Company Overview: AT&T is currently the largest wireless carrier in the nation. AT&T formerly Cingular Wireless, uses a nationwide GSM network of cell towers and is roaming partners with T-Mobile, SunCom, and other GSM providers operating GSM systems. Cingular has more than 70.1 million (Jan. 08) subscribers in the U.S. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, GA.
Following AT&T's merger with BellSouth in December 2006, Cingular Wireless is now solely owned by AT&T. Now that branding is complete, the new AT&T represents the largest wireless company in the United States, with more than 63 million subscribers who use the nation's largest digital voice and data network.
Special Plan Features: Rollover service allows subscribers to carry unused minutes from month-to-month; Myriad monthly plans include free mobile-to-mobile and optional unlimited nights/weekends and family calling; Data services available for phones/PDAs, BlackBerry devices, and laptops; Pre-paid service available.
Unique Features: Rollover minutes; Downloadable games, ringtones, and other entertainment; "MEdia Net" mobile Internet service for phones; Only major GSM carrier with push-to-talk service.
Pros: Nationwide service coverage and monthly plans competitive with all major carriers; Rollover minutes provide added value; Extensive selection of data and entertainment add-ons; GSM network supports many phones.
Cons: Notable customer service complaints in wake of merger with AT&T Wireless in 2004.
Customer Service Review: Cingular's customer service reputation took a major hit in recent years, with over 14 million complaints logged by the FCC in 2004 and the removal of Cingular from the New York BBB listings in August, 2005. The company is restructuring its customer service operations and reported a 56% reduction in regulatory complaints in Q1 2006.
Technology Used: Cingular Wireless operates nationwide GSM voice networks with GPRS and EDGE data services. Newly lauched "BroadbandConnect" UMTS/HSDPA high-speed network. Cingular also supports their legacy TDMA and analog networks, though they have recently announced these networks will be shut down in 2008.
Network Benefits: Nationwide coverage including high speed data services; Enterprise services for businesses - Cingular is the largest BlackBerry provider in North America; Push to talk service.
Noah got his hands on the U.S. version of the Sony Ericsson Z750a that is now equipped for the 3G network supported by AT&T. Hidden behind a new reflective clamshell design, the Z750a offers a media player, stereo Bluetooth, hidden external LED screen, and much more. Make plans to check out the Sony Ericsson Z750a in 3 flashy colors in upcoming weeks from AT&T.
Hello MOTO. The new Motorola phone for AT&T is the Z9, a sliderphone with a jewel like finish houses integrated GPS, a music player, video share services, and much more. Check it out behind the scenes at CTIA '08.
Hands-on with the new LG Vu. Considering all it does, it's super compact and light. Touchscreen, 3G data, AT&T TV. Get inside the LG briefing room and check it out.
We wade through all the "Best in Show" awards at the Samsung booth to check out the new Access. It's a phone that supports AT&T's new mobile TV service and will be available in May. And it let me see Eddie House pick up a flagrant foul. Awesome.
AT&T CEO Ralph de la Vega demos AT&T's new in-store kiosk featuring Microsoft Surface Technology. Kiosks will roll out in four cities April 17. The device allows customers to check the strenght of AT&T coverage they can expect in their specific area. By setting your device on the machine you can find out the devices features, available accessories and so much more.
Samsung unveiled the Blackjack 2 today during Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer's keynote address kicking off the CTIA Wireless IT & Entertainment Conference in San Francisco, CA. The Blackjack 2 is the follow-up to the Blackjack smartphone, and will be available in two colors - Black and Wine Red - as an AT&T exclusive when it launches later this year.
Blackjack 2 features a slimmer form factor with a larger battery compartment that Samsung says will address battery life issues that plagued the...
Greetings from Milford, CT everyone. I'm on a road trip visiting family and friends here in the New Haven area, and also heading down to New York City for a few days. So the blog entries and videos will be a bit less frequent this week - but don't worry, I'm still working.
I've got the LG Vu with me so I can test out AT&T's Mobile TV service, and I've also got the Samsung t819 so I can check out T-Mobile's new 3G network. Both services are available in NYC but not yet...
LG's Vu was maybe the most impressive new device shown at CTIA a month ago. While Samsung's Instinct grabbed the lion's share of the press (and not altogether undeservedly so), Vu quietly impressed me in a back-room briefing thanks to its responsive touchscreen, snappy menus, and light without feeling cheap candybar body.
Word on the street (well, Web), seems to be that the Vu CU920 has started showing up in AT&T stores a few days early. It's not official, and you...
Two quick but juicy new bits of rumor dust kicking around the mill this week:
First, Fortune is reporting that AT&T is going to subsidize the cost of the new 3G iPhone for subscribers when it launches this Summer. According to Scott Moritz, the US carrier will knock $200 off the cost of the forthcoming handset for customers willing to sign a two-year service agreement. Mortiz goes on to say that "Apple is expected to have two versions of the new iPhone, an 8-gigabyte-memory...
Okay, here's the deal: If you want a question answered reasonably quickly, post it right here on PhoneDog.com as a comment to a blog post. All of the uTube vids are up here as individual entries, so you can comment away right here.
If you ask me a question via YouTube messaging, I'll probably get to it. But it'll take awhile. Nothing personal, I just respond to the PhoneDog messages and comments faster. And we like the traffic on our blog comment rolls,...
Sony Ericsson's Q1 earnings report must have felt like a shot to the midsection of company investors worldwide. SE's profits dropped some 47 percent as compared to -- and sales were off 8% as compared to the same quarter one year ago and a whopping 29% or so from Q4 '07 (which, of course, is the busy holiday shopping season).
SE blames the massive drop in profits on high R&D costs as well as the declining average cost of handsets. According to SE data, the average handset...
IntoMobile reported on a story in the Electronic Times quoting an LG rep as saying their VZW flagship handset, the VX10000 Voyager, will be coming to AT&T and Sprint in the US later this year. Considering that the VZW model has sold some 1.1 million units in less than six months, it makes sense that LG would want to milk this cow for all its worth.
The move would necessitate the creation of at least two new variants of the device, since the VX10000 is compatible with VZW's...
By: Jan Mayer on Tuesday, May 06, 2008 From: St. Charles, MO (United States) Experience: 3 Years
Pros: Great coverage, good deals on phones, great customer service and online help Cons: sometimes expensive, some plans could use improvementSummary: AT&T is the probably greatest wireless provider out there. I switched from T-mobile to Cingular about three years ago and have not had any problems with it so far. In some areas out in the country the signal is lost at certain places but that's the same with all carriers. Now that AT&T and Cingular have merged there is even more to expect from the company in the future. This company just keeps growing and now provides television and internet services as well. And good deals are available for joint plans.
By: C Ballard on Monday, May 05, 2008 From: Marietta, GA (United States) Experience: 5 Years
Summary: We started out with AT&T before they were Cingular and didn't have any problems. Cingular took over and we still didn't have any problems until we had to complete the merge and the customer service was really poor. We have had issues ever since. Our coverage doesn't seem to be good in some places we are always having drop calls where we use to not. We had to extend our contact to add a line for our daughter and when it is up we are going to another carrier.
By: Joanna Poli on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 From: NJ, NJ (United States) Experience: 5 Years
Pros: International Capability, Reception, no unexpected extended contracts!Cons: Not all areas had the fast 3G coverageSummary: Ive had at&t when they first started off with Cingular, Ive never had a problem with customer service helping me out. They gave great deals on phones and always try to do their best to help me out with something im not understanding or with new cellphones coming out. What ive come to find though is that authorized dealers are alittl bit too snobby and at corporate stores they know much more and helped me out alot faster and more efficiently! at&t will ALWAYS be my carrier!
By: Deanne s on Friday, April 25, 2008 From: kansas city, MO (United States) Experience: 7 Years
Pros: There isn't oneSummary: I started out with Cingular didnt have any complaints with them was a good service all around. After switching to AT&T the customers service is very poor. We bought another house no signials in that area. AT&T told us that was too bad we are in a contract and there is nothing they will do for us. We still have another year left that we cant use. They said we would have to get shipped over seas or die. Also got a notice they are raise our text messaging rates when I called them about that they gave me a very hard time about that. They are breaking my contract but won't admit to it. I don't have anything good to say about AT&T I am disconnecting my internet and home phone from them.
By: Carol Baum on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 From: Atlanta, GA (United States) Experience: 7 Years
Pros: noneCons: poor customer service.Summary: My RAZR quit working the day before I was leaving on a trip out of state. I carried phone to ATT Service Center where it was checked out. I was told the (new) battery I bought from them a week earlier was not making connection. Since the phone was out of warranty by 6 months, I was told I wasn't due for an upgrade until July, and the only thing I could do was purchase another phone at a cost of $349.00. I asked them if they had a "loaner" phone I could use on my trip and I would buy a new phone when I returned. They emphatically said NO! That's my reward for being a loyal customer of 7 years? When my contract expires in July, I will reward them by choosing another carrier!
