| Author |
AT&T and GSM hmmmm why?? |
potok
Joined: Dec 04, 2002
Posts: 136
From: USA
PM |
Since i also have att user in my household let me ask you all few questions about why did you choose att.
1. they have mms phones but no mms service.
2. no unlocking
3. no sms plans, only one 10c per message
4. no international sms
seems like they changed every single roole of gsm, why did you go with att?
P800, on T-mobile USA | |
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bigdawg
Joined: Jan 10, 2003
Posts: 0
From: New Jersey
PM |
MMS is coming, They do have SMS plans( do your homework), There is a way to send SMS internationally(do your homework) and just like any other carrier out there, they are in business to make money! |
potok
Joined: Dec 04, 2002
Posts: 136
From: USA
PM |
my homework was simple...someone send you sms, my att phone never gets it, sure there is ways of doing it but they just dont work.
plans are great 25 messages per month, lol, 2.99
or 100 for 4.99
you are kidding me, how about 500 messages per 2.99 and bingo you send international the sam way you would anywhere else in the world +xxxx done
P800, on T-mobile USA |
dna48363
Joined: Jun 19, 2002
Posts: 15
PM |
I chose it for coverage. Much better than T-Mobile's. But I agree about MMS, it will be out soon, and they are working on international SMS. They do have an SMS plan: 300 outgoing for $9.99 and free incoming, that plan is in addition to the others.
This message was posted from a Nokia |
T68iFan
Joined: Oct 18, 2002
Posts: 214
From: Los Angeles
PM |
@potok
I think you make excellent points. I think there are SMS plans, but to me, they seem very expensive.
I pay $13/month for 4 MB of data, in addition to $40 for 1000 anytime voice minutes. For a total payment of $53/month, excluding taxes, I feel they should throw in 50 or so sms's free of charge. I send maybe 25 sms's a month, and to see an additional charge for $2.50 on my bill just really irks me.
I originally signed up for AT&T because I heard they had better coverage than the other carriers. I must admit, their coverage seems adequate. However, considering the problems you've identified, I am definately going to consider switching to T-Mobile once my 1-year contract with AT&T is up.
My plan is to buy a T-Mobile plan/phone 2-weeks before my at&t agreement terminates. Then I will test the phone/coverage/features/service for two weeks. If I'm happy with T-Mobile, I'll switch! Otherwise, I can cancel T-mobile without penalty and stay with at&t.
T68iFan
Attention AT&T! You'd better start supporting MMS or I'm switching to T-Mobile!  |
Amproand1
Joined: Dec 14, 2002
Posts: 5
PM |
It sounds like money is your issue not the service get a better job i pay 150 every month for sms plans voice plans and gprs usage and every penny is worth it my coverage area is great and clarity is high
This message was posted from a T68i |
T68iFan
Joined: Oct 18, 2002
Posts: 214
From: Los Angeles
PM |
@Amproand1
Dude, I'm a college-educated professional working as a consultant in the IT industry. I make plenty of money. While I don't claim to be rich, I live very comfortably and can easily afford my phone payments. My point is not that I can't afford the service. My point is that I refuse to pay for crappy service.
Crappy service occurs when a service provider won't unlock their phones. Crappy service occurs when a provider continues to delay the rollout of proposed services (MMS). Crappy service occurs when a provider prohibits inter-operator or international messaging. Applying these definitions, AT&T service can be considered very crappy.
If I paid the same $53 amount to T-Mobile, I would receive an additional 6MB of data and 500 sms'. Furthermore, they will help me unlock my phone, and I know they support international sms. Lastly, they've been supporting MMS for like a month now.
What's so special about AT&T that I should pay more for fewer benefits?
And you pay $150/month for service? Which company do you use, AT&T? Unless you're getting the unlimited minutes plan, you're getting ripped off. Since money doesn't seem to be an issue for you, if I can find you a similar plan for only $100, will you mail me the $50 difference each month?
T68iFan
Attention AT&T! You'd better start supporting MMS or I'm switching to T-Mobile! |
Amproand1
Joined: Dec 14, 2002
Posts: 5
PM |
T68ifan you have a good point if i upset you it was not my intention i do have the unlimited minutes but I do not understand why you still are with att if you are so frustrated sounds like you're better off elsewhere
This message was posted from a T68i |
bigdawg
Joined: Jan 10, 2003
Posts: 0
From: New Jersey
PM |
Ok, AT&T does support inter carrier SMS. In fact they were the first in the US to offer SMS and they were also the 1st carrier in the US that alllowed Inter-carrier SMS. International SMS is possible you just need to learn how to do it although I agree that would seem like a pain in the ass. MMS is coming, the reason why it was delayed was that besides the t68 there were not many models that supported MMs for AT&T but now we see that the nokia 7210 is now available. Yes nokia makes shitty phones but who cares, They became #1 in the industry for a reason and not likely to be replaced anytime soon. Now to unlocking part, why should AT&T unlock the phone so you can use it somewher else. Antime you buy a phone from your carrier they are selling it at a loss. That actual price for a t68 is $305 per unit to any carrier selling it. Now lets say you bought it from AT&T at 199.99, that means they have lost $105.00 just on the phone itself. If you need an unlocked phone so badly then by it from SE directly and see how much they will charge you. |
buster99
Joined: Jan 21, 2003
Posts: 16
PM |
Rogers ATT&T Canada is even funnier, and they are pretty much the only GSM players here.
I noticed that in the messages menu, on line 4, there is an email option. I was told I could have email setup from my home sent to the phone at POP. I call the Rogers ATT&T help line to get some guidance, ha ha ha, they asked me 4 times if I really did have that menu, then told me I needed a data plan. I told them I already do, oh, well I need to sign up to the $20 for 2mb plan! Oh, and $5 for Wireless desktop program, that I can keep in the bookmarks of my browser and check the mail then.
THEN, I asked about surfing WAP with my Clie......ha ha ha, buy our Portage plus CD and cable for $130. Ahh, NO. OK, you can't do it wirelessly they say, I say "how about using the IR port and having the phone dial up GPRS, then using a suitable browser on my Clie" -------- at the other end of the phone.
So they sold me on all these features and options on the phone, but they don't know if they work, or how they work. I tried with Connection Manager program, which they were helpful, but I keep getting GPRS parameters not supported?! Then I try to look at a live webcam of the Eiffel tower on WAP, ABCparislive.com, fails, halfway through??
I am sooooooooo frustrated, as I want to have some of this stuff work but no help! |
T68iFan
Joined: Oct 18, 2002
Posts: 214
From: Los Angeles
PM |
@Amproand1
No worries man. Actually, beside the complaints I listed above, I'm pretty satisfied with at&t service. But the fact that T-mobile seems to support more features for less money, well that really makes me want to switch. I admit its not bad enough to prompt me to cancel mid-term and pay the cancellation fee, but I just don't feel I'm getting as much value as I would if I were with t-mobile.
@bigdawg
You make some good points, but how come T-mobile offers similer discounts on their hardware and still unlock their devices? And will at&t provide me with a SIM if I have an unlocked phone from europe, lets say? If so, how much will it cost for the 1000 anytime voice plan? I mean, if the price is the same or less than the $40 i pay now, well than I may indeed look to buy a phone elsewhere next time. My intention is not to bash at&t simply for the fun of it, but to point out the weaknesses in what I feel is otherwise a decent service. My sincere hope is that other users who are considering sp's will benefit by reading about the experiences, good and bad, I and other users have had.
@buster99
I hear your frustration. I was also pissed off to learn my T68i could not be used as an IR modem for my Palm m130. However, I can understand it if at&t is unable to provide tech support on every pda-phone combination. That would be a lot to ask from a cellular provider. I agree with you about cable, way too expensive. Did you say $20 for a 2 MB plan? I thought they have one that's $13 for 4 MB, no? |
buster99
Joined: Jan 21, 2003
Posts: 16
PM |
I was told by a number of sources that I should be able to surf with the Clie and T68i, it is the settings that need to be worked out. The guys at Connection manager said it works everywhere but in Canada so far?! In Canada, they take us for a ride.....$5 for 150kb, $10 for 500kb, and $20 for 2mb! |
bigdawg
Joined: Jan 10, 2003
Posts: 0
From: New Jersey
PM |
@ t68ifan
My intention is to clear some of the misconceptions that are thrown around in discussion groups like this one. I do not want to upset anyone or make enemies as I would be the first support anyone who is in fact posting correct info. I agree that not unlocking phones can seem a little unfair but I understand why they don't do it. If you bought an unlocked GSM phone from Europe and wanted to activate it on AT&T you could do that easily and the plans would not be any different. I know someone who paid almost $700.00 to buy the GD-87 from panasonic because he could not wait until GU-87 american version is offered by AT&T and Tmobile in a few months.In fact I myself am waiting for that phone. I had the chance to see the prototype 5 months ago and Ican say that there is nothing like it on the US market even thoug it does not have blue tooth. |
Deric
Joined: Oct 06, 2002
Posts: 10
PM |
I've posted this elsewhere as well... If you want to buy an unlocked t68I, you're welcome to pay full price from Ericsson, All $605 of it. |
potok
Joined: Dec 04, 2002
Posts: 136
From: USA
PM |
Nope SE price is $320 better than ebay
This message was posted from a T68i | |
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Posted: 2003-01-20 08:09
