As I detailed in my last post, I got a new iPhone today. The one down side was that it took about two hours to restore to the settings of my last phone. I have no idea as to the capabilities of other phones to do this process, but it just seemed to be a bit on the long side for me.
I did not make any calls on the phone tonight, however I sent and received several texts. Things went very well texting. I had always assumed it was poor AT&T service, but it was odd to me that I texted with such ease. No fails yet. We will see how this new phone behaves in the long run, but this is a nice start.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Apple Store Disappoints, Reaffirms My Feelings
As I said in my last post, my problems are not with Apple. Apple told me in February that it would swap my phone for free, which was surprising because my phone was six months out of warranty at that point. I'm not sure if the store rep hooked me up simply because I had dropped so many calls, or if it was my smashing good looks.
All I had to do was go home and back everything up and come back. Well, I delayed this return trip until finally going into the store last week. Of course I forgot the paper given to me in February that quoted the swap as being free. This representative told me he would not swap the phone for free, but I could do it at $199 because I was so far out of warranty. (I was almost six months out of warranty in February and I'm almost ten months out of warranty now.)
I left the store in a salty mood. When I returned home, I picked up the work order and it almost looked like a contract from Apple with the $0.00 price quote. Thing is, I revel in situations like this. I was prepared to get into it with the manager, noting they had virtually gone back on their price quote. What kind of business is that? Then I could mention this blog, that several people come to me to ask about technology purchases, that I myself would be in the market for a computer soon and was considering Mac vs. PC, that I would contact other media.
Turns out I didn't need any of that firepower. It took a few moments for the manager to understand the situation, but he said, "If we said we would do the free swap then we will do the free swap." He was very professional and it was a good experience. Also had a good experience with my representative, who happened to be the same representative I had last week. He also had some advice for me when I told him I would be in the market for a computer soon.
All I had to do was go home and back everything up and come back. Well, I delayed this return trip until finally going into the store last week. Of course I forgot the paper given to me in February that quoted the swap as being free. This representative told me he would not swap the phone for free, but I could do it at $199 because I was so far out of warranty. (I was almost six months out of warranty in February and I'm almost ten months out of warranty now.)
I left the store in a salty mood. When I returned home, I picked up the work order and it almost looked like a contract from Apple with the $0.00 price quote. Thing is, I revel in situations like this. I was prepared to get into it with the manager, noting they had virtually gone back on their price quote. What kind of business is that? Then I could mention this blog, that several people come to me to ask about technology purchases, that I myself would be in the market for a computer soon and was considering Mac vs. PC, that I would contact other media.
Turns out I didn't need any of that firepower. It took a few moments for the manager to understand the situation, but he said, "If we said we would do the free swap then we will do the free swap." He was very professional and it was a good experience. Also had a good experience with my representative, who happened to be the same representative I had last week. He also had some advice for me when I told him I would be in the market for a computer soon.
The Decision
I've made a decision that I'm almost certainly making the move to Verizon after my contract is up in August. I love the iPhone but I'm not going to let it walk all over me when it can't carry out the basic function.
Will I miss it? Yes, I will. However, I am already taking up plans to have an iPod so I can still use all the services of my iPhone on WiFi. But I'm not going to sit around and play the "When will iPhone come to Verizon?" game. It is stupid. Make a decision based on what is going on and stick to it. I love the iPhone but I'm not going to wait with great anticipation for the big announcement. When I can get an iPhone that provides me with good service, I will get it when my phone contract permits. Until then, I'm going to confidently make a decision to go with another phone so that I can begin to enjoy the basic service I have not received since I've had a cell phone.
I suggest others do the same. Think about it. The reason the iPhone/Verizon storyline is so big is because there are so many disgruntled iPhone/AT&T subscribers. The storyline has lasted for years because these same people are addicted to the iPhone and would rather have a picture of fruit on the back of the phone that they use to play Words with Friends instead of valuing the ability to make a phone call over an icon and a game. The more people who make this decision, the more Apple will take notice.
Basically what I'm saying, iPhone... it's not you, it's your mother. I just can't take AT&T as my mother-in-law any longer.
Will I miss it? Yes, I will. However, I am already taking up plans to have an iPod so I can still use all the services of my iPhone on WiFi. But I'm not going to sit around and play the "When will iPhone come to Verizon?" game. It is stupid. Make a decision based on what is going on and stick to it. I love the iPhone but I'm not going to wait with great anticipation for the big announcement. When I can get an iPhone that provides me with good service, I will get it when my phone contract permits. Until then, I'm going to confidently make a decision to go with another phone so that I can begin to enjoy the basic service I have not received since I've had a cell phone.
I suggest others do the same. Think about it. The reason the iPhone/Verizon storyline is so big is because there are so many disgruntled iPhone/AT&T subscribers. The storyline has lasted for years because these same people are addicted to the iPhone and would rather have a picture of fruit on the back of the phone that they use to play Words with Friends instead of valuing the ability to make a phone call over an icon and a game. The more people who make this decision, the more Apple will take notice.
Basically what I'm saying, iPhone... it's not you, it's your mother. I just can't take AT&T as my mother-in-law any longer.
Monthly Fails #16-26, Cumulative Fails #141-151
-Visited New Orleans. Was there for 5 days and dropped 2 texts. It's not limited to Columbus.
-Upon returning to Columbus, I was waiting by the baggage claim and I dropped 2 more texts while waiting. Welcome back right?
-I was home for a few days and I dropped 2 calls and 3 texts. Also an instance of failed 3G service.
-I did a house sitting job in Westerville for 8 days and service was much better there. A nice break...
-Had a voicemail show up without a missed call yesterday.
-Upon returning to Columbus, I was waiting by the baggage claim and I dropped 2 more texts while waiting. Welcome back right?
-I was home for a few days and I dropped 2 calls and 3 texts. Also an instance of failed 3G service.
-I did a house sitting job in Westerville for 8 days and service was much better there. A nice break...
-Had a voicemail show up without a missed call yesterday.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Monthly Fails #13-15, Cumulative Fails #138-140
Lots of posts from me lately, but it only happens with lots of fails...
-Failed text. Went through the second time.
-Dropped phone call.
-Voicemail appeared out of nowhere.
(All tonight at home)
-Failed text. Went through the second time.
-Dropped phone call.
-Voicemail appeared out of nowhere.
(All tonight at home)
Monthly Fails #9-12, Cumulative Fails #134-137
-Dropped a call at home last night.
-Failed to complete a call on several attempts this afternoon at home.
-Dropped a call about an hour ago at home.
-Dropped a call just moments ago at home.
Just no luck on any voice connection while I'm at home for about three weeks now.
-Failed to complete a call on several attempts this afternoon at home.
-Dropped a call about an hour ago at home.
-Dropped a call just moments ago at home.
Just no luck on any voice connection while I'm at home for about three weeks now.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
iPhone to Verizon? Not Until 2012
Found this article on CNN that says the AT&T/iPhone exclusivity goes through 2012. And that will be the clincher for me. Two more years of this service? I think not. I'll honor my contract until August and then I'm gone. Besides, I still need to visit an AT&T store to get my peace. (I feel sorry for whoever waits on me that day.)
Monthly Fails #1-8, Cumulative Fails #126-133
Starting the May cycle that begins May 8:
-4 dropped calls
-2 phantom voicemails
-2 failed texts
-4 dropped calls
-2 phantom voicemails
-2 failed texts
Monthly Fails #40-53, Cumulative Fails #112-125
To finish out my month of April:
-8 dropped calls. The service overall got really lousy in that last week of April and things have continued since. The most infuriating experience I had was when I conscientiously waited to return a call until I left my house, since that's when most of the problems occur. I was out on High St, the most notable street in Columbus, not more than seven or eight miles from downtown, and I dropped the call. I called back and it dropped again. I returned it once more to tell the guy that I would have to call him later on. He said even that call was breaking up. This incident will count as four fails, one for each of the dropped calls, one for the call that was breaking up and on its way to being dropped and one because I couldn't have a conversation with a guy when I needed to when clearly I should be in a coverage zone. I find it disgusting that AT&T's commercials note they cover 97% of Americans, but I couldn't have a conversation with someone while I was outdoors in the metropolis of the 16th largest city in the U.S.
-4 voicemails showed up out of nowhere - and two of these showed up while I was outside of my house. As I have noted, most of my problems with this phone arise from being inside my house. But since that last month of April, the problems are much more widespread than that.
-2 failed texts.
-8 dropped calls. The service overall got really lousy in that last week of April and things have continued since. The most infuriating experience I had was when I conscientiously waited to return a call until I left my house, since that's when most of the problems occur. I was out on High St, the most notable street in Columbus, not more than seven or eight miles from downtown, and I dropped the call. I called back and it dropped again. I returned it once more to tell the guy that I would have to call him later on. He said even that call was breaking up. This incident will count as four fails, one for each of the dropped calls, one for the call that was breaking up and on its way to being dropped and one because I couldn't have a conversation with a guy when I needed to when clearly I should be in a coverage zone. I find it disgusting that AT&T's commercials note they cover 97% of Americans, but I couldn't have a conversation with someone while I was outdoors in the metropolis of the 16th largest city in the U.S.
-4 voicemails showed up out of nowhere - and two of these showed up while I was outside of my house. As I have noted, most of my problems with this phone arise from being inside my house. But since that last month of April, the problems are much more widespread than that.
-2 failed texts.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Record Fail Rate, Monthly Fails 18-39, Cumulative Fails 92-111
Been a horrid week of service. It seems I can't even complete a call indoors right now...
Since we've last spoken:
-6 failed texts
-9 (plus 1) dropped/failed to complete calls. Three of these occurred occurred while I was housesitting in Westerville, an area where I have normally had very good service. I'm also going to add an extra fail because after my phone dropped three calls last night alone and another the night before I gave up on making a phone call I intended to make. The only phone calls I've completed in the last three nights have been when I go outside... and it hasn't exactly been warm out there after the sun goes down.
-3 voicemails appear out of nowhere, including one that happened while on I-71 between Columbus and Cleveland.
-4 instances where I tried to use the internet but there was no service. Two of these occurred while on I-71 today.
Since we've last spoken:
-6 failed texts
-9 (plus 1) dropped/failed to complete calls. Three of these occurred occurred while I was housesitting in Westerville, an area where I have normally had very good service. I'm also going to add an extra fail because after my phone dropped three calls last night alone and another the night before I gave up on making a phone call I intended to make. The only phone calls I've completed in the last three nights have been when I go outside... and it hasn't exactly been warm out there after the sun goes down.
-3 voicemails appear out of nowhere, including one that happened while on I-71 between Columbus and Cleveland.
-4 instances where I tried to use the internet but there was no service. Two of these occurred while on I-71 today.
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