Is at&t really stooping to this level??
http://gizmodo.com/5122738/att-downgrading-2g-servic ... »
Timothy Butler over at OFB did some sleuthing and found that AT&T is downgrading its EDGE/2G service to the weaker 1900 MHz band. Their response to those with newly-lousy service? Buy a new phone.
EDGE/2G was previously using the 850 MHz band, which compared to the new 1900 MHz offered superior coverage, especially indoors. The switch, as confirmed by AT&T sources, is designed to boost the network's 3G coverage, but that leaves many users of previously functioning phones, including the original iPhone, with worse service, especially in rural areas. An AT&T PR representative, as well as several customer service reps, offered the same solutio...
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Timothy Butler over at OFB did some sleuthing and found that AT&T is downgrading its EDGE/2G service to the weaker 1900 MHz band. Their response to those with newly-lousy service? Buy a new phone.
EDGE/2G was previously using the 850 MHz band, which compared to the new 1900 MHz offered superior coverage, especially indoors. The switch, as confirmed by AT&T sources, is designed to boost the network's 3G coverage, but that leaves many users of previously functioning phones, including the original iPhone, with worse service, especially in rural areas. An AT&T PR representative, as well as several customer service reps, offered the same solutio...
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What the duck do you care? You don't even have AT&T. (And this story is a hoax) AT&T has so much spectrum, that they don't have to do any of these crazy band allocations. Try again.
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it will have minimal impact. but this has been planned for awhile now. it also isn't happening everywhere because in some areas they do not have 1900 or have never had 850 so most customers will never notice a difference. but just like when they merged the two networks it did leave some people out. it sucks but that's business...
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This happened in a popular shore area in New Jersey around september/october of this year. No one seemed to know what was going on and they even had network operations out to test the area. It seems one hand wasn't talking to the other and there were tons of customers caught in the mix. We had a good amount of people that couldn't receive a signal on their 2G phone where they could before.
Before anyone jumps on this, it only affected 2G phones. People with 3G phones (in the same house and same plan) didn't have any problems. After upgrading to a 3G phone, they had their signal back again.
It doesn't matter how many people call hoax on this one, I've seen this happen and it ain't fun especially when no one tells store employee...
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Before anyone jumps on this, it only affected 2G phones. People with 3G phones (in the same house and same plan) didn't have any problems. After upgrading to a 3G phone, they had their signal back again.
It doesn't matter how many people call hoax on this one, I've seen this happen and it ain't fun especially when no one tells store employee...
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Yeah nothing has been communicated to customer care or tech support about this... if it were true I wouldnt be surprised if they didnt tell us.
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3G is now being deployed in the 850 MHz band, but that was freed up when the TDMA network was finally taken down in February of 2008. It was taking spectrum from the GPRS/EDGE data network, it was spectrum that had to be allocated to TDMA.
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Seems like the drama is being laid on a little thick here. As 3G becomes an increasing part of the customer base, it makes sense to shift the 'prime' spectrum over to that use.
And gee, maybe things have changed recently, but back when I worked customer care for AT&T (within the last year), if a customer called in and our network changes HAD diminished his phone's usability, this would be a situation in which we would show special consideration. It would've been a fairly trivial matter for me to be able to offer a credit. I'm positive I would've been able to get approval for a further discounted upgrade. If worst came to worst, I could have even let him out of his contract without ETF on account of ongoing technical difficulties.
And gee, maybe things have changed recently, but back when I worked customer care for AT&T (within the last year), if a customer called in and our network changes HAD diminished his phone's usability, this would be a situation in which we would show special consideration. It would've been a fairly trivial matter for me to be able to offer a credit. I'm positive I would've been able to get approval for a further discounted upgrade. If worst came to worst, I could have even let him out of his contract without ETF on account of ongoing technical difficulties.
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