I prefer being called "connected" than "data whore"
Jokes apart, I still think I would renew and use iPhone for everything from paying bills to breaking glow sticks.
kdb
· 3 months ago
I would LOVE to have an iphone, I however am also in the group of those people that love Verizon. I've had AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon and Verizon is by far the best out of all of them. Plus their customer service has always been excellent!! But if Verizon were to start carrying the iPhone I'd upgrade my phone in a heartbeat!
My thought is .... if the iPhone becomes non-exclusive and can be used with a variety of providers, will this actually help lesson the network strain on AT&T? The way I see it ... is that if anyone with any provider can have an iPhone, this data use will be spread out a lot more. Although the number of folks using the iPhone would probably rise exponentially ...
Mark
· 3 months ago
Yes, the network deters me from buying the iphone. Everyone I know who owns an iphone absolutely loves the phone. Their biggest complaint is the network and service. I use my phone for personal and business a lot and I need a reliable network. So, yes that is why I will not buy the iphone because it's with AT&T. Apple let the rest of us in and go with another network (I'm not switching to AT&T). I use Sprint, I love the network...never a problem.
Name
· 3 months ago
i think they are the same network now
ttenag
· 3 months ago
Your a moron.
Bob
· 2 months ago
yep. Complete moron. Does your sentence say anything at all? Get inline with the academic community you idiot.
Paul
· 3 months ago
I'm not going to give up my iphone. Even with the slow speeds, it's better than not having an iphone. AT&T isn't in any danger of losing me as a customer as long as they keep their exclusive contract with Apple. As soon as iphones are available on a better network (not you T-Mobile) I'll switch.
Ryan
· 3 months ago
What's the big beef with T-Mobile? I'm genuinely curious as I've had them for years with excellent customer service and adequate to excellent coverage.. Now I have the newest Andriod phone and it works really well in Portland where I live and excellent all over New England where I was last weekend.
Corazon Rios
· 3 months ago
My first cell phone was a prepaid phone on Cingular, and as a college student at the time, I wasn't able to use it at peak hours because all their circuts were busy. Things have improved with Cingular/AT&T since, but not by much in my eyes.
Of all the carriers, AT&T would most likely be the last carrier I'd switch over because I would not want to leave Verizon if I had the choice.
JR
· 3 months ago
AT&T's network is so unreliable in our area that we are considering cancelling our contract after less than a year and moving back to Verizon, despite the fact that both my wife and I love our iPhones.
JR
· 3 months ago
To clarify- our issue is dropped calls. Data is slow- if I want fast, I bring my laptop. The iPhone's data features are pure cake for me. The issue is that in my home city- a moderate sized suburb of a large midwestern city- I run about a 50/50 chance of getting dropped per call. That's unacceptable.
-JR
Jess
· 3 months ago
I would love to buy an iPhone, but I refuse to switch from Verizon to ATT. ATT just doesn't have the coverage that Verizon does. Dear Apple, please, please let your iPhone be used on the Verizon network!
Sean
· 3 months ago
It didn't deter me from buying the phone but I've never had so many dropped calls in my life. We switched from Sprint to ATT so we could get the iPhone. We're data whores too. Almost ALL of our communication is through texting and email. But the voice network is pathetic. It hasn't been a big issue so far (had the contract for 1.5 months) but I'll have to reconsider in 2 years when the contract is up. By that time I'm sure there will be other carriers.
christian caldwell
· 3 months ago
Your headline misses the point here. Most internet users have a high demand for data, look at Broadband use across the nation. That means, we have high expectations of wireless. iPhone makes that use elegant, so of course there's high data demand from the iPhone. The perjorative in your headline belongs to the provider, by your own description. AT&T must be seeing massive profits from this relationship and they are woefully neglectful or ignorant about what they need to do to meet that demand.
Rob 'Big Robby' Page
· 3 months ago
AT&T sucks. They overcharge, under-deliver. I won't be renewing with them. However, I do have an iphone that isn't unlocked. I don't know where I'll go in 2010 but it wont be with ATT.
Peter
· 3 months ago
Yes, I am holding off on upgrading my 1st gen iPhone until it's off AT&T. And, I'm an iPhone developer!
jasontromm
· 3 months ago
AT&T needs to quit their whining. When I had a Palm Treo on Verizon, I never had the problems that iPhone users are complaining about. I'm sure Verizon can handle the data volume if they ever get the iPhone.
Melissa
· 3 months ago
The network did not deter me from purchasing the iphone as I had decent coverage with my blackberry. Having an iPhone is better than not. I would switch if Verizon offered.
Jeanette Rodriguez
· 3 months ago
Absolutely but I still love my iPhone and will not give it up! I not only have a problem with the quality of AT&T’s wireless network. Also, about 85% of all my calls are dropped no matter where I am.
AdoredMomma
· 3 months ago
I have had cell phone service with the top 4 major carriers in the US, and to be honest, AT&T still remails the best I've used as far as network coverage and consistancy. I do own an iPhone 3Gs upgraded from the iPhone 3G which I previously owned, and I do use my iPhone it to it's fullest potential. Why buy a product with great applications, and then not use them? I do not believe any other carrier could fair better than AT&T in the same situation. I have not had any problems with the AT&T network; therefore, to answer your question, no, I am not deterred from upgrading my iPhone or renewing my existing contract.
Jessica
· 3 months ago
I have no complaints about AT&T's network, really. That may be because I've always had Cingular/AT&T service so I don't know any differently, but I rarely ever get dropped calls and usually have no problems with speed. So, naturally, the quality of the network did not deter me from getting my iPhone.
SParky
· 3 months ago
The problem is the exclusivity deals, it adds data strains to one network and overloads their system if users were spread out over several providers, i would very much think that this overloading would not happen due to the load being spread out.
It has been suggested that Apple are not happy that users are suffering due to networks being overloaded and the users services running slow, and that it might end the exclusivity deals because of it, but it's Apple'' own fault the way I see it.
The same thing is happening in the UK, with iPhone tacked onto o2 (not the best network in the UK, but because of iPhone, now has the most customers), Glastonbury Festival is a classic example. Many iPhone users complained of not even being able to make a call, o2 put it down to too many users in the area and said that nothing could be done about this at the time, and might look at it for the future, unlike me, on Orange (but gonna break for an iPhone soon) with perfect network and increased capacity in the area because of the festival, Orange know how to look after it's customers (other network providers also had issues due to not increasing capacity, but nowhere near as bad as o2).
Apple needs to break the exclusivity deals, not because of the providers selling the phones doing a bad job, but to give Apple's customers (cos lets face it, the provider is just the channel for Apple here) the best that the current network can provide
Sarah
· 3 months ago
it's not so much the quality of the data service; for the most part I've been satisfied with it. It's the phone service (or lack thereof) that will probably make me switch devices. I live in downtown Boston; and there are times when I get "No Service" or just a single bar, outdoors at noontime.
Liz Teschler
· 3 months ago
Not only is it difficult to connect to AT&T's 3G network.... there are still a lot of spots where you can't connect at all! As much as I'm DYING to get an iPhone... I'm holding out for some better service (Verizon?...fingers crossed!)
Jeni Angel
· 3 months ago
Yes. I would LOVE an iPhone, but I am unwilling to deal with Att poor customer service and horrible network. Send the iPhone to Verizon and I'll stand in line
Chance McClain
· 3 months ago
From AT&T today...in my junk box... We’ve got great news for Houstonians! Your AT&T 3G wireless network’s capacity has been nearly doubled! Think of it like adding lanes to a highway — now we can manage Houston’s wireless traffic better than ever. What can you expect from this network upgrade?
Apple provided a product, but could not back it up with service from AT&T. Nonetheless, this was a win-win for Apple & AT&T. The goal was to set up an exclusive arrangement between two companies to make the most money as possible. Absolutely nothing in the actual implementation of this venture shows that the 2 companies hoped to do anything more than make craploads of dough: lose-lose for the customers. Apple and AT&T are money whores, and customers in reality have absolutely no say in that. ahh, capitalism.
DH
· 3 months ago
Customers DO have a say. They choose to buy the device or not. Some people choose to have the sub-par service because the device is great. (Like me) Other don't. If the iPhone sucked, then it would not have made the companies a crapload of money because nobody would have purchased it. Customs DO have a say. They can leave AT&T anytime they want (for a fee) or wait out the contract they signed. When I bought my iPhone from the apple store, I flat out told the guy that I was concerned with AT&T and the guy at apple told me that if it was a big enough problem I had 90 days to return it. 90 days passed. I didn't return it. MY choice. When the day come I can use the iPhone on another network, I'm there.
egoebelbecker
· 3 months ago
I suppose I might renew my At&T contract. At gunpoint. Well...maybe if my family was at gunpoint too. And my dogs.
Seriously, next year when my contract is up there's a serious chance of me giving up on smartphones altogether. If AT&T can't fix the problem in NYC after 2 years of this crap, what's the point? I'll wait until I get home to check twitter.
recklesslover
· 3 months ago
People who don't like AT&T are just complaining because of the high cost. Only a few people can afford the $100+/mo needed to get an iPhone, and those who can't get one blame AT&T. I don't hate on AT&T. Sure, they could be better, but no other network has as much load to carry as they do. I think it's a balance, and a little give and take. You can't have the best of all worlds, ya know?
I had Verizon and switched to AT&T JUST for an iPhone. Verizon's smartphones are HORRENDOUS compared to the iPhone on AT&T. I'm not sure why we even try to compare.
I love my iPhone.
egoebelbecker
· 3 months ago
I don't "hate on" AT&T because of the price. I can afford an iPhone. I just want it to be connected to a network that doesn't suck.
But, they can continue to suck because some people will defend anything if Apple is involved. Thanks for that.
recklesslover
· 3 months ago
I like quality. The iPhone is currently the best mobile "smartphone" solution out there (signified by its amazing growth and functionality). I know this since I've had a Blackberry on Sprint and another smartphone on Verizon. Yes...AT&T is not the BEST. However, the only complaint and thing i HATE about AT&T is that it doesn't support MMS on iPhone. THAT is stupid. Every network has a flaw. Every system has an issue. Be realistic. Or wait forever and miss out on the current best solution.
It's not a love affair with Apple. That's trivial. It's a love affair with quality.
Suzie T
· 3 months ago
The only reason I don't/won't own an iPhone is because I refuse to be limited to AT&T's network. So many friends have such terrible network quality I just can't justify it. I'll most likely be getting the HTC Hero or Palm Pre with my existing network Sprint.
Thomas
· 3 months ago
Yes, totally. Also, live in a major city and I don't get call reception on the 3rd floor office (and I sit next to a window) or in my 3rd floor apt. in another part of the city. If I could get out of my contract without paying an arm and a leg, I'd switch in a heart beat. I can't even make calls!
Randy Rosso
· 3 months ago
I've been researching smart phones, and love the idea of the iPhone, but can't see buying one as long as it's on AT&T. I used to be an AT&T customer, and their service was lousy. Everything I've heard about their problems with iPhone have not changed my view of them as lousy. A phone doesn't do much good if you can't get a signal. Now, If they move to Verizon, I'm all over the iPhone.
tom_thinks
· 3 months ago
We need to end network exclusivity period. Crack an iPhone it works fine on T-mobile or wherever else you want to use it. We need flexibility in which network to choose, and that also means regulating away 2 year contracts. If there was a real threat of people switching networks to avoid paying for services they can't fully use, AT&T would have already fixed the problem.
Name
· 3 months ago
It's definitely a concern of mine... but I do not regret my iPhone AT ALL! It's the best phone on the market hands down there is not 1 phone that can compare to it.
DH
· 3 months ago
I don't regret getting an iPhone. I left my Treo on sprint for this thing. The phone service from AT&T is terrible. I get NO SIGNAL in my house and when I do get a signal and use the phone, it drops the calls right and left. I never had these problems with sprint. If I can keep the phone and switch to another network, I'm there. Maybe I'm a data whore, but I pay to be one. And if I'm going to pay more for a plan then I expect the damm thing to work.
dt
· 3 months ago
Am I the only one who has nothing bad to say about AT&T? I've had an iPhone since June and so far there's only been one location, in rural Pennsylvania, where I had no coverage. In my experience, Verizon was very deceptive in its billing practices and their customer service left a lot to be desired. By contrast, AT&T's billing has been honest and easy to understand, their prices have been competitive and their tech support and other customer service has been excellent. Absent some drastic change in any of these areas, I'll stick with AT&T.
Guest
· 3 months ago
WILL NOT RENEW - matter of fact will not pay cancel fee since they extended my contract by 2 years to downgrade after 18 months of being with them.
AT&T : 1) Phone calls drop constantly - Email takes 2-3 minutes to start playing - all since I downgraded to the 500 minutes plan? or was the timing a coincidence??
Jacquie
· 3 months ago
I've been with Verizon for years and have been not wanting to switch to an iPhone for this very reason. I don't care for AT&T's service. Soooo I'm pretty sure I'm heading for a Blackberry....
Sam the Bright
· 3 months ago
Oh yeah? I have flash news for you, deaf (hearing impaired) on mobile phone are actual the most data whores than you, hearing people!
Name
· 3 months ago
. . potential iPhone users, does the quality of AT&T’s network deter you from buying or considering renewing your existing contract?
Yes. I will not switch to AT&T. Got a sales call from ATT. The guy was calling from an ATT cell phone. Not sure if it was an iPhone. Quality of the call was so terrible I just hung up on him. My employers have iPhones. Half of their calls to our office are just horrible. Poor quality and calls are dropped.
Christina "Kid-Hater" Warren
· 3 months ago
Dang - is this the same Christina Warren that hates kids and calls all parents 'Breeders'? Sheesh. I quit reading TUAW because of her and her moronic pinheaded statements, now she's a 'contributor' here? Sigh. See ya, Mashable. :^(
Ted Weismann
· 3 months ago
I'm a new iPhone user -- since early July. I haven't had any dropped calls yet and have been satisfied with the data speeds. I had a Blackberry 8820 and the iPhone's data speeds (not to mention capabilities) is so much better compared to the previous device. There may be problems now, but I expect them to be addressed if ATT wants to renew its exclusivity.
Drew
· 3 months ago
Att service is horrendous! At least in San Diego... I have an original iphone, I was going to purchase the new 3GS - but I will wait it out another year to see if Apple offers the iphones through other carriers next year, and if they don't then Apple will be losing my business as well.
malmad
· 3 months ago
best title for a post!
bks2plz
· 3 months ago
On August 20, 2009, my new fantasy novel, Gateway to DreamWorld was released.
Synopsis: On their way home from baseball tryouts, Brad Colby and his two sons are involved in a terrible car accident that leaves six-year-old Pete in a coma. When Pete awakens, the family is crushed to learn that he is paralyzed.
Meanwhile, Pete’s eight-year-old brother, Jason, has been having powerful dreams that lead him to a mysterious realm known as DreamWorld. Jason discovers that all of his desires can come true in DreamWorld, but the time is fast approaching when he will have to choose between his two worlds.
And when more devastating news strikes at the heart of the Colby family, Jason and Pete set out on a desperate attempt to find the Gateway to DreamWorld and save their family. With time running out on their dangerous path, will Jason and Pete’s fear of the Unknown keep them from reaching the paradise of their dreams?
Please help by spreading the word to your friends who enjoy reading a good book and be one of the firsts to pick up your copy of Gateway to DreamWorld.
Thanks for your time and I hope you enjoy the fantasy.
Brenda Estacio
Name
· 3 months ago
Yep. Unless ATT becomes STELLAR within the next year, if the next-gen iPhone is available on another carrier I would switch.
kittywithawig
· 3 months ago
I was given an iPhone as a gift and I love it. Unfortunately I must still keep my Blackberry and Verizon service for verbal communication. AT&T is pathetic.
Name
· 3 months ago
absolutely not! nothing wrong with AT&T for me !
IamAlana
· 3 months ago
Referring to the article, AT&T is the whore because we're paying them. We pay for all that data usage, so hopefully they don't get the idea that because we use more data than other device owners, they should charge us even more. On the subject everyone is talking about, I left Verizon after about 10 years with them because I wanted an iPhone. I waited as long as could from when they first came out but when the 3GS came out, I cancelled my Verizon contract (and paid $120 early termination). I have no complaints about AT&T so far, and 3G actually works great where I live. I've had AT&T phone service in the past and hated their incompetence but I'll put up with them for now. As soon as Verizon gets the iPhone, I'll switch back unless somehow AT&T magically improves it's service.
maritam
· 3 months ago
I barely use the iPhone to make phone calls, so dropped calls aren't an issue. I simply wanted a device that does everything else! like internet connection, email, text, online apps, great news portals, productivity tools, like budgets etc. The iPhone is the best at that and the service is not perfect, but pretty good because it automatically switches to wifi where ever you are. Having all the apps and a nice screen for web apps allows me to do a lot of work 'on the run' which cuts down my time in front of a computer substantially. ATT customer service is pretty good too. The iPhone is so versatile, no wonder people use it so much and are being called data whores!! BTW, the new iPhone does generally work better than the original one.
Politicalcrunch
· 3 months ago
"in many cases the only complaint" I want to officially complain that the new 3Gs processor makes the browser load pages two times faster than my 3G and therefore making me believe that it is ALL At&ts fault!!!!!
Delon
· 3 months ago
Hi, my name is Delon and I am an iPhone Data Whore :-). The network could be a bit better almost half the time.
GV
· 3 months ago
This is the only reason that made me shy away from iphone since the time it was released. I like the phone. I have friends with iphones whose calls always go to their voicemail accounts due to poor coverage. I have been a happy sprint customer since 2005 and the service is really good here (i live in So Cal). They undercharge and overdeliver. I switched to the Palm Pre from my Treo just recently.
Laury
· 3 months ago
I love my Iphone and have always been a cingular/att customer. I have actually caught myself saying, on numerous occasions, "i seriously don't know how people live without an Iphone." That having been said whenever I'm going somewhere where I know there will be a high call volume (sports games at the University of Florida and Festivals in FL cities being the most common for me) i usually throw my old cell phone in my bag so I can switch out the sim cards. When I was a student at UF it was impossible for me to make a call on my IPhone on a game day.
joyski09
· 3 months ago
data whore doesnt sound so nice but is totally true!!! And AT&T is getting the crap way more than deserved due to this.. i use the blackberry bold for work and iphone for personal. At times where i loose coverage or drop a call on the iphone, i have awesome full coverage on the bold... i had verizon less than 3 yrs ago and seriously- it all depends on where you live and work. both have their advantages. when it comes to wifi on my handsets, there is no other option than at&t... also, when i had my blackberry with verizon and would tether, i couldn't receive phone calls! with at&t, data & voice work together so i can be talking and surfing at the same time! Verizon can't even do this- so do i really think they could handle the iPhone better than at&t- nope. I will stick with at&t.
Hehe I don't think the title misses the point; calling an entire demographic of your user base data whores is a classic attention bait strategy, good work.
Elsie
· 2 months ago
The fix...spread it around. Its only AT&Ts problem bc they wanted an exclusive deal. If iPhones had been available on Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, etc this would NOT be an issue. AT&T is getting what it deserves for being $$$ greedy
Name
· 2 months ago
Making me pay 30 bucks a month has changed my mind to buying an iphone or any smart phone. I was going to buy the 16 gig iphone until they made it mandatory to buy a data plan. I wanted it for the camera/video, music and wifi but now I'll just get a free phone to bad apple lost my business
Metal News
· 2 months ago
Im glad its not the same situation in the uk, 02 does a fantastic job, although i dont always get 3g (still get edge). do wish it was faster, 3g is good, but not brilliant
mark
· 2 months ago
I like my iphone but will not upgrade because of the AT&T lock. My experience is: - poor coverage / low signal - occasionally no data service (downtown Chicago? Denver airport? come on) - dropped calls multiple times per day - losing voicemail and not notifying customers, wtf? I'm on a month to month plan since my 2 year contract expired. Won't change this until AT&T exclusivity is gone. If it doesn't go away will upgrade to the next version iphone, jailbreak and get a new provider.
Free Wii Points
· 2 months ago
Apple needs to give AT&T the boot.
Bob
· 2 months ago
my contract will expire in 2010. Hopefully they will be with a new carier then. I have no plan to renew my contract and would be willing to wait a short period of time for a new carrier in 2010 if necessary.
All Comments
Jokes apart, I still think I would renew and use iPhone for everything from paying bills to breaking glow sticks.
My thought is .... if the iPhone becomes non-exclusive and can be used with a variety of providers, will this actually help lesson the network strain on AT&T? The way I see it ... is that if anyone with any provider can have an iPhone, this data use will be spread out a lot more. Although the number of folks using the iPhone would probably rise exponentially ...
Of all the carriers, AT&T would most likely be the last carrier I'd switch over because I would not want to leave Verizon if I had the choice.
-JR
if users were spread out over several providers, i would very much think that this overloading would not happen due to the load being spread out.
It has been suggested that Apple are not happy that users are suffering due to networks being overloaded and the users services running slow, and that it might end the exclusivity deals because of it, but it's Apple'' own fault the way I see it.
The same thing is happening in the UK, with iPhone tacked onto o2 (not the best network in the UK, but because of iPhone, now has the most customers), Glastonbury Festival is a classic example. Many iPhone users complained of not even being able to make a call, o2 put it down to too many users in the area and said that nothing could be done about this at the time, and might look at it for the future, unlike me, on Orange (but gonna break for an iPhone soon) with perfect network and increased capacity in the area because of the festival, Orange know how to look after it's customers (other network providers also had issues due to not increasing capacity, but nowhere near as bad as o2).
Apple needs to break the exclusivity deals, not because of the providers selling the phones doing a bad job, but to give Apple's customers (cos lets face it, the provider is just the channel for Apple here) the best that the current network can provide
We’ve got great news for Houstonians! Your AT&T 3G wireless network’s capacity has been nearly doubled! Think of it like adding lanes to a highway — now we can manage Houston’s wireless traffic better than ever. What can you expect from this network upgrade?
• Better 3G connectivity and performance
• Improved in-building coverage
• Upgraded wireless experience
Seriously, next year when my contract is up there's a serious chance of me giving up on smartphones altogether. If AT&T can't fix the problem in NYC after 2 years of this crap, what's the point? I'll wait until I get home to check twitter.
I had Verizon and switched to AT&T JUST for an iPhone. Verizon's smartphones are HORRENDOUS compared to the iPhone on AT&T. I'm not sure why we even try to compare.
I love my iPhone.
But, they can continue to suck because some people will defend anything if Apple is involved. Thanks for that.
It's not a love affair with Apple. That's trivial. It's a love affair with quality.
It's the best phone on the market hands down there is not 1 phone that can compare to it.
AT&T : 1) Phone calls drop constantly - Email takes 2-3 minutes to start playing - all since I downgraded to the 500 minutes plan? or was the timing a coincidence??
Yes. I will not switch to AT&T. Got a sales call from ATT. The guy was calling from an ATT cell phone. Not sure if it was an iPhone. Quality of the call was so terrible I just hung up on him. My employers have iPhones. Half of their calls to our office are just horrible. Poor quality and calls are dropped.
Synopsis: On their way home from baseball tryouts, Brad Colby and his two sons are involved in a terrible car accident that leaves six-year-old Pete in a coma. When Pete awakens, the family is crushed to learn that he is paralyzed.
Meanwhile, Pete’s eight-year-old brother, Jason, has been having powerful dreams that lead him to a mysterious realm known as DreamWorld. Jason discovers that all of his desires can come true in DreamWorld, but the time is fast approaching when he will have to choose between his two worlds.
And when more devastating news strikes at the heart of the Colby family, Jason and Pete set out on a desperate attempt to find the Gateway to DreamWorld and save their family. With time running out on their dangerous path, will Jason and Pete’s fear of the Unknown keep them from reaching the paradise of their dreams?
I invite you to order your copy now from Amazon.com or Barnes&Nobles.com at a discounted price.
Please help by spreading the word to your friends who enjoy reading a good book and be one of the firsts to pick up your copy of Gateway to DreamWorld.
Thanks for your time and I hope you enjoy the fantasy.
Brenda Estacio
Check out http://www.iphonescan.com and get the best reviews of mobile scanning applications.
- poor coverage / low signal
- occasionally no data service (downtown Chicago? Denver airport? come on)
- dropped calls multiple times per day
- losing voicemail and not notifying customers, wtf?
I'm on a month to month plan since my 2 year contract expired. Won't change this until AT&T exclusivity is gone. If it doesn't go away will upgrade to the next version iphone, jailbreak and get a new provider.
I have no plan to renew my contract and would be willing to wait a short period of time for a new carrier in 2010 if necessary.