03-22-2004, 03:00 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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Petition Against AT&T's T68 Replacement Offer
Two weeks ago, I posted on the fact that AT&T is offering replacement phones due to the need for dual-band GSM 850/1900-based coverage. Many AT&T customers are upset about subpar replacement offers, especially those who have been offered the Sony Ericsson T226 in replacement for the T68; perhaps most significantly, the T226 lacks Bluetooth. As a result, some customers are petitioning AT&T to offer the T616 instead, which is a more logical upgrade. If you're affected, you might want to check it out and sign the petition.
"This is an open letter to AT&T Wireless, regarding the way they have handled customer complaints about their T68i to T226 �upgrade� offer. The T68i is a Sony-Ericsson phone that AT&T sold to its customers, which never quite worked right on their network. Due to the large number of problems, AT&T and Sony-Ericsson are sending the T68i users a free �upgrade� to a T226 telephone. However, the T226 is missing some very important features that T68i users depend on. AT&T has been inconsistent in their response to customer inquiries about the �upgrade.� Some customers have received a better phone (the T616) for free, while others have been told they�ll have to pay upwards of $100 and renew their contracts for two years in order to get a T616. I�ve written the list of grievances and the letter below to ask AT&T to consider the needs of its T68i customers, and to offer up the T616 with no strings attached as a consideration to those of us who have spent the last year in cellular hell, fighting with dropped calls and poor service."
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03-22-2004, 03:49 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 87
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I was under the impression (and read elsewhere on the web) that if you didnt want the up/down grade - you could just refuse it. AT&T had clarified the statement on their intentions of the exchange program a week or so ago, from what I understand. Anyone?.........
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03-22-2004, 03:58 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 141
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I will never understand the US mobile phone network, over here any phone works with any SIM card (except those phones that are locked to a provider), why is it so complication in the US?
Tons of phone are bluetooth capable over here and can be used on any network, contract or pay as you go.
Why don't they standardise the networks and make every phone work on the same system. :?:
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03-22-2004, 04:20 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Dazbot
I will never understand the US mobile phone network, over here any phone works with any SIM card (except those phones that are locked to a provider), why is it so complication in the US?
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This is GSM. It's just different frequencies, as we cannot use 900/1800. We only used to have 1900, now we have 850 and 1900 -- and that transition is causing some problems.
By the way, be prepared for fragmentation of your own as the world moves to 3G -- even in Europe. You guys are going to be deploying 2100MHz for wCDMA, amongst other frequencies. As more advanced applications are delivered, new frequencies will need to be deployed, and phone replacements will ultimately be needed all over the place. 
--janak
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03-22-2004, 04:20 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by TheZodiac
I was under the impression (and read elsewhere on the web) that if you didnt want the up/down grade - you could just refuse it.
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Yes, but endure subpar performance. Whether or not customers are entitled to a replacement is a different story altogether. The petition takes one stand.
--janak
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03-22-2004, 04:33 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 12
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Where is the policy?
Can someone point me to a link where this policy is shown? I have been all through the ATTWS site and I find no mention.
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03-22-2004, 04:33 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 57
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I do believe that AT&T should be responsible and provide a comparible phone for those that request it. Offering the T226 is fine, but when someone calls and requests a T616, they should provide it.
I have a T68i and I called AT&T Customer Support last Tuesday and asked the rep (Carolyn - she was wonderful) what she could do to help me. Extending my agreement two years, rebates and credits would get me a T616 for $10 plus taxes. For me this is good because I've been wanting to extend my plan. I have a $99/month-unlimited minutes plan. I've been concerned that with the Cingular merger, I may lose the ability to extend the plan.
Working with Carolyn, I instead am getting a Nokia 6820 for about $120 more. The 6820 supports EDGE, has BT and is a world phone. Also, I still get the T226 which I can give to my daughter as a gift to replace her broken phone.
So I made this work for me, but I do think AT&T should do what is right for everyone.
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03-22-2004, 05:00 PM
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Oracle
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 980
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I don't see why I should sign a 2 year contract to fix a problem created by AT&T.
:evil:
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03-22-2004, 06:04 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 141
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Janak Parekh
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Dazbot
I will never understand the US mobile phone network, over here any phone works with any SIM card (except those phones that are locked to a provider), why is it so complication in the US?
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This is GSM. It's just different frequencies, as we cannot use 900/1800. We only used to have 1900, now we have 850 and 1900 -- and that transition is causing some problems.
By the way, be prepared for fragmentation of your own as the world moves to 3G -- even in Europe. You guys are going to be deploying 2100MHz for wCDMA, amongst other frequencies. As more advanced applications are delivered, new frequencies will need to be deployed, and phone replacements will ultimately be needed all over the place.
--janak |
3G phones still work on normal GSM systems and the sim cards are swapable, 3G sims work in older phones just without the extras.
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03-22-2004, 06:05 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 87
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Janak Parekh
Quote:
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Originally Posted by TheZodiac
I was under the impression (and read elsewhere on the web) that if you didnt want the up/down grade - you could just refuse it.
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Yes, but endure subpar performance. Whether or not customers are entitled to a replacement is a different story altogether. The petition takes one stand.
--janak |
AT&T customers already "enjoy" subpar performance.
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