AT&T is in damage control mode. They announced yesterday that MMS will be finally available to their iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS customers on September 25.
They have just released a video featuring Seth Bloom a.k.a "Seth the Blogger Guy", which explains the reason for delaying the launch of the MMS feature even though it was available in iPhone OS 3.0 and the issues they are facing due to the dramatic increase in smartphone usage in the past few years and how they plan to address the problems.
Seth provides details on the steps AT&T has taken to prepare for the launch of the MMS feature:
“We've been working for months to prepare the radio access controllers in our network to support this launch. That means calibrating base stations all over the country, and frankly that's a very time-consuming process. MMS for the iPhone will be coming on September 25th. We wanted to make sure that when MMS for the iPhone launches, the experience was great. We wanted to get it right.”
He goes on to state that AT&T has spent $38 billion in the last two years in improving its network to handle the dramatic increase in smartphone usage.
They are also planning to spend $17-18 billion dollars this year to expand its 3G broadband network by adding high quality 850 Mhz spectrum in major markets.
You can checkout the video below by “Seth the Blogger Guy”:
I think it’s a good move by AT&T to provide more details on the efforts they have made so far and plan to make going forward to improve their network. Some customers might say it is not good enough, but it is a lot better than being silent when customers are moaning about their service.
So are you willing to be patient and give AT&T more time to fix the problems or will you move to another carrier as soon as Apple adds new iPhone carriers in the US?
[via CNN]
I would leave in an instant.
i will leave like the wind… it's about principle… i love the iphone but I have sacrificed call quality, my budget and real QOS… the day, the minute, the hour, my contract is up, I will be shopping a new carrier… we are paying more than any other provider in the US, the phone at launch is at a premium price but the calls drops and temperamental 3G network is the worst… this upgrade video is bull… they admit and offer lame excuses… imagine this… if I told the billing department at at&t, I had to many bills and I was only paying everyone a little at a time to ensure the best billing experience… my service would be off… bull… seth really "that dog just don't hunt"… premium prices must equal premium services
I would NOT leave…..
….the reason is that by adding iPhone to Verizon, for example, no one is thinking about the fact that Verizon hasn't experienced a phone as popular as iPhone and I feel that such would overload Verizon's networks and the first year or so of the iPhhone being released on Verizon, will be full of network problems. ATT is smart by doing minor upgrades frequently. Verizon would have to handle a load of around 3 million iPhones sold the first week, and thus I feel that they wont be able to handle such a big network load, as u may call it.
The problem is that ATT has 3 years seniority with the iPhone. When you switch from ATT to Verizon, (if the iPhone is released on Verizon), You will notice that ATT is better because they have had their experiences with the iPhone including the fact that they have around 6 million iPhones on ATT, more than any phone on Verizon that uses as much data and 3G.I would stay with ATT only because I feel they know more about the problems and solutions to the iphone. Honestly I feel Apple is going to only start selling it on T-Mobile for now (2010, which is near lol)
How many want to bet that the ATT network will be experiencing massive problems on the 24th and have to put it off…
Well if I worked for AT&T I would have a smokin hot chick explain this rather than having the creepiest looking dude in North America. I'm actually done complaining. MMS will finally be here to complete my checklist since there are ways of getting tethering anyway. And at least their contract with Apple will expire soon which may result in AT&T lowering prices or offering more bang for your buck deals.
i wish o2 would do something like this in the u k the 3g coverage is shite
I'll stay with AT&T, when a large percentage of the current iPhone customers move to Verizon or whoever and swamp their network AT&T's will be suddenly freed up. And I doubt anyone would disagree that AT&T's network is currently the most capable for the load it carries.
It's ironic that all the strong complainers will move into the same problems with a new carrier and as a result solve the issue for everyone else.
Thanks!
Quite frankly im done with iphone anyways. I have a phone from 2002 that can do MMS, yet my 400 dollar original iphone somehow doesnt have the proper radio for MMS. The only way i could be more pissed is if i paid 600.
Blueice, good thing that phone from 2002 of yours can do MMS. I mean, that's what makes or breaks a phone, right? MMS? Who cares about surfing the web and all of other thousands of cool features and apps that the iPhone brings to the table, crappy old phone wins because of MMS. Give me a break.
Even with MMS the checklist is not complete without Flash support.
@lonewaffle LMAO!!!!!
someone please tell the guy from the video to get a haircut.? lol
The rogers network here in toronto canada has had MMS day 1 of the 3GS launch.
I have to admit im pretty impressed with rogers. 3G data speeds are fast and ive been tethering and MMS'ing since June.
The only issue is that Rogers rip you off like crazy at times.
i have the developer account and mms is already activated and working fine has been for about a week pretty cool anyone that has a developer account can use it
not sure its worth the 99$ if thats all you want but… it is open for us 
ive had the iphone 2g
ive had the iphone 3g
ive got the iphone 3gs
ive wasted hours jailbreaking unlocking re-storeing
ive spent over £1200 on these phones
and im done
but need to tell these people what i think
apple you suck
o2 you suck more, and your 3g coverage sucks to
carphone warehouse you had had over 2 years selling the iphone and your staff are like dumb monkeys
thats me done with this crappy piece of shite
I love the comments from folks who want to drop ATT and go to Verizon, like their iPhone will work on Verizon's network! They're in for a surprise when they find out they have to buy a new iPhone that works on the Verizon cell frequencies. T-Mobile can be a direct switch, but not Verizon or Sprint. Like others have already pointed out, Verizon will be overloaded with data demand just like ATT if they get their own version of the iPhone.