Thinking about switching to AT&T Wireless

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Because I want an iPhone. I blame Pete. Anyway, I'm wondering about AT&T's wireless coverage. Is it pretty good? I have Verizon right now and the coverage is great, but their phones stink. Plus I just found out my Blackberry has one of the highest levels of radiation out there.

If you have AT&T wireless, please let me know what you think of the coverage.

TIA!

 

[cyberbox2]

In the states, Verizon is by far has the best cell coverage. However, I switched from Verizon 2 years ago to get the first iPhone and I have not been disappointed. I live in the suburbs and work in the city, cell coverage is most always abundant in these types of areas.

When I venture further out into the country, it can be hit or miss where as I know my Verizon service would have been there for me. But again I don't live or work in the country so its never been an issue.

Coverage on WDW property is great and Disneyland is not bad either.

 

[kaligal]

It may just be where I live, but the AT&T service sucks.

I had Verizon for about 15 years and I dropped MAYBE five calls in the whole time. It was probably less. I remember only two and both were a loooong time ago.

I dropped three calls the first day I got the iPhone. And the trouble just kept a-coming.

If I'm making any sort of call from which I really don't want to be disconnected (even making an ADR with Disney), I use the landline. I cannot count on the iPhone to stay connected.

I'm also paying more for the crappy service.

I thought I'd love the iPhone. And I probably would...if the flippin thing worked. I'll be dropping the service when the contract is up and going back to Verizon.

That's my $.02

 

[IHeartTink04]

I am from Missouri and I have no problems at all with my AT&T service and I LOOOVE my iphone!

 

[AnneR]

I don't experience anymore dropped calls with AT&T than I did with any other service in our area.

Of course, no one has good service in my house. We have tried all the vendors.

 

[richmo]

The coverage issue varies a lot depending upon where you are. In some areas, Verizon has better coverage, others at&t. I happen to have T-Mobile and, overall, the coverage seems fine for my purposes. Actually, in my own house the signal is only one or two bars, but my phone has WiFi, so that kicks in anyway. From the coverage standpoint, its probably best to check with others that have a carrier in the places you're most likely to use the phone and see what kind of signal they get.

Of course, if you're going with the iPhone, at&t is it for now. I hear that Apple will be going to other carriers, but I don't know of a date. I had thought the original agreement between at&t and Apple for the 1st gen iPhone was that at&t would have exclusivity for 5 years. Perhaps that's been modified, but we're also well into that 5 years. If you strongly feel Verizon is the carrier for you, you may just want to stick with your existing phone/carrier until Verizon picks up the device, rather than signing away 2 years with at&t.

Personally, I'm happy with the BlackBerry. I don't worry much about the radiation issue since my conversations tend to be fairly short. I use it more for data anyway and many of my conversations are in the car, where I have a Bluetooth connection (not the ear thing; it goes thru the car stereo), so I'm not holding it up to my ear anyway. Unless you're holding the device to your ear for frequent and long periods of time, radiation shouldn't be an issue. I'd base my device choice on features, carrier and price, not radiation.

 

[mikelan6]

If the iPhone were available on Verizon, I'd switch in a heartbeat ... that's all I'm saying.

 

[klam_chowder]

Depends on where you are - replies will be more meaningful if you say in which city/areas you'll be using the phone.

cheers,

 

[auroralark]

If the iPhone were available on Verizon, I'd switch in a heartbeat ... that's all I'm saying.

Ditto. Our bill is wrong every month. EVERY month! And it's really not that complicated. AT&T is lucky I love my iPhone so much.

 

[Castaway Dave]

I am located in EAST TEXAS. I was an Alltel customer and service was always spectacular. Then Verizon bought them and I was grandfathered with the Alltel rate which was also great. I had a real old plan. But, I needed more minutes and the plan under ATT was $10 per month less than Verizon for the same plan. Plus I have ATT phone and internet. So I got all the fees waived and shipping free. I bought 3 phones. I went with the LG Vue because I didn’t need the DATA plan. Remember the iPhone requires you take a $30 per month data plan with whatever service you choose. The only way I know you can get out of it is tell them you are blind and can’t use the internet. My best friend did this and yes he is really blind. If you are strapped for cash the LG Vue is the way to go. It is a nice looking touch phone but not as nice as the iPhone. It has a fairly nice camera and MP3 player however you will have to purchase a card and a USB cable to use.

One last note.

First, do all your research on the ATT website and see the other phones they have to offer.
Second, YouTube has some great reviews on the phones available.
Third. DO NOT buy you phone through the internet or Walmart or 1000’s of other ATT outlets. Call the ATT 1-800 number. Tell them you are a Verizon customer and want to switch but don’t want to pay all the fees. They will negotiate with you. Believe me the stores will not. According to the Internet the LG Vue required a Data Plan. I also got a free phone and another for $9.99.

Also, when you get your phone, call the 1-800 number they give you to activate your phone. After you activate it call customer service and review the service you agreed to. I found that the rep added several services that I specifically said I did not want.

As far as service goes, locally they are crisp and clear. I’m going to DAP in December so it will get a real test then. Best wishes on your decision.

 

[sunshine girl]

I've had At&T (previously Cingular, previously CellularOne) for 11 years, almost 12. I've had great service while living in downtown Chicago, Southeast Florida, and Southeast Michigan. I've also had consistently great service when traveling all over the country.

I've never considered switching! I don't have an iPhone, though. My phone is ancient and it works great. I can't remember when I last experienced a dropped call (at least on my end)!

 

[wdwscout]

Verizon has the most extensive coverage- and there are still may areas around here (including in my house) where I drop calls all the time. Other carriers have been even worse. I live 18 miles east of Philly, in the NJ suburbs, on the edge of the Pine Barrens- apparently trees and cell service don't work well together.
For work I travel all over southern NJ, southeastern PA and northern DE- from Atlantic City to Lancaster, PA. Lots and lots of "rural" areas and a huge city/suburb in the middle. My work Blackberry is on Sprint- not any better than Verizon.
I still need a land-line.

 

[GAN]

If the iPhone were available on Verizon, I'd switch in a heartbeat ... that's all I'm saying.

I agree. We're on the fence right now about switching. My fiance is on Verizon, I'm on Sprint(Palm 755P, which I've enjoyed) and we're thinking of a family plan with AT&T on the iPhone. We'll be in Europe next year and it would be convenient to have an iPhone when traveling(for a fee of course). Just not sure it's worth the extra money, but I don't believe it will be coming to Verizon any time soon. One thing that kills me is that AT&T offers all these different pricing discounts on their service depending on your employer -we could get a 10% discount. I have a friend that gets 20% and know others that get as much as 24% off service only. While I understand why they do this, it only makes me "feel" like I'm paying a premium(even though I'd be getting a discount). I'm looking for the best deal possible to switch my business -but, of course they won't deal.

 

[Willow1213]

I agree. We're on the fence right now about switching. My fiance is on Verizon, I'm on Sprint(Palm 755P, which I've enjoyed) and we're thinking of a family plan with AT&T on the iPhone. We'll be in Europe next year and it would be convenient to have an iPhone when traveling(for a fee of course). Just not sure it's worth the extra money, but I don't believe it will be coming to Verizon any time soon. One thing that kills me is that AT&T offers all these different pricing discounts on their service depending on your employer -we could get a 10% discount. I have a friend that gets 20% and know others that get as much as 24% off service only. While I understand why they do this, it only makes me "feel" like I'm paying a premium(even though I'd be getting a discount). I'm looking for the best deal possible to switch my business -but, of course they won't deal.

Every service provider gives discounts depending on who your employer is. This is completely dependent on who they use for their corporate account. If the CEO and all the heads of your company carry Verizon phones, then I guarantee you would get a discount on your service from Verizon. The amount of discount also depends on the size of this business agreement. If you have 20 people in your office the discount is not as large as a company the size of, say, Coca-Cola, who I know for a fact gets a 24% service discount through AT&T. So it has nothing to do with someone wanting to "deal" with you.

 

[GAN]

Every service provider gives discounts depending on who your employer is. This is completely dependent on who they use for their corporate account..

Like I said -I already know WHY they do this but thanks for your version. Not to turn this into a mess, but this statement is simply not true. You can go to Sprint and buy a Pre getting their best offer for service right out of the gate -the same price everyone else is offered. They use to have an "employee referral program" which anyone had access to with no "true" referral. I have no problem with AT&T(or any other service provider) offering Companies a discount for phones used in their business by employees. If I went to a shoe store and found a nice pair of shoes for $75 then went to check out and the person next to me buys the same pair for $50 because of who they work for -those shoes are worth $50, but because I don't work for the "right" company I pay more. There is something wrong with that. I'm glad AT&T doesn't run grocery stores! The fact is the discount isn't even based on size or "what the CEO's carry," my Company is larger than a friend of mine and their executives are all on Sprint -but he gets an 18% discount and I get 10%. Again, I think AT&T can operate any way they want and I can go get a phone from someone else if I choose -but I'm not comfortable that this is a good way to do business in the consumer market. OK...I'm done venting.

 

[rotlex]

I live in NE PA. I switched to ATT ONLY because of the iPhone over a year ago. I LOVE the iPhone. My feelings toward ATT are mixed, but lets just say I came from Sprint, a carrier most people can't stand, and had FAR less dropped calls then I do now. I'd say on average I drop at least a call a day. I even had the phone replaced at one point thinking it was that. Turns out,it's just poor service.

Let's put it this way. If another carrier picks up the iPhone sometime in the next few years, I'm done with ATT.

 

[GAN]

I've heard the same regarding dropped calls. I think you are probably in the majority regarding AT&T, but I wouldn't hold your breath for another carrier like Verizon to step in anytime soon. If it happens, I'm reading things like possibly late 2010 -although there are plenty of rumors. We will probably wait till early next year just in case there is some earth-shattering news.