ATT Wireless

[Guest 10cc]

Are there visitors here who use ATT Cellular service? My employer offers a company discounted, very inexpensive package for ATT Wireless.

 

I'm pretty happy with T-Mobile but the package deal is so attractive I'm thinking of switching. Your experiences with ATT are welcomed.

[marc anthony]

I use them because they have the best package that extends to Canada as well. That is very useful for trips to Montreal. I have been very happy with them... they have good coverage in major metropolitan areas. Just make sure they have lots of cells in areas that you frequent. Finally, their 411 calls and 611 (customer service) are $1. A ripoff... but just don't use them too much, and the rates are actually VERy competitive.

[KY_TOP]

I have used them for several years now. I have had great coverage in major cities and throughout the South in the US plus Montreal and Toronto in Canada. I also have seen a big improvement in coverage in rural areas. I travel rural areas of Ky very often and have only small gaps along the major highways and small towns. I have a regional plan so no roaming or long distance charges in a multi-state service area. For some reason my phone will occasionally hit roaming at unexpected places locally but since I have no roaming charges locally it doesn't matter.

[OneFinger]

Don't forget that because of the new law, you can keep your old cell phone number if you decide to switch to AT&T.

[+ deej]

I had ATT a few years ago and hated it. I'm sure it has improved since then, but that phone worked wonderfully everywhere I went in the country EXCEPT in my home.

 

They gave me a song and dance about proximity of high-rises and antennas, but I was never able to use it at home. Replaced it with SprintPCS and it was rock solid.

 

Your mileage may vary if you live in a dead zone for that particular carrier. (They all have 'em.)

[Huey]

I'm in the northwest and had tmobile when I first moved here .. it didn't work very well So I switched to ATT and haven't had any problems so far . I don't travel a lot thouh on a few road trips to SF I found coverage to be reasonable.

 

Basically it isn't so much what company it is more like what coverage and what plan you can get these days. If your work has a special plan set up by ATT then give it a try.

 

[EXPAT]

My last cell phone in the US was AT&T wireless and if you travel a lot I believe they have terrible coverage in some areas. Expecially in NYC they have problems. So for my US coverage I now use Cingular.

[FrancoDiSantisxxx]

Digital vs.GSM

 

I assume you are talking about digital service versus GSM? I have used both and I agree with the advice you have received to look into service. The GSM service does not work in many buildings and it does not work in many areas. It works perfectly fine in most of the large urban areas, but as an example, while many others had cell service in Provincetown, I had to wait until I was back in Boston.

 

I also think their customer service is not well trained. I had to change certain aspects of my service after the initial sign up and dealt with three different people, including a supervisor, before I got what I wanted without being charged for it.

 

If everything were equal, I probably would have gone with Sprint, but AT&T offered a good package.

[dannynyc]

The first wireless service I had was AT&T. I believe I subscribed in 1997 or 1998. I live in NYC, and, found the reception horrible. I eventually moved to Sprint.

 

Last year I had a problem with my Sprint phone and tried to have it replaced. The short version of the story is that I bought a new phone. The process was very time consuming, and, reps at the Sprint store did not seem very knowledgeable or helpful in choosing a phone and service plan. After a week, Sprint tech support told me they did not know how long it would take to transfer my Sprint phone number to the new phone. So, it was basically useless.

 

I finally got disgusted and went to a Verizon store. I had a new phone and service plan in 20 minutes. The reps were very helpful. In my apartment, the Verizon phone works everywhere. I had to sit by a windows to use my Sprint phone. My family is in Cleveland, Ohio, and I've not had any reception problems with the Verizon phone I have.

 

I do agree with another poster - AT&T may have gotten better over the last few years. But, after my experience with AT&T and Sprint, I'm very happy with my Verizon phone and service.

[eastbayguy]

>I had ATT a few years ago and hated it. I'm sure it has

>improved since then, but that phone worked wonderfully

>everywhere I went in the country EXCEPT in my home.

 

Oddly, I have this same effect with AT&T Wireless. But, I actually think this is a feature and not a bug. There are moments one does want a little peace and quiet.

 

--EBG

[Steven_Draker]

RE: AT&T Wireless

 

I use AT&T Wireless while in the US. I have AT&T mobile only for the past two years 2002 and 2003.

I must agree with one thing – the reception is TERRIBLE in New York City. All the people who have tried to reach me in NYC could confirm. Is that because of the skyscrapers … ?? The reception is also bad in Los Angeles (particularly bad in West Hollywood and the hills); good in Washington D.C., Dallas and Atlanta;

fairly good in San Francisco, Miami, Las Vegas, Boston, Minneapolis and Chicago.

 

Once again everything depends on your location in one particular city.

I don’t have any experience with other companies.

 

Good luck !