Posts tagged Att at Switched

Posts with tag att

AT&T's Free iPhone Wi-Fi Finally Goes Live

by Paul Miller, posted Jul 18th 2008 at 5:38PM

Despite AT&T's best attempts at completely failing its free Wi-Fi promises eternally, iPhone owners can finally fire up Mobile Safari in their local Starbucks, or, um, that one other place we heard about with AT&T Wi-Fi, and get browsing. Of course, that's not to say the service won't crash horribly in the next 10 minutes, but at least AT&T stuck by its word, and can now move on to more pressing issues.

AT&T Retailer Accused of Pawning Used Nokias as New

by Chris Ziegler, posted Jul 17th 2008 at 2:01PM

Notice that your freshly-purchased N75 smells more like a week-old head of cabbage than a bundle of brand new plastic, glue, and circuitry? That's gross, and no, we don't want to touch it (seriously, get that thing away from us). Turns out you may not be alone, though -- a new class-action suit filed in federal court alleges that CommClub, an independent retailer in California, was selling used Nokias for AT&T's network as brand new devices.

For whatever reason, AT&T and Nokia are also named as defendants in the suit, though we're not sure exactly what role they played in CommClub's potentially nefarious dealings; at any rate, the class is looking to bring home some bacon for "injuries" suffered as a result of the bait-and-switch. You're going to go smell your N75 now, aren't you? [Source: RCR Wireless News]

iPhone 3G -- Latest News and Reviews

by Tim Stevens, posted Jul 11th 2008 at 1:02PM

Yes folks, the dearly anticipated iPhone 3G is here, released this morning at Apple and AT&T stores around the country (and around the world yesterday). It's faster, it's cheaper, it does more cool things, and while the fanfare leading up to this launch hasn't quite resulted in the same level of obsession that we had this time last year for the iPhone 1.0 launch, it's safe to say that Apple fans are excited, lining up in droves around the globe for their local Apple Stores to unlock the door and spread the love, and then overloading Apple's iPhone mobile syncing service when they got home (and, more recently, Apple's activation servers, though this may have been resolved by the time you read this).

And why not? Engadget's comprehensive hands-on review reads like a wish-list for iPhone 1.0 users, including much improved call quality over the original, location tracking via GPS (but no turn-by-turn directions, check the vid after the break), and a standard headphone jack that doesn't require an adapter.

Not all is positive, though, as you still can't replace the battery, which is frustrating as connecting via 3G halves battery life to 5 hours of talk time. The much-anticipated full interaction with Exchange -- for syncing with your work e-mail -- will purge your device of any personal e-mail and calendar appointments, meaning this thing is strictly business or pleasure, but not both.

So it's not all positive, echoing the earlier pre-release reviews, and it's still not exactly an ideal corporate smartphone, not least because of the touch-sensitive keypad. Maybe that's why many more casual users are going to wait until the holidays.

All that said, whether you dive in now or wait for later, the reasonable $200 price tag makes it hard to feel all that slighted -- unless you paid $599 last year for half of the same thing.

Continue reading iPhone 3G -- Latest News and Reviews

iTunes Activation Servers Down, iPhone Customers Being Sent Home Unactivated

by Nilay Patel, posted Jul 11th 2008 at 11:21AM

In a repeat of last year's problems, it looks like the insane demand for the iPhone 3G has taken its toll on Apple's iTunes activation servers -- that's a picture of iTunes locking up in the Chicago AT&T flagship earlier this morning. We're hearing that the servers are now definitely down after being intermittently active for the past few hours, and that customers are either being turned away or sent home from both Apple and AT&T stores to activate at home using iTunes. That's especially interesting since it suggests that AT&T was insisting on in-store activation to thwart unlockers, but for right now the real news is that lots of eager iPhone 3G buyers are stuck with two useless phones, since upgrading from a first-gen unit disables the SIM. Ouch. We'll keep you updated.

Update: Apple has confirmed to us that activation is down, and that customers are being asked to take the phone home and activate via iTunes later. We're not sure what good that'll do, since the servers are down no matter where you are, but Apple says it's "working on a solution." In the meantime, it looks like the new SIM works in first-gen units, so at least upgraders aren't totally phone-deprived.

First iPhone Reviews Are In, and They're Mixed

by Joshua Topolsky, posted Jul 9th 2008 at 9:26AM

Well this was bound to happen. Ahead of schedule, Walt Mossberg has turned his official review of the new iPhone 3G, and we've got the recap. On the whole, Walt stays mostly positive about the device; he likes the form factor (which he wants to stress really hasn't changed much), says the 3G speeds are a big improvement over EDGE (no kidding?), and informs us that the audio quality and phone reception are -- thankfully -- improved all around. Downsides? There are plenty. Mossberg takes issue with AT&T's new pricing policy, which he finds steep, says he barely squeezed 4 hours and 27 minutes of talk time out of the battery, and gripes that you can only sync Exchange or personal calendars and contacts -- not both. If you're like us, you'll probably want to just read the whole thing. Too lazy? Check the video after the break.

Update: David Pogue of the New York Times has also turned in a kinda-sorta review of the iPhone 3G, though it reads more like an overview of its features than a honest-to-goodness critique. He also makes passing reference to the GPS antenna being "too small" to function as a proper GPS, which makes roughly zero sense to us. Feel free to figure it out on your own.

Update 2: Can't forget Ed Baig of USA Today, who says the new model is "worth the wait" (not to say we have any option at this point anyway, seeing how hard it is to find an original anywhere). He seemed to have trouble picking up 3G service in some locations, though it's not clear whether that can be chalked up to technical issues with the handset or a lack of coverage where he was testing. Like the others, Baig discovered a noticeable improvement in audio quality and a noticeable hit in battery life when hooked up to the 3G network. Gotta pay to play, we guess. [Source: AllThingsD]

Continue reading First iPhone Reviews Are In, and They're Mixed

3 Things You Can Do With Your Old iPhone

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Jul 7th 2008 at 10:30AM

Though just barely a year old, many Apple fanatics will be going out to replace the original iPhone, which they paid five or six hundred dollars for. So what to do with what is essentially very expensive junk? One suggestion is to simply deactivate it and use it as an iPod Touch. The iPhone will still function as a media player and be able to access the Internet via Wi-Fi, even without a wireless contract.

Another option is to wipe the handset clean, jailbreak it, and hand it off to a friend or relative who is persistently broke and suffers from extreme gadget envy. You could also take the same jailbroken iPhone and hock it on eBay, where original unlocked iPhones are fetching premium prices despite the imminent arrival of its 3G offspring.

Those of us who have amassed small museums worth of aging computer equipment and gadgets may just want to keep this one for posterity, and some jerk will likely prop a wobbly table up with one.

What are you going to do with your old iPhone? [Source: TUAW]

iPhone 3G Pricing Detailed

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Jul 2nd 2008 at 1:39PM

Only 10 more days till the updated Jesus phone hits the shelves and some details about pricing are finally starting to make the rounds of the Internet. Of course, with that surprising price drop for the iPhone (which we all knew was too good to be true) comes some hefty price hikes on data and voice plans, as well as some draconian activation limitations.

Folks who already own an iPhone, new subscribers, and existing AT&T customers eligible for an upgrade will be able to pick the iPhone for $199 (8-gigabyte) or $299 (16-gigabyte). Existing customers not eligible for an upgrade will have to cough up $399 or $499. Either way, you'll have to sign a new two-year contract, get an iPhone-specific data and voice plan, and activate the phone in the store -- at least at first. Though it offered no time line, AT&T said it plans to offer a "contract free" option for a sizable premium that lands the 8-gigabyte (GB) iPhone at $599 and the 16-gigabyte model at $699. Exactly what "contract free" means, though, remains to be seen.

Individual plans (unlimited data included)

$69.99 - 450 anytime minutes, 45¢ each additional minute, 5,000 night / weekend minutes
$89.99 - 900 anytime minutes, 40¢ each additional minute, unlimited night / weekend minutes
$109.99 - 1,350 anytime minutes, 35¢ each additional minute, unlimited night / weekend minutes
$129.99 - Unlimited minutes

Individual text plans

$5 - 200 messages per month
$15 - 1,500 messages per month
$20 - Unlimited messages

Family plans (2 lines, $39.99 each additional line, unlimited data & night / weekend minutes included)

$129.99 - 700 anytime minutes, 45¢ each additional minute
$149.99 - 1,400 anytime minutes, 40¢ each additional minute
$169.99 - 2,100 anytime minutes, 35¢ each additional minute
$209.99 - 3,000 anytime minutes, 25¢ each additional minute
$259.99 - 4,000 anytime minutes, 20¢ each additional minute
$359.99 - 6,000 anytime minutes, 20¢ each additional minute
$259.99 - Unlimited minutes ($129.99 each additional line)

Family text plans

$30 - Unlimited messages
20¢ per message if no plan is selected

If you need a refresher as to what you get for allowing AT&T to plunder your bank account, then take a look at Apple's requisite walk through of the iPhone 3G's features and menus.

The first nut-bags, sorry, customers, will be able to get their greasy fan-boy hands on the new 3G iPhones at 8am July 11th, though we wouldn't be shocked if there are already a few dedicated loons waiting on line. [Source: Engadget]

Why Are Old iPhones Fetching Top Dollar On eBay?

by Will Safer, posted Jun 24th 2008 at 12:10PM

In these patriotic times you've heard the saying, "Freedom isn't free," right?

It seems this goes for both liberty and iPhone calling plans. (Yes, we know its a stretch. Please don't be offended.)

The new iPhone 3G, announced by Steve Jobs earlier this month at the Worldwide Developers Conference and hitting Apple Store shelves July 11, will start at $199 for the 8-gigabyte (GB) model and $299 for the 16-gigabyte (GB) model. The relatively low retail price is possible because AT&T is heavily subsidizing the cost of the phone and will make it's money back on the service plan. One trick of the new iPhone is that buyers must activate an account with AT&T.

So what if you want to use an iPhone but prefer another service provider?

Then the old iPhoneis your answer, and this solution is not lost on people in the market for a little service freedom.

Older unlocked 8-gigabyte (GB) and 16-gigabyte (GB) iPhones are going for about $400 and $585 respectively on eBay. That's more than what they would sell for at retail.

In order to make a new iPhone work on a network other than AT&T, you'd have to buy the phone, sign up for the service, then cancel the service with a $175 penalty, and then unlock your phone and sign up with your service provider of choice.

Or just get an old unlocked iPhone and avoid the AT&T mess altogether. [Source: Kottke.org]

iPhone 3G: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know (But Were Afraid to Ask)

by Ryan Block, posted Jun 13th 2008 at 5:15PM

If you're anything like us, just about everyone in your family has called you up this week to ask if you think they should get the iPhone 3G; it really doesn't help matters that there's just an absurd amount of (mis)information floating around about it right now, too. So this one's for you and your fam -- we're dishing out the straight dope on iPhone 3G, a to z, so feel free to pass it on. Hit the read link for the straight dope on everything we know so far.

Starbucks Web Site Overwhelmed By Users Seeking Free Wi-Fi

by Will Safer, posted Jun 4th 2008 at 5:11PM

Starbucks customers looking to get their Wi-Fi fix along with a caffeine kick found themselves stymied for a few hours yesterday while the Web site the coffee company set up to handle free wireless Internet access buckled under the influx of new jittery customers.

The ubiquitous coffee retailer announced this Spring that it would be switching its in-store Wi-Fi access from a paid model with T-Mobile to a free membership model, with a few caveats, with AT&T. The coffee chain will be rolling out implementation of the AT&T hotspots throughout 2008.

Customers wanting to take advantage of the Wi-Fi access -- two hours a day in exchange for buying one cup of coffee (or another item) per month -- need to first purchase a rewards card for $5. Not a bad deal.

For much of the morning, visitors to the rewards site were met by a pop-up window stating "Due to overwhelming interest in Card Rewards we are currently experiencing difficulty accessing Starbucks Card accounts. We are working to fix the problem and ask that you please try again later." The problem was fixed by midday Pacific Coast Time. Starbucks took the blame on this, saying AT&T had nothing to do with the site not working properly.

Who out there in Switched Land is using this new Wi-Fi access? Or do you just go to Starbucks for the hot Java? [Source: Yahoo! News]

Free AT&T WiFi Now at Starbucks

by Thomas Ricker, posted Jun 3rd 2008 at 11:56AM

It all looks legit and final. AT&T and Starbucks have finally rolled out their free WiFi plan to Starbucks Card users registered with AT&T. In exchange for letting AT&T send you up to 4 emails per year, you get a single WiFi session of up to 2-hours per day at any of Starbucks' 7,000 or so US-based stores. Now get out of here, and don't forget your MacBook for some conspicuous posing and caffeine consumption.

[Via Gear Diary]

Major Wireless Carriers Slapped with Text-Messaging Class-Action Lawsuit

by Nilay Patel, posted May 21st 2008 at 9:39AM

Text messaging rates have always been a little ridiculous, but a new class-action suit filed in Mississippi alleges that virtually every wireless carrier you can think of is basically cheating you by charging you for received texts and not allowing you to turn the service off. The suit names AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, Alltel, US Cellular, Cellular South, and Virgin Mobile (surprisingly, T-Mobile didn't make the cut), and says that members of the class are entitled to relief for the unauthorized charges, wrongful collection, and unjust enrichment. Of course, this will all likely end in a useless settlement that nets subscribers like three extra text messages and a 20 percent discount on an "approved accessory," while the plaintiff's law firm banks millions, but we'll see how things go. [Source: RCR Wireless News]

Stars, They Have Ringtones Too!

by Christine Whitney, posted May 16th 2008 at 3:29PM

Who knew? There's now a ringtone hierarchy! On the Ringtone A-list, a new feature on AT&T's Web site, you can find out what ringtones your favorite celebs are using. Then you can buy them!

So who makes the cut onto the Ringtone A-list? As of now, Lupe Fiasco, Leona Lewis, most of the cast of 'The Hills,' and some people we've never heard of.

And what tunes are they rocking? Lupe Fiasco has chosen his own hit song as his favorite ringtone, which to us sounds like the cell phone equivalent of voting for yourself in school elections. Leona Lewis irritates friends and neighbors when "My Heart Will Go On" sounds off each time her manager calls. And the kids from 'The Hills?' They just do their Natasha-Bedingfield-meets-Kanye-West-meets-Linkin-Park thing.

We had a ringtone once, it was "Upgrade U" by Beyoncé. Now we just leave our phone on vibrate. [Source: AT&T, via Textually]

AT&T to be First US carrier with BlackBerry Bold

by Darren Murph, posted May 12th 2008 at 3:29PM

Granted, we haven't heard anything thus far about which carrier would be offering up the recently-made-official BlackBerry Bold, but we can't say we're too shocked to hear that it will indeed be AT&T. In a report highlighting the recent boost in RIM's stock price, it's noted that AT&T will be "the exclusive carrier for the Bold in the US," though we have all ideas the other major US carriers will be following suit shortly, probably with redubbed handsets. We know, you're hungry for a price to mull over, but sadly, it's not meal time just yet. [Source: MSN Moneyl]

3G iPhone to Be Discounted to $199 by AT&T?

by Joshua Topolsky, posted Apr 30th 2008 at 9:05AM

According to Fortune, AT&T will subsidize the cost of the new, 3G iPhone by as much as $200, bringing the price within the $199 range. Apparently, a "person familiar with the strategy" claims that the provider will create this bargain bonanza for customers signing new, two-year contracts. Of course, the author of the story also says that the new phones will be available in "8-gigabit-memory and... 16-gigabit-memory" versions (for $399 and $499, respectively), so take that as you like.

In addition to these discounts, the source says the new iPhone will be 2.5mm thinner than the previous iteration, although we understand that right after telling Fortune this information, the "person" burst into a cloud of rainbow-colored sparkles and went flying off into the night sky. [Source: Fortune]

[Thanks, Penny]

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AT&T's Free iPhone Wi-Fi Finally Goes Live

AT&T Retailer Accused of Pawning Used Nokias as New

iPhone 3G -- Latest News and Reviews

iTunes Activation Servers Down, iPhone Customers Being Sent Home Unactivated

First iPhone Reviews Are In, and They're Mixed

3 Things You Can Do With Your Old iPhone

iPhone 3G Pricing Detailed

Why Are Old iPhones Fetching Top Dollar On eBay?

iPhone 3G: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know (But Were Afraid to Ask)

Starbucks Web Site Overwhelmed By Users Seeking Free Wi-Fi

Free AT&T WiFi Now at Starbucks

Major Wireless Carriers Slapped with Text-Messaging Class-Action Lawsuit

Stars, They Have Ringtones Too!

AT&T to be First US carrier with BlackBerry Bold

3G iPhone to Be Discounted to $199 by AT&T?

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