Why is Apple with AT&T?

[phobic99]

All carriers are the made of the same POS.

This.

They all rip us off while they laugh to the bank with our money. The fact that anyone can be a fanboy for any of these carriers makes me shake my head every time.

Sadly until the majority bands together to do something about it, we're stuck for the most part.

 

[Dsr1205]

When some countries in Europe had only 1 provider people complained about the service on that one network. Then when it opened up to multiple networks the complaints started dropping when people found out that the other networks have problems of their own.

In Canada people complained about the Rogers service, then Bell and Telus came out with their own UMTS network and people complain about them too!

this seems like a "grass is always greener on the other side" argument when its more like "dear God why are there so many people on at&t's grass, i wish some of us could spill onto verizon's lawn"

 

[draz]

aside from the chinese iphone which is some kind of chinese-CDMA (right?) is there anywhere in the world where CDMA is used for the iPhone? or is it GSM all around?

iPhone only supports GSM networks (well most of them)

 

[splashnader]

ATT was the more attractive carrier because they basically gave Apple the freedom to focus completely on their own design and implementation, without any restrictions, like some of the others carriers had. Plus ATT promised the fastest 3G network upgrades at the time. That was also very attractive to Apple.

 

[Armeniandave]

Personally I think AT&T sucks!
Every time a call fails I take a snapshot
of it on my iPhone and I can tell you I
have a lot of snapshots.

Also they just tried to charge my CC twice
for the new iPhone and when my CC company
denied the second charge thinking it was a
duplicate charge, which it was, they canceled my
order!

Then when I went to the store they admitted they screwed up and were going to save me a phone on Thursday
but guess what they won't have any phones except for the people who preordered them!

I'm gonna put my money where my mouth is so I just canceled my U Verse, phone, and DSL!!
I really don't want to give them any more money than I have too.

 

[imiller913]

because no one else wanted to give apple all of the power LOL

 

[wardev]

i dont get the whole the world uses gsm argument. most people who use the iphone dont go out of the country very often, and even then why would you pay the huge rates just to use your phone? if i am going on vacation overseas i would just make calls for cheap or over skype, why would i need to use my iphone and add on the huge roaming fees?

Even though this might not seem like a big deal for you or other consumers, with GSM used worldwide, apple just has to make 1 kind of phone and if they signed with verizon, they would probably need to make a GSM phone for international use, and seeing as apple loves to support emerging or technologies with a bug future, it made sense they wouldn't make a CDMA phone

 

[me2000]

I've never had a problem with AT&T. I get great service.

 

[mysticbluebmw]

i dont get the whole the world uses gsm argument. most people who use the iphone dont go out of the country very often, and even then why would you pay the huge rates just to use your phone? if i am going on vacation overseas i would just make calls for cheap or over skype, why would i need to use my iphone and add on the huge roaming fees?

making a cdma phone just seems to make sense. You have 90 million verizon subscribers, look at how fast the droid is selling, people want nice smartphones. Verizon could sell 2 million easily to verizon customers, and the service would be spread across 2 networks. You wouldnt have to worry about that stupid 2 gb cap, verizons will hopefully be more, so that itunes.com would work without charging you $80 just for data.

Uhh....the phone is SOLD worldwide, NOT just in the U.S. In 2007 other than the still not mature T-mobile, AT&T was the only other major carrier with GSM.

If the verizon had the phone everyone would be complaining about them, and the clogged network.

 

[shox2k2]

maybe a problem

If verizon was the exclusive carrier there may be congestion problems, but if its spread over att and verizion I don't think it would be too big an issue. I have had only a handful of dropped calls over the 2 years w/att. I switched over from verizon and I never had any problems with them either. I do think more people would buy an iphone if it was on the two carriers (it helps they are the largest 2 in the US). That said if sprint made a play to be the cdma carrier than they may make a push to really expand their market.

 

[Applejuiced]

Are we on this again....
How do you apple is obsessed with AT&T? How if Apple has no choice but to go with AT&T? Didn't even read the court document says apple signed 5 years contract with AT&T? That's until 2012. Sure, Iphone was popular now. But, back in 2007, it was not because apple never made a phone. AT&T placed a bet by going with apple and their restrictions. The result was probably one of the smartest decision for AT&T. Those of you keep saying why apple is with AT&T needs to go back to school. It's not always about what customer wants... In business, you have to make choices.

Exactly, its all about business choices and money in the end.
And also it made sense for Apple, they have to make one phone to sell to every GSM carrier in the world.
Alot simpler and easier and GSM is the worldwide standard for cellphones.

 

[SSF]

I also have excellent service with AT&T. I won't lie and say I never drop a call, but that is to be expected with any carrier IMO.

Additionally, I had Verizon prior to switching to AT&T and really hated their customer service and cell service. I still have to use Verizon for work and it's a brutal experience.

 

[mac jones]

Hmmm, let's see....let me think real hard......could it possible be

Money?

 

[Gloor]

Ummmm AT&T & apple's Iphone does work as a phone. I have had AT&T way before the iphone and now the iphone for 4yrs, total 8yrs and I have no issue. Why is that a few people who do have issues mean everyone is having issues? Your not even in the US and u want to assume? You know what that makes you?

OH come on! There is a difference between few people complaining and between publicly knowing that AT&T does not provide good service.
Europe is far more developed when it comes to mobile phone providers. In fact, I remember the time when Europe was texting and USA didn't even know what that is. So, please stop assuming what you think you know and google some facts about it.
I didn't know that Apple had very little choices. In fact, most of the reviews for iPhone 4 say that the sore point for the new iPhone is again the AT&T provider. As I am not from the states then I don't understand it so I asked.

In fact, I don't even remember when was it last time I had dropped call which seems to be a common complain to AT&T.

 

[emaja]

Another possibility is that only AT&T could offer simultaneous voice and data.

As far as the quality of networks go, it all depends on where you travel. For some Verizon works better and for others - such as myself - AT&T offers better coverage. No matter which carrier Apple went with, we would still read tons of posts from those who had bad coverage from that carrier and complain about the iPhone being exclusive to them.

 

[soley]

You know which carrier I really enjoy after having used all of them. (Even though it was still Cingular at that point)

T-Mobile

And now I'll list the reasons why.

Verizon - terrible customer service

Cingular - Thought my plan was nationwide & called to double check before I left for vacation. It wasn't. Got a 400 dollar phone bill that month. Couldn't get it lowered at all. That went to collections.

Sprint - I can't say much about them as I only had them for a year & never really talked to customer service reps.

AT&T - Couldn't even get a plan without paying a 600 dollar deposit. Ironically, thanks to the Cingular bill going to collections.

T-Mobile - Walked into the store. Walked out with two phones/lines for both my wife & I without paying a deposit. We chose the option to pay ahead for on our bill because we were short on cash at the time. So if my phone gets shut off due to non-payment, the bill gets lower every day I don't pay it.

For instance: Original bill is due on the 1st at 100 dollars. If I wait until the 7th to pay it, it drops by 25 dollars. Now I have to pay 75 dollars.

Pretty sweet deal, if you ask me. I'll deal with their spotty coverage for that. But, honestly, since moving, I haven't had a single problem.

I also really enjoy their customer service. I just hope they never get greedy like AT&T & Verizon.

 

[jk4lebron23]

I have had verizon and AT&T both and I like AT&T much better...verizon is awful with customer service and they always add crap you didn't download or use to your bill....I will never go back to verizon

 

[nicole0112]

My husband had Verizon when we first met and I had just switched over to AT&T from t-mobile. Verizon had the worst customer service and coverage that I have ever seen. T-mobile didn't have great coverage either, but their customer service was okay. AT&T has great service (I rarely get dropped calls) and every time I've had to call their customer service they have been friendly and competent and...they spoke english (which is a bonus point to me). If the iphone went to Verizon I would stick with AT&T. I don't think AT&T deserves all the flack that they're getting, but I don't live in a huge metro, only a small city so I can see how any service might be worse in an area with a lot of people.

 

[LFSimon]

Other than the fact that AT&T was slow in updating my iPhone order status over the past few days they actually do a pretty good job.

All you young kids may not realize this but their cell phone service is a lot better and more reliable that land line service was a few years back.

AT&T also has the worlds largest GSM based system so it is best equipped to handle the USA iPhone traffic despite what its competitors might claim, and these competitors were no where near in the position they are now (data wise) when Apple made their decision during the part of the process many months before the date the iPhone one actually want on sale. This isn't something you can switch back and forth every year.

 

[Sinfire]

Could the reason that droid phones are selling so quickly be caused by the 2 for 1 deals that they have ? There are so many buy 1 droid and get another free sale out there, that it is only logical that they are going to sell a lot. Imagine if Apple did that with their phones.....

I agree that spreading the iPhone traffic across multiple carriers would help alleviate the stress on the AT&T network, but you will see within a year that Verizon will also get rid of their unlimited data plan and go for a metered data plan. Either that or AT&T is going to go back to the unlimited plans. Either way, it does not make sense that things will stay the way they are between the companies especially if they want to stay competitive.

i dont get the whole the world uses gsm argument. most people who use the iphone dont go out of the country very often, and even then why would you pay the huge rates just to use your phone? if i am going on vacation overseas i would just make calls for cheap or over skype, why would i need to use my iphone and add on the huge roaming fees?

making a cdma phone just seems to make sense. You have 90 million verizon subscribers, look at how fast the droid is selling, people want nice smartphones. Verizon could sell 2 million easily to verizon customers, and the service would be spread across 2 networks. You wouldnt have to worry about that stupid 2 gb cap, verizons will hopefully be more, so that itunes.com would work without charging you $80 just for data.

 

[Sinfire]

And you think things are going to be better with Verizon, FIOS, and whatever verizon uses for internet ?

Personally I think AT&T sucks!
Every time a call fails I take a snapshot
of it on my iPhone and I can tell you I
have a lot of snapshots.

Also they just tried to charge my CC twice
for the new iPhone and when my CC company
denied the second charge thinking it was a
duplicate charge, which it was, they canceled my
order!

Then when I went to the store they admitted they screwed up and were going to save me a phone on Thursday
but guess what they won't have any phones except for the people who preordered them!

I'm gonna put my money where my mouth is so I just canceled my U Verse, phone, and DSL!!
I really don't want to give them any more money than I have too.

 

[bobsentell]

And yet, despite all the whinings about AT&T's network, people still line up to buy the iPhone. Verizon does offer smartphones with similar, if not superior, specs.

I never have network issues other than those caused by terrain. (Radio signals don't travel through big mountains made of rock)

 

[wirelessmacuser]

Officially, Apple gave Verizon the first opportunity, however Verizon was unwilling to meet Steve Jobs long list of demands. Being the largest profit making carrier, they didn't need to make the sacrifices he demanded.

Now a few years later, it's Apple that _needs_ Verizon. What a brilliant strategy, one that serves Verizon well, as they've commanded more money from Apple.

 

[Wheezie]

I had Verizon before switching to AT&T for an iPhone in 2007. AT&T sucks. There have been consumer reports about it, countless articles, countless threads, blogs, etc saying the same thing.

There's no assumption to be made. AT&T got thrashed by the popularity of the iPhone, and now their service in major areas is a nightmare.

I had Verizon before AT&T and AT&T is way better. Verizon sucks in my area. My wife has a VZW phone and the coverage is awful. She much prefers her iphone with ATT service.

 

[Daniel L]

You know which carrier I really enjoy after having used all of them. (Even though it was still Cingular at that point)

T-Mobile

And now I'll list the reasons why.

Verizon - terrible customer service

Cingular - Thought my plan was nationwide & called to double check before I left for vacation. It wasn't. Got a 400 dollar phone bill that month. Couldn't get it lowered at all. That went to collections.

Sprint - I can't say much about them as I only had them for a year & never really talked to customer service reps.

AT&T - Couldn't even get a plan without paying a 600 dollar deposit. Ironically, thanks to the Cingular bill going to collections.

T-Mobile - Walked into the store. Walked out with two phones/lines for both my wife & I without paying a deposit. We chose the option to pay ahead for on our bill because we were short on cash at the time. So if my phone gets shut off due to non-payment, the bill gets lower every day I don't pay it.

For instance: Original bill is due on the 1st at 100 dollars. If I wait until the 7th to pay it, it drops by 25 dollars. Now I have to pay 75 dollars.

Pretty sweet deal, if you ask me. I'll deal with their spotty coverage for that. But, honestly, since moving, I haven't had a single problem.

I also really enjoy their customer service. I just hope they never get greedy like AT&T & Verizon.

If you're short on cash and can't afford a $400 bill that goes into collections, why are you splurging on a non essential item like the iPhone and its associated monthly data plan? It doesn't make sense to me.