So, I have a European HTC Hero, which only works on AT&T EDGE. Well, the other day, I received this text message:
Quote:
AT&T Free Message: By letter dated 12/3/2010, we informed you that upcoming network changes may impact your ability to make/receive calls & data on your phone with mobile number ending in ####. To avoid service interruption, visit an AT&T owned retail store by 1/6/2011 & exchange your current phone for a new comparable 3G phone at no cost/obligation to you. Some restrictions apply, see store for details.
Now, at first, I thought this might be a good thing. Maybe I could upgrade to a 3G Android phone for free without even upping my contract, but I certainly wasn't optimistic (this is AT&T we're talking about).
So I visit my friendly neighborhood AT&T store and they tell me I can choose from any of their Feature or Messaging phones...Yeah, they want me to trade in my $500 Smartphone for some crappy $25 feature phone. It's either that, shell out $500 for one of their crappy Androids, or leave AT&T. Well, I guess I'm leaving AT&T.
According to the sales rep (who I don't put much stock in btw), AT&T is "changing the frequencies of their EDGE towers." I guess turning them into 3G towers. The whole story didn't make a whole lot of sense to be honest. Sounds to me like they're planning on making their whole network 3G only, or they're shifting all data (and digital voice) from their EDGE network to the 3G network due to the added strain of data phones on EDGE.
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that sounds really weird. it would take them much more deployment and backhaul to do a complete 3g network. i find myself going to edge a lot in other parts of the country and i dont see it to be worth it to them to do that. they might just be trying to get you to buy a 3g data plan.
that sounds really weird. it would take them much more deployment and backhaul to do a complete 3g network. i find myself going to edge a lot in other parts of the country and i dont see it to be worth it to them to do that. they might just be trying to get you to buy a 3g data plan.
That's exactly what I was thinking! I'm on the ancient $10/mo unlimited data plan, but being grandfathered in, there's nothing they can do about it unless the force me into buying/using one of their phones.
On the other hand though, there were tons of people in the store doing the same thing I was, only they had really old 2G feature phones. One even said outright that she didn't use data and didn't want a phone that did. The sales rep even said that I had by far the fanciest 2G phone he'd ever seen. So it sounds like for the most part, they're replacing all 2G devices (but only giving people the option to get the crappy feature phones, rather than a truly "comparable 3G phone).
hmmm... thats interesting. so i guess it doesnt matter to at&t that theyre customers hate them, and they got the lowest consumer scores of the major providers, theyll still do anything to screw their customers. i guess nothing luke wilson cant fix, eh?
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I'm fed up with AT&T. I've been waiting more than a year now for them to release a phone worth upping my contract for...Hasn't happened. I'm probably going to switch to T-Mobile, considering the Nexus S and their current promotional rate on the 3000 family plan.
In the end, It'll cost me about $20 more than AT&T, but I'll get more minutes than I had with AT&T. Plus upping my contract with AT&T would mean I'd have to spring for the $25 data plan anyways, so I'm really only paying $5/mo more.
I know I'm finally getting a good 3G signal at work so they did something. It was switching at lot to edge when the Iphone 3G/3GS was released.
That sounds exactly like what they're doing, except instead of a $200 credit, they're exchanging devices, which in my case doesn't work out whatsoever (not that a $200 credit would be much better). Two of my lines are still under contract, so I'm just hoping they'll let me out in light of their ridiculous bullshit. I smell a class action lawsuit if they don't...
I had a feeling this would eventually lead to "lawsuit". It's not their fault you bought a phone (not from them) that doesn't work well on their network. Sorry to sound harsh, but I don't see where they did anything wrong.
But it is their fault thy their customers who bought a phone from them are being forced to get a 3G phone. I doubt that they will not allow data on edge because some phones have better radios than others. Let's say my phone gets 3 bars of 3G. While the person next to me has an older phone. It has 3G but it only gets 4 bars of edge in the same location. It's deinately not practical for them to do this. At least until they have 3G everywhere and LTE is like 3G is now.
I had a feeling this would eventually lead to "lawsuit". It's not their fault you bought a phone (not from them) that doesn't work well on their network. Sorry to sound harsh, but I don't see where they did anything wrong.
My friend has an old iPhone 2G (technically he got it as a hand-me-down, rather than directly from AT&T), but he's in the same boat I am. AT&T is basically forcing him to trade in his Smartphone for a crappy messaging phone. I'm pretty sure he even has a line still under contract, so if AT&T doesn't let people out of their contracts for this, I can't imagine they'd have much of a defense in court.
The same thing goes for many of AT&T's Blackberry devices as well. Hell, until earlier this year, all but one of AT&T's Blackberries were 2G only.
Last edited by quantumrand; December 14th, 2010 at 05:23 AM.
Apple and RIM were a bit slower at coming out with 3G devices, though I have a Blackberry Bold 9000 which came out at least 2 years ago and it is 3G. Technology is changing rapidly and if you have a phone that is a couple years old you have to expect it to be a bit outdated. EDGE will eventually be phased out.
You have a different situation. Your phone may not be old but it doesn't work on AT&T's 3G band. That was your choice. When we are spending as much as we do on our phones we have to make sure they are compatible with the network so we can get as much life out of them as possible.
Why don't you take the most expensive phone they offer you for free, sell it along with your HERO, and get yourself the best device you can find that will work on their 3G network? Hope it works out for you.
Why don't you take the most expensive phone they offer you for free, sell it along with your HERO, and get yourself the best device you can find that will work on their 3G network? Hope it works out for you.
They only exchange phones for the free 3G one. I wouldn't get to keep my Hero.
I did confirm this yesterday - I do not get to keep my old phone even if it is a few years old. I wonder why ... Does anyone know what can be stored in the phone apart from the external memory card and in-phone memory? What will they do with the old phones?
I looked at their free 3G phones, they're not that great or at least I don't seem to like any.
I never thought I would be looking at smartphones so soon, let alone an iPhone. Now I'm considering both even if I don't need the data plan.
I did confirm this yesterday - I do not get to keep my old phone even if it is a few years old. I wonder why ... Does anyone know what can be stored in the phone apart from the external memory card and in-phone memory? What will they do with the old phones?
I looked at their free 3G phones, they're not that great or at least I don't seem to like any.
I never thought I would be looking at smartphones so soon, let alone an iPhone. Now I'm considering both even if I don't need the data plan.
The sales rep told me they destroy the old phones at the end of the night, literally smashing them with a hammer. It baffled me.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by quantumrand
They only exchange phones for the free 3G one. I wouldn't get to keep my Hero.
Wow, I'd have a problem with that. When ATT/Cingular went from TDMA to 3G, I kept the TDMA phone.
FWIW, I have both ATT and T-Mo. I bought T-Mo's Motorola Defy, which supports ATT's 850 3G band. $379 full retail price, and after unlocking, works fine on ATT.
Though I'm using it on T-Mo, because at my new job location T-Mo provides a better signal than any other carrier inside the building (new cell just a mile away), one of the only places I've had this happen vs. ATT.
Last edited by colnago; December 15th, 2010 at 03:13 PM.
Just wanted to confirm something: Does AT&T care about which phone they want to exchange? I mean, if I get a cheap phone and plug in my SIM into that then, I'm guessing I can exchange that?
Just wanted to confirm something: Does AT&T care about which phone they want to exchange? I mean, if I get a cheap phone and plug in my SIM into that then, I'm guessing I can exchange that?
They don't seem to care. I just went in with an old Sony Ericsson W580i that I got for free on Craigslist. They went ahead and exchanged it. They probably check your account to make sure you've actually been flagged for an upgrade though.
I went back to the store last night and asked this question re: being able to exchange another phone since I wanted to keep the one I have and donate it later. The sales rep said I couldn't since it's registered with my account online. If they didn't check yours then I wonder why I got the yarn about the phone being attached to my account. I have a W810i that I want to keep!
I am planning to get a cheap unlocked phone and return that instead. Have to see how that goes.
Last edited by rvp; December 16th, 2010 at 04:00 PM.
I went back to the store last night and asked this question re: being able to exchange another phone since I wanted to keep the one I have and donate it later. The sales rep said I couldn't since it's registered with my account online. If they didn't check yours then I wonder why I got the yarn about the phone being attached to my account. I have a W810i that I want to keep!
I am planning to get a cheap unlocked phone and return that instead. Have to see how that goes.
I just received this e-mail:
Quote:
Dear Customer,
Starting in January 2011, we will be making some important network changes in certain localized areas where you are using your phone. With these changes, you may experience service interruption on your current phone associated with wireless number xxx-xxx-xxxx, which may impact your ability to send, receive or sustain voice calls and data communication. Based on your usage in these specific areas, it is important that you exchange your current phone for a new 3G phone. If you have already exchanged your current phone for a new 3G phone, please disregard this email.
Replacing your phone is easy and will be at no cost or obligation to you. Simply print this email and bring it to an AT&T company-owned retail store by January 6, 2011, and select your new 3G phone. You may pick from select 3G feature phones or 3G quick messaging devices in our stores.* We will pay for the cost of your new 3G phone and any applicable tax, and you are not required to extend your service commitment.
We’ve made getting your new 3G phone easy:
1) Print this email and bring it, along with your current phone, to an AT&T-owned retail store by January 6, 2011. Find your nearest AT&T store.
2) An AT&T representative will validate that your current phone is associated with the wireless number listed above.
3) Select your new 3G phone.
4) At check-out, exchange your current 2G phone for the new 3G phone you selected and we’ll help you transfer your address book/contacts to your new 3G phone.**
To reduce any potential wireless service interruption, we encourage you to visit your nearest AT&T-owned retail store and select your new 3G phone today.
Sincerely,
Vice President & General Manager - Northern California/Reno
They may or may not check that the phone is on your account. Also, I'm not really sure what "associated with wireless number" means. It might just mean they make sure it's your SIM that is in it and not someone else's.
I also noticed that it's from the VP of northern California/Reno, so it looks like this network change is in fact regional. I'd suggest people who live in or frequent N. Ca or Reno be careful purchasing off-network devices for AT&T, such as the Nexus S.
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Just to clarify somethings:
-as the above stated, the network change is regional.
-You can choose a free 3g messaging phone/basic phone with out signing a contract.
- If you want a smartphone, you can either get a credit of $200 to one off the full price if you do NOT want to sign a contract.
-If you are ready to sign a contract, they will give you an extra $100 off the upgrade price, meaning you can get a captivate, windows phone, or Iphone 4 for $100
how do i know this? I work for AT&T
make sure you go to a CORPORATE OWNED retail store, not an authorized dealer for they are not honoring this.
Im not trying to protect the company or anything, but they way i see it, this is its a good deal. If you are not ready to sign a contract, get the free phone, wait till you are to buy a smart phone or something. If you are ready to sign the contract, use it as an excuse to get a hell of a deal on a smart phone.
like the above said, the only downside of this is off network EDGE only phones will not work anymore which to some can be a deal breaker
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Quote:
Originally Posted by quantumrand
They don't seem to care. I just went in with an old Sony Ericsson W580i that I got for free on Craigslist. They went ahead and exchanged it. They probably check your account to make sure you've actually been flagged for an upgrade though.
lol nice. Sometimes, it's embarrassing to work for AT&T when you hear stuff like this. unfortunately I can only speak for myself, and not for the company. I'm sure it's like this with any sales/commission based company but I've seen some shady people work for the company.
MarcMaiden, do you have any idea about the regions that will be losing edge? I just got a tmobile android that I am using on edge in the NYC area and really don't want to give it up.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Freddy224
MarcMaiden, do you have any idea about the regions that will be losing edge? I just got a tmobile android that I am using on edge in the NYC area and really don't want to give it up.
no sorry,
I just heard that it was Northern California and 200,000 people were affected. You are safe for now which phone did you end up getting from tmob?
like the above said, the only downside of this is off network EDGE only phones will not work anymore which to some can be a deal breaker
Hi -- I'm not an Android user, but this seems to be the only place on the net that's discussing this issue.
I'm a San Francisco AT&T customer (since the PacBell days) and currently have a voice-only plan with an unlocked Nokia E50. Old, yes, but I just want to use the phone as a phone and do minimal texting - no data, browsing, etc. -- I don't want to retire it, yet!
I received the same letter and text from AT&T, as well, and want to know if I do NOT get a 3G phone, will the reception for voice simply become worse, or will it cut out totally? What about other AT&T customers from other parts of the country who do not have 3G phones -- how will their non-3G phone behave when they visit Northern California?
FWIW -- AT&T still offers a couple non-3G phones on their site, though I doubt they would be found in the store.
I got the mytouch slide and I love it; just waiting for the official froyo update so I can save apps to the sd (without having to root) since the internal storage is a bit weak. I don't mind only having edge at all; one of the main reasons I got an off carrier phone was so I didn't have to get the data plan since I have wifi everywhere I go right now anyway and the voice quality is fine. Wunderhund brings up a good point though. If at&t is eliminating edge is some areas, would I have no service at all if I went there?
Got the same letter, but unable to take advantage!
I am also in the San Francisco Bay Area I got the same letter as others about coming in and changing phones by Jan 6, but it sounds like just a ploy to get people in the stores and sign them up for two years!
In my case they sent the letter under my sons phone number (he's the add-on on my account). Neither my son nor I have 3G phones. However, my sons has been replaced since the original contract. Turns out they will ONLY give you a free phone with no 2 year contract required for the ORIGINAL phone on record, so they will not give the deal for my sons phone. My phone IS the phone on record, and they told me I could get an iPhone 4 for $100 with NO contract. However, since the letter did not come with MY number on it the offer does not extend to me! They claim I still have to get a new phone, but I will have to do it under the "upgrade" program (so for an iPhone, $199 WITH a 2 year contract.. on both phones!).
Just sounds like a scam... they send a letter with my sons number, knowing they won't honor that because he no longer has the original phone from 3 years ago!, then they DON'T extend the same offer to me, knowing that I DO have the original phone! Why would the offer not apply to ALL phones on the account if they are not 3G? When I pressed them about what will happen if I don't get new phones, especially since they were not extending the offer to my old phone, they really could not give me straight answer. They would not say the phone would quit working, cause if it did, how could they not make the same offer to me! I think they just knowingly sent the letter in this way so they would not have to actually do anything... just get me in the store for a standard "upgrade" of the phones and lock lock us in for another two years.
SO RVP, if you don't have the original phone on their record, they won't exchange it. Coming in with a cheap phone in order to keep the one you have just won't work.
Last edited by wmartin; December 31st, 2010 at 12:57 PM.
My phone IS the phone on record, and they told me I could get an iPhone 4 for $100 with NO contract. However, since the letter did not come with MY number on it the offer does not extend to me!
Are you saying that you have your son's phone? If so, why not just switch SIM cards with your son and then trade in his/your phone?
That is, if you are trying to take advantage of this "deal". The only part of this deal that is meaningful is the "no contract" part as you can get a free phone in all shapes and sizes from Wal-Mart, Wirefly, Amazon, etc.
I though about that too, but my sons original phone was a Motorola. We don't have that one any more. I went in to the AT&T store yesterday. They told me outright that they are not sending the letter to all 2g phone owners. If there is more than one phone on the account, they are only sending it to one and implying that the other phones have to do a regular "upgrade" which means for an iPhone (16 gig) paying $199 (rather than 100), and $18 "upgrade fee" (what the hell??), tax on the full retail price (another $60 in CA) and signing a new 2 year contract... even a "free" phone from them on an upgrade requires a 2 year contract.
They were still very reluctant to say what would happen if I did nothing. Almost as if nothing is going change in reality.. they are just looking to worry people into upgrading and signing new 2 year contracts.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wmartin
I though about that too, but my sons original phone was a Motorola. We don't have that one any more. I went in to the AT&T store yesterday. They told me outright that they are not sending the letter to all 2g phone owners. If there is more than one phone on the account, they are only sending it to one and implying that the other phones have to do a regular "upgrade" which means for an iPhone (16 gig) paying $199 (rather than 100), and $18 "upgrade fee" (what the hell??), tax on the full retail price (another $60 in CA) and signing a new 2 year contract... even a "free" phone from them on an upgrade requires a 2 year contract.
They were still very reluctant to say what would happen if I did nothing. Almost as if nothing is going change in reality.. they are just looking to worry people into upgrading and signing new 2 year contracts.
Honestly, I do not even know what is going to happen exactly when the changes start....Will service completely shut off? will nothing happen? who knows...
I havent heard about them not sending to "all" 2g owners...honestly, it doesnt even have to do with 2g itself. It has to do with a frequency that EDGE uses. so some 2g phones might be effected, but maybe not "all". either way, try going to another at&t store because ive given more than 1 person on a family plan a free phone through this offer.
if they try selling you something say no thank you. if they talk about upgrades say no thank you.
I hate how a lot of sales people (and managers) at some of the stores treat people. they do not understand that good customer service = money. I've made more money being honest to customers (due to repeat business) than employees who try to milk customers for sales. Im sure its like this with every carrier, i mean it is a sales job but still....
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I agree 100% about the honest issue.. I hate that some people view being a sales person as a "cut-throat, take no prisoners" ordeal.
Gives ALL sales people bad names.. Even if a lot have ill intent, I hate having to earn a customers trust taht I am not out for blood.
What is the point of selling someone he iphone 4 32 gigs if they are only going to go home and realize they can't pay the monthly bill, turn around bring the phone back and you lose comission?
Sadly, seems like mos sales people would rather have phone's brought back than to settle on the smaller comission.
I also hate pushing accessories, I know the customer doesn't need or want and can't be convinced to buy but, thats another rant.
So, I have a European HTC Hero, which only works on AT&T EDGE. Well, the other day, I received this text message:
Now, at first, I thought this might be a good thing. Maybe I could upgrade to a 3G Android phone for free without even upping my contract, but I certainly wasn't optimistic (this is AT&T we're talking about).
So I visit my friendly neighborhood AT&T store and they tell me I can choose from any of their Feature or Messaging phones...Yeah, they want me to trade in my $500 Smartphone for some crappy $25 feature phone. It's either that, shell out $500 for one of their crappy Androids, or leave AT&T. Well, I guess I'm leaving AT&T.
According to the sales rep (who I don't put much stock in btw), AT&T is "changing the frequencies of their EDGE towers." I guess turning them into 3G towers. The whole story didn't make a whole lot of sense to be honest. Sounds to me like they're planning on making their whole network 3G only, or they're shifting all data (and digital voice) from their EDGE network to the 3G network due to the added strain of data phones on EDGE.
This makes no sense at all with all my time on AT&T I have had many unlocked phones and never had this issue as a matter of fact I have a Nexus S now and dont have this issue. I also have many friends who do the same. They can not legally force you to buy a phone when they allow unlocked phones on their network. I would call 611 and chew them out, theres no way in hell they can make you do that its a breach of contract. So if they try have them dissolve your contract and go either tmobile or simple mobile. I'm gonna tell you that they cant force you, been there done that. Beside the fact that the text in NO WAY says you have to switch it says you may have issues which is just a scare tactic
AT&T Forcing me to "Upgrade" [Must Read]
which phone did you end up getting from tmob?
