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AT&T ranks last in Consumer Reports mobile service survey - Page 2

post #41 of 118
12/1/09 at 11:18am
Quote:
solipsism: That is a point many from other countries don’t readily see when they talk about their coverage, bandwidth and mobile plan costs. The US’ average population density is quite low, even if you remove the areas that aren’t inhabited or are agricultural, but leaving major road coverage. What country are you from?

I'm Swedish. Sweden is a country of 9 million with about 4-5 bigger carriers. They all use GSM so the iPhone is now available on pretty much all of them. The biggest carrier, Telia, had the exclusive for the 3G version. They support EDGE as well, a nice fallback in my opinion if 3G isn't available.

Other carriers offer great 3G, but lacks in GSM performance..
But since 3G hogs the battery like crazy I only enable it when surfing is on the agenda.

The carriers also have different settings for 3G and GSM on the iPhone itself. I can turn off my 3G but my friend with another carrier cannot, as his carrier prefers the subscribers to always use 3G since that's there main network. Ergo, I get a longer battery life. He gets a bit cheaper contract, but not always.

It's a coin toss.

I pay 100 US a month for unlimited voice and data. Well the data limit is 5GB, then they will limit your speed until the next month. I get maybe 3-4 days out of the battery (3GS). So very good coverage all around.
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post #42 of 118
12/1/09 at 11:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by shawnb View Post

I find it shocking that 79% of "other" phone users would buy the same phone again, despite the lousy UI and mediocre user experience.

They don't - Verizon gives them a free new phone every two years that's new and different and from a wide choice. How that for customer service?
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post #43 of 118
12/1/09 at 11:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by physics View Post

Agreed on that. I live in Berkeley and have been an AT&T Wireless customer since 2001. I've seen the service steadily deteriorate, with increasingly unknowledgeable people on the phone and in their stores.

Im in the Walnut Creek area right now and AT&T service is horrible. It jumps from 3G to EDGE to GPRS to no data to no service with full bars to no bars and everything in between. f this were the place I usually used my phone i would have had my iPhone on T-Mo or had a different phone on a different carrier. Usually I am in areas with great AT&T coverage and i travel constantly.

Well see how Nevada treats me next month, but historically its been great except for deep inside large hotel casinos and/or during conventions when the towers are slammed, like at CES January 710, 2010.
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post #44 of 118
12/1/09 at 11:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Abster2core View Post

It is not AT&T.

Secondly, he is using Wi-Fi and I would have immediately turned it off or checked the network settings, something that is even more apparent when he tried to make the 411 call.

Firstly, he should have sobered up.

you can make calls when your connected to a wi-fi. have you ever even used an iphone??

its supposed to be able to do multiple things at once.... like browse the net while your talking on the phone hahah you haven't see n the commercials??

help yourself out (or maybe sober up yourself??)...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aLzq...layer_embedded
new apple commercial^
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post #45 of 118
12/1/09 at 11:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by rbonner View Post

My experience is great here in Austin.

You obviously didn't use your iPhone during SXSW this past year.

AT&T is awful in San Francisco. Can't wait until Apple opens up the iPhone to Verizon
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post #46 of 118
12/1/09 at 11:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by nightcock View Post

You obviously didn't use your iPhone during SXSW this past year.

AT&T is awful in San Francisco. Can't wait until Apple opens up the iPhone to Verizon

Sure was, but with the switch to the 850MHz and hopefully other upgrades that wont be a problem this year. Im afraid what is going to happen at CES this year.
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post #47 of 118
12/1/09 at 11:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by shawnb View Post

I find it shocking that 79% of "other" phone users would buy the same phone again, despite the lousy UI and mediocre user experience.

I don't find it shocking at all. Once you learn how to use something you more often than not don't want to throw it away. Also, the qualifier was "definitely or probably buy the same phone again" so the number isn't a solid 79%. The important take away is the very large difference between 98% and 79%.
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post #48 of 118
12/1/09 at 11:42am




Emailing video from iPhone to Apple TV , sort of..
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Emailing video from iPhone to Apple TV , sort of..
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post #49 of 118
12/1/09 at 11:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Quadra 610 View Post

Well, we live in times where the device makes the carrier. Signal strength and call quality can vary from place to place. But a lousy UI and medicore user experience tends to stay as it is.

But a bad carrier ruins the best device just like it ruins the worst device.

Everyone expects their mobile to "just work" most if not all of the time for telephone calls. The UI and functionality is only useful once the basics are handled well.
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post #50 of 118
12/1/09 at 11:52am
Being that it is giving Verizon number 1 in customer service, I can discount the survey. T-Mobile yes, Verizon never. Verizon is the worst company in terms of how much it rapes it's customers.
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post #51 of 118
12/1/09 at 12:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TBell View Post

Being that it is giving Verizon number 1 in customer service, I can discount the survey. T-Mobile yes, Verizon never. Verizon is the worst company in terms of how much it rapes it's customers.

Well, then do your own survey of 50,000 people...
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post #52 of 118
12/1/09 at 12:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by trev View Post

you can make calls when your connected to a wi-fi. have you ever even used an iphone??

its supposed to be able to do multiple things at once.... like browse the net while your talking on the phone hahah you haven't see n the commercials??

help yourself out (or maybe sober up yourself??)...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aLzq...layer_embedded
new apple commercial^

Before you get your tits in an uproar, "Yes, all the time and am extremely cognizant of its capabilities."

What I was pointing out was the fact that he could not connect while on Wi-Fi would indicate that he should check/reset his network settings, before acting and verifying that he was a drunken fool.

As I have pointed out in previous postings, the first thing I do when I get slow or interrupted service is to soft/hard reset my iPhone and network settings, and in particularly after adding/removing apps. Invariably, it has solved virtually every issue.

Only in a couple of instances in the past year and a half have I completely conducted a hard reset after removing all the apps. And only after ensuring that every app was up to date, did I reinstall them. Not sure if I had to go that far, but it sure worked for me.

As a developer, I appreciate the fact that installing any third-party add-on to a clean install has potential to compromise the device. Knowing that, it is amazing how infrequent and few issues occur with the all the Macs, iPhones and iPods that I own, monitor or maintain.
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post #53 of 118
12/1/09 at 12:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TBell View Post

Being that it is giving Verizon number 1 in customer service, I can discount the survey. T-Mobile yes, Verizon never. Verizon is the worst company in terms of how much it rapes it's customers.

Let's take your sole opinion. Excellent.
To save time, assume I know everything.
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post #54 of 118
12/1/09 at 12:19pm
Personally, I love this news. I can't wait to see how AT&T tries to spin it.

"Recently, you may have noticed that Verizon has been making a big deal out of our customer service rankings. Well, we thought you should know that AT&T covers 97% of all Americans." <fade to black>
To save time, assume I know everything.
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post #55 of 118
12/1/09 at 12:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Abster2core View Post

Before you get your tits in an uproar, "Yes, all the time and am extremely cognizant of its capabilities."

What I was pointing out was the fact that he could not connect while on Wi-Fi would indicate that he should check/reset his network settings, before acting and verifying that he was a drunken fool.

As I have pointed out in previous postings, the first thing I do when I get slow or interrupted service is to soft/hard reset my iPhone and network settings, and in particularly after adding/removing apps. Invariably, it has solved virtually every issue.

Only in a couple of instances in the past year and a half have I completely conducted a hard reset after removing all the apps. And only after ensuring that every app was up to date, did I reinstall them. Not sure if I had to go that far, but it sure worked for me.

As a developer, I appreciate the fact that installing any third-party add-on to a clean install has potential to compromise the device. Knowing that, it is amazing how infrequent and few issues occur with the all the Macs, iPhones and iPods that I own, monitor or maintain.

you obviously feel the need to defend something that is faulty. resetting shouldn't be necessary, it should just work as advertised.
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post #56 of 118
12/1/09 at 12:59pm
Burn.

Yea ATT is an awesome company, maybe not in the cell phone business (and definately not in all areas) but in Chicago these guys are sticking it to comcast monopoly in cable for which I respect them very much and actually offer a decent cell service ( I know San Fran is crap). Anyway this is not the best time for ATT, but it will force them to roll out LTE and 4G so much sooner ( I hope)
--SHEFFmachine out
Da Bears!
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--SHEFFmachine out
Da Bears!
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post #57 of 118
12/1/09 at 1:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hudson1 View Post

But a bad carrier ruins the best device just like it ruins the worst device.

Everyone expects their mobile to "just work" most if not all of the time for telephone calls. The UI and functionality is only useful once the basics are handled well.

Exactly. If you're downloading apps at 56K speeds (exaggeration, I know), it kills the experience too. No matter how great the UI of the phone is.
\Apple has always had competition. It's just been in its blind spot.
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\Apple has always had competition. It's just been in its blind spot.
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post #58 of 118
12/1/09 at 2:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by AsianBob View Post

Exactly. If you're downloading apps at 56K speeds (exaggeration, I know), it kills the experience too. No matter how great the UI of the phone is.


I like my speeds.

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post #59 of 118
12/1/09 at 2:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TBell View Post

Being that it is giving Verizon number 1 in customer service, I can discount the survey. T-Mobile yes, Verizon never. Verizon is the worst company in terms of how much it rapes it's customers.

T-Mobile ranks high in customer satisfaction surveys because when T-Mobile subscribers complain about their service, T-Mobile gives them a few extra free minutes --- high customer satisfaction rating.

Nickel and diming --- actually raise the consumer satisfaction ratings because Verizon only charges you geeks for these extra things. You don't have to like it --- but it is a fact that you are a geek who is not representative of the general population. Verizon doesn't have to answer any tech support phone calls on how to do this and do that on a third party unlocked cell phone --- which means you can talk to a Verizon support staff with less wait times.
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post #60 of 118
12/1/09 at 2:51pm
These are pretty much the same results CR's annual survey has reported for many years. But here is the interesting thing... CR surveys in 26 cities, which pretty much corresponds to 26 of the largest cities in the US. Many people say that much of Verizon's bragged about coverage is in rural, unpopulated areas and so is irrelevant; while ATT is the strongest 3G coverage in the metro areas.

So since CRs survey is heavily focused on the large metro areas, this seems to counter the claim that ATT has better coverage were it counts...ie, where most of the people are. So even where ATT has the claimed "fastest 3G network", it seems Verizon wins out.
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post #61 of 118
12/1/09 at 2:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ghostface147 View Post

I like my speeds.


@ ghostface147

I would love to have your speeds. I just tested mine and the results on two tests are
DL - .43 and .4 mbps
UL - .022 and .008 mbps
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post #62 of 118
12/1/09 at 2:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by samab View Post

Nickel and diming --- actually raise the consumer satisfaction ratings because Verizon only charges you geeks for these extra things.

Explain to me how this slimy tactic raisesinstead of razes*consumer satisfaction and how only geeks are likely to mistakenly press these buttons?
http://consumerist.com/2009/11/veriz...million-1.html
* See what I did there?
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post #63 of 118
12/1/09 at 3:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism View Post

Explain to me how this slimy tactic raises—instead of razes*—consumer satisfaction and how only “geeks” are likely to mistakenly press these buttons?

•

http://consumerist.com/2009/11/veriz...million-1.html
* See what I did there?

All cell phones are configured like that. All the carriers have their own online app store. Nokia has their own app store. My dad's Rogers GSM cell phone in Canada have buttons that go to their app store or launch the web browser with a single click.

If you look at the comments on that page --- there are numerous people saying that their AT&T cell phones do the same thing as well.

And the original New York Times article was updated to reflect that AT&T charges the same $2 for the same slimy tactic for an accidental press --- which means what --- the orginal "insider" claim was nothing but an anti-Verizon hack.

http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/...ou-charge-now/
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post #64 of 118
12/1/09 at 3:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by samab View Post

All cell phones are configured like that. All the carriers have their own online app store. Nokia has their own app store. My dad's Rogers GSM cell phone in Canada have buttons that go to their app store or launch the web browser with a single click.

If you look at the comments on that page --- there are numerous people saying that their AT&T cell phones do the same thing as well.

I fail to see how a Nokia or Rogers app store is guilefully charging people hundreds of millions of dollars per month.
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post #65 of 118
12/1/09 at 3:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism View Post

I fail to see how a Nokia or Rogers app store is guilefully charging people hundreds of millions of dollars per month.

Read the updated NYT article --- AT&T charges the same $2 for an accidental key press. I fail to see any difference between your beloved AT&T and the much hated Verizon.
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post #66 of 118
12/1/09 at 3:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by samab View Post

I fail to see any difference between your beloved AT&T and the much hated Verizon.

How about the $350 termination fee? Maybe the extra $2.99 just to have visual voicemail?
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post #67 of 118
12/1/09 at 3:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ghostface147 View Post

How about the $350 termination fee? Maybe the extra $2.99 just to have visual voicemail?

The $350 termination fee is charged to the geeks who wants a smartphone --- not the ordinary people who wants a flip feature phone. In the AT&T case, it is exactly the reverse ---- AT&T is massively subsidizing the geeks, leaving out the ordinary people with less handset subsidies for the normal flip feature phone. In terms of getting more people satisfied --- Verizon's solution is better.

You are also not going to have to pay for navigation either with the Droid.
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post #68 of 118
12/1/09 at 3:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by samab View Post

The $350 termination fee is charged to the geeks who wants a smartphone --- not the ordinary people who wants a flip feature phone.

You are also not going to have to pay for navigation either with the Droid.

So you are admitting that the Droid is designed for geeks to do its non-user-friendly UI, despite trying to compete with the iPhone which was designed to be the smartphone for the average person?
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post #69 of 118
12/1/09 at 3:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism View Post

So you are admitting that the Droid is designed for geeks to do it’s non-user-friendly UI, despite trying to compete with the iPhone which was designed to be the smartphone for the average person?

It's more like Apple trying to design a smartphone that is not good enough for the enterprise user, so they have to settle with the average person and Google is not really known for their UI expertise.
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post #70 of 118
12/1/09 at 4:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by samab View Post

It's more like Apple trying to design a smartphone that is not good enough for the enterprise user, so they have to settle with the average person and Google is not really known for their UI expertise.

That would be WinMo, BB or even the iPhone. The Droid is not positioning itself to be an enterprise level phone at this time.
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post #71 of 118
12/1/09 at 4:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism View Post

That would be WinMo, BB or even the iPhone. The Droid is not positioning itself to be an enterprise level phone at this time.

I never claim it be.
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post #72 of 118
12/1/09 at 5:01pm
I can't wait for Verizon to pickup the iPhone. This report speaks for itself.
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post #73 of 118
12/1/09 at 5:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by samab View Post

I never claim it be.

You are correct. I thought you were implying that the Droid was going for that market. Mea culpa.

However, Apple is making a play for that market. The licensing of ActiveSync is proof enough, but all the other features for enterprise level security drive it home. Each version has brought more corporate-level support. They are still lacking in comparison to every BB accept the Storm, but its getting pretty close, subtract the much lower TCO for the iPhone compared to a BB with BES support and you have a pretty compelling device for the enterprise.

One feature I hope they add for v4.0 is amalgamated mail accounts. Its really a PITA for multiple accounts on the iPhone.
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post #74 of 118
12/1/09 at 5:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by samab View Post

The $350 termination fee is charged to the geeks who wants a smartphone --- not the ordinary people who wants a flip feature phone.


It is not exclusive to smartphones, they list advanced phones. There are phones that are not smartphones by LG that are subject to that higher fee.
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post #75 of 118
12/1/09 at 5:33pm
If Apple wasn't tied to AT&T then we might not see these attacks at AT&T by using Apple's iPhone in the advertisement. Yes this is not good for Apple anyway you cut it. And now the problem becomes bigger because you are seeing multiple google phones, the competition is loading up and there are more reasons then ever to not buy an iphone. Apple does not need this kind of publicity.

Its amazing to me that a company like AT&T still cannot get their act together. This is a company that has mountains more recognition then its competition. Sprint? T-Mobile? I guess Apple really could only get the terms it wanted with AT&T. Unfortunately this is proving bad publicity.

Also, preaching to the apple faithful, this will have no credence, but Apple needs to be careful how it deals with app store approval. How on earth is Apple getting away with approving apps on distastefulness is beyond me. As long as the developers are making lots of money people will be happy. But looking at the big picture Apple needs to have clear relations with its developers because the google is beginning a frontal attack the likes we have not seen.
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post #76 of 118
12/1/09 at 9:35pm
The original design of the iPhone was for the consumer not for enterprise. Apple is slowly adding enterprise features because they are a potential market, but enterprise is not the primary market.

Quote:
Originally Posted by samab View Post

It's more like Apple trying to design a smartphone that is not good enough for the enterprise user, so they have to settle with the average person and Google is not really known for their UI expertise.
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post #77 of 118
12/1/09 at 9:38pm
This very article shows that the negative publicity for AT&T has nothing to do with the iPhone. People overwhelmingly love the iPhone. Tech pages are littered with the supposed competitor to the iPhone. So far not one has come anywhere close.


Quote:
Originally Posted by masstrkiller View Post

If Apple wasn't tied to AT&T then we might not see these attacks at AT&T by using Apple's iPhone in the advertisement. Yes this is not good for Apple anyway you cut it. And now the problem becomes bigger because you are seeing multiple google phones, the competition is loading up and there are more reasons then ever to not buy an iphone. Apple does not need this kind of publicity.
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post #78 of 118
12/1/09 at 11:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bregalad View Post

How would you know whether the phone was using Wi-Fi or 3G if it showed both?

3G affects data and voice. If the iPhone showed both, you'd know wi-fi was being used for data and 3G was being used to provide higher quality voice calls.
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post #79 of 118
12/1/09 at 11:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by trev View Post

read the description guy:

" AT&T has garbage 3G cell phone service

and i want to slap steve jobs across the face. where's the App for that???

the phone has never been thru the jailbreak process and never will. iPhone OS 3.0 is what i'm running."

Get with the program. Most everyone else in the world is running iPhone OS 3.1.2, with a newer baseband, too.
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post #80 of 118
12/1/09 at 11:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by walshbj View Post

[IMG]


Update your iPhone's OS to 3.1.2.
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