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'A Special Message From AT&T'
AT&T continues to insist they're working on their 3G network
by Karl Bode Thursday 09-Sep-2010 tags: business · wireless
Tipped by ptrowski See Profile
Ever since AT&T finally decided to address how iPhone demand was crushing their unprepared wireless network (particularly in NYC and San Fran), the company's been essentially giving the same speech. In it, AT&T repeatedly insists they're fixing the problem, ramping up investment, and adding backhaul capacity and towers. AT&T this week continued that campaign, sending out an e-mail to users entitled "A Special Message From AT&T," that promises users the same things they've been promising since the i-pocalypse began:

We've already upgraded our cell sites to enable faster mobile broadband speeds when paired with expanded backhaul, and we plan a similar upgrade at the end of the year that will enable even faster speeds. We're not stopping there. We are also adding thousands of new cell sites, expanding mobile broadband coverage to millions of customers, installing enhanced fiber backhaul, and increasing the capacity of our data network.

As Techcrunch notes, users who have received this message have been heading to AT&T's Facebook Page to send AT&T "special messages" of their own, many of which aren't particularly sweet. Says one user:

AT&T is to iPhone What Ice Cream Trucks With No Air Conditioning are to Delivery in the Sahara Desert.

You might recall that this is essentially the same thing that happened last year at this time in response to AT&T's damage control efforts. In fact, this year's damage control efforts so closely mirror last years -- we're seeing some of the same videos re-posted with new date stamps. While AT&T absolutely has made progress in many markets, research shows dropped calls and spotty coverage continue to be a problem.

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ptrowski
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Putnam, CT
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Received it yesterday.....

Dear Ptrowski
September 8, 2010

I am writing to thank you for choosing AT&T for your wireless service, and to update you on exciting plans we have to make your wireless experience even better.

You already know that AT&T covers 97% of all Americans. And as an AT&T customer, you have access to the nation's fastest mobile broadband network; a mobile broadband network that allows you to talk and browse the web at the same time; and seamless access to over 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots - more than any other U.S. wireless provider.

But you may not know the extent of our plans to improve your experience. In 2010 alone, we plan to invest between $18 and $19 billion in our wireless and wireline networks across the country. In fact, we've invested more in our networks over the last three years than any of our U.S. competitors. We've already upgraded our cell sites to enable faster mobile broadband speeds when paired with expanded backhaul, and we plan a similar upgrade at the end of the year that will enable even faster speeds.

We're not stopping there. We are also adding thousands of new cell sites, expanding mobile broadband coverage to millions of customers, installing enhanced fiber backhaul, and increasing the capacity of our data network. Not only do these enhancements provide a better experience today, but they also enable a seamless migration to our next generation of mobile broadband - LTE.

What this means to you is simple: better coverage where it matters most, and fast access to information on the go.

Your satisfaction is always our number one goal. If you have any needs or questions about what AT&T can do for you, I invite you to stop by your local AT&T store, visit att.com, or come tell us what you think at www.facebook.com/ATT.

Again, thank you for being our customer.

Sincerely,

Steve Krom
Vice President and General Manager
AT&T - New England
--
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OSUGoose

join:2007-12-27
Columbus, OH

Re: Received it yesterday.....

Yea it was rather insulting to read they are planning on vs saying they spent that money, its clearly a carbon copy of the 2009 version, just in the new marketing graphics.
fiberguy
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join:2005-05-20
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Re: Received it yesterday.....

Taking the letter on face value alone, you did read that they stated they spent more than other carriers in the last year three, right?

When I got my email, personally, I thought it was poorly written. Most people don't know what "backhaul" is much less how he throws around "LTE"... just like gassing up a car, most people know it's called "unleaded" but rarely know what it is.. they just know it's gas and makes it go..

I will also note that he / they didn't tout how they increased the price of mobile broadband, per GB, while telling everyone it was a better deal.

As written, this letter was really hard for me to even buy, and that says a lot.

AVD
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join:2003-02-06
Onion, NJ

Re: Received it yesterday.....

said by fiberguy:

As written, this letter was really hard for me to even buy, and that says a lot.
yes it does...
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AVD
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Onion, NJ
said by fiberguy:

Taking the letter on face value alone, you did read that they stated they spent more than other carriers in the last year three, right?
Just because their competitors were already set up and ATT had to play catch up.
--
standard disclaimers apply.

N3OGH
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Here, I re wrote it for everyone.

Hey, we know we kinda, um suck. But please please PLEASE don't leave when our exclusivity is up. No really, we're BEGGING you not to leave. You have no idea what the Board and the stockholders are going to do when you flea in DROVES to other carriers.

Come on, man. I'm begging here.

I included a pic of Steve for ya...
--
Petty people are disproportionally corrupted by petty power

OSUGoose

join:2007-12-27
Columbus, OH

Re: Received it yesterday.....

I do as I am a shareholder, were gonna toss the execs off the roof, lol

Uncle Paul

join:2003-02-04
USA
kudos:1
Lets see, if your behind your competition, then yes... you do have to spend more to ever have a hope of catching up.

I have ten towers, you have three. I bought five more, you bought six. Yes, you bought more towers than me, but I'm still up six towers....

Cjaiceman
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Parker, CO
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Working on it

I have to say that AT&T is working on it. Dropped calls are down, 3G speeds are more consistent and coverage in some areas of Highlands ranch and Englewood are improved due to them putting up some more sites within the last 6 months. I just wish they would upgrade Elizabeth and Kiowa (Colorado) to 3G, Sprint and Verizon have it out there, so why not AT&T? (Especially since they won that area in the Alltell/Verizon merger).

Bottom line, I have seen improvements in the last 6 months, and they are very welcome, but they are far from being done. They need to step it up more and continue upgrading their network and expanding their 3G footprint. I would have expected them to have something closer to Sprint's 3G coverage by now...

ptrowski
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Re: Working on it

I have seen things improve also.

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02
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1 edit

Re: Working on it

I've seen improvements in NYC itself, but just a bit outside of NYC (as in Westchester) I continue to see dropped calls like hot potatoes and coverage issues driving or wandering through major, major areas.

Alcohol
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Climax, MI
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Re: Working on it

said by Karl Bode:

I've seen improvements in NYC itself, but just a bit outside of NYC (as in Westchester) I continue to see dropped calls like hot potatoes and coverage issues driving or wandering through major, major areas.
Same with Jersey City. It's the only area where i experience dropped calls.
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MyATTResp

@carlson.com

Just asked the question on FB

"Has any thought been given to actually show the results of your investments? Maybe a stats page indicating which areas have received upgrades and which areas are scheduled? Which areas are seeing the 3g footprint expanded? Etc. This may be part of the reason people have a hard time believe these billion dollar investments are doing any good. This data may be proprietary due to competition but without details people have a hard time understanding what $18 billion in network investment buys as far as service improvements. That's a ton of money but given the responses on this page, most people don't seem to think its doing any good."

Throwing it out for you all. Would it help if ATT published what is actually being done to improve the network rather than vague details such as an $18B investment? I think it would if they could some how give specific details, but know they probably won't since most of the time this info is considered competitive data.
davidhoffman
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Re: Just asked the question on FB

The value of putting up real deployment data would be an immense value to AT&T. The problem is that AT&T is stuck in the days when airlines would cover the logos on an aircraft involved in an accident. What good did that do? The relatives of those on the plane knew what happened, reasonable deduction would let the others figure it out, so what was gained in the long run? AT&T is filled with leftovers from the Coldwar. Being open with your customers can be great for business.

Gbcue
Almost P.E.
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Santa Rosa, CA
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HSPA+?

So, are they on track to launching HSPA+ over 100% of their 3G footprint by the end of the year?
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en102
Canadian, eh?

join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

Re: HSPA+?

Its still not in SoCal (Los Angeles area) yet.

Gbcue
Almost P.E.
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Re: HSPA+?

said by en102:

Its still not in SoCal (Los Angeles area) yet.
With the amount of backhaul they're showing now, I don't think they'll get anywhere fast with HSPA+ upgrades.
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bdon78
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Decatur, GA
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1 edit

Improvements

I have seen improvements in speed and coverage. I'm also blessed though, I'm in metro Atlanta and coverage was never really an issue for me. (I'm also 500 ft from a VRAD, BOOM 24 Mbps UVerse!)

Where I have seen improvements was in customer service. I had Tmobile for years before I switched to AT&T and Tmobile's customer service was hands down the best. AT&T is finally starting to have improved customer service, though not quite as good as Tmobile.

Despite all the bad press, personally, I get the impression that AT&T as a company is trying to make improvements.

footballdude
Premium
join:2002-08-13
Imperial, MO

I'm confused

We get articles saying AT&T can't handle the traffic.

Then we get articles saying the exaflood is a myth and the infrastructure we have is more than enough for internet traffic.

?
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Simba7

join:2003-03-24
Billings, MT

Re: I'm confused

It's mostly AT&T not upgrading their network, or only upgrading specific areas.

The actual internet backbone is capable of several magnatudes more traffic (several Tbits worth).
blguy07

join:2010-01-01
Iowa
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I have AT&T for 3 years and over time...

I have seen a lot of improvements in Chicago area, both in the city and suburbs. It's fast. In some areas 3G (not gsm) it's spotty but those are mostly dominated by more truck yards and low income households (west)

»www.speedtest.net/iphone/56074340.png

OSUGoose

join:2007-12-27
Columbus, OH

Re: I have AT&T for 3 years and over time...

which iPhone is that on.
blguy07

join:2010-01-01
Iowa

Re: I have AT&T for 3 years and over time...

iPhone 4

Cjaiceman
Premium,MVM
join:2004-10-12
Parker, CO
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This is on my Nexus One:
»www.speedtest.net/android/12011378.png

Gbcue
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Santa Rosa, CA
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1 edit

Re: I have AT&T for 3 years and over time...

nm
blguy07

join:2010-01-01
Iowa

Re: I have AT&T for 3 years and over time...

Give att few months and it'll start HSPA+ and its supposed to launch everywhere.

For now speed sufficient for most apps, I would not want to stream youtube HD on my iphone over 3g anyway (cap).
majortom1029

join:2006-10-19
Lindenhurst, NY
kudos:1

ugh

I am on long island and att's service here all of a sudden took a nose dive. I get maybe 32k down and up on my iphone. Its horrible.

Optimum onlines island wide wifi has been a savior since att cant get their network together. Hopefully cablevisions announcement of wifi cell service scares verizon and att to update long islands cell service.
ssavoy
Premium
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Henrietta, NY
Reviews:
·Comcast
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1 edit

Much better

I've seen a big improvement in my area this year. AT&T just enabled 3G in my area (it was available 5 minutes down the road for the past 3 years). Regardless, we're not a very urban area and I consistently get 2.5+ megs on my phone.

Granted, they disable HSUPA on my Galaxy S Captivate even though the phone is fully capable of it, and uploads have sucked since mid June (yes, June, not July like most people). And you need to receive to send, so that sometimes slows the d/l a bit. But they have improved.
--
»speedtest.net/result/598063272.png

»www.speedtest.net/result/817385397.png

FastiBook

join:2003-01-08
Newtown, PA

1 edit

Massive NYC improvemets.

While I've never had a problem in NYC for service, it has become faster and the voice quality is drastically improved. They are re-allocating spectrum as they said they would do to bring the average overall network up to a minimum, improved level. I see this in the dynamics of how fast the Internet is and voice quality and signal strength, it changes over time since last year/2yr ago, much more solid in formerly spotty areas, and in previously solid areas the behavior of the service changed, but not declined, if that makes any sense at all.

- A
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Jim_in_VA

join:2004-07-11
Cobbs Creek, VA
kudos:3
Reviews:
·Northern Neck Wi..
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Oddly ...

when I checked my coverage a few weeks ago with AT&T maps there was, of course, NO coverage. Now when I check it, I have coverage. So maybe it isn't all a crock. But with their plans? ... no thanks. I'll keep my Sprint SERO - unbeatable.
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P Ness
You'Ve Forgotten 9-11 Already
Premium
join:2001-08-29
way way out

Fixing = forcing you to use it less

so the less you use it the less they have to fix it.

lol
--

Zorack

join:2001-12-14
Fayetteville, WV

No 3G

I've never even seen 3G where I live and have asked when they are going to do 3G,and I suspect it probably will be years off before that happens,being on EDGE sucks.

Jim_in_VA

join:2004-07-11
Cobbs Creek, VA
kudos:3

Re: No 3G

huh? Fayettevillie WV shows solid Sprint 3G coverage ...check the map
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Zorack

join:2001-12-14
Fayetteville, WV

Re: No 3G

I'm on ATT. And Verizon is no longer in WV.

LightS

join:2005-12-17
Waco, TX

Re: No 3G

I'd get Sprint if they have 3G there.
blguy07

join:2010-01-01
Iowa

1 edit
THen your best bet is to get smartphone like blackerry curve (you save weight, battery power and money)

or you could always use CDMA (like Verizon)
dbozzo

join:2003-10-29
Roslindale, MA

AT&T data getting better in Boston, Microcell data isn't.

How about somebody fix the 3G Microcell network while they're at it. Granted I don't need Microcell data much thanks to WiFi but sending or receiving MMS at times is impossible. I've seen speeds of 2800kbs for a few seconds and then drop to nothing. My calls are better than being on the actual cell phone network, but I need the data for MMS.

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