Company Overview: AT&T is currently the largest wireless carrier in the nation. AT&T formerly Cingular Wireless, uses a nationwide GSM network of cell towers and is roaming partners with T-Mobile, SunCom, and other GSM providers operating GSM systems. Cingular has more than 72.9 million (June 08) subscribers in the U.S. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, GA.
Following AT&T's merger with BellSouth in December 2006, Cingular Wireless is now solely owned by AT&T. Now that branding is complete, the new AT&T represents the largest wireless company in the United States, with more than 63 million subscribers who use the nation's largest digital voice and data network.
Special Plan Features: Rollover service allows subscribers to carry unused minutes from month-to-month; Myriad monthly plans include free mobile-to-mobile and optional unlimited nights/weekends and family calling; Data services available for phones/PDAs, BlackBerry devices, and laptops; Pre-paid service available.
Unique Features: Rollover minutes; Downloadable games, ringtones, and other entertainment; "MEdia Net" mobile Internet service for phones; Only major GSM carrier with push-to-talk service.
Pros: Nationwide service coverage and monthly plans competitive with all major carriers; Rollover minutes provide added value; Extensive selection of data and entertainment add-ons; GSM network supports many phones.
Cons: Notable customer service complaints in wake of merger with AT&T Wireless in 2004.
Customer Service Review: Cingular's customer service reputation took a major hit in recent years, with over 14 million complaints logged by the FCC in 2004 and the removal of Cingular from the New York BBB listings in August, 2005. The company is restructuring its customer service operations and reported a 56% reduction in regulatory complaints in Q1 2006.
Technology Used: Cingular Wireless operates nationwide GSM voice networks with GPRS and EDGE data services. Newly lauched "BroadbandConnect" UMTS/HSDPA high-speed network. Cingular also supports their legacy TDMA and analog networks, though they have recently announced these networks will be shut down in 2008.
Network Benefits: Nationwide coverage including high speed data services; Enterprise services for businesses - Cingular is the largest BlackBerry provider in North America; Push to talk service.
Noah's got the iPhone 3G and the old iPhone - the old one's jailbroken, unlocked, and running on T-Mobile. Side by side you can see how the unlocked version works just like the new one (minus 3G). All hail the iPhone-dev team! Also, check out the T-Zones hack for T-Mobile users!
Another Internet speed test pitting four 3G phones against one another. The takeaway? 3G coverage is lousy in Oakland. Or ... Noah has no idea what he's doing.
Noah puts Instinct and iPhone 3G head-to-head in a Web and speed battle. First is a raw download speed test, and then a few Web page load tests. Who won? Watch the video and find out ...
The big news with the new iPhone is price, 3G, and the App Store. Noah takes a look at Super Monkey Ball, Pandora, and Box Office in Part 2 of PhoneDog's look at the App Store.
The big news with the new iPhone is price, 3G, and the App Store. Noah takes a look at installing Apps and checks out a few of them in Part 1 of PhoneDog's look at the App Store.
Three hot touchscreen phones - which one's right for you? This is the loooong version of a head to head to head between Instinct, Vu, and iPhone. If you're not up for 15 in-depth minutes, check out the short version for the summary.
So this guy walks into a bar and says, "Wait, is that a BlackBerry Bold
in your pocket or are you just happy to see the Phone Dawg?"
Sorry,
couldn't resist. But seriously, that blurry photo? It's me, in a bar
late last night, posing with a an AT&T-branded BlackBerry Bold.
The Bold belongs to the person who took the photo, and said person had
also just bought our second round of Guiness, so you'll have to forgive
the...
Previous Posts in this series:AT&T: Apple iPhone 3G , LG VuVerizon Wireless: LG Voyager, LG Dare, Samsung Glyde, LG Decoy Palm Centro- AT&T WirelessPalm came back from the brink of disaster with the popular Centro. The Centro is something of a crossover phone, to borrow a term from the auto industry - it combines the size and design of a messaging phone with the power of a Palm OS smartphone. While Centro's QWERTY thumbboard...
Previous Posts in this series: AT&T: Apple iPhone 3G, LG VuVerizon Wireless: LG Voyager, LG Dare, Samsung Glyde, LG DecoyMOTO Z9 - AT&T WirelessMotorola's Z9 is an interesting phone. It's larger and thicker than most of today's feature phones, and yet it has tiny little buttons on its dialing keypad. The Z9 feels good in hand, has a solid slider mechanism, and a big, bright display. Add GPS, 3G/Cellular Video support...
Previous Posts in this series:AT&T: Apple iPhone 3G Verizon Wireless: LG Voyager, LG Dare, Samsung Glyde, LG DecoyLG Vu (CU 915/920) - AT&T WirelessVu
is AT&T's premiere Mobile TV phone, though it also comes in a less
expensive version that's not compatible with the television service.
Both devices are sleek touchscreen phones that offer a nice,
lightweight industrial design complimented by LG's attractive...
I want to launch into a rant here. It'd go something like this: I've
always used Apple products, have never bought a non-Apple computer, and
have followed them with both personal and professional interest since
first laid eyes on an Apple IIe back in elementary school, but I'm this
close to calling it a day and moving on to the world of PCs. Apple's
grown too fast for their own good, and quality control is suffering in
a big...
I have a tip that is great for people with smart phones that are either only edge capable or on an edge only network. Using Opera Mini browser on my Nokia E71 and N95 on T-mobiles network I can browse the web faster than using AT&T or Sprints 3G networks, I've tested it. The pages load about 3 seconds faster than on the 3G networks. I have found that this is not well known among T-mobile users that I know.
By: Ralph Turner on Tuesday, August 05, 2008 From: Moline, IL (United States) Experience: 5 Days
Pros: Customer service very friendly.Cons: No service in many areas.Summary: Our Sprint contract expired at the end of July, we had OK connectivity with them but not great, so we started looking at other carriers. When we went to the AT&T store I fell in love with the iPhone 3G and had to have it. I excitedly took it home thinking I should have good connectivity as AT&T advertises "More Bars in More Places". Wrong, I could not get a signal in my home, only if I went outside. Out of curiosity I started driving around the city to see if it was just my area. I was very surprised to find many dead spots. So much for more bars (they must be talking about the alcoholic type). I hate to do it but I am taking my iPhone back and moving to Verizon. The iPhone was great, just not on the AT&T network.
By: anthony spadaccini on Monday, August 04, 2008 From: myrtle beach, SC (United States) Experience: 4 Years
Pros: Really nottingCons: Bad service. The customer support is a joke- NO-ONE has any idea what they are talking about. Plan prices are terribleSummary: I first went over when they were just cingular, everything was good, service was so much better, people that worked there had sense, everything was simple..Now, AT&T is an abosulute JOKE. The phones are average priced but the plans are so overpriced!An everything plan for sprint-99.99 $An everything plan for ATT- over 130$ thats just sad, and the customer support at the website is even worse, first you wait for 30 minutes, then when you get to someone there like retarted, i had a question on phone insurance i asked five people, everyone one managed to give me a different answer.
By: Paul Robnett on Wednesday, July 02, 2008 From: St. Louis, MO (United States) Experience: 4 Years
Pros: I signed on with Cingular in Fall of '04 and my cellular service has been fine. No complaints.Cons: Minor issues with phone but taken care of (by Cingular).Summary: 3.5 years later, it's time to retire my poor old phone. I mistakenly made an assumption that my best bet was to go to an AT&T retail store. Bad idea. I'm on a family plan which my brother started. So, I'm not an "authorized user". Ok, no problem, I don't want to change the contract or even buy anything. All I want is info on phones. Simple enough right? Wrong! They treat me as if I am some kind of criminal or a leper. When I go to shop for (but not yet buy) a phone, they REFUSE to wait on me. What retailer has a policy to REFUSE SERVICE to a paying customer who wants to LOOK AT buying more products and services? AT&T that's who.
The WORST service (or lack thereof) I've ever experienced. In fact, I'm going to suggest that it's not service at all, just ARROGANCE.
As soon as I can escape from their evil clutches, I will. And I shall never return.
By: Angel Cathe on Monday, June 23, 2008 From: Monroe, NY (United States) Experience: 2 Months
Pros: Online account management is good.Cons: CoverageSummary: Since Cell One was bought by AT&T, the amount of bars on my phone has gone down. About 60% of the calls I make will not go through because "Network is not available". This is very frustrating. I hardly ever had this problem before (I've been a Cell One customer for over two years).
By: Eric Buck on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 From: San Diego, CA (United States) Experience: 2 Years
Pros: roll over but that is even a jokeCons: coverage, data speeds. They say they have highspeed data but it is very spotty. Customer service is poor. Summary: Nothing good to say.
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