Seth the blogger guy tells you why AT&T is way behind every other network in the industrialized world (updated w/personal response from Mr. Bloom)
"Seth the Blogger guy" is really Seth Bloom, a Senior Vice President at AT&T's outsourced public relations group. His title is as genuine as his message.
Everything from the 45 degree head tilt to the silly graphics have the ring of an out of touch PR agency trying to hit the blogger demographic. The intent? To stop the downward spiral of negative publicity surrounding AT&T's fumbling of the iPhone. Result? "Save your PR spend and put it into your network."
Update: Mr. Bloom writes in to clarify his postion:
Wow, yeah. Tough crowd.
I guess that I’d just ask – if you agree it makes sense - that you let folks know that the “blogger guy” moniker stems from what I do for AT&T – work with tech bloggers around the country. It’s genuine, not contrived.
Seth [Bloom]
Delicious
Digg
StumbleUpon
Reddit
Facebook
Google
YahooLatest Stories on 9 to 5 Mac
- Another SJobs@apple.com email, this time dissing Google's Picassa
- Sprint tries to get on iPhone bandwagon with 4G hotspot
- 9to5mac: What's the best value in monitors?
- Dell S2009W 20" Widescreen LCD Display for $89 + free shipping
- 10.6.3 Pre-release hits unsuspecting updater?
- Steve Jobs helps pass California organ donation bill
- Updated iTunes Connect: Submitting iPad Apps Interface
AAPL Stock Coverage
222.25-2.4001
Poll
Recent comments
- The Sprint hot spot for $60 a
37 min ago - Really cool concept for
38 min 35 sec ago - If easy-to-forge email
1 hour 35 min ago - i5 have a destop
1 hour 44 min ago - Good points - I guess I
2 hours 36 min ago - it's truly hard to believe a
2 hours 53 min ago - agreed. it seems like this
3 hours 5 min ago - honestly, complaining about a
3 hours 9 min ago - Hmm this might make me want
3 hours 28 min ago - As a user having tried both
4 hours 4 min ago
Who's online
There are currently 4 users and 1 guest online.
Online users
- Mark Gurman
- slavoie
- chrisarmstro
- lfine39
Comments (39)
Thanks for listening AT&T. I do receive excellent 3G coverage already but it's nice to know what is upcoming ahead.
Too little too late! You can't tell me they didn't realize there was going to be strain on their network. Cause if they didn't, they need to hire some new management!
At least they are acknowledging the problem. This is the first step toward getting it resolved.
In order to save face, though, they need to be able to demonstrate improved performance.
I have read elsewhere that even after at$t trumpeting new service in NY/NJ, it still isn't very good. This is what frustrates users. I think it we all knew they were working on it and the end result was going to be HSPA 7.2, maybe we would be a little more tolerant of the current challenges.
AT&T needs to stop promising stuff they can't deliver on. Not to mention, when they show that calendar marking the 25th, it's not a Wednesday, it's a Friday and I should know b/c that's my birthday!
I think in this case, AT&T is having a hard time delivering on what Apple promised. Big difference there.
I think the rest of us is getting it Wednesday, Happy Birthday.
You know, the AT&T bashing is getting a tad off-putting on this site. I understand you guys have some bad personal experiences with AT&T, but that's not the case for everyone. I've had nothing but excellent coverage since I got my iPhone 3GS. I've taken it to Las Vegas, Chicago, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Massachusetts and had no problems. I'm not doubting that your problems exist, but they are not common to all of us.
I would like to see Verizon or Sprint handle the ridiculous network loads that iPhones have brought to AT&T. They absolutely would be getting all this outrage too. And the argument that foreign iPhone carriers handle the load just fine doesn't fly. The United States is a big, sprawling land that is much harder to cover than tiny European countries. So how about we at least be honest and say that, although their service is less than stellar for some, AT&T is under extraordinary circumstances. You can't upgrade a network overnight (or even in just 2 years). There are government approvals, extensive testing periods, and a lot of roadblocks that slow the process down.
I disagree with Mr. Weintraub. I think this video is very informative and it's refreshing to see AT&T address the issues of connectivity. I don't think the graphics are silly - they help make the information more digestible and enhance the idea that AT&T is faster..
Exactly--Too little, too late. As soon as Verizon supports that iPhone I'm done with AT&T. I wonder how many subscribers they're going to lose? I think it's going to be millions!
expect similar complaints about Verizon's network.
i doubt verizon will ever touch the iphone
and whats with everyone thinking verizon is the best i used to have it and the service is the same to me i saw no difference i used to get dropped calls from them too and slow 3G service as well.
NO CELL PHONE COMPANY IS PERFECT
and verizon would probably have a problem too with the iphone popularity
AT&T seems to be blaming the problem and complaints on iPhone users, and to a lesser extent other smartphone users--as if these aren't customers they've heavily courted. The problem is that their poor 3G coverage affects nearly all their customers in affected markets.
Last year, I used to get decent coverage in Austin, TX. Now, this year, even though I'm on a feature phone, my calls get dropped or are unintelligible about 1/3 to 1/2 of the time. I can't manually switch my phone to EDGE, even though their EDGE coverage is pretty much rock solid here. I'm always glad when I see the 3G symbol disappear and get replaced by the E on my screen.
Even if you're coverage is fine in your home city or you don't use AT&T, if you are calling an AT&T customer in a poorly served area, your call will still suffer due to AT&T's poor planning and efforts. We should all be hoping that AT&T does more than make excuses.
Sounds to me like you need an iPhone.. then you could manually switch from 3G to Edge and back again... problem solved.
Give 'em a break already. You can't just wave a magic wand and make this stuff happen. Government permits, land usage rights, skilled labor, equipment acquisition and testing - all this stuff takes time. I'm sure AT&T is not at all happy with the prospect of droves of iPhone users jumping to Verizon next year and they are doing all they can to improve service to prevent that from happening. My advice to Verizon...be careful what you wish for.
Boo AT&T. You have got a monopoly with the exclusive iPhone deal. Don't yank the chain to much. Customers are not that stupid to listen to ur complaints. If you choose to charge the customer $30 for data plan, then you better make sure that you have the stuff to back up the data usage.
My take is that this is audience manipulation. When a caffeinated 'Seth the Blogger Guy' puts out a video with such fancy graphics, professional studio lighting and perfect scripting, I'm not seeing a blogger. I'm seeing an actor.
AT&T obviously feels that presenting this info in this way is the most effective way to reach the iPhone crowd.
For me, the question is why are they investing so many billions in 3G buildout when they're going to be replacing it all with LTE in the next 1-2 years? And what's all this calibration nonsense?
Sorry, but this video is just artificial sweetener marketing double-talk.
1)What about AT&T investing in 4G like Verizon is already doing instead of wasting $38 billion+ on 3G networks?
2) Why do you bloggers and AT&T demonize iPhone?
There are other so called "smart phones" ie. berries, etc. out there also eating up network capacity.
3) What about the worst offender? AT&T sells mobile internet connectivity for LAPTOP COMPUTERS and netbooks. I am sure there are more fully configured laptop computers plus NETBOOKS with mobile internet connectivity out there on AT&T's wireless network than the IPhone's demeaned name of "hogs". Haven't any of the media seen the TV ads with the hefty guy most recently in a mototcycle side car selling 3G internet connectivity to the public laptops and netbooks of this world? Hasn't there been an explosion of netbook sales in the last year or two? Face it. The media is biased and prejudiced.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP9tc8oYfmI
AT&T's always behind the times...
Regarding AT&T's network upgrades... First, AT&T wasted money by pouring money into GSM/EDGE, an archaine network that no other civilized country ever put to use. Second, they are wasting time by pouring money into 3G HSDPA+, when most other networks are already building out 4G LTE (or WiMax) networks.
Every iPhone launch has been marred by AT&T employees trying to scam buyers into buying useless accessories, late-to-the-party features (like MMS and tethering) and activation problems.
Except for AT&T U-Verse, every other network product AT&T has seems to be a failure... Whether it's wireless, landline, VoIP (CallVantage) or Dish, execution seems to be poor at best. The only thing saving AT&T from its perils is iPhone, which generates countless revenues for the wireless business.
Working for months on MMS? WTF? When did they start? When OS 3.0 was rolled out? This was in the plan when they signed the agreement with Apple. And what did he say about tethering? "Seth" made my neck sore and I think I missed it...
As the video explained...It's more than just a Cell Site Tower that makes up a network...The backhaul wireline network to a fully IP backbone is something AT&T and Verizon are spending billions on. And all Wireless providers depend on. In addition, AT&T spent nearly $10B for Spectrum from Government Auctions and acquisitions. Verizon is abandoning their CDMA network because they know the math doesn't work on bandwidth expansion. AT&T will be able to get 8-12mbs from their 3G network over the next 2 years WHILE they integrate 4G. Steve Jobs himself said 2 years ago that he hoped for 1% of the market - He blew that away. Easier to increase production of new Phones from their Chinese Manufacturers than having to invest tens of billions on a national network in a short period of time. Finally, these tech web sites are becoming socialist blogs. Crying that AT&T is charging you $30 for an Unlimited Data Plan. You think it should be free? Another Government subsidy so you can MMS naked pictures? Verizon charges $49.99 for their Smartphone Plan. Finally, who says that Apple is going to abandon the AT&T exclusive contract? No facts on that yet...No rumor website with an image of an iPhone with 2 radios. No details on if the subsidy would then be eliminated. I doubt the iPhone would be as successful if you will have to pay $500+ for it.
sure, so explain why ATT lags behind coverage and data rates more than other international carriers and charges more for such crappy service.
Wow--AT&T spent $38 billion, and their coverage still sucks and their data rates are worse than anywhere else, and they charge up the wazoo. WTF?
This is an AT&T rip-off of the TV show Seinfeld's "Seth character" from Massapequa NY (long island) who did online sports blogging and looked and talked exactly like this AT&T Seth!!!!
I'm surprised with the vast resources that AT&T has that they still have difficulty dealing with the network traffic. There was no definite timeline of when AT&T customers can expect improvement on the network to handle the increased traffic. Here in Canada Rogers has upgraded their HSPA network from 3.6 Mbps to now offering 7.2 Mbps. They are currently upgrading the network to provide customers with 21 Mbps over HSPA by early 2010. It's unfortunate AT&T can't set the same timeframe or any timeframe for their customers.
We WERE Verizon customers. Very unhappy Verizon customers. Verizon staff were, and I guess still are, arrogant, ignorant and unhelpful. I have spent literally hours standing round in a Verizon store waiting for (bad) service. As for their Network - I could not use my Verizon (crap) cellphone INSIDE my house! to make or receive a call I had to stand in the back yard or front street.
Then - as soon as the 1st iPhone came out I bought one each for my family and swapped over to AT&T - what a pleasant experience -the staff helpful, respectful and efficient. OH- and my iPhone works everywhere I go. Specially INSIDE my house. Now we have all upgraded to the iPhone 3gs -the service is better, faster.
thanks AT&T.
AND thanks APPLE.
watching that video made my neck hurt...
ATT sells millions of phones with MMS and has for years. The number of iPhones added to this will still be small in comparison to all these other handsets. The iPhone will not use any more bandwidth for an MMS message than any other modern phone. Furthermore, with its easy email capability as an alternative, iPhone users are slightly less likely to use MMS to send a photo or a video than an ordinary phone user (Hello, your email is unlimited and your Messaging costs extra!). In short, there is no compelling reason to think that iPhone users will use MMS more than the other users they have supported for years. I do not know why MMS is delayed, but the excuse ATT gives does not make sense.
i'm a little miffed that the iphone has been without MMS for so long (and my original iphone will never get it), but other than that my experience with at&t has been excellent in the 4 totally different locations i've lived in (UT, ID, and 2 different areas of VA) not to mention everywhere I've visited (WA, OR, my entire road trip from coast to coast not including dead spots in the middle of nowhere). WAY better than my service with T-mobile was prior to going to AT&T, and I'll never switch to sprint or verizon as long as all their phones suck (the pre is better than phones they've had in the past, but i still greatly prefer the iphone). unless my service suddenly drops off the deep end I'm totally happy with my service with AT&T. i feel bad for those who have been having problems though..
I was in the States recently an I'm shocked at how backward the most powerful nation is in terms of mobile telephone technology. This stuff they are just announcing we've had in Europe for years and right now MMS is dated technology, arguably irrelevant if everyone just used mobile email. I've been using Email and 3G data for god knows how long, I think I had it on some horrendous Ericsson K series phone. I really don't understand why AT&T are trying to spin this, they should just sort it out quietly and stop pissing everyone around. It's because of their antiquated bollocks that we in Europe are unable to have access various features on our iphones. It's totally laughable that they just announcing MMS........just completely nuts and the guy does it with a straight face!!! "we want to get the user experience just right" HaHaHaHa!!!!
The major GSM carriers in Europe basically went from GPRS to HSPA bypassing EDGE. Where as in North America the Canadian and USA GSM (formally TDMA) carriers preferred to go from GPRS to EDGE to HSPA. It was a slower migration to HSPA but offered more time for customers to use their cellphones, provided more time for carriers to upgrade their networks and offers better backwards compatibility. Though it is surprising that AT&T which doesn't rent third party towers can't get enough data bandwidth and speed to handle their customers usage. While AT&T has more miles to cover for their customers they also have more towers. Their towers to customer ratio is relative to other countries such as their friendly neighbours to the North where we're working on providing 21 Mbps HSPA but the USA carriers are struggling to provide even 3.6 Mbps. So it's understandable why other international countries don't comprehend why GSM carriers in the USA such as AT&T aren't able to provide comparable HSPA.
If there were more than one service provider, those providers would be required to innovate, improve networks, improve service etc, to fight for customers. Right now, ATT has no incentive to do this and eats up profit without providing the necessary service. I mean come one guys, I posted last week that an answer forum on ATT that said the reason that MMS is not currently available is because the iPhone doesn't support it. This garbage would not happen in a multi-carrier world
One last thing, If there were say even 2 carrier options, you could imagine a world of 10 million on one network and 10 million on the other. This obviously would alleviate bandwidth issues on ATT for the short term.
It's only time until the GOVT gets involved on this exclusive carrier bullcrap.