Comments (6)

By Sarah, July 20, 2009 8:53 pm

I have to take this opportunity to whine about something. What else is new, right? But let’s be real – what the heck is up with AT&T? I’m totally butt crazy in love with my iPhone but I am on the verge of a nervous breakdown thanks to the ever-so-flaky service. I’ve recently found myself spending quite a bit of time on the phone, whereas before, I primarily used my phone for texting, the web, and the apps. I’m more convinced than ever that AT&T is trying to ruin my life.

If I were a boxer, this would be my inspiration.

I totally get it, though – I live in a highly urban area, in an old, brick building that doesn’t allow for superb cell reception. But what I don’t understand is how every other call, literally, can fail. Call failed. Call failed. Ooh it’s ringing! Nope, call failed. Even when I can get a call through, the static is unbelievable. Nevermind the mysterious voicemails I get days late from phone calls I never received, that never showed up on my Missed Calls log. It’s endlessly frustrating and I’m finding myself more convicted than ever about the future of my relationship with my iPhone!

It wasn’t until I actually began using my cell as an actual telephone that I noticed just how awful the service is. You really can’t compare anything to the seamlessness of all other aspects – the aesthetics, the syncing, the convenience of having all my calendars, accounts and applications working in perfect harmony. But the cell service is total crap. What do I do?

It’s not like AT&T isn’t aware. The lack of service in Austin this past March for SXSW was the topic of many a conversation. The service just seems to be getting worse, and I’m sure I’m just one of the millions who are taking to their blogs to rant about dropped calls. What is keeping AT&T from getting their act together? I know you’ve got the fundage, the monthly bill for an iPhone is atrocious.

I noticed myself longingly gazing at my good friend Jason’s G1 on Sunday at church (yeah, shame on me for being distracted during church). Surely it wouldn’t be so bad to be the only one of my friends without an iPhone. Dare I risk not being one of the cool kids and allow myself the luxury of having access to a functioning cell phone? Could I possibly turn my back on the iPhone? That Pre is looking really nice about now.

The truth is, if the G1 or the Pre were available with Verizon, the Godfather of wireless providers, I would probably take the plunge. But I’m not totally sold on the reliability of T-Mobile or Sprint at the moment, definitely not enough to break my iron-clad contract with AT&T. The Pre WILL be available through Verizon in ~six months, but by that time, maybe I should just wait to see what Google has happening? Will G1 v2.0 be better? Perhaps by that time my long-distance boyfriend will be in LA and proper cell service won’t matter as much to me? What’s a girl to do?!

I am lost, and frustrated, and based on Twitter’s trending topics and the heated article on TechCrunch, I’m not the only one. One thing is for sure – AT&T is surely working doubletime to extend that contract with Apple, because once they switch providers, their customer base is going to be more sparse than hair on Homer Simpson’s shiny bald head.

FIX IT. Or I’m leaving. I mean it.