMA into the iPhone isn't a quick and easy task. Its not a software update, it would REQUIRE a hardware change. Its something that is just not worth Apples time. Adding a separate network for a small handful of customers adds to development time and QA time. I say small handful because on the global scale Verizon is the only company they would offer a CDMA phone to. CDMA is on its way out the door. Regardless if it maybe or may not be better, the rest of the world is using GSM and Verizon is going to conform.

The problem, as kdarling has pointed out many times, is Verizon has claimed they aren't going to do voice over LTE for a while (think I remember seeing 2014 somewhere). So this LTE iPhone may not be able to make traditional phone calls.

 

[Mr. Giver '94]

Stupid that their network can't handle it.

I don't want a Verizon iPhone, but this is unacceptable.

 

[/dev/toaster]

The problem, as kdarling has pointed out many times, is Verizon has claimed they aren't going to do voice over LTE for a while (think I remember seeing 2014 somewhere). So this LTE iPhone may not be able to make traditional phone calls.

Ya, so even more reason I seriously doubt you will see the iPhone on Verizon for a pretty long time. That is, unless Verizon pays Apple a crap load of money to create it for them.

Its just not worth it for Apple. If other carriers in the US got the iPhone and Verizon still didn't have it, maybe it would lite a fire under their asses to get the network switched over quicker.

 

[Dustman]

Hahahaha. This is going to be a disaster.

 

[AppleMojo]

I love how everyone here appears to be an expert in mobile telecommunications companies and has vast amounts of experience in rolling out massive public services.

Rather than crying here, try sending in your resume...

 

[i.mac]

I love how everyone here appears to be an expert in mobile telecommunications companies and has vast amounts of experience in rolling out massive public services.

Rather than crying here, try sending in your resume...

You must be a genious... or an engineer?

First comment that makes sense in a very long time...

Also since so many in here know about wireless net, they should get a company going to do things perfectly...

 

[bruinsrme]

Are there any independent reports evaluating ATT's network and whether or not their cries about bandwidth issues are legite?

 

[brianFL]

***** network, ***** service....

The title says it all. M&A's don't always equal superior service.

 

[Chimpy]

They are seeing strain just from their internal testing?! That can't bode well...

 

[satcomer]

They are seeing strain just from their internal testing?! That can't bode well...

That is the thing that convinces me that is is going to be a disaster. I sure hope the TV news picks the AT&T failure to show the American public that AT&T's network really does suck.

 

[soLoredd]

What really irritates me is those of us who don't give a rats ass about MMS and are fine with email are also going to be affected.

 

[TheSpaz]

What really irritates me is those of us who don't give a rats ass about MMS and are fine with email are also going to be affected.

Email doesn't go through the same "tubes" as MMS.

 

[MacTheSpoon]

Oh man, this is going to be so ugly... Why does AT&T have to suck so damn bad? They should divert some money from their executives' bloated salaries to beef up their damn network.

 

[acurafan]

AT$T is charging me well over $100/month for my iphone, yet they can't support basic services...haha. while i could care less about texting and mms, i find it hilarious AT$T do not have infrastructure to support this.

 

[ux4all]

Wow, this is going to be interesting on Friday.

This will all end in tears. --Marvin from HHG

For some reason I feel that this is a self fulfilling prophecy. The more an issue is talked about, the more people will want to test it.

I am nervous that my REGULAR service will be impacted by this change. Is this pipe in a silo or could you actually see an overall network spike on Friday? (I can't see it being prolonged IMO)

 

[mikes70mustang]

email makes more sense.[/QUOTE]

not if the other person doesnt have a smart phone, or have internet on their phone.

 

[MichealWeston]

Wow I'm tired of hearing about this Verizon crap because it's just annoying my friends say it and my family. Lets talk a little about networks to inform the unknowing crowd. Verizon's network has absolutely no backwards compatibility. What does this mean? Well from first hand experience if you drop outside of 3G you lose anything and everything you have been doing. Verizon has no transition from one technology to another. You think LTE is going to save them HA. All it means is that it is one more network to fall off of. For example lets say your streaming o I don't know youtube and you drop to 3G currently they have absolutely no way of you losing your feed because Verizon spends absolutely no money on this factor. Yes they released 3G first but I had their 3g and it was absolutely horrible. It was slow by my standards and whenever I was on a call randomly it would drop cause I would lose 3g signal
and have to redial the person I was calling. There is a reason not to jump on another generation of towers before the previous ones are substantial enough to handle the load. I like the fact that with AT&T I don't lose what I am doing because I lose 3g and believe me when I say I have faith AT&T will do the same with their 4g towers. Now to move onto the MMS thing I think AT&T is probably going to have serious network problems for maybe the first 3 days because lets face it obviously the pictures on the phones are slightly better quality than those taken and lets say a standard phone. I am disappointed that At&T hordes money before investing in say more MMS capabilities but Verizon is not all high and mighty and Verizon really is still currently using ancient technology. I think Verizon was right not to say yes to the Iphone the first time because A. Verizon likes control over the software on the phone which would absolutely destroy the current iphone experience. B. All of Verizon's network claims have all been done by internal studies WOW wooptidoo Basil. C. Who wants to go with old technology that doesn't even have a fall back if something happens and you lose coverage, not to mention that AT&T at least has agreements with other companies to use their towers and take their phones worldwide....Verizon's phones only have maybe 4-5 phones that can go to european countries WOW...not...not impressed...and ends my rant....Make fun of this all you want I really don't see Verizon having as much success with the Iphone as AT&T has already had.

 

[ItsGavinC]

I think I hear footsteps; yes, it's VERIZON looking over AT&T's shoulder and laughing....

Let them laugh. Verizon couldn't handle that increase either. A 40% increase in traffic in one day? That's insane.

(BTW, I strongly dislike AT&T, and they obviously can't plan worth squat, but to think anybody else could handle this better is laughable. Too many iPhones in the wild).

 

[aristobrat]

They should divert some money from their executives' bloated salaries to beef up their damn network.

Do you really think money is the issue?

They threw $38 BILLION to beef up the network in 2007 and 2008.

This year, they're throwing $17-$18 BILLION at it.

The wireless CEO makes $6.1M in total compensation. I don't see the network getting any better if you added all of the executives compensation to the pile of money they're throwing at the network.

If it makes you feel any better, AT&T did suspend all raises for managers and higher, and the uber-all CEO won't be accepting his bonus this year.

 

[QCassidy352]

Ugh. Don't release it until the network can handle it. MMS is SO not worth brining the network to its knees.

 

[LanPhantom]

Ditto

I think you speak the words that a lot of people would speak if it was possible.

Maybe someday soon our wishes will come true.

LanPhantom

*sigh* I really hope Verizon gets the iPhone. I’ll switch in two seconds. I hate AT&T, really, i do.

 

[bmb012]

I was trying to figure out how this would make a dent on AT&T's network, with most iPhone users loading up web pages that have many more images on each constantly, but could this have anything to do with AT&T's atrocious upload speed?

Could it be a possibility that they could easily handle the download, but their upload network is even worse?

 

[postskiff]

at&t BIGGEST network PROBLEM

1. I've been an AT&T customer for a last 14 months, and until last thursday never had any big problems with a service.
2. For a last 7 days I've been struggling with: VOICE BREAKAGE (VERY POOR VOICE QUALITY, BREAKING EACH WORD IN MY CONVERSATION, NOBODY COULDN'T UNDERSTAND A WORD)
3. MISSING PHONE CALLS - MY PHONE IS SAYING THAT IT'S TEMPORARY OUT OF SERVICE
4. LOT'S OF VOICE MAIL THAT CAME AFTER 2-3 DAYS
5. HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE (TRYING TO PLAY WITH ME BY SAYING THAT IT'S VERIZON IS TRYING TO PORT MY NUMBER BACK: WHAT A JOKE???!!)
6. I went to the Apple store & they swap the iPhone for me - didn't help
7. AT&T said I had to change the sim card - didn't help
8. AT&T said that I had to reset my network settings - didn't help (I reset already 10 times)
9. AT&T said that my iPhone 3.1 is giving this problem, I put my sim to the Blackberry BOLD - didn't help
10. FUNNY PART: when I went to the APPLE Store in Palisades, New York - the Apple Employees were complaining about they voice problem, I think more than I do. They tested their iPhones by calling from their store number to theirs iPhones and had the same VOICE BREAKAGE PROBLEM as well as I do.

WORST PART IS I SPENT SO MUCH MONEY FOR THE APPLE APPLICATIONS AND I HAVE A 5 LINES WITH AT&T, SO TO CANCLE MY SERVICE WILL COST ME MORE THAT JUST $900, SO FOR NOW I WENT TO THE SPRINT STORE AND BOUGHT A PALM PRE FOR A NEXT 30 DAYS, SO IF AFTER THAT PERIOD AT&T WILL NOT GONNA FIX THEIR NETWORK - I WILL GONNA MAKE A COMPLAIN TO THE FCC AND WILL GONNA HIRE THE ATTORNEY, BECAUSE THIS IS RIDICULOUS, I MISSED SO MUCH IMPORTANT BUSINESS PHONE CALLS THESE DAYS, SO THE $900 IS NOT EVEN CLOSE THAT I LOST!

 

[iphones4evry1]

Y2K deja vu? AT&T style this time.