AT&T Bottom of the Barrel

[Jeff Campbell]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20091201/att-ranked-last-in-consumer-reports-best-cell-phone-service-survey/' target='_blank'>http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/...service-survey/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"The annual survey of wireless customer satisfaction from Consumer Reports hits the streets this week and it doesn't have much good to say about AT&amp;T. In a canvass of more than 50,000 readers spanning 26 U.S. cities, the organization found the carrier had the lowest customer-satisfaction rating in 19 cities surveyed; Verizon ranked highest."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1259716446.usr105634.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>This was pretty much across the board in all cities, dead last. Interesting note to go along with all of this is that 98% of iPhone users would buy the phone again, compared to only 78% of other phones. I haven't had the lows that the respondents of this survey have with AT&amp;T, what has been your experience?</p>

[ptyork]

I live in a small city of around a half million. I live close to town and work smack in the middle. No coverage at work inside and VERY spotty out. 3 dead zones between work and home mean almost guaranteed dropped calls. Good coverage at home. Long, frustrating waits at the store and long waits on the phone with customer support. Usually satisfied with support when I get to talk to a human if trying to deal with billing issues. Complete incompetence on technical issues. Overall, I'd rate them half or full black circles across the board.

Problem is, Sprint coverage is actually worse. T-Mobile has terrible coverage off the beaten path. Verizon has "okay" coverage, but are big, fat, red pigs with crazy $350 early termination fees (and of course they're CDMA). So, what to do?!?! Grin and bear it, I guess. :(

[doogald]

A map is only as good as where it covers. For me, I live in what should be a strong Verizon area - and generally is - but is definitely not at my house. I simply cannot depend on speaking on the phone at my house, and data rates are about 30k.

Just yesterday I bought a $15 prepaid AT&T SIM and put it in an old, unlocked phone. Coverage isn't fantastic ay home, but it's better. It's better at my son's school, it's as good everywhere else that we try it.

I'm switching to AT&T, even if I need to hold my nose to do so.

[Jerry Raia]

I think the exclusive iPhone deal really saved some of AT&T's bacon.

[Bob12]

I live in a town of about 40,000 and AT&T 3G coverage is excellent pretty much all over town. It fades fairly quickly to Edge as I leave town, though.

[Fritzly]

The annual survey of wireless customer satisfaction from Consumer Reports hits the streets this week and it doesn't have much good to say about AT&amp;T. In a canvass of more than 50,000 readers spanning 26 U.S. cities, the organization found the carrier had the lowest customer-satisfaction rating in 19 cities surveyed; Verizon ranked highest.

AT&T is just the worst among other very bad ones. I have an iPhone and I use it with T-Mobile and while I do not expereince dropped calls I still get a lot of "network busy, try later" around
4:45 and 5:15 PM; also no 3G coverage. Btw my phone is not "cracked"; I bought it officially in Europe where it is sold SIM free.

I see this just as the tip of a much more serious issue here in the US: it is the entire infrastructures segment that is old and falling apart; and I am not only talking about phone networks, DSL connections etc. but as well as bridges, highways etc. etc.
We are way behind and not even drawing plans about how to improve them.