Consumer Reports Finds U.S. Cell-Phone Service Providers Lacking

[nagromme]

Verizon gets the very top score in voice connection and quality and AT&T gets the lowest however some still try to argue that AT&T's GSM network is somehow superior to Verizon's CDMA network.

I think people’s standards are way too low if they think Verizon is great Actually, some people are just lucky. And naturally, where you happen to live makes a difference.But in my experience, ALL the US carriers are substandard.

But AT&T’s network IS vastly superior, in that it lets me use the Internet AND talk at the same time. I use that constantly, and sometimes really need it. I could NOT do without that, whatever AT&T’s other issues may be. (Such as, for instance, hair-rasingly bad customer service/support, where everyone you talk to has different info and the Truth is Not Out There.)

 

[kdarling]

AT&T must be raking in cash from iPhone subscriptions, right? So you'd think their network would be top notch…

ATT also had to put out well over a half billion dollars in subsidies to Apple. In other words, they've loaned out that much money to new iPhone customers.

ATT could have another year to go before the first subsidies are paid back. (I need to check their quarterly statements on this.)

 

[eastercat]

AT&T must be raking in cash from iPhone subscriptions, right? So you'd think their network would be top notch…

Kdarling has a good explanation. Also, if their exclusivity is good for another couple of years, they may be taking their sweet time upgrading and adding towers. Also, money that could be used for towers is used for undeservedly high salaries to their executives.

 

[spazzcat]

Verizon gets the very top score in voice connection and quality and AT&T gets the lowest however some still try to argue that AT&T's GSM network is somehow superior to Verizon's CDMA network.

The issue I see here is there is only about 9 points different in their overall scores, its not like VWZ score 80 and ATT scored 30. The bottom line is cell phone companies in the US suck

 

[mike2q]

Cell companies do suck.

That said, I had a 1st gen iPhone and I can tell you that when on 2G networks if you are browsing the web or downloading anything incoming calls go straight to voicemail. This goes for the 3G iPhone when on parts of AT&T's 2G network. Thats where "there's a map for that" hits hard. Sometimes even in 3G areas the phones switch to 2G. I switched back to Verizon for raw coverage by square milage. I know AT&T covers "more people" than Verizon but Verizon covers more area. I don't give a damn if I am the ONLY subscriber if my phone works everywhere. I also expect that if I'm looking at e-mail that I will at least be able to accept incoming calls. Voice and data would be great but not at the expense of possibly missing important calls because you stepped into a 2G area.

 

[iphones4evry1]

I am greatly looking forward to reading the Consumer Reports article on this.

Only 54% were happy? Hmm. Looks like we need a complete overhaul of the cell phone industry.
In school and college, a 54% is a complete FAILURE! Do NOT pass go, do NOT collect your diploma, in fact, you've just been kicked out of the university for such poor performance!!!

 

[BandBiker]

ATT Sucks!@

That is because ATT service Overall SUCKS!!!!!! Hurry up Summer 2010, so I can switch service providers. Do you hear that ATT, YOU SUCK!!!!!!!

 

[bloodycape]

I thought that Sprint cannot do 3G roaming on Verizon (?)

If they could, I'd get my wife on Sprint in a heartbeat. Least expensive all-in-one plans and nice choice of phones. My son-in-law has a Pre on Sprint and loves it.

I remember reading this @ XDA-Developers, but AFAIK it's only for WM phones. It was some registry, or deep phone setting that was changed to do this.

 

[bloodycape]

But AT&T’s network IS vastly superior, in that it lets me use the Internet AND talk at the same time.

That not only an AT&T, its a GSM thing. T-Mobile allows you to do the same thing, and if we go by Consumer Reports, with better service.

 

[hangnaround76]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_0 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7A341 Safari/528.16)

I am a verizon user with 11 lines and cards for my team across ma ct pa I have an iPhone and only love it for being the best smart phone on the worst service. Try Westfield pa new Milford and ansonia ct no 3g or service with AT&T . Each time I pick up my trusted lg envy vz phone with 3g and plenty of efficent CDMA. Why didn't AT&T use the past four years of iPhone revenue to grow their network? Vz had fast efficent network from day one IMO ...

 

[hangnaround76]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_0 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7A341 Safari/528.16)

Also I now understand why Luke Wilson the AT&T whore got postcards from all those non 3g areas of the USA (in the commercial) no multitasking there...

 

[DMann]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_0 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7A341 Safari/528.16)

Also I now understand why Luke Wilson the AT&T whore got postcards from all those non 3g areas of the USA (in the commercial) no multitasking there...

This is actually pretty funny.

 

[AndersOlson]

AT&T's making strides to improve image

So long story short.... I bought an iphone for my wife for christmas against her wishes (she breaks things a lot) and she decided to try to use the phone while she was shoveling the day after christmas and inadvertently snagged the headphone cable with the shovel and as a result, pulled the phone out of her jacket and into the snow. The phone was submerged in water for a few seconds and when we picked it up the phone had powered off. We waited a few days to see if it would dry out. Today we attempted to power it on and the unit does not respond. I've spoken to the apple store about the possible return/exchange and they've informed me that as a result of physical damage to the unit they are unable to process a return or exchange and instead will only sell me another unit flat out. I figured that since I had signed a new 2-year agreement with a $30 data plan I was going to be stuck paying the monthly fee.

......
Well I called AT&T and spoke to a very informative man named Austin. I calmly explained my situation to him and explained that i wanted to put my wife's old phone (LG Xenon) back on the account and take her $30 data plan off and resume her old $10 a month data plan. Austin helped me out by taking the $30 plan off the account and switching the old plan back on. I was ecstatic at this immediate response and his empathetic approach to my situation. In ADDITION to helping me out with the data plans he also informed me of a $250.00 one-time credit which he was going to place on my account as a result of my iphone accident. This may have been partially due to my 4 year good standing and 5 line family share plan with ATT but I had never in a million years expected this kind of treatment. I was blown away at this news and immediately thanked him. We ended the call shortly thereafter and I know sit here in absolute shock at the excellent customer service I received. I realize AT&T has had some really bad publicity the last few years but I am here to tell you first hand, it really seems like they are making big strides in changing their company image and I for one and now a life-long ATT Customer. Just thought i'd share my experience with everyone.

 

[DMann]

So long story short.... I bought an iphone for my wife for christmas against her wishes (she breaks things a lot) and she decided to try to use the phone while she was shoveling the day after christmas and inadvertently snagged the headphone cable with the shovel and as a result, pulled the phone out of her jacket and into the snow. The phone was submerged in water for a few seconds and when we picked it up the phone had powered off. We waited a few days to see if it would dry out. Today we attempted to power it on and the unit does not respond. I've spoken to the apple store about the possible return/exchange and they've informed me that as a result of physical damage to the unit they are unable to process a return or exchange and instead will only sell me another unit flat out. I figured that since I had signed a new 2-year agreement with a $30 data plan I was going to be stuck paying the monthly fee.

......
Well I called AT&T and spoke to a very informative man named Austin. I calmly explained my situation to him and explained that i wanted to put my wife's old phone (LG Xenon) back on the account and take her $30 data plan off and resume her old $10 a month data plan. Austin helped me out by taking the $30 plan off the account and switching the old plan back on. I was ecstatic at this immediate response and his empathetic approach to my situation. In ADDITION to helping me out with the data plans he also informed me of a $250.00 one-time credit which he was going to place on my account as a result of my iphone accident. This may have been partially due to my 4 year good standing and 5 line family share plan with ATT but I had never in a million years expected this kind of treatment. I was blown away at this news and immediately thanked him. We ended the call shortly thereafter and I know sit here in absolute shock at the excellent customer service I received. I realize AT&T has had some really bad publicity the last few years but I am here to tell you first hand, it really seems like they are making big strides in changing their company image and I for one and now a life-long ATT Customer. Just thought i'd share my experience with everyone.

Enormous strides, in fact.

AT&T has been extremely accommodating; actually encouraging me to try out different plans, mid-cycle, pro-rating differences, offering bonus minutes, and messages. (any time I went over, using a minimal package, they would pump in an extra allotment, free of charge, so to avoid fees)

I've never had anything but positive experiences with their reps, which is quite the contrary to my experiences with Verizon and T-Mobile. AT&T really seems to care, and though their efforts, they show it.

 

[pardoel]

dropped calls

I am a former (almost 4 years) t-mobile customer care rep who lives south of Salem, Oregon We had no service at home and calls would drop all day long couldn't get any service while shopping in Albany. We switched to ATT (yes I also got iphone 3gs) and NO dropped calls AND we CAN use our phones all over our home I even have been on my iphone using internet and youtube. I used to have both the Samsung Memoir(keepng it in purse as camera now) and motorola Cliq android phone.. very happy we switched! My husband can finally use his phone for work and NOT have to call customers back 2-4 times. I have had to call ATT customer care reps twice and they are ok ..I think I need to train them to be nicer to customers though

 

[sarahcollin]

they are bit over paid

 

[MoTo77]

Verizon gets the very top score in voice connection and quality and AT&T gets the lowest however some still try to argue that AT&T's GSM network is somehow superior to Verizon's CDMA network.

It is superior for international travellers, no question about it.

CDMA is useless for heavy international travel (unless you don't mind paying Verizon calling rates). With GSM, I can pop a local SIM card into my unlocked iPhone and pay local rates all over the world. I'll be in SE Asia for three months and the savings on calls and internet service alone will rival the cost of the entire trip.

 

[kalafalas]

More than one component

What everyone needs to remember: Just because you use your phone for one thing, doesn't mean someone else does for the same.

It is a fact: In the US, verizon gets much higher scores on calling quality and dropped call rates.

It is a fact: AT&T does support for texts longer than 160 characters through conjoined methods, while annoyingly verizon splits them.

It is a fact: AT&T gets much higher scores on data transfer speed in both upload and download speeds than verizon

It is a fact: verizon has a larger "3G" coverage span

It is a fact: AT&T has a larger "2G" covrage span

It is a fact: Because AT&T uses the GSM standerd with sim cards, it is much easier and cheaper to use internationally, and to find coverage internationally.

I guess when it all comes down to it, depending on what you use your phone for, each carrier has it's strengths and it's weaknesses. Being a Facebook using YouTube using iTunes downloading teenager I personally use extreamly heavy data and texting, and call someone for maybe 5 muinits once a week. So AT&T is a extreamly better fit for me than verizon is, and could care less about dropped calls. But I could see how a buisness person that heavly relies on calling and conference calls could become easily frustrated with AT&T and would much prefer verizon as a carrier.

So stop saying one sucks and the other rules and vica verca, there both good and bad for diffrent reasons, and just because one fits you dosen't mean it fits everyone, so be considerate stop complaining.

If you rely on calling and dependible heavy voice, maybe you should reconsider that iPhone your holding in your hands. It's amazing as a porable multimedia device, Internet device, hell even computer, and texting device, but let's face it. It's not the best for calling.

What people need to get: it's a portable computer and data-comunications device first, and a phone second.

(all typed on my iPhone and subbmitted using AT&Ts 3G data network :])

(I would also like to note that I live in the sanfransisco bay-area, more spacificly Berkeley, reportably the worst 3G area in the country, and while it is kinda shi*ty, I still get 2mbps downspeed avrage on AT&T 3G, much better than my friends with verizons avrage down of .5mbps of data, but there calls tend to go through alot more often xD lol)

 

[kalafalas]

I think people’s standards are way too low if they think Verizon is great Actually, some people are just lucky. And naturally, where you happen to live makes a difference.But in my experience, ALL the US carriers are substandard.

But AT&T’s network IS vastly superior, in that it lets me use the Internet AND talk at the same time. I use that constantly, and sometimes really need it. I could NOT do without that, whatever AT&T’s other issues may be. (Such as, for instance, hair-rasingly bad customer service/support, where everyone you talk to has different info and the Truth is Not Out There.)

Too true! A feature vastly overlooked! Along with unlimited character limit in texting (although this might be iPhone based not carrier based I'm not sure yet)

 

[SeeHole]

The bottom line is cell phone companies in the US suck

You said it :/

After living in Europe for the past 7 years, I know how bad all the carriers are here
Why can't they put more towers up? I just don't get it, or am I missing something here.

That said, I am really looking forward to the new iPhones coming out in June/July, so that my wife and I can jump out of Verizon and into new iPhones

 

[buddy1065]

Wonder if Verizon will allow tethering with iPhone if it ever comes to them; I wouldn't mind paying up to $29 more/month for it. That's basically all I don't like with AT$T. I hear they talked as if they would allow tethering starting late last summer, but they didn't walk the walk. At least I can tether my 3gs with legally approved software I got from Apple before they pulled it. That's right AT$T; NetShare. Un-modified and un-hacked.

And it's about time they take the term "unlimited" from their 5 GB cap contract terminology.

I think if Apple tried hard enough they could have prevented the 3.1.4/3.2 jailbreak, but I'm wondering if they are secretly letting their patches have loopholes, weaknesses? Just sayin', looks like 3.1.4/3.2 due at iPad arrival is already jail broken. Could be iPhone sales might take a cut if that were not the case.

But maybe not the case; after all Windows is still getting viruses and stuff, so maybe I'm wrong about that.