AT&T working on its image instead of its network
Ever since it teamed up with Apple to release the iPhone, AT&T’s mobile data network has been strained. Now AT&T wants everyone to know that it’s really, really hard to keep up with all the demand for mobile data.
The company is launching an all out campaign to manage its public image in order to head off a mass exodus once it loses exclusive rights to the iPhone. So now the company is working hard to address issues with the device.
The problem is that we’ve been hearing the same refrain since the iPhone was initially released and there’s no sign of that changing. AT&T’s stance is that the company couldn’t predict how much data iPhone users would require and that it’s working to resolve issues.
Now AT&T is finally ready to release MMS picture messaging capability for the iPhone. Why did it take so long? You guessed it.
Users will still have to wait to tether their computer to their iPhone’s Internet connection. Why is it still not available? You guessed it.
AT&T’s latest strategy is to make sure that everyone knows that there are people at the company listening. Unfortunately that doesn’t mean that users will see any improvement.
"The most important point is, we’re listening to all customer feedback, and we’re acting on it," says Jamie Carracher of AT&T’s Blogger Relations Team. But is AT&T investing more in managing its public image or improving wireless coverage?
Carracher says that the company is investing $17 or $18 billion on its network in 2009. However there’s still no word on when the company will stop dropping calls or unlock the iPhone’s full feature set.
A recent video from AT&T blogger Seth Bloom said that, “we thought it would be a good idea to take what’s being said head-on." However it might just work better to fix the issues rather than delivering the same old answer twice as often.
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September 9th, 2009
Will you guys have to pay extra for the Tethering facility?
Here in the UK we have to pay for our ‘unlimited data’, and then we have to add another ‘unlimited data’ package onto it if we want to use tethering…
Woah, two sets of Unlimited Data, now that’s very unlimited! #sarcasm
September 10th, 2009
Yes, the tethering package is supposed to cost as much as $40-$60 extra. At least you guys don’t have to pay for incoming calls and your data plans are (comparatively) reasonable.
September 10th, 2009
Gee I am so glad I live in Australia. Our mobile networks cover the country no roaming seemless everywhere, high capacity for voice & data. I am with a Carrier Telstra with my iPhone the Telstra network covers 98% of the population form coast to coast.