iphone users are asked to join operation chokehold

[mattbiernat]

http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/12/1 ... e-down-att

Subject: Operation Chokehold
On Friday, December 18, at noon Pacific time, we will attempt to overwhelm the AT&T data network and bring it to its knees. The goal is to have every iPhone user (or as many as we can) turn on a data intensive app and run that app for one solid hour. Send the message to AT&T that we are sick of their substandard network and sick of their abusive comments. The idea is we'll create a digital flash mob. We're calling it in Operation Chokehold. Join us and speak truth to power!

when will the cell phone companies learn to provide better customer service? i mean seriously they are like the blockbuster in 1998 charging $5 per night for a late movie return.

[GomJabbar]

To add a little perspective to this...

When I set about looking for independent data, however, to confirm the superior performance of Verizon’s network, I was astonished to discover that I had managed to get things exactly wrong. Despite the well-publicized problems in New York and San Francisco, AT&T seems to have the superior network nationwide.

And the iPhone itself may not be so great after all. Its design is contributing to performance problems.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/13/busin ... zon&st=cse

[Harryc]

http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-10397648-266.html

[GomJabbar]

I doubt if Operation Chokehold is going to help much...

IPhone users who jam the airwaves by watching video on their devices will be put on tighter leashes, an AT&T Inc. executive said Wednesday.
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Just 3 percent of ''smart'' phone users are consuming 40 percent of the network capacity, de la Vega said, adding that the most high-bandwidth activity is video and audio streaming. Several applications on the iPhone provide nonstop Internet radio.

AT&T: Tighter Control of Cell Data Usage Ahead

[qviri]

To add a little perspective to this...

To add a little perspective to that (the NYT article), the article goes on to advocate that AT&T engineers "help" Apple make its smartphone better.

I'm not a big fan of most of Apple's management and marketing decisions, but I do know they have better mobile software engineers than AT&T.

There is no question that the technology AT&T uses is, at its peak, capable of higher speeds than Verizon's. The question is when and where this peak is available.

That is not to say Verizon is at its core any better or more competent, but they are doing a decent job of making the most of not having the Iphone on board.

Mysteriously, Iphone use in countries other than the USA seems to cause much fewer controversies.

[ajkula66]

NYT wrote:

AT&T and Apple could both gain by swapping talent.

Apple, send your marketing wizards to lend your partner a hand. It sorely needs help.

AT&T, send some engineers to redesign the iPhone to make better use of the country’s fastest wireless network.

I'm employed by one of the companies mentioned in the article, so I might be biased...then again, not in this respect:

Anyone capable of putting these three sentences quoted above together in the same article is absolutely clueless about:

a) Apple

b) AT&T

c) Cellular communications in general

For the record, AT&T (which is NOT my employer) has a very good network by U.S. standards. However, I don't believe that designers of ANY cellular network around here had imagined the number of people that would be streaming, twitting, updating FB and what not at the same time...

Boredom combined with high-end technology is a dangerous combo...

[GomJabbar]

As was stated in that NYT article, the author went about to verify the "superior performance of Verizon’s network" which he thought to be true. He then posted what the independent data results were. At least he did not just use anecdotal evidence.

Regarding the "three sentences quoted above", that is opinion of the author. Others have different opinions, but nevertheless they are still opinions.

In reference to: "However, I don't believe that designers of ANY cellular network around here had imagined the number of people that would be streaming, twitting, updating FB and what not at the same time...", I beg to differ. The decision makers at at&t had their blinders on (I doubt if Steve Jobs was surprised). Personally, I do not own any Apple devices, but my daughter and husband as well as one of my brothers use the iPhone. It is easy to see the iPhones appeal and potential (for data consumption). Why not make use of all these features if there is no additional charge and no data cap? I would.

This is especially true in NYC and SF. Two cities with large technically savvy populations that do not drive themselves around that much. They take public transportation and are often on foot where their hands are free to watch those TV broadcasts, YouTube videos, Internet radio, and any other streaming application that their iPhone supports. These two cities report the most problems with at&t's network.

I am frequently in the NYC area myself and data coverage there leaves much to be desired. Oftentimes I get disconnected after just a couple of minutes online and have to keep reestablishing my connection. This is the way it is in the East River and in NY Harbor near Manhattan. Over at Staten Island the service is much better. Likely the dense population and tall buildings of Manhattan play a part in this.

I have been using at&t's cellular data network for about 5 years now with my laptop card. A couple of years ago at&t put a 5GB cap on internet data usage for these cards. They put the cap on these cards for many of the same reasons - users downloading videos, downloading music, and using streaming applications. To date there has been no cap on iPhone data usage - although at&t just announced that is changing.

[ajkula66]

GomJabbar wrote:

I am frequently in the NYC area myself and data coverage there leaves much to be desired. Oftentimes I get disconnected after just a couple of minutes online and have to keep reestablishing my connection. This is the way it is in the East River and in NY Harbor near Manhattan.

I'm in NYC every day, and would very much beg to differ, using VZW network for business purposes and T-Mobile for personal use. I can't comment on AT&T from a user's perspective, but given the number of people I see on the street or mass transportation with iPhones, it can't possibly be that bad. They also have as many towers as anyone else apart from VZW which has by far the most towers in the five boroughs. Yes, I do know this for a fact. No, I can't give you the exact statistics since I still need my daily job...

As for the coverage along the East River (can't debate on the NY Harbor since I have no knowledge of its specifics) it's for the most part purposely disabled. Take a look to your left if you're going down FDR somewhere in the 23rd Street area, and you'll understand why. That's all I'm allowed to say on the given matter.

Since I've never even come close to SF, I can't possibly comment on situation there.

[GomJabbar]

I was commenting on at&t's data service in NYC as I experience it. I did not mean to imply that other carriers deliver the same level of service in NYC.