And so it ends: AT&T users report network outages amidst Wal-Mart’s iPhone 3G launch

Oops. Murphy’s Law may be in full swing today for the country’s largest GSM carrier at the worst-possible time – iPhone 3G / Wal-Mart launch day. We’ve yet to have any issues in the New York area but emails are hitting us en masse from AT&T customers reporting network outages across the east coast and beyond. Most reports recount difficulties with connecting via AT&T’s 3G network but some go further to detail voicemail difficulties, BlackBerry service outages and even complete network outages spanning hours at a time. This is obviously a pretty big deal for Wal-Mart locations in affected areas – imagine switching from your current carrier to snag a shiny new iPhone 3G and stepping out of the store only to find that your new toy won’t make a voice or data connection. Yikes. We spoke to AT&T after hours customer service and after about 30 minutes on hold, they did confirm “reports of network troubles” but couldn’t (or wouldn’t) specify which regions might be affected or whether or not these issues had been resolved. Time to sound off, BGR readers – any problems in your area?

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

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195 Responses to “And so it ends: AT&T users report network outages amidst Wal-Mart’s iPhone 3G launch”

  1. 176
    G says:

    Colorado Springs has been off and on

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  2. 177
    Ervel Flick says:

    From about 9 AM until 1 PM Eastern today both of my BlackBerry lines on AT&T were intermittent at best. Since then my Curve 8310 and my Bold have been fine.

    WTG, AT&T. W.T.G.

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  3. 178
    Johnny Z says:

    After moving from “Emergency Only” to finally getting outgoing call service at around 9:00pm, we finally have full service, that is we can now receive calls on our AT&T phones (we have four, of various models). Hopefully, it’s now fixed for good.

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  4. 179
    Json says:

    11:26pm and Omaha NE still down- no 3G or multimedia services… been this way since 8a or so. att tech says should be resolved in -GET THIS- 48hrs. it’s dec 28th….

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  5. 180
  6. 181
    Ashraf says:

    Is it a dead spot for Verizon too? *chuckles*

    You’ll get it if you saw the new Verizon commercials..

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  7. 182
    arex says:

    Bunked out this afternoon. Couldn’t connect. In SF Bay Area.

    http://snipurl.com/97iwm

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  8. 183
    vzw switch tech says:

    ” Simple arethmatic is still taught in school these days right? Sometimes outsourcing to India has it’s benefits ”

    i thought spelling was as well ?

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  9. 184
    Clown says:

    This has nothing to do with Walmart or the iphone. This has to do with a outage in the said states. Verizon has outages, T-mobile has outages, no big deal. Your going to have a outage no matter what phone you own, even a storm, or any blackberry for that matter.

    End of story.

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  10. 185
    Luq in DC says:

    I’ve been having serious issues in the DC area all day. Crappy signals and SOS service. What really ticks me off is I have a repeater in my house! Since I’m surrounded by lovely leafy trees, during the spring & summer, I’m usually plagued with crappy service so this year I sprung for a repeater. I installed it, 5 bars! Today, SOS service and there are no leaves blocking the signal! Damn U AT&T!

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  11. 186
    [RM] says:

    All fixed now, you crybabies! If still having problems, powercicle your phone (romove a battery and restart your phone, with iPhone, do a soft reset).

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  12. 187
    Chrstopher says:

    12.29.2008 0955 My iPhone is not receiving phone calls everyone goes straight to voicemail. I’m in South Central Wisconsin. AT&T stated it’s a multi-state and multi-network problem with no update on expected time frame. They also stated it’s affecting text messaging.

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  13. 188
    Pritesh says:

    And here I was thinking something got screwy cause I jailbroke my iphone! I even resorted to restoring it! :(

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  14. 189
    Likeabite says:

    And people have the nerve to condemn Verizon in any way…at least you don’t experience these ridiculous outages and loss of service. And let’s not even talk about the iPhone and Storm…when you can actually make a call with the Storm and can’t even get a connection with this thing most of the time.

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  15. 190
    eazid says:

    Fail. I’m not a big iPhone fan, but it would do better on a different network… I’m not saying the AT&T should have it…. just saying the if it was at least available to Verizon that Apple would be making a lot more money.

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  16. 191
    Pete says:

    Down in Los Angeles. Can’t connect to internet. Can’t tether. No little Blackberry dots next to my signal indicator.

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  17. 192
    biff bifferson says:

    On Dec 28, 2008 @ 2:44 pm, sh0N Said:

    Service is still groovy in AZ. Ive only experienced 1 outage in the 2 years I’ve rocked with AT&T.

    Stop crying bitches, to save 2$ on a iPhone and then get burnt with no service on your first day serves you right.

    An iPhone from Wal-Mart, thats an effn sin for christ sake. I dont think RIM has even went that low.

    ___________________________________________

    They sell the ATT Pearl and Curve at walmart…bitch

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  18. 193
    Pete says:

    Never mind. The problem in Los Angeles is a site problem, not related to any other. Sorry about that.

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  19. 194
    Emily says:

    I havent been able to call out or receive calls for two days here in Marietta, Ga. I was told that the network is supposed to be fixed today.. we’ll see about that.

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  20. 195
    Monster says:

    Visiting in AZ (Phoenix and elsewhere), for the last two weeks service has been great, but all of a sudden tonight/this morning I’ve been getting dropped out of the 3G network like a hot potato.

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