AT&T Unimpressed With 'Operation Chokehold' Proposal to Strain Cellular Network

[heisetax]

iPhone for all

Really? I'm pretty sure that you didn't HAVE to buy an iPhone. Where's the personal responsibility? If you think AT&T's network sucks so bad, cancel your contract and go to Tmobile or Verizon. You could easily sell your iPhone, which would cover the cost of your ETF. So, well you may have a right to complain about service, you don't have the right to act like you're a cornered animal. It's like picketing in front of Walmart because they "force" you to shop there. You don't burn down a store, even if you feel justified.

AT&T has every right to have a crappy network. Just as you have every right to use any carrier. If you want to prove something, take your business elsewhere.

What's being proposed is terrorism.

Sounds like the best protest is cancel all AT&T services. That means all cell phones smart or dumb. Maybe Apple can do better at getting AT&T to do better if their iPhone sales in the US suddenly stopped. This has to be a long term deal, not just an hour.

Then Apple will understand the dangers of staying with only one carrier per country. They needed it to start the iPhone, now it is a hinderance. We would see the same problems if only Verizon had the iPhone. Moving the iPhone to Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile & other US carriers in addition to AT&T will be the best help that AT&T can get.

Some say that the iPhone has a bad hardware design. Is this only a problem in the US or is it worldwide? If there is a problem then Apple either needs to get a better design or have somebody design the phone so that it causes fewer problems that any other model, not more.

AT&T had a bad reputation for cell phone service in many areas including here in Omaha NE. Some retail outlets had to drop AT&T selling plans or move their office to a location that has service. Now with the iPhone users need to use much larger amounts of data added to AT&T's network that is too large for them to keep up with this rapid growth are in need of help. Its time for AT&T to ask Apple for help by allowing other carriers to carry the iPhone. This will also help the end consumer to find out by true experience rather than pure advertising claims.

 

[hob]

I'm currently in New York so could get involved. However, with data roaming charges I estimate it would cost me upwards of £1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.

Seriously, £6 per MB?

 

[PeterQVenkman]

Thanks for the sentiment AT&T- you're not impressed by operation chokehold.

Much like how iPhone users are not impressed with AT&T's network.

 

[thogs_cave]

Yet another pundit-inspired dumb idea.

This has o be one of the stupidest ideas I've heard of in a while. "Hey, let's cripple a data network and cheese off every other user of that network and make them think iPhone users are all dbags."

Yep, that will do a lot of good. And, since it's technically a DOS (Denial Of Service) attack, I would love to see him get slapped in a legal manner.

Duh. Some people should not be allowed near a keyboard.

 

[satcomer]

Finally people really need to look at their local town and city governments to see how they have contributed to stagnation in RF services. Every rule made by these governments effectively reduce the ability of engineers to build proper systems. There is much hate directed here at AT&T that couldd be better directed at your local governments and their meddling in technology they don't have a clue about.

Dave

Ah yes the old "Not in my backyard" argument! I've seen in my many years this very thing. However people keep voting in these local clowns that do this very thing. It's time todays generation needs to start running for local positions to get these arguments go the way of dinosaurs.


Now why is when I am on a semi-rual US official road (US15) and have no 3G service at all (plus sometime no cellular service at all, any network including Verizon) if the surrounding community drops below 30,000 people?

 

[fridgeymonster3]

Right after the earthquake last year in LA, everybody started using their phones and all major carriers were strained so people couldn't get through. So yeah it would work.

But if you actually got enough people to do this for an hour, I guarantee you'll have at least one customer with a life or death emergency that wouldn't be able to get help during that hour, making Dan Lyons look like a big *******.

Yeah I worked in downtown LA last year during that earthquake. It shook are building pretty good. I remember trying to text or call my wife as she worked closer to the epicenter, but neither would go through. The earthquake was relatively small, but still, that feeling of anxiety isn't something I'd want to cause a person in a emergency situation by participating in this (even though I am angered by AT&T's network reliability).

 

[jaredmauch]

And you're not using Wireless Priority Service? You had better call AT&T.

http://www.wireless.att.com/businesscenter/business-programs/government/wireless-priority.jsp

You can't just call up AT&T to activate WPS, it needs to be requested through your GETS/WPS POC with the NCS.

 

[djellison]

just leave AT&T and go to another network. .

People are bound by contract. Heard of them?

Furthermore - if people in the US want to use an iPhone, they have to stick with AT&T.

 

[ssteve]

What's the point? ATT knows their network sucks. Doing this just ruins it for the people who actually use it for good.

and those people can only use it for good if and when they can get reception....LOL

CDMA iPhone anyone......? Apple....? Help us out here.....

 

[Eraserhead]

Yeah I worked in downtown LA last year during that earthquake. It shook are building pretty good. I remember trying to text or call my wife as she worked closer to the epicenter, but neither would go through. The earthquake was relatively small, but still, that feeling of anxiety isn't something I'd want to cause a person in a emergency situation by participating in this (even though I am angered by AT&T's network reliability).

That's because everyone else was using their cellphone too to do the same thing.

This isn't evidence that 911 calls wouldn't go through regardless.

 

[ssteve]

Right after the earthquake last year in LA, everybody started using their phones and all major carriers were strained so people couldn't get through. So yeah it would work.

But if you actually got enough people to do this for an hour, I guarantee you'll have at least one customer with a life or death emergency that wouldn't be able to get help during that hour, making Dan Lyons look like a big *******.

What did we do during a "...life or death emergency..." before cell phones? I was just wondering.........

 

[mgamber]

What did we do during a "...life or death emergency..." before cell phones? I was just wondering.........

We died.

 

[irun5k]

What did we do during a "...life or death emergency..." before cell phones? I was just wondering.........

What did we do before we had the ability and knowledge to pasteurize milk, produce antibiotics, produce vaccines, or use ambulances powered by combustible engines to quickly transport the ill to a hospital, or use aircraft to transport organs from a donor to a recipient?

Is it so hard to accept that, to spite the fact that everyone hates cell phones, they've actually SAVED LIVES? Instant, anywhere access to 911 and other emergency lines should not be underestimated.

The next time you're in a building that collapses and you're stuck in a small space with only your cell phone in hand, please ask yourself what you would have done before cell phones, and do exactly whatever it is that you come up with.

 

[ssteve]

What did we do before we had the ability and knowledge to pasteurize milk, produce antibiotics, produce vaccines, or use ambulances powered by combustible engines to quickly transport the ill to a hospital, or use aircraft to transport organs from a donor to a recipient?

Is it so hard to accept that, to spite the fact that everyone hates cell phones, they've actually SAVED LIVES? Instant, anywhere access to 911 and other emergency lines should not be underestimated.

The next time you're in a building that collapses and you're stuck in a small space with only your cell phone in hand, please ask yourself what you would have done before cell phones, and do exactly whatever it is that you come up with.

Of course cell phone's save lives. During an emergency you will ALWAYS find someone to assist. I am sure that at least one person will have a different carrier beside AT&T. Your emergency call will be covered.

The probability of ANY of us ever being in a building when it collapses is so small, I am not sure this would be a concern...

 

[sfh]

att & 4g

The problem is that ATT isn't doing anything to boost their 3G coverage. They are focusing now on their 4G coverage and trying to make you think that they actually care and are gona do something about the current coverage.

They even put out their mark the spot app solely to lighten the call load into their customer service center.

 

[michael.lauden]

The problem is that ATT isn't doing anything to boost their 3G coverage. They are focusing now on their 4G coverage and trying to make you think that they actually care and are gona do something about the current coverage.

They even put out their mark the spot app solely to lighten the call load into their customer service center.

i'm pretty sure AT&T IS doing SOMETHING about their 3G service.

 

[ssteve]

The problem is that ATT isn't doing anything to boost their 3G coverage. They are focusing now on their 4G coverage and trying to make you think that they actually care and are gona do something about the current coverage.

They even put out their mark the spot app solely to lighten the call load into their customer service center.

I think you are 100% correct and I have a hunch that 4G coverage for AT&T will resemble their current 3G coverage.

When 4G is out...There will be a map for that.....

 

[VenusianSky]

People are bound by contract. Heard of them?

Furthermore - if people in the US want to use an iPhone, they have to stick with AT&T.

Haha, yeah I heard of them. If you are experiencing poor service, including dropped calls, the contract will become null and void. AT&T most likely won't fight you on it, especially because of the publicity of iPhone complaints. In addition, one can always pay out of the contract.

As for the iPhone being exclusive to AT&T, blame Apple for that. Afterall, Apple is the manufacturer of the device.

 

[kyeblue]

People are bound by contract. Heard of them?

Furthermore - if people in the US want to use an iPhone, they have to stick with AT&T.

You can always break the contract and pay a fine. In this case, AT&T subsidized your iPhone and therefore they are entitled to get some of their money back.

If people want to blame AT&T, they should blame Apple too for their exclusive tactic. It is Apply who wants the exclusive deal in exchange for money not AT&T. So the fake Steve Jobs should blame who he mocks.

 

[theBB]

At&t is not the problem. The iPhone was not properly designed. No one else complains about At&t coverage except iPhone users. The Blackberry, etc. is amazingly fast on At&t's networks.

My friend who owns a Samsung phone complains about AT&T as well. He says things went downhill right after iPhone 3G came out, so there goes your theory. Oh, by the way, people overseas use the same iPhone and I don't hear them rioting either, so I guess iPhone only misbehaves on AT&T network. Sure, I'd believe that.

 

[Kavok]

Exposure

Actually I think this will be a good thing if iPhone users can pull it off, just to show AT&T that iPhone users could use ALOT more bandwith than they currently are using, and to stop blaming iPhone users for the problems that AT&T is having. I think most people want to experience everything the iPhone has made possible, and it's only being hampered by a company that is 10 years behind the times.

It was short-sightedness on AT&Ts part for not realizing they couldn't handle the traffic, given what was available about Apple's iPod success. Apple has it's share of blame for having an exclusive deal with a carrier that was ill-prepared to handle Apple's hardware and thus tarnish the user experience.
I'm sure AT&T made Apple a lot of promises about supporting the iPhone, but we see now that they haven't been able to keep up.

 

[MacFly123]

While I do not condone this, I also do NOT condone Ralph saying he will restrict our 'unilimited' data in the future or make us pay more.

I signed a contract! If you want to pull that crap with future users and outline that in their new contracts then go ahead. But, you better not be touching my plan and my legal agreement with you, you dirty little jerk!

 

[Rodimus Prime]

While I do not condone this, I also do NOT condone Ralph saying he will restrict our 'unilimited' data in the future or make us pay more.

I signed a contract! If you want to pull that crap with future users and outline that in their new contracts then go ahead. But, you better not be touching my plan and my legal agreement with you, you dirty little jerk!

You REALLY should read your contract. There is already a claus in it stating that they can do that. It is something like ATT reserse the right to charge you for excessive or unauthorized usage. It does not define what it determines as excessive or unauthorized usage. This gives them a lot of room to play in contract law. I would not be surprised in the least to see the magic number become 5 gigs (the break-even point for them.)

 

[OldTimey]

yuck. eff this and the publicity seeking doormat behind it. I'm an ATT customer, and proud owner of 4 macs, and a bunch of ipods. I do not own nor do I want an iPhone. But why you people with your snazzy phones would threaten my health and safety in case of emergency by deliberately clogging up the already clogged up networks (yes thank you for all the dropped calls iphoners) is beyond me. Reprehensible, short-sighted, and selfish behavior. but what i'd come to expect from iphoners. You all are a bunch of whiny me-first types.

i <3 the iPhone.
i'm just constantly annoyed by the people that use them.

 

[MacFly123]

You REALLY should read your contract. There is already a claus in it stating that they can do that. It is something like ATT reserse the right to charge you for excessive or unauthorized usage. It does not define what it determines as excessive or unauthorized usage. This gives them a lot of room to play in contract law. I would not be surprised in the least to see the magic number become 5 gigs (the break-even point for them.)

Ok, obviously have have never read it. Nobody actually does read those things, except you I guess lol. Maybe you are a law student, or a very very rare exception haha.

Either way, you can't argue that pulling a stunt like that is very deceptive and unethical in general. If I signed up for unlimited without a cap, they should honor that for all current users. If they want to change it going forward for new subscribers, FINE! They made their bed, now sleep in it!