Here’s a spot of research I wasn’t expecting to hear: according to the Yankee Group , 73% of iPhone users are “very satisfied” with the service provided by their exclusive carrier, AT&T – despite the many articles continually appearing across the web stating otherwise. We can only guess that the remaining 27% complain more than the 73% praise, because, as CNN reports, the data is concrete. Then again, what we hear and what the reality of a situation is aren’t always the same – the tech world learned that lesson the hard way through the release of Apple’s “AntennaGate” data , which was surprising , and seemed to contradict much of what we’d already heard. However, AT&T’s praise may actually be due to the sheer brilliance of the iPhone itself.
The free AT&T account management app for the iPhone, myWireless Mobile , got a few new features yesterday, with the most significant being the new AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot locator under the More section. AT&T myWireless Mobile v1.4 now features: • Compatible with iOS 4 • AT&T Wi-Fi Locator • Enhanced messaging and alerts to support display of unbilled data usage AT&T Wireless Customers: Smartphone customers with selected AT&T Wireless Devices and 3G data rate plans including the Smartphone $30 or higher rate plans (excludes Smartphone Enterprise 4MB plans). Qualifying Wi-Fi enabled Smartphone are listed at www.att.com/getwifi All Apple iPhone customers include AT&T Wi-Fi Basic service. AT&T BlackBerry customers with a $30 or higher BlackBerry rate plans (excludes BlackBerry Enterprise 4MB plans (Requires a qualifying Wi-Fi enabled BlackBerry.) Additional restrictions apply
AT&T claims to have identified the recent upload problems over 3G experienced by some customers with a recent software bug dealing with Alcatel-Lucent’s hardware they use in certain regions. Alcatel-Lucent is working on a fix, but until then, AT&T is simply configuring towers to allow regular 3G upload speeds instead of the enhanced mode. AT&T and Alcatel-Lucent jointly identified a software defect — triggered under certain conditions – that impacted uplink performance for Laptop Connect and smartphone customers using 3G HSUPA-capable wireless devices in markets with Alcatel-Lucent equipment. This impacts less than two percent of our wireless customer base
Two people “ familiar with the plans ” have told Bloomberg that the iPhone is coming to Verizon in January 2011. If true, this would end Dallas-based AT&T’s hold on the iPhone market in the U.S. which it has held exclusively since 2007.
If you have ever damaged your iPhone in any way, then this will be great news for you! The Boy Genius Report has just received word that the iPhone will in fact have an insurance option provided by AT&T. The bad part? The outrageous price of $13.99/mo, which soon adds up to a total of $168 a year