Among other
fascinating tidbits to come out of AT&T's press lunch yesterday, we really appreciated this one: AT&T made the decision to roll out an unlimited plan in all of four hours.
Four. As molasses-like as companies of AT&T's size tend to be, you have to be at least a little impressed at the fact that the bigwigs went from noticing
Verizon's press release to figuring out the details and unleashing their
own announcement within the same day; CEO Ralph de la Vega was, praising his team's response time during the lunch. On a related note, he was asked why he felt compelled to respond quickly to Verizon's move, but not to Sprint's more competitive pricing, to which he responded that AT&T considers Verizon a "quality" competitor. Burn! You feel that, Sprint? That's the biggest carrier in the country delivering a family-size helping of disrespect.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Allen @ Apr 3rd 2008 5:08PM
Its not like anyone considers Sprint a worthy competitor to Cricket Wireless or such..... I wouldn't compete against Sprint's service either. Thats like saying the Volkswagen Golf needs to be worried when a Korean competitor comes to market.
slamEVIL @ Apr 3rd 2008 5:12PM
"Burn! You feel that, Sprint? That's the biggest carrier in the country delivering a family-size helping of disrespect."
you know engadget, sometimes you rock!
Dave @ Apr 3rd 2008 5:37PM
yes, one of the funniest things I have ever heard coming from AT&T's corporate staff...simply hilarious.
Anonymoose @ Apr 3rd 2008 5:19PM
whoa, sprint got pwnz0red to the maxz0r
did i do that right? i don't speek 7331 to well yet.
but yeah, de la Vega will be eating his words once Sprint gets WIMAX rolling and they revolutionize the wireless game. oh wait...wimax is delayed? and will probably keep being delayed? and will probably roll out by the time LTE is in place? oh...
ilkhan @ Apr 3rd 2008 11:51PM
does that surprise anybody?
None of the reps knew anything about the plan until it was launched. More impressive is the speed that they got the peoples trained and pop printed and sent out.
SomeGuy @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:02PM
HAH! I'm not an at&t fan but this was priceless. Nice to know they admit Verizon is stiff competition. It's true though...Sprint isn't a "quality" competitor...unless you're Cricket or Helio :)
Keith @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:13PM
Hilarious! well said Engadget staff!
Anonymoose @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:23PM
ok, so at&t and verizon are Ashley Alexandra Dupr and sprint is the crackwhore Sky on the corner of 5th and west missing 5 teeth and an eye. so what? costs less. and for the same act. kind of. not really. i hope sky gives me my money back. or at least pays for my doctor visit.
AwlAmericanDawg @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:27PM
Yeah Verizon and AT&T are neck and neck with competition with AT&T just a little bit ahead in the game.
They both heavily commercialize about the quality of tehir networks and it's true, AT&T and Verizon both have powerful networks.
RC @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:30PM
Sprint has 16 million less customers and they're losing mer per day.
Of course Verizon is the only quality competitor.
Ilan @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:37PM
Like it has been said before:
Sprint is worth it only on the SERO plans!
But its still like dating a girlfriend you dont want anymore just cause she has Mets tickets!
Lets Go Mets!
PineRoot @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:47PM
Yes, Sprint does suck, and it is loosing customers in a way only they could...BUT...the network is not the reason! It gets old when people bash a company not knowing what is really going on. The problem with Sprint is not it's network, which can be said to have the best data network available nationwide (unless you live in an AT&T 3G which is still not that reliable as far as speeds, right? some one correct me if I'm wrong) , and voice coverage is on par with what most carriers have; yes everyone will have different experiences, but it still can be taken for granted that Sprint does have decent coverage.
The reason that Sprint is not a "quality competitor" is because Sprint has gotten such a bad reputation (by it's own doing) that it is going to take a long time for them to gain marketshare back and to change the publics perception of them. Similar to the American cars and the Asian imports, American cars are improving in quality, yet because of their reputation they are still being undervalued by the public, and will continue to be scrutinized more than Asian imports.
BTW I agree Sprint is not a competitor, but not because of the network, rather because they just screwed themselves over not having decent CS and Billing Dept.
Kyle @ Apr 4th 2008 10:29AM
couldn't disagree more! I happen to live in Northern NJ, which is completely covered with 3G HSDPA, and to even hint that the speeds are not reliable is far from the truth! The slowest I have ever gotten since the rollout of 3g on my TyTn II is about 450kbps, and the record is 1150kbps.
Who needs Verizon, or Sprint for that matter, especially with the promise of 7.2 HSDPA and than LTE. Ill stick with my lovely Att Wireless, Cingular, At&t
Anonymoose @ Apr 3rd 2008 7:05PM
i actually agree with pineroot. sprint's data is pretty awesome and i think that's the way that they're trying to package their company. it seems like they feel voice is not the way of the future, but that data is. that's probably why they insist on going forward with wimax instead of spinning it off.
with that being said, their data is probably the fastest since they have less users abusing it. and since they can roam off of verizon towers anyway, they pretty much have similar voice coverage as verizon. market perception of sprint is horrible and i'm not sure what can really fix that. i think the offering of high speed data and sweet devices are the only way for them to gain back market share, which essentially what they are doing now.
periks19 @ Apr 3rd 2008 7:11PM
Wow att said sprint is not a competitor to att when att is not even on the same level sprint is with data network. What is this mostly all att smartphones specially blackberrys not on 3g? 3g coverage is ridiculous compaged to sprints. Im I the only one here speaking the truth or everybody just hates sprint because its bad Customer Service? Not to mention att data plan are ridiculous high for such slow data speeds. As far as coverage sprint is decent on its coverage and one thing here in Phoenix, AZ att sucks but that alone don't mean att sucks everywhere if sprint sucks in your area then simply sprint is not for you. There are no perfect carriers everyone has its pros and cons but is just funny how att thinks they are the best at everything when they are not. One thing for sure is Sprint is better than att for data.
Ashton @ Apr 3rd 2008 8:11PM
I would like to add it wasn't just FOUR HOURS that they went with this.. AT&T has been testing the unlimited plan for almost a year here in Arizona. We've had it off and on much before there was any inkling Verizon would launch it nationwide.
slamEVIL @ Apr 3rd 2008 11:01PM
i live in avondale (phoenix to everyone else)and my at&t service kicks ass! i'm using hsdpa like %90 of the time on my tilt. in fact, i even had 3g on my blackjack out in tucson.
elgee02 @ Apr 4th 2008 12:38AM
Yeah Slam, AT&T has 3G in Phoenix Metro and Tuscon and that's IT. VZW on the other hand has 3G ALL OVER the state in such places that AT&T doesn't like: Coolidge, Yuma, Kingman, Yuma, Flagstaff, Holbrook, Payson, Winslow, Florence and Sierra Vista.
elgee02 @ Apr 4th 2008 2:28AM
@ Ashton: The "new" rebranded AT&T wireless offered no such unlimited voice plan in Arizona or anywhere else until VZW announced it. Now the old pre-Cingular AT&T wireless used to have an unlimited plan I seem to recon back in the day.
Ashton @ Apr 5th 2008 1:34AM
@elgee02
In fact, you are quite wrong about a lot you say.
AT&T has coverage in Coolidge for 3G, which you say does not. And also, listing Yuma twice in your post doesn't gain you an extra city.
I work in Flagstaff, and we are scheduled for HSUPA in July-September, which will by far murder VZW's EV-DO Rev. 0 they have here. Our EDGE speeds are around the same as the EV-DO here, so Flagstaff will be an epic win for AT&T soon.
And I'm sorry, do you work for AT&T? Or do you just make things up so you can seem cool? We had the unlimited plan statewide in January, which was when Cingular was fully rebranded AT&T.
And we had it in Tucson off and on the previous year while it was Cingular and Cingular is now the New. Cingular, is AT&T Mobility. And AT&T Mobility, is Cingular. Don't know if you knew that.
elgee02 @ Apr 5th 2008 3:42PM
Come on Ashton, it's silly to make stuff up to make to try and make AT&T sound cooler. You are 100% full of shit when you say AT&T had an unlimited voice plan ANYWHERE before Feb 21. If AT&T did, websites like this and phonescoop would have been all over it, and my friends with AT&T would surely have let me known.
EDGE is nowhere NEAR Rev O, and Flagstaff has Rev A, VZW entire 3G network is Rev A.
So in summation, you are wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong.
P.S. The second Yuma was supposed to be Prescott.
Ashton @ Apr 5th 2008 7:47PM
@elgee02
I don't need to argue with you on the unlimited plan anymore, call any store in Tucson, AZ and they will confirm to you what I am telling you. It was not advertised AT ALL in Arizona but that doesn't mean we didn't have it.
I am not going to submit the information to websites like this when only Arizona customers can take advantage of it. It would have caused massive confusion and frustration for people who wanted it.
You are correct in stating that verizon has upgraded to EV-DO rev A across it's EV-DO network, but it does not change the fact that Verizon's aircards that have been brought into our store have previously peaked out at around 100 kbps, where our EDGE peaks at the same speed.
elgee02 @ Apr 5th 2008 9:42PM
Sounds odd about the aircard thing when even in tiny ass Winslow (59 miles to the east on I-40, I got lots of family there) a Rev 0 aircard can pull down 700 mbps no problem. I been in Flagstaff several times but never with an aircard, so maybe the spot where your store is has a dead spot for VZW or something but in no way does a typical Rev 0 card only peak at 100 mbps when it has EVDO coverage... unless the card is defective or the computer is not working properly.
ddsindy @ Apr 3rd 2008 8:09PM
That's funny that he called Verizon a quality competitor. I seriously doubt that Verizon would call AT&T the same thing.
You have to have a quality network to begin with. I haven't met an AT&T user yet who says that they love AT&T's network, and that it hasn't given them any problems. I'm in a major city too.
I'm a Sprint customer. Have been since 11/07, and I have yet to drop a call, or have any coverage problems.
You Verizon and AT&T drones crack me up.
Kyle @ Apr 4th 2008 10:37AM
That's me than, I love AT&T's network. The only cell phone provider I have never tried was Verizon, but here in Northern NJ T-mobile is a joke, Sprint is obscenely slow on their "EVDO," but with AT&T I reliably stay connected to HSDPA all day long, and never receive dropped calls. And to top it off I can continue a data connection while on a voice call.
Frankly I am a very satisfied AT&T customer!
John @ Apr 3rd 2008 8:29PM
Sprint's CS has actually improved as of late. My phone call was answered in about 5 minutes, instead of the 45 minute on hold sessions I used to get. AT&T, as big as they are, have the worst 3G coverage in my area, central CT. Sprint has a 3G blanket covering the northeast, and its the reason I will stick with them.
Derek @ Apr 3rd 2008 8:46PM
I'm with you dd, I moved from Verizon to Sprint 1 year ago after being on Verizon since 1997 (since it was GTE). When I had expressed to Verizon that I might switch to Sprint they showed absolutely no interest in retaining me as a customer. Plus I have yet to have a bad experience with Sprint's CS and have nothing but praises for their network. And AT&T bashing Sprint is like Stalin calling Hitler a bad guy.
derX @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:29PM
"And AT&T bashing Sprint is like Stalin calling Hitler a bad guy."
Though I disagree (AT&T >> Sprint), that line is laud worthy.
Matt @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:23PM
These little pissing matches are always so fun to read. How about this? Use the carrier you want, enjoy it and stop belittling everyone else? Crazy concept I know.
PineRoot @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:29PM
Oh my...the world...it's IMPLODING!
But it's true, use the carriers that best suits your needs. For me that would be...gasp...Sprint SERO...
insert sound effects of Earth imploding due to the concept Matt has brought forth.
derX @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:32PM
Pineroot, if you're going to mock Matt, at least understand what he's saying. His main point wasn't that one should choose the character that best fits one's need, rather that it is not necessary to berate the carriers you did not choose.
Way to miss the point. I bet you're one of those people who read 1984 (a good read, btw) and rant about how it wasn't, in fact, set in 1984.
Matt @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:49PM
I think PineRoot did get the point. He understands. I have been following his post at Phonescoop. ;)
PineRoot @ Apr 4th 2008 2:18PM
Yeah I got the point, I wasn't mocking you...
Kevin @ Apr 4th 2008 3:41PM
I agree that the only reason AT&T doesn't view Sprint as a competitor is because of Sprint's bad perception and because of its huge subscriber loss but I don't think it is a good reason at all. I can understand them not seeing T-Mobile as a competitor because of its small subscriber base but Sprint has lots of subscribers and has a lot of potential. I don't know one person who has AT&T that raves about their service. My friend who left Sprint to go to AT&T for an iPhone, complains about AT&T on a daily basis. He gets dropped calls, data is slow, his bill is more expensive than on Sprint and a lot of people complain about getting his voicemail when they call him. He never had that problem with Sprint. He loves his iPhone, hates the service its on. Sprint coverage area is very comparable to Verizon and if you are on a Simply Everything Plan you don't have to worry about abusing roaming because it is Unlimited. Sprint TV has loads of content and is available to almost everyone in the US. ATT is just launching MediaFlo and it wont be available everywhere just like Verizon offers it but you can't get in in CT. Connection Cards are extremely fast. EV-DO is available almost everywhere and CT is almost completely blanketed in Rev. A. I have used a Mogul running Rev. A and the speeds are amazing. Not to mention GPS and Sprint Music Store. Sprint has all these great services and a great price point. I know that customers won't be rushing to get Sprint anytime soon but it will only be a matter of time before Sprint turns it around. The new CEO of Sprint Dan Hesse is a force to reckon with and if anyone can do it, it will be him.
periks19 @ Apr 5th 2008 3:14PM
That is so true. Sprint has a bad perception because of is customer service that is the main reason why people hate sprint but sprint is improving on is customer service. Whats funny is how att says sprint is not competion when they are way behind sprint in some services. Like I have said every company has is pros and cons no carrier is percfect. One thing att data plans are ridiculous high for example in A htc tilt you will have to pay 30 bucks for unlimeted data while on the other hand you would pay 15 bucks a month for unlimeted data on a mogul running faster with rev a. Is funny how some people here say here edger is faster than evdo probably true where sprint coverage is poor. Evdo is compare to att 3g while sprint is coming out with more phones with rev a which is one step ahead like the update for the touch will enable rev a and the upcoming instict will have rev a. Now i read here that att follows up on whatever verizon anounces but whats funny is how verizon follows on whathever sprint announces. Verizon knows sprint has great potential with all the services it offers and considers sprint a huge competitor.
wirelessjunkie @ Apr 4th 2008 5:10PM
Has anyone noticed or forgetting that AT&T has consistently followed Verizon's big press release about everything (prorated ETF, no extension of contract when you change plans & the unlimited announcement). Competition please!!! Their board room + CEO are fools with no substance, innovation, idea nor vision. All they do is wait around to see what Verizon will do & follow on their heels. It reminds of a younger sibling always trying to copycat the older sibling. AT&T suck on all your iphone losses!