AT&T Offers Video Update on iPhone MMS and Cellular Network Issues

[MacRumors]

Alongside yesterday's announcement that it will be bringing MMS to the iPhone on September 25th, AT&T released a video clip featuring "Seth the Blogger Guy" explaining the explosion in data growth over the past several years and how AT&T has been working to expand its infrastructure to handle the demands on its network.

In particular, Seth briefly addresses the steps AT&T has undertaken to prepare for the launch of MMS on the iPhone, noting that the company wanted to ensure that the feature works properly from the start.

We've been working for months to prepare the radio access controllers in our network to support this launch. That means calibrating base stations all over the country, and frankly that's a very time-consuming process. MMS for the iPhone will be coming on September 25th. We wanted to make sure that when MMS for the iPhone launches, the experience was great. We wanted to get it right.

Seth then addresses the broader investments AT&T has made in its network, totaling $38 billion over the past two years, to increase capacity and deploy coverage based on the 850 MHz spectrum, which offers improved capacity and in-building coverage. Finally, Seth points to AT&T's ongoing work to deploy technology to improve data transfer speeds and the expansion of 3G to additional markets.

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Article Link: AT&T Offers Video Update on iPhone MMS and Cellular Network Issues

 

[thegoldenmackid]

This made me laugh, the second time...

 

[thevofl]

Can someone say "deer in headlights?"

 

[HiRez]

I'll believe it when I see it. AT&T was sketchy when I started using them about 10 years ago, but they've gotten absolutely horrendous over the last 6-12 months. So many dropped/inaudible calls and the data speeds and coverage is very pokey compared to Verizon. We'll see, but I don't have a lot of faith in them. The iPhone is the greatest mobile device ever, but it's ruined by the AT&T experience.

 

[racer1441]

His hair scares me...like it's looking at me funny or something.

 

[Grimace]

Spokesperson Fail...

 

[AlphaAnt]

Him talking for three minutes with his head slightly tilted is bugging the crap out of me.

 

[TitoC]

What a dweeb! Seriously, this is the best guy they can get to explain their screw ups? Somebody who looks like he has no idea what he has been spoon-fed to say. Looks like something you might see on the Daily Show as a skit more than something out of Corporate America.

My favorite part? "Hey, we see the discussion on the web . . . ." You do? Please read this one then. Please!

Way to stay classy AT&Dweeb!

 

[ux4all]

Spokesperson Fail...

Sometimes, personae IRL are scary looking.

 

[gugy]

Can someone say "deer in headlights?"

so true.
Boy what a horrible choice.

 

[ShaneMahsa]

Oh well, this kind of stuff happens. Get over it.

 

[dlewis23]

The iPhone is the greatest mobile device ever, but it's ruined by the AT&T experience.

Well it is and it isn't.

Here in south florida, we have the best Wireless cell network in the country. We were fully 850 MHz several months ago, and consistently have 1.5 Mbps + download speed. Calls don't get dropped on the iPhone, cell coverage is not spotty at all, and I have used it a lot from Port ST. Lucie down to south miami.

Now i'm not making any excuses for AT&T because there are still problems and some places are just really bad. But its not bad everywhere. And if AT&T would model the rest of the country on what they did in South Florida there would be 90% less problems then what people have now.

 

[ShiggyMiyamoto]

I'll believe it when I see it. AT&T was sketchy when I started using them about 10 years ago, but they've gotten absolutely horrendous over the last 6-12 months. So many dropped/inaudible calls and the data speeds and coverage is very pokey compared to Verizon. We'll see, but I don't have a lot of faith in them. The iPhone is the greatest mobile device ever, but it's ruined by the AT&T experience.

I agree with that full on. I love my iPhone, but I had to cancel my data plan (oddly you can only do that with the original iPhone 1st gen) for financial reasons, and that makes me sad because I can't use it to its fullest potential anymore. I'm forced to find a WiFi hotspot to use internet, unless I wanna be billed per KB should I use EDGE for anything. When my contract ends on Monday I'll be saving money and stuff for a new contract with Sprint and I'll be getting a Palm Pre. I hate to give up my iPhone, but AT&T's prices for what I like doing just don't kick it anymore. They've gotten way too expensive, and I'm not made of money. My mom is getting my iPhone, and I know she'll be happy with it. A much needed upgrade for her as she's on a 6 year old Moto Razr.

 

[jonnorwood]

It's a series of tubes!

Wait - he said it was a highway ...

It IS a big truck then.

 

[HiVolt]

LOL, what a bunch of hogwash...

Do they honestly expect people to believe that iPhone MMS would cripple their network? There are far more bandwidth intensive applications for the iPhone than the occasional MMS!!!

Also the vast majority of iPhones out there are the original iPhone, which will have no MMS capability at all and the iPhone 3G, with only picture MMS and not video... PICTURE ONLY, and I'd bet my left nut that the pictures sent over MMS will be reduced in resolution, just like they are when sent by E-Mail.

I'm glad I'm not an AT&T user, thankfully Rogers handles the iPhone in Canada and MMS/Tethering has been supported from day 1 of iPhone OS 3.0 release with at no extra cost.

 

[ob81]

I am glad that they are a lot more verbal with this MMS thing. Took them long enough, but at least they are getting the point. Maybe AT&T is turning a new leaf.

 

[Mackota]

If you can't support it don't sell it.

 

[BeyondtheTech]

Sorry if I repeated my text in the YouTube comments, but I stand by them firmly.

So, after more than two years, and with all the millions of first-gen iPhone users who paid $20 per month for an unlimited data plan, followed by the millions of iPhone 3G and 3GS users who pay $30 a month for the same unlimited data plan, plus up to another $30 per month for a separated, unlimited messaging plan, you finally get your fat asses off the crumpled piles of hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue, just to shell out a few bucks for some pseudo-blogging-wannabe geek in front of a Flash animation, basically saying you've just started fixing the problems we've been facing since the beginning? FAIL.

And AFAIK, AT&T has screwed both its customers and its own employees with the iPhone.

I spoke to many AT&T employees who were pissed off that their store only carried 20-80 iPhone 3G and 3GS at launch and were sold out for weeks at a time, while the Apple store on the other side of the mall had hundreds in stock daily.

Initially, I thought it was because Apple was holding back and wanted to sell on their own. But, upon further inspection, AT&T was the one who held back from getting any stock.

Why?

Commission.

For every iPhone sold at an AT&T store, as well as any accessories or add-ons sold, that AT&T rep would be receiving commission for that sale. There is no commission for any Apple employee for selling and activating an iPhone (or any product in their store for that matter).

AT&T knew they were going to get the customers with every activation anyway, so why give additional monies to their own employees when it can be done for them, essentially for free? I watched the AT&T reps literally lean in front of the store and their kiosks with nothing to do but watch the neverending line of iPhone buyers wrap around the Apple store just across the hall.

You just kept the money and wasted your exclusivity time, and you know it, AT&T. Watch yourself crumble when it's all over and the iPhone becomes officially available to other carriers.

 

[Illusion986]

Yeah yeah, they are full of it. But what can you do, get t-mobile LOL.

 

[azboricua]

Im AT&T and I want the iPhone to be all mine! Oh wait can I handle it?

 

[Icaras]

Nice haircut

and the head tilting needs to stop.

 

[Tampa Tom]

He forgot something

Seth forgot to add they they were expanding the network "while raping the consumer at every turn." I demand truth in advertising.

 

[Scooterman1]

I must commend AT&T on the events of the last 2 days.
One of my biggest complaints with AT&T is the same one I have with Apple.
They have both treated us like mushrooms and kept us in the dark as to what they have been doing. All the way until releasing a product/update. AT&T has even done this with Uverse.
Now, at least they're telling us what is going on. I have to compliment them on that. I hope they continue to do so.
Now Apple, whey can't you get a clue? Your customers would like Facts much more than Rumors!

 

[VenusianSky]

The fact of the matter is that no single carrier has complete, sufficient coverage. It doesn't take a genius to understand why that is. Cellular service is still somewhat young for being a large infrastructural development. It has only been a little more than a decade where cellular phones and plans have become affordable enough for nearly everyone to own one.

I hear the same explanation from many people. "I use fill in carrier name because they have the best coverage in my area". Makes sense to me. Maybe those who got blindly sucked into the iPhone should have done a little more research and reconsidered what is more important, cool phone or reliable service. The only person to blaim is Apple for making a cool phone and establishing an exclusive deal with AT&T.

For myself, it just so happens that AT&T's service has always been perfectly fine where I live. I don't recall ever having a dropped call. It was a no-brainer for me to get an iPhone.

 

[droz]

someone's starting to panic about losing their exclusivity contract. The time can't come soon enough if you ask me.