I love my iPhone. But, it’s time to let it go.
I have come to loathe AT&T.
Those of you who have AT&T are familiar with the reasons why, and those of you who are not with AT&T should be congratulated on being able to hang on to your innocence for this long.
I will not rant on my blog about how completely uncompetitive the rates are, how I was essentially punished for purchasing an iPhone back before 3G and 3Gs, (I realize Apple is more the culprit here than AT&T), how AT&T pretends like it can’t get me a better deal on my plan because Apple won’t let them or how the service is so crappy that my phone doesn’t work in my own house even though I have called them several times to let them know and they have told me for the past five years that they are “working on it.”
I will simply take my business elsewhere to a company that will provide me with a competitive plan and with service in my area. Like, I don’t know, Verizon.
Dear Internet, meet my new phone.
AT&T? Can you hear me now?
Anyone else out there using the new Android? Did you used to have an iPhone? Care to share your thoughts about the difference?
Posted by Faiqa on February 16, 2010 1:09 am • Seriously. I Have No Clue. About Anything. • 33 comments
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Angel Smith Said,
February 16, 2010 @ 2:10 am
I have that exact phone, and I want to marry it. It does everything I want it to do. Except run Words With Friends. But I have an iTouch and wifi for that.
Also? I had two Blackberries before my Eris. It blows them away, too.
[Reply]
RebTurtle Said,
February 16, 2010 @ 3:21 am
I reeeeeeeeally wanted the Android, but I’m just not willing to have to buy a data plan yet. I don’t want to be that connected, and neither does my wallet.
So a few weeks ago I picked up a new LG Chocolate Touch, and I’ve never loved a phone so much. I picked up a Jabra visor-mount Bluetooth speakerphone at Costco, and now I can listen to my tunes all day, jump in the truck, set the bluetooth to FM rebroadcast, and keep jamming all the way home without missing a beat. With wired headphones I get FM radio, too!
The sad thing about the iPhone is that it has single-handedly brought AT&T’s network to it’s knees. Their network was never robust enough to handle that much data traffic, and the iPhone was too popular to be locked into one network – but it was anyways. I don’t like the way Verizon locks you in with proprietary phone software, but I have had hardly any problems with their network over the last 6 or so years. I’ve had my phone ring when I was camping or hiking in the mountains and thought I wouldn’t be available for days.
[Reply]
Kailyn Said,
February 16, 2010 @ 3:38 am
I feel your pain. I own an iPhone 3Gs — an improvement over my 3G. And as much as I am Apple’s whore, I am a whore of the Death Star even more. (Take a look at the logo and tell me I’m wrong.) Because years ago I worked for the folks — in the department that was responsible for building cell sites. I understand why there are the holes and how sometimes it is outside of the control of the company. All I know is that in the Bay Area, those fine folks have given me coverage in areas that other carriers have not been able to. So I just suck it up.
[Reply]
RebTurtle Reply:
February 16th, 2010 at 4:30 am
@Kailyn, Yeah, unfortunately filling those “holes” in coverage areas often require trying to squeeze some unwilling property owner into agreeing to put a tower on their land/building and/or settling for a less than optimal site owned by a more willing owner or in a less unsightly place.
[Reply]
Kailyn Reply:
February 16th, 2010 at 6:15 am
@RebTurtle, And it’s about more then finding a land owner to sign a 30 year lease. Once you’ve gotten past that hurdle, you have to get approved for a use permit as well as a building permit. There is a site in San Francisco that covers the western part of the Golden Gate Bridge that took ten years to actually happen. The engineers said that once the site went live, it lit up like a Christmas tree.
[Reply]
Breigh Said,
February 16, 2010 @ 4:06 am
I have the HTC Hero with Android and I love it! It’s in Europe though, with T-Mobile. Does everything I need it to do!
[Reply]
Robin Said,
February 16, 2010 @ 6:37 am
I have had T-Mobile for over 10 years – it has never given me any problems, and their prices kill the competition. Their customer service is amazing too. I have a Blackberry and absolutely LOVE. IT.
If I had no contract and had to pick, I would pick T-Mobile and Verizon would be a distant 2nd. Everyone I know that has their iPhone loves their iPhone but HATES AT&T, so I will stick to T-Mobile.
Sorry – long rant.
[Reply]
RebTurtle Reply:
February 16th, 2010 at 6:43 pm
@Robin, T-Mobile has taken an interesting new departure from “traditional” cell billing. They now no longer subsidize the phones, and give you a lower monthly fee. You will pay more to purchase a phone up front, but the cost is much better, especially if you don’t feel compelled to change phones every 18 months.
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kapgar Said,
February 16, 2010 @ 8:38 am
We have our issues with AT&T but since we have so many of our services bundled together and AT&T by us really isn’t all that bad, we’ve held onto it for four years now. Katie has an iPhone, but I do not. I desperately want a Droid or Android, but it’s not even worth looking into simply because we’d have to pay so much more money if I ditched AT&T to go to Verizon. I hope AT&T gets their Droid soon.
[Reply]
SciFi Dad Said,
February 16, 2010 @ 8:55 am
I just went through an upgrade to the iPhone in December. What made me go with the iPhone was the fact that a) all the Android devices were running 1.5, and there were no plans to upgrade to 1.6 let alone 2.01 (or whatever), and b) Google’s cloud concept.
I didn’t like the fact that I HAD to store everything in a gmail/google account on the web (specifically, I’m talking about calendars; the idea that the days I’m going to be out of town visiting my parents being on the internet – secured or not – just made me uneasy). I also didn’t like the lack of Outlook integration (an issue with the non-HTC hardware, as HTC has their own sync app for Outlook).
Bottom line, it was the best choice for me (BlackBerry + ham hands like mine = four buttons at once), and at least on Rogers the 3G speeds aren’t bad (Speedtest.net returns 2-4MB outside the core urban centre where I live, higher if I’m in the city).
[Reply]
Clown Said,
February 16, 2010 @ 9:04 am
You’ve done this already or are planning on it? AT&T’s signal is beyond horrible where you are. How is Verizon’s? (Assuming you’re already on it or have friends that have used their Verizon phones while at your home)
[Reply]
HoosierGirl Said,
February 16, 2010 @ 9:39 am
I have had the same thoughts. My boyfriend has an ATT phone (through me) AND a Verizon phone (work phone) and we have noticed the differences in coverage. I don’t know if I could live without my iphone.
You were smart to do what you did. I wish it actually mattered to AT&T. They don’t care.
j.
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Avitable Said,
February 16, 2010 @ 10:17 am
Traitor.
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Miss Britt Said,
February 16, 2010 @ 10:21 am
Is it weird that this makes me sad? I feel like you moved out of town or started dating a guy from the other school or something.
*sob*
Also – the best coverage I’ve ever had/heard of from a cell carrier was through U.S. Cellular – a little midwestern company that we loved so much we actually kept it for as long as we could even after we moved to Florida.
But?
I love my iPhone more.
[Reply]
Finn Said,
February 16, 2010 @ 10:36 am
I adore my iPhone and am fortunate that I live in a place with excellent AT&T coverage. I do wish there was some competition so the rates would go down, but I feel it will come in time.
[Reply]
NYCWD Said,
February 16, 2010 @ 11:20 am
Welcome to the REAL Kool Kids Klub!!!
I love my Droid. He does everything I need on a phone and then some! Service issues have for the most part been non-existent. Sure, there are fewer apps, but the high quality ones that actually matter easily rise to the top in the Marketplace.
Best of all?
It’s not controlled by some kool aid serving corporate monger disguised as an independent upstart. It IS the independent upstart.
(That last paragraph in no way indicates that I will not be purchasing an iPad when it comes out… because you know… it’s an iPad!)
[Reply]
Sybil Law Said,
February 16, 2010 @ 12:31 pm
I think I really like the Droid. We have AT & T now, and it’s getting ridiculous. For years – no phone problems whatsoever (well, we had Cingular whom At & T bought) and now – freakin’ problems all the damn time! I’m ready to let go.
[Reply]
Lisa Said,
February 16, 2010 @ 1:05 pm
I love my iPhone and don’t know that I could give it up. BUT the high cost of service makes all the dropped calls that much harder to take. Unfortunately, it happens with most services here because of our mountains.
[Reply]
Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] Said,
February 16, 2010 @ 1:38 pm
I…I…I just don’t know what to say.
I hate AT&T more than I hate olives, but I just can’t give up my iPhone.
[Reply]
Elizabeth Kaylene Said,
February 16, 2010 @ 2:01 pm
I have a BlackBerry on Sprint. I can’t complain at all. I’ve heard all of the AT&T/iPhone horror stories and I just smirk and shrug. I would never pay that much for a cell phone.
[Reply]
Karl Said,
February 16, 2010 @ 2:45 pm
I live in a town that still only has Edge with AT&T. Luckily, the AT&T voice coverage is good here. The data, however, sucks. While I’m home, not a big deal, since I’m tied to my Wifi. But any time I leave the house…Edge. Blah.
Can’t let go, though. I’ve seen the phone you’re talking about – Angel has it, as she’s said – and it’s cool. But getting rid of my iPhone, the mere thought of it, gives me chills.
[Reply]
Slyde Said,
February 16, 2010 @ 3:47 pm
ive heard good things about the droid.
as for the iphone, the pricing plan for monthly service is ridiculous. i would love one, but im not paying THAT.
i will just live in harmony with my i-touch.
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hello haha narf Said,
February 16, 2010 @ 8:18 pm
i covet the stupid iphone, but since work pays for my blackberry i keep telling myself that i love the blackberry.
p.s. i am all about impressed with you breaking up with the iphone and att&t. that must have been difficult at first. might still be. but go you, showing those bastards!
[Reply]
Ayesha Walker Said,
February 16, 2010 @ 9:03 pm
Hey Faiqa,
I have had Verizon for over 5 years and love it. Craig & I both got the same phone as you and needless to say we love it. I did install the Advance App Killer on my phone to save some battery. I had the blackberry storm before. I don’t know how I was without this phone I love it
[Reply]
Hockeymandad Said,
February 16, 2010 @ 9:31 pm
I love my iPhone. Enough to stick with the shitty service I get now. However, I purchased my phone correctly by waiting for the 3G. So my contract ends this year, late too. Word on the street is there’s a Verizon version coming later this year…time will tell because Apple is NOT happy with the jerk around from AT&T regarding services and network. Tethering anyone? Only in non-US locations.
[Reply]
Kimberly Said,
February 17, 2010 @ 2:10 am
I’m praying and praying to the cell phone gods that Verizon can get the iphone SOON! I hate AT&T, HATE! But I keep getting mixed info. I haven’t done much price comparisons with the data plans, so I’m not sure about that, but the service and customer service is awful. Sitting on the couch in my house, without moving, I can lose a call 3-4 times. Plus their people are a bunch of dummies. A few of my friends just got the new blackberry with verizon and the LOVE it. Good luck to you…let us know how it works out.
[Reply]
Melchor Said,
February 17, 2010 @ 10:37 am
I do not – check, that, WILL not – own an iPhone. I don’t agree with being forced to carry extra charges on my bill (such as a data plan) just because of having a particular model of phone. That’s ridiculous.
However, I do have AT&T. Haven’t had a whole lot of service problems there. I currently have, with them, a Samsung Solstice. Touch screen. Mobile web, e-mail, all that. MP3s and videos. Calendar, alarm, calculator, notepad. Everything (I think) an iPhone does, without the Apps. And I can live without those, really.
I have the unlimited data plan with it because I wanted it. And it’s 50% cheaper than what the SAME PLAN would be if I had an iPhone.
Sometimes, finding ways around their system by working from within can be just as fun.
[Reply]
martymankins Said,
February 17, 2010 @ 12:26 pm
Happy new phone. I’ve considered getting an Android, but being a long time Palm user, I’m going with the Palm Pre.
I do have an iPhone, but it’s a pre-paid on AT&T (it’s my secondary phone that I use sparingly for phone calls, mostly on WiFi mode)
[Reply]
Coal Miner's Granddaughter Said,
February 17, 2010 @ 5:46 pm
I have to admit that I’ve no complaints about my iPhone. I just upgraded from an original iPhone to a brand-new model last month and have been OK with both.
Sorry to see you go.
But I know the Android will treat you right.
[Reply]
delmer Said,
February 17, 2010 @ 5:59 pm
Breaking up with Nextel/Sprint was hard to due as they wanted to charge me an early termination fee. I had just a couple of months on my contract and told the rep I’d be money ahead to simply drive my car over my phone.
In the end Nextel/Sprint tried very hard to fix my problm (dropped calls, voice mails that came a week late) and I spent an hour driving around with one of their engineers on day… but by then it was too late. (The bitterness I felt from them changing my evening hours start time from 7 to 9 p.m. and then, years later, telling me I could get a plan with evening hours starting at 7 — if I re-upped — had never subsided. Now I have AT&T (through work) — today five voice mails came in all at once; none of them were from today.)
[Reply]
Alecia Said,
February 17, 2010 @ 11:12 pm
I have had an iPhone for a year and a half and LOVE it. But I despise AT&T. Why did Apple have to go to bed with them? My husband held out and waited for the Droid and is still with Verizon. I play with his phone from time to time and it seems pretty nice, but I have to admit I still prefer the iPhone. I wonder if Apple has any intent of divorcing AT&T or at least opening it up with other options.
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The Urban Cowboy Said,
February 18, 2010 @ 12:03 am
I just left ATT for Straight Talk, and am VERY happy with it!
http://theurbancowboy.net/2010/straight-talk-cellular-service/
[Reply]
aynur Said,
February 18, 2010 @ 3:40 am
I just got a HTC Hero with Sprint, a few days ago … before that we were with T-Mobile for years. We get a better discount with Sprint due to my husband’s job.
[Reply]