AfterDawn: Tech news

AT&T responds to criticism over iPhone MMS launch delay

Written by James Delahunty @ 04 Sep 2009 11:03 User comments (7)

AT&T responds to criticism over iPhone MMS launch delay AT&T has utilized YouTube to post an instructional video that explains how the AT&T network works, what upgrades will be made within the coming years and to defend itself against the myriad or criticism it has received online over the iPhone MMS delay. "Hey, it's Seth the Blogger Guy with AT&T, I'm here to talk a little bit about our network; where it stands now, and a bit about where it's going," the video opens, with the host Seth (the Blogger Guy).
"We see the discussions on the web; on blogs, on Twitter, on Facebook, so we thought it would be a good idea to take what's being said head on," Seth remarked. "We've seen a dramatic increase in smartphone use over the past few years. We're proud of that fact, and we're proud that in many ways we've enabled the smartphone revolution."

"But all of that usage has created an astounding amount of data demand. In fact, wireless usage has been growing over 300 percent each year." It's at this point that Seth decides to address the issue of the iPhone MMS delay. The iPhone 3.0 software update brought about the MMS feature, but AT&T decided not to support it on its network until the end of summer - a target is hasn't managed to keep.



"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," he said. "MMS for the iPhone will be coming on September 25. We wanted to make sure that when MMS for the iPhone launches, the experience was great, we wanted to get it right."

The video then continues to give a very brief overview of how the AT&T network works, and why it is facing some touch challenges ahead due to increased data traffic on the network. "Over the past two years, we've invested some $38 billion to enhance our wired and wireless networks and supporting infrastructure, and we plan to invest between $17 billion and $18 billion this year," Seth said.

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7 user comments

15.9.2009 01:51

This just makes me laugh. Here is a network that's suppose to be the best network / 3G network out there and they can't offer something that other networks have been doing for a very long time.

I send my share of text's and pic messages and I know there are people out there that are probably 100 times worse than me. For such a feature to only be coming out now such late in the game seems just fuuny.

25.9.2009 02:51

"Here is a network that's suppose to be the best network / 3G network out there"

No, it's AT&T...one of the worst 3G networks anywhere in the world. They suck, and they have sucked for a long time. If not for the exclusive iPhone contract that they signed with the communists at apple, they would probably be bankrupt by now.

35.9.2009 17:55

AT&T is also notorious for keeping logs of all out going and incoming traffic, which also slows down there network substantially.

46.9.2009 15:18

Originally posted by KillerBug:
"Here is a network that's suppose to be the best network / 3G network out there"

No, it's AT&T...one of the worst 3G networks anywhere in the world. They suck, and they have sucked for a long time. If not for the exclusive iPhone contract that they signed with the communists at apple, they would probably be bankrupt by now.
Yes, how DID they manage that anyway? I've never understood that. They practically RESURRECTED At&t back from the dead.

56.9.2009 15:24

Sorry, had to post another comment on this.

" was great, we wanted to get it right."

Why is he using past tense here? It hasn't happened yet. I guess he's thinking positive?

Also, at the end of the video, I love how they link you to (probably heavily moderated) discussions about this. I gotta give it to this guy, though, he knows how to spin it. He must be making a lot of cash.

66.9.2009 19:50

Seriously, anyone want to buy my iPhone? lol

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 06 Sep 2009 @ 7:50

711.9.2009 12:20
dorkydork
Inactive

They've had poor network connections for years. They've told us they were going to upgrade the network in our area every year for 3 years and they still haven't. They lie. They say in their ads, The fastest most reliable network. It's BS.

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