Please Read if you are military and have AT&T cell phones

[Mickrzy]

Just be happy that you have any communication at all! I remember Desert Storm and we only had snail mail and maybe a call a month. My husband and son will be deploying for their 4th time in December for 15 months and I will take whatever communication I can get from them. My son works with IUD's and had a friend killed last time because of a guy using a cell phone, how would you feel if just because you had to call your husband on his cell phone that you got someone KILLED!! Sorry but I don't see a problem with your communication with your husband, your do get to talk to him twice a week, just be happy with what you have.

 

[weregoingtodw]

This time however, hes in a different location, he can hardly email, only 2 15min phone calls per week, he could call anytime on his cellphone when hes off work (as long as we dont mind paying the outrageous bill!), as for the computers, NO IM & NO webcams aloud. All I know is that something happened, and they took away the IM programs off the computers. He cant even use his own laptop. He could provided that they would just wipe his hard drive clean and make it a governement computer where all he can do is just check govenment email and thats it. Just doesnt make any sense. Someone leaks info and they take away the IM program. Dont they realize that people can still leak info through emails, hand written letters, phone calls made on your cell phone? Whats next are they gonna do away with communcation altogether?

I'm about 99.9% sure that I was able to figure out where your DH is based on what you've said above. I'm not sure, though, why you say he can hardly email? Did he not take his laptop because they have to wipe them clean? DH went ahead & took his anyway. It took some time (maybe a week?) to get it wiped, but after that, we could email with no problems for the most part.

If your DH has his laptop, even if he doesn't have an internet signal all the time (and there are ways ), he can still draft emails, then send him when he can get internet service.

 

[wvjules]

But like I stated, even the guy I talked to last night he even stated that AT&T needs to have a plan for our guys over there. Those were his exact words. I mean they have thse international calling plans for international numbers, and you can get a calling plan thats international, but all it does is makes the roaming charges cheaper. Unfortunantly where my DH is, theres no discount on the roaming charges.
.

The guy you talked was a customer service rep with no decision making authority at all. He can think what he wants but it won't do a darn bit of good.

When he is near a computer can't you use the AKO IM program?

 

[Disney8704]

Just to let you know, I dont call him. He calls me all the time. I do text him but thats it. If I called him Im looking at even spending more money cuz it would be $0.98 plus the $2.49. Sorry to hear about the friend. But you prob dont know the whole situation. What was the guy doing on the cell phone if there was something going on around them that was life threatning? That was just stupidity on their part.

Just be happy that you have any communication at all! I remember Desert Storm and we only had snail mail and maybe a call a month. My husband and son will be deploying for their 4th time in December for 15 months and I will take whatever communication I can get from them. My son works with IUD's and had a friend killed last time because of a guy using a cell phone, how would you feel if just because you had to call your husband on his cell phone that you got someone KILLED!! Sorry but I don't see a problem with your communication with your husband, your do get to talk to him twice a week, just be happy with what you have.

 

[Disney8704]

I can email him 24/7, its him that can hardly get to a computer and check his email and have time to reply to it. Hes constantly busy doing his job. He did take his laptop. I was just saying if he wanted to use it to connect to the internet they would wipe his hard drive clean and make it to where he can only check his government email and thats it on it. But I know he wouldnt wanna wipe his hard drive clean and I wouldnt want him to just to send an email when he can do it at work or on his day off.

I'm about 99.9% sure that I was able to figure out where your DH is based on what you've said above. I'm not sure, though, why you say he can hardly email? Did he not take his laptop because they have to wipe them clean? DH went ahead & took his anyway. It took some time (maybe a week?) to get it wiped, but after that, we could email with no problems for the most part.

If your DH has his laptop, even if he doesn't have an internet signal all the time (and there are ways ), he can still draft emails, then send him when he can get internet service.

 

[Disney8704]

What is the AKO IM program? Well whatever it is, where hes at, ALL IM programs have been 100% completely banned.

The guy you talked was a customer service rep with no decision making authority at all. He can think what he wants but it won't do a darn bit of good.

When he is near a computer can't you use the AKO IM program?

 

[Toby'sFriend]

well if you can get AT&T to provide that for you, I bet there will be many Service Families that will be grateful.

I'm just not sure you have much of a chance - but what is the worst that can happen - AT&T says no?

 

[LK03]

I don't know. My DH is on his 2nd deployment and during the 1st tour and part of this one we've gone weeks without communication. I'm grateful for whatever I receive. I don't need to hear from him everyday because he's out trying to keep us safe.

I think some people forget they are in a WAR ZONE! I think it's a lost cause, and as a fellow wife I feel like you are playing the military card too much. Be grateful for what you have. Seriously.

 

[Chuck S]

Remember that AT&T is not the sole entity involved in the overseas connection. Those cell towers and frequencies are owned/operated either by different phone company or the local governments, and the right to USE the signals is negotiated for a price. AT&T may already be giving you as good a per minute rate as they can. It depends upon what the other company is charging them. Plus local fees and taxes on those calls may apply

The worldwide cell phone network is not necessarily all one big happy corporation, any more than all the nations of the world are democratic republics.

 

[SplshMtn99]

I do believe AT&T does offer a military discount, but I don't know what the discount is on. Equipment, contract plans, pay as you go plans.......?

 

[wvjules]

What is the AKO IM program? Well whatever it is, where hes at, ALL IM programs have been 100% completely banned.

If you have an AKO account its the IM that's offered with it. I'm sure its there for a reason and since its a military website maybe it is allowed.

 

[lovemygoofy]

If you have an AKO account its the IM that's offered with it. I'm sure its there for a reason and since its a military website maybe it is allowed.

I'm not sure how AF gets into AKO, though I know that some people do have access to it. My husband does commos and internet stuff and I know that sometimes they ban all use of IM's because it uses up too much bandwidth. There is a BETA version of yahoo IM that I've heard of some people using.

My husband mentioned that when they are deployed that they have to use AKO Light(Lite??) because it doesn't take up as much space and the chat/IM feature is disabled. I think it is on MWR computers and personal computers that are hooked up to commercial internet but not army internet.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

AKO=Army Knowledge Online for soldier's and DA civilians. Not sure if Airmen and others use this or something similar. I can ask DH.

Oops-see Tina already discussed this. Having trouble getting this posted.

 

[wvjules]

Oops, completely missed the AF part of the post. I didn't realize that AKO lite didn't have IM. I rarely get into AKO since my email is forwarded to another account. However, it is handy when you went to look someone up. Great white pages feature!

ETA: Contractors have it too, atleast we do. I think its required in order for us to get our CAC cards.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Trying again.
Maybe this is the AF's version?
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123046048

I really don't think AT&T can give cell service away. There are many ways to communicate these days. It was much better this deployment than during Desert Storm. That was like the dark ages. During DH's 04-05 deployment we had daily communication and webcam (except when he visited his office in Baghdad, no webcam allowed there). I know other's at his camp could use the internet cafe's for phone and internet needs. Many DID buy cell phones from those that were leaving and you spent money on cards you put into the phone to make the calls. Using DH's land line was like calling Texas-FL or FL-Texas, pretty cheap.

 

[katerkat]

DH has deployed to four different bases. Three of which, he only had email and the two 15-minute calls a week. I thought that was pretty typical and never thought to complain to Sprint. (BTW, whoever posted about Sprint, they won't let us put a hold on DH's phone when he deploys, either. )

 

[Disney8704]

To answer someones question, yes AT&T offers a military discount on the monthly plan charges. DH got approved for 19% discount. Its all good for the plan (we have the family shared plan 550 mins), I just wish the 19% wasnt just for the plan porition. If it was for the entire bill, I would be happy with that.