AT&T defends its iPhone network via YouTube outreach
AT&T has published a YouTube response to the mounting complaints about its network in order to explain the issues involved and assure subscribers that it is working hard to address the massive new demand related to iPhone use.
The video segment (shown below) introduces "Seth the blogger guy," who describes the explosive new growth in data demand over the last two years and outlines the investments AT&T has been making, including spending between $17 to $18 billion on upgrades scheduled for this year on top of the $38 billion invested over the past two years.
Standing in front of a picture of the iPhone, the AT&T spokesman says, "we're proud that we've enabled the smartphone revolution." At the end of the segment, he adds the assurance, "we have heard you, we are on it, and we will use this hard won experience to lead the industry into the future."
The segment also reiterates the previous announcement that AT&T's MMS service for the iPhone would become available later this month. "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."
The video segment (shown below) introduces "Seth the blogger guy," who describes the explosive new growth in data demand over the last two years and outlines the investments AT&T has been making, including spending between $17 to $18 billion on upgrades scheduled for this year on top of the $38 billion invested over the past two years.
Standing in front of a picture of the iPhone, the AT&T spokesman says, "we're proud that we've enabled the smartphone revolution." At the end of the segment, he adds the assurance, "we have heard you, we are on it, and we will use this hard won experience to lead the industry into the future."
The segment also reiterates the previous announcement that AT&T's MMS service for the iPhone would become available later this month. "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."
Comments
Oh, and what about dropped calls?
I still don't understand why MMS on the iPhone is more taxing on the network than every other cell phone. Are they just expecting an avalanche of unheard of proportions for iPhone MMS?
I don't think that anyone can answer that question other than AT&T (and they have), but what other reason do you think they would have to delay accepting MMS fees from iPhone users?
I don't think it's unreasonable to expect that iPhone usage of MMS will be more taxing than other phones. This article from the Financial Times says that Google sees 50 times more traffic from iPhones than from other phones.
It could be argued that Verizon would have been able to take on the iPhone easily and enable MMS messaging immediately without a 3 month delay, but I'm not in a position to claim that, and I don't think it's necessarily true.
Oh now your working on it? Don't use the excuse that their are just so many smartphone on your network and that they are straining your network so much. You had two years to prepare for this, don't act like this smartphone boom just surprised you. Look at Verizon and Sprint, you just being lazy, really lazy. Your finally investing in your network when it's past it's capacity. Nice job. And who the heck pushed for having smartphone on your network? You. You even require all smartphone users to have a data plan.
Really. If Verizon or Sprint took on the iPhone, their infrastructure would have imploded.
Oh please. I had AT&T when it was Cingular and had tons of dropped calls in the NYC, Northern NJ area. I switched to Verizon and the service was flawless. Never dropped a call. Being an Apple user, I have wanted the iPhone since it was introduced but have waited hoping there would be a Verizon version. With the introduction of the 3GS and no Verizon version, I made the switch being assured the network is much better. I have so many dropped calls and times I can't even get a signal it is ridiculous. I couldn't even get a signal on I-78 in a metro area. As soon as there is a Verizon version, I will gladly pay the early termination fee and be done with AT&T forever.
Just as a counter-example, I too had been waiting for the iPhone to make it to Verizon for 2 years having previously used AT&T and been dissatisfied with their service. With the release of the 3GS I finally gave in and switched to AT&T. And in fact, The service has been far better than I thought it would be. Although I live in Idaho in a suburban/rural area, I have excellent 3G speeds and coverage, although when you go into more rural areas, you generally end up on 2G EDGE, which isn't very fast.
And while Verizon certainly has a wider 3G coverage area, It's pointless to even talk data usage on any other device. If you can't use an iPhone with Verizon's network, then WHAT GOOD IS IT? Literally, there isn't a phone that Verizon offers that can even begin to compare with the web browsing experience of the iPhone. And if you only need email access, then even 2G can cut it.
I say good for them. What carrier company gives a rats ass to their customers. Apple has changed the status quo and AT&T had the guts to go with it. Give the guys some credit. At least they are working and trying to make it better. A few years ago your complaint goes in one ear and out the other, with a smidgen of laughter from the carriers during transit.
I agree. The progress is slower than we might like or want, but it's still progress. And, after my travails with just about every major player in this industry over a two-decade period, I am ready to take whatever I can get.
Bottom line, keep your expectations low: that way, all your surprises are positive!
I agree. The progress is slower than we might like or want, but it's still progress. And, after my travails with just about every major player in this industry over a two-decade period, I am ready to take whatever I can get.
Bottom line, keep your expectations low: that way, all your surprises are positive!
You're right about lowering your expectations. Too many people have been expecting far too much relative to existing technology. Our service in the US is positively stone-age compared to South Korea, for example.
Sorry, lost service...I said....."
"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."
Does anyone else think this sounds like meaningless technobabble?
Does anyone else think this sounds like meaningless technobabble?
Maybe the dilithium phase crystals needed a a tri-corder waved over them and they had to crawl through the Jeffries Tubes to reach them in the port nacelle. It's AT&T. They are getting nervous in advance of Verizon's 4G network and inevitable iPhone deployment.
"Don't mince words Bones, whadahu really think?"