AT&T Wireless

**drmwevr08** · 03-30-2010, 03:05 PM

It must be about time for another cell phone thread. Anyone have anything to say pro or con regarding AT&T? Its time to upgrade and add the teenager and I might like an IPhone. I am concerned about the coverage, which I have heard is pretty crappy in Omaha. If the website is any indication I may have to run away. Its about the biggest pile I've dealt with in a while. In trying to find a full keyboard phone for the teens texting I noticed that all of them required selecting a $20+ data plan. I thought that seemed rediculous so I engaged a chat with the helpful helper folks. She assured me that wasnt the case. I assured her that I was not able to select any of those phones without also selecting a data plan. She then said I could get rid of it later, when I activated the phones. Now why would they force me to select one if one isnt required for starters, and why would I sign a two year deal with that plan and then expect that they are going to be happy to let me drop it right away? Ok, enough web frustration venting for now.

Oh, and the dorks at Verizon now only offer $50 bucks off at renewal instead of $100.

**IcSyU** · 03-30-2010, 03:07 PM

Some phones DO require a data plan....for example, your Blackberry/iPhone/smart phones do require the extra plan...

**drmwevr08** · 03-30-2010, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by IcSyU

Some phones DO require a data plan....for example, your Blackberry/iPhone/smart phones do require the extra plan...

This I know and I want one on the Iphone anyway. I have a job however and a marginal need for such a thing. My soon to be 14 year old, not so much on either account.

**cytech** · 03-30-2010, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by drmwevr08

This I know and I want one on the Iphone anyway. I have a job however and a marginal need for such a thing. My soon to be 14 year old, not so much on either account.

The network in Cedar Rapids has been getting better, but they used to be absolutely horrible with constant dropped calls over here. I no longer use them so I am not sure if that has been entirely corrected or not.

I am very happy with Sprint right now

**ia8manfan** · 03-30-2010, 03:53 PM

Well, the AT&T/iPhone fanatics must be on vacation today. Almost 1 hour into this and no love from them yet.

**CycloneWarning** · 03-30-2010, 04:17 PM

Still very conflicting stories, but the Wall Street Journal just today said again that Apple has indicated that iPhone will be available with Verizon and CDMA this year. Story has been refuted by other Apple analysts.

I am sure this is not helpful to your immediate needs.

**iowajazz** · 03-30-2010, 04:21 PM

I have found the ATT coverage to be pretty decent in the DSM area. Certain strange areas where I can't get a signal (Bennigan's on Merle Hay for one), but usually pretty good service. My son got an ITouch at Christmas and it was a great purchase. When we travel he can watch movies, listen to music, use different apps.

**jrcisu79** · 03-30-2010, 04:26 PM

AT&T and T-mobile use GSM tech and US Cellular, Sprint and Verizon run CDMA. The CDMA is better in my opinion. With GSM if there is no tower you have no reception period, no roaming nothing. With CDMA you can roam off other company's towers, which in turn means far greater coverage. I've had all company's and Verizon so far has been the best with Sprint not far behind. Verizon's phones are a lot better IMO, plus with the talk of the iPhone coming to Verizon this fall, I'd hold out if I were you.

**Clonedogg** · 03-30-2010, 04:30 PM

I'm very happy with my iPhone, just about 2.5 yrs. I live in cr and have very good coverage. I don't have Internet at home so this is my phone and web surfing device.

**cyrevkah** · 03-30-2010, 04:34 PM

ATT worked well in Jamaica with a data plan. We learned at short notice that the barrowed cell phone would not be available so we asked different companies and they all said that the coverage would be limited. Everywhere we went it worked for us!

Yet at home, once I get near our apartment door the connection starts cutting out and I can rarely get a signal in the house.

**Clonehomer** · 03-30-2010, 04:38 PM

If you aren't under contract with AT&T, then you may want to at least look at Verizon. You may pay a little more, but their network is typically better. As far as the IPhone, the new androids can do pretty much anything an Iphone can do. If you order from HTC (the phone's manufacturer) directly, you can pick up an Eris for free with a new contract. Verizon Wireless Cell Phones

**jumbopackage** · 03-30-2010, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by jrcisu79

AT&T and T-mobile use GSM tech and US Cellular, Sprint and Verizon run CDMA. The CDMA is better in my opinion. With GSM if there is no tower you have no reception period, no roaming nothing. With CDMA you can roam off other company's towers, which in turn means far greater coverage. I've had all company's and Verizon so far has been the best with Sprint not far behind. Verizon's phones are a lot better IMO, plus with the talk of the iPhone coming to Verizon this fall, I'd hold out if I were you.

*sigh* not true. You can roam with GSM as well. It's just that there aren't many GSM providers in the US (T-Mobile and AT&T and a few small regional ones) and the ones that are, tend to have overlapping coverage (i.e. big cities).

**NobodyBeatsCy** · 03-30-2010, 04:47 PM

At&T works for where I go on business - Midwest, Northwest, all of Canada and ocassionally, Europe.

The only place I regularly have crappy service is rural Iowa when I'm riding RAGBRAI. I got better service in the middle of nowhere - SE corner of the Czech Republic near Poland (voice, data, text) - than I did in Greenfield , IA!

**jrcisu79** · 03-30-2010, 05:06 PM

Originally Posted by jumbopackage

*sigh* not true. You can roam with GSM as well. It's just that there aren't many GSM providers in the US (T-Mobile and AT&T and a few small regional ones) and the ones that are, tend to have overlapping coverage (i.e. big cities).

All Im saying is, go out in the country, you know those big areas in between citys, and try to get AT&T coverage. It's not gonna happen. If you spend every moment of your life in a larger city you should have no problems. When I had AT&T it sucked donkey balls. I now have a Droid and couldn't be happier.

If you look at a AT&T coverage map of Iowa, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport are the only citys with 3G coverage. GSM coverage is junk in Iowa, period.

**jrcisu79** · 03-30-2010, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by NobodyBeatsCy

At&T works for where I go on business - Midwest, Northwest, all of Canada and ocassionally, Europe.

The only place I regularly have crappy service is rural Iowa when I'm riding RAGBRAI. I got better service in the middle of nowhere - SE corner of the Czech Republic near Poland (voice, data, text) - than I did in Greenfield , IA!

That is because most of the rest of the world uses GSM while we had to be different and go with CDMA and GSM.