AT&T Wireless w/ iPhone

[mscher]

We have been mostly satisfied Centennial Wireles customer, for 5 years.

Centennial wireless was purchased by AT&T and has a the name changed.

They are offering us a great deal to switch all of our family users, over to the AT&T network for the same monthly costs, but we will have to buy phones.

For the same money we are getting 500 more shared minutes, internet and unlimited text for all phones. We can get Apple iPhones for $99 for us and maybe get the kid's text phones for free or cheap.

Anyone have comments on the AT&T network ( signal strength calls dropping, etc.), or on the Apple iPhone? I have heard both bad and good on the iPhone.

 

[TwinAceMarty]

Re: AT&T Wireless w/ iPhone

Hi, i work for At&T and can tell you that the reception and speed of 3G network will not be beat. We are working to het our 7.2 4G speeds up & running and when that happens, there will be no contest. Also, the Iphone is an incredible device and 50% of our sales. However; if i were you i would stall buying the $99 Iphone until June!!! Thats when the 4g Iphone will launch. Also, with At&t its not only wireless....its a whole network that works incredibly together. I have At&t's Uverse and its amazing as well & Iphone has apps that works combines with Uverse!!! Good luck!!!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: AT&T Wireless w/ iPhone

The 4th generation Iphone is just the 4th generation Iphone...not a phone compatible with a 4G network. The next Iphone will not have LTE which is what a 4G phone will have to be to use the newer networks. Also, LTE won't be fully installed in the US for years.

As far as ATT and the Iphone is concerned. I love my Iphone but ATT coverage sucks. The Iphone is not the greatest phone in the world but it makes up for it with everything else it does. What I would suggest is find a person with ATT and find out how it works at your home and office and where you are the most.

As far as Uverse is concerned. I had it and switched back to DishNetwork. The compression artifacts in high def were horrible when watching sporting events. Dishnetwork also has Iphone apps that work with their DVRs like Uverse so nothing special there.

 

[DJ]

Re: AT&T Wireless w/ iPhone

I would love to have an i phone, so would Mrs. DJ. However, coverage is paramount for me. We cannot afford to be in areas with no coverage.

My current provider (to remain nameless) provides incredible coverage, which continues to amaze me.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: AT&T Wireless w/ iPhone

I would think that if they are buying the network that you're on, then the coverage would remain the same, locally at least.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: AT&T Wireless w/ iPhone

Brother has an iphone and AT&T service, unfortunately coverage is not the best. When he asks "Can you hear me now"........................it's generally not so much.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: AT&T Wireless w/ iPhone

I would think that if they are buying the network that you're on, then the coverage would remain the same, locally at least.

Sounds like they are buying the customers and switching them to the new network since they have to buy phones. ATT is GSM so depends on what the old company was using.

EDIT: Just looked and Centennial was GSM. Not sure why OP would have to buy new phones unless the "deal" includes locking them into a 2 year plan.

 

[DJ]

Re: AT&T Wireless w/ iPhone

I'll stick with my "coverage" statement.

Cool is cool but if I can't use it, it's worthless.

 

[mscher]

Re: AT&T Wireless w/ iPhone

Sounds like they are buying the customers and switching them to the new network since they have to buy phones. ATT is GSM so depends on what the old company was using.

EDIT: Just looked and Centennial was GSM. Not sure why OP would have to buy new phones unless the "deal" includes locking them into a 2 year plan.

Our son lost his phone, so we need to purchase one anyway, either for the old Centennial system or the AT&T.

The rep offered to switch all of our accounts (5 phones) for "what we are paying monthly now". (sound's like a used car dealer). For the same money they are adding more shared minutes, unlimited texting on two of the phones and Internet on all 5 phones, which did not have before.

Actually a pretty good deal, but I'm not sure of their motivation for the offer, other than the price of new phones, which would likeley be under $500 total.

I could care less about internet, but if i can get it for the same price, why not? Centennial wanted about $30/mo more.

Is the G3 network just for data, or all functions (voice, text, VM)?

Since I drive a truck all over the midwest, voice signal reliability is the most important feature.

The wife is itching to switch, but I could stay with the old reliable, which I now have. We could sell our phones on ebay, since the Centennial phones are unlocked. Not sure if AT&T phones are locked.

The iphone does look nice, however.

Decisions, decisions.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: AT&T Wireless w/ iPhone

Basically, 3G gives you higher data speeds. It affects total system bandwidth but the average customer sees it with data transmissions. Email, and texting generally don't notice much since the amount of data is tiny. Its mainly browsing and streaming where you see it.

Now that I have my Iphone, I don't think I could live without it or another smartphone. No longer do I need to bring the laptop on vaction and it is nice to have a portable GPS when I travel.

Another thing...I am a golfer and I love the app that is a rangefinder for the iphone.

 

[mscher]

Re: AT&T Wireless w/ iPhone

Another thing...I am a golfer and I love the app that is a rangefinder for the iphone.

How does this app work? Could it be used for hunting?

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: AT&T Wireless w/ iPhone

There is nothing about an iphone that makes it worth having to deal with AT&T. Their cellular quality is poor and their customer service is abysmal.

If you "just gotta" have an iphone, wait a few months. Apple has just announced that iphones will soon work on another carrier and that carrier is widely believed to be Verizon.



???

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: AT&T Wireless w/ iPhone

Love Apple, hate AT&T. Verizon is the ONLY provider to have in Arizona and I know it's a similar situation in other states as well. AT&T is absolutely terrible here and Verizon works practically everywhere. At the lake, got a signal. On the ski lift, got a signal. Flying in a helicopter over the wilderness, got a signal. It doesn't matter. I'm holding out the the iPhone coming for Verizon. Could be as early as this Summer.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: AT&T Wireless w/ iPhone

I'm holding out the the iPhone coming for Verizon. Could be as early as this Summer.

My guess...it won't happen.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: AT&T Wireless w/ iPhone

My guess...it won't happen.

Dosent need to. If you must have an iPhone and want a different carrier Open or unlocked iPhones are available at around $600.00. You can use them on any major carrier. Look here for example.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: AT&T Wireless w/ iPhone

Dosent need to. If you must have an iPhone and want a different carrier Open or unlocked iPhones are available at around $600.00. You can use them on any major carrier. Look here for example.

So..you get to use it on T-Mobile? That's not an improvement over ATT.

You can't use it on Verizon so don't understand your statement that you can use it on any major carrier.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: AT&T Wireless w/ iPhone

How does this app work? Could it be used for hunting?

Uses the Iphone internal GPS but needs cell coverage to bring in the maps of the golf course.

Not sure if there are gps apps that store maps in the phone itself or not. I know google maps are on the fly.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: AT&T Wireless w/ iPhone

$600 for a cell phone? My gawd! Are people really that silly?



???

 

[smclear]

Re: AT&T Wireless w/ iPhone

If your in Indiana, and on Centennial, I am guessing you are in the Northern part of the state. I'm not really sure where Centennial's coverage extends to but I know they're in N. Indiana. I have an iphone (absolutely love it) and AT&T. In the northern part of the state you'll be on the Edge network. Fine for making calls. I've never had a dropped call while in that area. My lake house is in northern Indiana so I'm there very frequently. But...... data transmission sucks. It's extremely slow. At home (Indianapolis), I have no issues with any part of the service. Within the 3G area, it's awesome and it's speed will blow away every other network. The downside is AT&T's overall 3G area. It is limited. It works out fine for me as I rarely ever go out of their 3G area. I don't count going to the lake house, as when I'm there, the last thing I want to do is play with my phone. I have heard that since Apple is developing a phone for use on Verizon's network, AT&T is putting a lot of money into expanding their 3G network.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: AT&T Wireless w/ iPhone

I don't understand why the 3G network isn't worth a hoot inside large building but Verizon's network works flawlessy even in the basement, elevator, etc.. I'm getting broadband speed on my crackberry while my iphone toting counterparts kept saying "can you hear me now?"