So, where CAN we find plans for upgraded service?

[legbuh]

I'm happy with my phone and service as is, but with Verizon taking over everything in our area AND offering 3G it's hard not to switch.

I called support today since I've heard rumors of AT&T bringing 3G coverage to my area.  The rep couldn't tell me that, or put me in touch with anyone who does know one way or the other.  He suggested I talk to a local AT&T store rep.  I asked (knowing there wasn't one) where the closest one was.  LOL... 60 miles away, where there IS 3G coverage.

So, not only am I paying the same fees for Edge that others pay for 3G, they can't tell me if and when we'll get 3G.  This is all on the hooves of Verizon bringing 4G to the area as well (it's a confirmed beta area).

If I cancel early, I pay hundreds of dollars.

This is really poor service.  There isn't anyone at AT&T sitting in a room talking about areas they will be expaning Edge to 3G?  Nothing?  Really... Really?

[Doppler808]

That isn't poor service. You couple hundred dollars is to pay back the subsidy for the phone. It is your choice to pay it back and then move on or stay with AT&T. If Verizon will give you better service it'll be better off going there. It's YOUR choice, and AT&T isn't forcing you to day. You have the option of opting out by paying back the subsidy for the phone.

[legbuh]

That's, funny.  I'm pretty sure I bought my phone from ebay with my own money.   

[Doppler808]

You made your choice, and if you signed a contract you had a previous phone with subsidization that doesn't go away...

[legbuh]

{keep it courteous} , can you answer why they can't tell me if 3G is coming to my area?  that WAS my question.  How hard it is to lean over to Bob and say "hey, are they getting 3G there or not?"

Message Edited by mod.moose on 12-01-2009 09:12:24 PM

[Doppler808]

Here's the deal man. You call it poor customer service, and you have a lot of misconceptions.

1. You are paying to for "The use of the network" not what type of network it is.
2. There are a lot of red tape to even put a tower down. FCC needs to give approval, neighborhood boards in some areas need approval. Someone needs to lease of sell the land to put the tower up. I have seen various carriers get shot down on putting a tower near my area because the neighborhood board said "No".
3. If you think Verizon will give you better service pay the ETF and move there. You may get "your monies worth."
4. If 3G is the only thing you are willing to stay and they don't say anything just move on. Don't waste your time. You can get better service in your area. Go to your board meetings and see if they are trying to get a tower up. Check the FCC to see if they approved AT&T to even put a tower up. IF not probably better to pay your subsidy(ETF) and move on.

Complaining doesn't get you much in the corporate world. Money talks, and if you take your money and walk, and have other people in your area do the same it'll do more than coming to a board to complain and name call.

[legbuh]

Are you saying to upgrade to 3G they need to put up new towers, not just upgrade the existing ones?

[PDCPDC1957]

As I understand it, they have to re-allocate existing bandwidth from EDGE to 3G............

[hme83 ACE - Professor]

Take a look at the at&t coverage maps for data service - if you are in/near an area where the service is provided by roaming partners rather than being on the native at&t network (quite possible since you indicate the nearest store is 60 miles away), then at&t may have very little control over when 3G is implemented in your area.  

[formercanuck]

It might be hard.. since nobody knows where you are.

[legbuh]

Ok, "reallocated from edge to 3G".

Now we're getting somewhere.  What does this entail?

I'm not roaming, BTW.  I'm on the Edge network where I live.   There are 2 AT&T towers I get service off from my home office.  I know because the closer one was out for a couple weeks and my service was terrible if I wasn't on the 2nd floor.

[formercanuck]

The problem is... nobody knows 'where' you are.

You could be in the UP of Michigan, somewhere in Vermont, Bangor Maine, to parts of California or Alaska.

[legbuh]

Why would that matter?  When I called AT&T they knew where I was.  And couldn't answer a simple question about future upgrades.  Sprint even has this on their maps (who I had years ago but switched because coverage we terrible where I live).

I live south central minnesota.   The map shows they have Minneapolis and Rochester covered with 3G, but that's about it.

You'd think with Verizon launching the most effective ad campaign in years they'd be wanting to tell non 3G users when and if they are going to get updated service.

[formercanuck]

It would matter because if you are in an area (such as Santa Fe, NM) that doesn't have enough spectrum to deploy, it won't happen for some time.

If you're in an area that's listed as one of the top 100 markets, there's a good chance it may be coming your way.

If you're in a tourist trap (i.e. Mammoth Lakes, CA), you'll get some 3G coverage.

If you're in a spot where there's a decent amount of traffic, but very few live there, you'll get it eventually (Orland, CA)

If you're in a spot that's litterally in the middle of nowhere, and there's nothing but roaming around , there's a chance they won't sell service to you, or deploy 3g.

3G coverage appears to extend quite a ways from Rochester and Minneapolis, as does native coverage.

I'd recommend asking at a local store.

[avirginiagirl04]

I just got 3g where i live in va and i can tell you that it was the guys in my local at@t store that told me it was coming and when. i never heard a peep from corporate at@t. Id suggest to call the closest store and see what they know.

Message Edited by avirginiagirl04 on 12-02-2009 06:23:37 PM