Coverage: Marketing their enhanced network, AT&T claims to have the fewest dropped calls of any wireless service but that is not what every iPhone user tells me. AT&T has taken public beating with their poor network planning with the iPhone roll-out not realizing how much capacity they would need. As a result other users on the network have suffered as a result including many Blackberry users. AT&T claims to have plans with no roaming or long distance charges nationwide, but there are lots of holes in their coverage map which you can review on the right. Most of the Eastern United States and the majority of the south have AT&T coverage. A good portion of the west coast is covered or soon will be, but the mountain time zone shows vast areas with no coverage at all. If you live in mountains, hilly areas or areas with lots of structure or trees you might want to look closely at the map before you choose a wireless plan with AT&T. AT&T has had considerable problems with network congestions due to the popularity of the iPhone data usage but is adding capacity 850 mhz in many major cities to improve it. AT&T also seems to be taking a leadership positing and is heavily investing in its new Microcell technology or more commonly known in the industry as "femtocells". These are small mini cell phone towers which provide route voice traffic through broadband DSL landlines to improve in-building coverage.
Plans: AT&T Wireless offers several plans ranging from pre-paid, family plans, and individual plans but most people I know using the carrier are corporate customers. Blackberry and iPhone are the two reasons that most people I know are still using the carrier which seems to charge a 30% premium for voice and data that is unjustified as well. Plans come with a free basic phone that is subsidized by a contract, but you are allowed to upgrade for a price if you choose. Plans available below.
- This carrier offers unlimited calling plans.
- AT&T's "rollover" plans let you roll unused minutes over to the following month.
- GSM carrier, AT&T offers extensive international roaming.
- Starting to roll out enhanced in-building coverage with its' Microcell / femtocell product.
- AT&T has a history of picking up the hottest phones soon after their release date. It was the first carrier to offer the Motorola Razr and is the exclusive provider of the Apple iPhone.
- Every carrier claims they have the best network, and AT&T promotes that independent studies (that are unnamed) have shown that it has the fewest dropped calls of any wireless carrier.
- We recommended you monitor your text messaging usage closely and get on an unlimited plan so you don't get charged the outrageous .25 cents per message if you go over.
- 3G networks are limited to metropolitan areas.
- Launching Microcells or Femtocells to help customers improve indoor coverage reception.
- T-Mobile Service Plans and Coverage Review
- Verizon Wireless Service Plans and Coverage Review
- Sprint Wireless Service Plans and Coverage Review
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4 comments:
Since AT&T charges for the femtocell, how is this a heavy investment on their part? It's a heavy investment on their customer's part and further sticks it to us. Also, their not really taking a leadership position, since Sprint and Verizon have both had the technology available for 6 months or so.
Ventura East, 05NOV09 @ 11:00-11:30pm, I lost AT&T's Wireless signal on my laptop and the email I was composing. Later, 06NOV09 @ 2:00am & again @ 4:00am, the signal was too weak to connect. This is the 2nd like episode. Two weeks ago I returned to AT&T's Ventura office for a fix. In order to re-download the program to my laptop, they took it outside, approximately 100 yards from their office on the far side of the mall's parking lot. This tells me that even AT&T's Ventura office has trouble trying to connect to a reliable, strong signal, even in daylight. I suspect they reduce their signal strength, at late night and early morning, to save on transmission costs. They will bill me $165 to escape their contract, which is blackmail, in an attempt to retain me. Further, by not providing an adequate signal, they are in violation of contract, not I. Yet, I must pay for their inadequate service? I am considering small claims court.
I live in Enterprise, Al I signed a contract and now stuck with very poor service. I looked at there coverage map before I signed and it showed great service that is so far from the truth. I called and asked what was the problem and they told me that I am in a poor area and the closest tower is 10 miles away but the web site shows great service to me that is fraud and the law should do something about this but yet again the laws only apply to the little guy. I think that there should be a class action suit against them.
Mt Snow Vt is a dead zone, I have AT&T my wife has Verizon, hers works my iphone has no service
AND ATT&T does not care.
As soon as this contact expires it is back to Verizon.
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