AT&T: No 'Surprises' After Verizon iPhone Launch Thanks In Large Part To AT&T's $325 ETF AT&T has consistently stated that the company didn't think they'd lose that many iPhone customers to Verizon, so it's thoroughly unsurprising to see AT&T acknowledge that -- they're not losing that many iPhone customers to Verizon. "We haven’t seen any surprises, and everything is pretty much within our expectations," AT&T boss Ralph de la Vega said this week, though the company failed to give any real numbers. The company repeatedly insisted they expected little movement due to the large number of people under family and business contracts -- not to mention the company's $325 ETF, which the company raised last year just for this purpose. Despite AT&T's consistent last-place ranking in most consumer satisfaction studies, and traditional congestion issues in markets like NYC and San Francisco, there are a significant number of iPhone users content with AT&T service. As we've noted repeatedly, the real damage for AT&T arrives next year (if it really arrives at all) after all their iPhone 4 users' ETFs expire. We'll also see what happens when Apple releases an LTE-based iPhone and AT&T has to directly compete with Verizon's LTE network, which at that point will cover more of the population.
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 | | We hate you AT&T Yeah, and offer some mindblowing LOW data cap.
How we all HATE AT&T. | |
|  |  statestress magnetPremium,Mod
join:2002-02-08
Purgatory
kudos:6
Webhosting
Android
Sonic.net
Washington & Balti..
UK Chat
| Re: We hate you AT&T Well, we don't all hate them. I'm not a big fan of their tier changes or attempts to force people into a new plan for tethering but as far as service goes I've been pretty pleased. Decent speeds and I rarely ever drop calls. Even if my contract was ending I don't think I would switch carriers.
Maybe I'm the exception to the rule? | |
| | | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Re: We hate you AT&T You're not the exception to the rule. Those around here that have even one hair out of place spend 90% of their life bitching about it like the world is coming to an end.
I have been on AT&T for a while now.. and anyone that knows my views know that i do NOT like the company.. but my cellular service and iphone has been just fine.
Verizon has many reasons to be hated, just like the rest.
Sorry, Karl (not really sorry) but you have to pull your ax out of your ____ and get over this kick that AT&T is horrible.. they're not. But tell me, how does it feel to have a website where you can have TRUE "unlimited" time for bitching about something you hate with all the bias you can eat? | |
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| | ................ Im sticking with ATT and my grandfathered unlimited data. I will never go back to VZ. | |
| | | | Re: ................ I'm also sticking with at&t. No dropped calls and excellent download speeds in Miami. Oh yeah and my grandfathered unlimited plan, not too mention my occasional use of [free] tethering, when I really really need it. | |
| |  en102Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA | Not that I like AT&T, but I'll stick with them, as IMHO, they're the lesser of two evils.
VZW gave me many headaches in the past, and that's reason enough.
I have better corp discount on AT&T than I do on VZW, and haven't had dropped calls since ~2007. | |
|
 rchandraStargate Universe fanPremium
join:2000-11-09
14225-2105
1 edit | informally, this is borne out here I was actually surprised, I thought I'd see more churn. But 13 out of 27 BroadbandReports.com users when polled (up to the writing of this post anyway) said they're staying with AT&T. | |
| | en102Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA | Re: informally, this is borne out here Many may still switch... when they're out of contract.
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Canada = Hollywood North | |
|
BiggA
join:2005-11-23
EARTH Reviews:
 ·Comcast
| Stop baseless AT&T bashing I'm sick of baseless AT&T bashing all over the internet.
The fact of the matter is, that in most places, at most times, AT&T's network is more than twice as fast as Verizon's and can do simultaneous voice and data. AT&T has rollover, and their data is $5/mo cheaper, while being more or less unlimited, unless you seriously abuse it.
The Verizon iPhone uptake has NOTHING to do with people magically switching to a slower, less capable network, and everything to do with people who are stuck on Verizon's network because of family plans, business plans, or for rural coverage reasons getting access to a new device and OS, albeit one that pales in comparison to the likes of the DROID BIONIC and HTC Thunderbolt, but one that people nonetheless somehow will buy.
On the network side, AT&T is the clear leader, although phone wise, Verizon has had a much better selection ever since the DROID lineup started and eclipsed the iPhone in features and capability. | |
| | BiggA
join:2005-11-23
EARTH | Re: Stop baseless AT&T bashing FYI, Simultaneous voice and data sounds stupid until you get into a text storm while trying to access data... then it's REALLY useful! | |
| | |  DaveDudeNo Fear
join:1999-09-01
New Jersey
kudos:1
 ·Vonage
·ViaTalk
| Re: Stop baseless AT&T bashing said by BiggA:FYI, Simultaneous voice and data sounds stupid until you get into a text storm while trying to access data... then it's REALLY useful!
or using navigation and talking on the phone. | |
| | | | | Huh? I use my ViPhone to stream Pandora in my car every day and have no problem receiving texts (and responding whilst stuck at redlights) without the music being interrupted at all. | |
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| | | and their data is $5/mo cheaper, while being more or less unlimited, unless you seriously abuse it.
You seriously considering using over 2GB a month serious abuse? | |
| | | BiggA
join:2005-11-23
EARTH Reviews:
·Comcast
| Re: Stop baseless AT&T bashing While I am all for unlimited data consumption on wireline broadband since they can just add more capacity, and video is a big factor, on the wireless side it's supplemental to wired broadband, and spectrum isn't unlimited. It's also annoying to do big downloads over 3G, as wifi is a lot faster.
I was using it very heavily last month, and I think I hit a 800MB. I am going to cut way back on speed tests and do software updates over wifi, which should bring me down to 500MB or less baseline, leaving 1.5GB for tethering, Pandora, and GPS. At that usage, I am a HEAVY user of my phone...
AT&T offers 3G in just about every civilized place, and the experiences I have had with EDGE in places like PA and NH in areas that are off the beaten path have been very good, as they don't have a lot of users in those areas. That being said, if I lived outside AT&T's 3G coverage area, I would probably have Verizon.
Verizon and AT&T each have areas where they are stronger, but I have had good experiences with AT&T. They have three towers near my house, Verizon only has two, they work pretty well at school, they have spotty but nonetheless present coverage in New Hampshire (PCS), insane coverage in Manhattan (albeit getting 0kbps in Herald Square around Christmas, but the rest of the city was great), excellent 2G coverage in northern Michigan, and they are the only provider with coverage in Snowshoe, WV, which is inside the Radio Quiet Zone, and they have a specially permitted and located tower there that is blocked in one direction by a mountain so Green Bank can't "see" it.
There are still some dead zones in my area, but all carriers have them, as there just aren't any towers in the area.
Unless you are pulling a LOT of data, you won't go over, you can track it online, they send you a text when you're getting close to going over, and the overage rate is $10/GB, not a second mortgage.
It's unlimited in the sense that I do whatever I want on it, in some cases just blatantly wasting bandwidth, and my record in in the 800MB range. I'm saving $60/year with no limits on what I can do with my phone.
We also do like the Rollover cushion, as we got within a few minutes of going over a couple of times, with four lines on an 850 minute plan. Usually not an issue, but the minutes over four lines do add up. We've never gone over, but it's nice to know that if we do, the bill is not going to change. If we were on Verizon, we'd need the 1400 minute plan, which would be another $20 and another $5 for data...
With that setup, I literally have unlimited everything relative to what I would actually use a normal and reasonable person, which makes the service nice to use, as I just use what I want, and never have overages. | |
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|  RRedlineRated RPremium
join:2002-05-15
Williamsport, PA | Which universe are you posting from? AT&T doesn't even offer 3G in most of the places Verizon does.
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One nation, under Zod! | |
| | | robo74
join:2003-10-23
Harvard, IL | Re: Stop baseless AT&T bashing You cant tell these AT&T users that they are not correct. They will claim perfection, claim they are not fanboys and then claim you are a fanboy for pointing out the obvious AT&T flaws outside their "decent" areas. | |
| | | | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Re: Stop baseless AT&T bashing said by robo74:You cant tell these AT&T users that they are not correct. They will claim perfection, claim they are not fanboys and then claim you are a fanboy for pointing out the obvious AT&T flaws outside their "decent" areas.
I could point something out, but the post would just get moderated too.
You know how stupid you sound ANYTIME the word FANBOY is used at all? You're not 12 years old and chasing Beiber are you? If not, then grow up. Besides, the fact that YOU lable someone a "fanboy" makes you one yourself.. look in a mirror. You're so damn butt-hurt that someone would even say anything positive about a carrier that you forget you yourself are a fanboy for defending yours or putting them down for their OPINION.
Get over it and get off the playground - actual kids want the swings. | |
| | | | | robo74
join:2003-10-23
Harvard, IL | Re: Stop baseless AT&T bashing Thanks for proving my point.
WTF is a butt-hurt? LOL.... do YOU know how stupid YOU sound..lol
Have a nice day 
Rob | |
| | | | | | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Re: Stop baseless AT&T bashing said by robo74:Thanks for proving my point.
WTF is a butt-hurt? LOL.... do YOU know how stupid YOU sound..lol
Have a nice day
Rob
Grow up. | |
| | | | | | | robo74
join:2003-10-23
Harvard, IL | Re: Stop baseless AT&T bashing said by fiberguy:said by robo74:Thanks for proving my point.
WTF is a butt-hurt? LOL.... do YOU know how stupid YOU sound..lol
Have a nice day
Rob
Grow up. im all growd up man! Time for you to follow your own advice? | |
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|  pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And PrettyPremium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | said by BiggA:The fact of the matter is, that in most places, at most times, AT&T's network is more than twice as fast as Verizon's and can do simultaneous voice and data. Except when you can't even get a signal. AT&T has been having a huge problem in that department, and while they are improving, Verizon has them beat in this department. Until AT&T significantly improves their coverage and other infrastructure, they will by default lose every speed contest, since any positive speed value will always beat 0.
said by BiggA: AT&T has rollover, and their data is $5/mo cheaper, while being more or less unlimited, unless you seriously abuse it. Since most carriers give you unlimited in-network calling, rollover doesn't have the attraction that it would normally have. A person who talks on the phone a lot is most likely going to have a higher-end voice plan and won't be racking up extra minutes as a result anyway. A person who doesn't use the phone much is simply going to have piles of voice minutes that he doesn't know what to do with.
And your quip about AT&T data being unlimited... I suppose if you count overages, yes it is, but 2GB isn't even close to being unlimited. I'd rather pay the $5 extra a month and know that I won't get a second mortgage bill at the end of the month because my cell phone was too chatty with the network.
said by BiggA:On the network side, AT&T is the clear leader, although phone wise, Verizon has had a much better selection ever since the DROID lineup started and eclipsed the iPhone in features and capability. 
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"Net Neutrality" zealots - the people you can thank for your capped Internet service. | |
| |  Frankis chillingPremium
join:2000-11-03
somewhere | said by BiggA:I'm sick of baseless AT&T bashing all over the internet.
The fact of the matter is, that in most places, at most times, AT&T's network is more than twice as fast as Verizon's and can do simultaneous voice and data.
maybe where you're at but not near nyc.
at&t
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At first I thought everyone on the highway was drunk but then I realized I was driving in Florida | |
| |  morboComplete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000 | said by BiggA:I'm sick of baseless AT&T bashing all over the internet.
The fact of the matter is, that in most places, at most times, AT&T's network is more than twice as fast as Verizon's
Sounds like you should take your own advice and stop making baseless claims about AT&T's network being twice as fast as VZs. | |
| | BiggA
join:2005-11-23
EARTH Reviews:
·Comcast
| @Frank: I know AT&T has had issues in Manhattan, but this picture that some journalists and people have painted of this literal island where AT&T is a disaster is factually wrong. Maybe Verizon is a better choice in NYC, in order to give up some speed for a more consistent connection, and that's fine, but AT&T isn't totally useless there. Or maybe since I'm from 90 miles away, where there often is 1-0 bars on all carriers, inconsistent cell connections don't bother me as much.
@ct0wn: Think about that. The Verizon iPhone WILL NOT do simultaneous data and text. Then think about how Pandora works. Obviously, Pandora has enough of a buffer to go through the data connection dropping out temporarily for the text to come in.
@morbo: That's not baseless, EVDO Rev.A is 3.6mbit max, HSDPA is 7.2mbit max, and both top out at around half that in the real world. | |
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| | ATT sucks LOL att is a network for doing droped vocie and data at ame time lmao, no thanks ill stick with america best network. | |
| Fishie
join:2003-01-14
Riverside, CA | Wait Until New iPhone I think the full scope of migration won't be fully realized until the new iPhone comes out. Naturally, I am assuming the new iPhone will be out in June on both AT&T and Verizon. | |
| | | Really? I wasn't surprised at all. For starters a lot of people are still in contract. And making snarky comments about the the ETF aside (since its actually the money you still owe ATT for taking out a LOAN!), most people just don't switch.
And yes, if you can't get a signal, Verizon is better. But for when you do, ATT has America's best network: faster 3G and simultaneous voice & data are awesome.
The people complaining about ATT all live in SF or LA or NY. Elsewhere, you know where most of America lives, ATT is great. | |
|  mikepdDiscoveryPremium,MVM
join:2000-10-26
New Port Richey, FL
 ·Verizon FiOS
·RoadRunner Cable
| Location, Location, Location As always with cellular carriers, it is the location of the subscriber that really matters when it comes to satisfaction in most cases.
I have had Verizon wireless for over 10 years and have always had excellent service with them. While I have never had AT&T, I did have other carriers such as T-Mobile and Alltel and they were terrible.
I could not even get any signal bars with T-Mobile in the Florida Panhandle area where my cousin lives but Verizon has no problem at all servicing the area.
My unlimited data plan for $29.99 is good until either my 2 year contract is up next year or I modify it sooner which is unlikely as I just got a Droid X.
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Always Reach Beyond Your Grasp | |
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coold8Premium
join:2005-05-15
Arlington, VA | I switched Hey, I switched from AT&T and Verizon, went from having 6-7 dropped calls a day to 0 dropped calls today. Between February 10th and today, I have had a total of 1 dropped call, and it was to any AT&T customer, and I am still unsure whos end it was on. I am in the DC Metro Area, and living with the AT&T iphone was the worst cellular experience ever. | |
| | | Comparisons I honestly don't care what anybody uses. I will use what works for me, and you do what you want. Here, in west KY, AT&T since the 3G upgrade is noticeably faster than Verizon's 3G, and will only get faster with HSPA+, then LTE (2 layers). My iPhone comparison side by side, VZW vs. ATT, ATT was always 2 times faster, outdoors, with towers nearly equal distant. Indoors, VZW on the iPhone at same location was degraded much more so than AT&T's. You could hardly use VZW's iPhone, again towers equal distant, same building. Only one test I know, one location. Anyway, I've dropped maybe 2 or 3 calls in nearly 3 years with AT&T. I believe AT&T's call quality of voice is better than what I heard on VZW's. I believe their voice bit rates might be better slightly per GSM technological advantages (not sure). VZW wins, when it comes to 3G rural coverage, but AT&T has nearly caught up to VZW here. By the end of the year, there will be no difference. Nationwide, by the end of either 2012, or 2013, there will be no difference in my opinion. AT&T's tier data pricing, removal of unlimited is not ideal. But VZW will be doing the same. Only a matter of time. I guarantee it. So get grandfathered in. You won't have unlimited on VZW for ever, and it will cost you. I disagree with a poster about the minimal impact with roll over. If you choose not to have a land line, and still make the same number of calls to non-m2m numbers, the roll over WILL save you dollars, and give you latitude. I simply cannot do the same, for the same price on VZW. Thus, VZW is more expensive, and not an option either. | |
| Reviews:
 ·AT&T Yahoo
| Staying with AT&T I don't love them though.
Staying with them to keep my unlimited data plan ... through iPhone 6, 7 or 8.
And yes, we're getting bigger corporate/premier discounts from them as compared to the Verizon discount.
Got to love the 4,000+ rollover minutes we acquired so far, that means I won't pay more than what I'm suppose to pay. | |
|  ifarrell
join:2000-08-10
Willow Spring, NC | Better the devil you know! Sometimes it's better the devil you know than the one you don't.
I go to a lot of areas with no AT&T service (especially in rural Eastern N Carolina and rural S Georgia) but sometimes I just like the peace and quiet.
It is slowly getting better though, I will say that. | |
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