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!
Who is doing worse today??? AT&T or Dallas Cowboys;-)
Out in Oxford Mi since 12:00 noon Sunday “No Service” shows on iPhones
My 3G Nokia E71 went offline at 1:30pm in Chicago and has been dead since. Even 40 miles south of Chicago it’s dead.
Sprint
more 3G more spectrum.
That’s all I’m saying.
My voice and text work fine in the Chicago suburbs but I have had limited to no data coverage. Thankfully I have my wifi on my Bold to get me through these trying times. This is the first problem I have had with data service and I am hoping these issues won’t crop up too often in the future.
Same here in Chicago — I did a google search when I got home, because I didn’t know if it was my phone or what! I haven’t had edge or 3g for about 2 hours now!! Was just driving home from the Holiday weekend. Noticed when I tried to see traffic updates, using google maps.
Madison, WI – My at&t BlackJack has not had e-mail or internet since at least noon, I think earlier.
This is hilarious ahahaha.
My service was down all AM then came back briefly for about 30 minutes. Now it’s down hard again. I get call failed when I call out and people get errors stating that I’m outside my coverage area when they try to call me. Can’t even get EDGE data to work moreless get any 3G service. I’m in Chicago near O’Hare.
It’s funny how ATT picks 3 or 4 cities and claims it has the fastest 3G network but continues to have reliability issues.
No matter what they do they always seem to run into issues when upgrading, maintaining or launching services. There always seem to be one excuse or another with all the corporate employees defending them blindly.
I bet you they will have these same issues migrating over to LTE. Verizon on the other hand has a knack for much smoother tech rollouts regardless of the complexity.
AT&T is still down in SE Michigan at 7:25pm (Blackberry service).
It is a power failure, and nothing connected to the Walmart launch. Sorry windows / crackberry/ verizon fanboys.
Here is the site with all the actual info:
http://weblogs.redeyechicago.com/iphoneblog/2008/12/iphone-and-att-outage.html
3G just working a half hour ago here in MN.
Well tmobile sucks too and I think the people that work there are recruited from special ed class dropouts.
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) in: Cupertino CA, 95014
I am actually not at all surprised this is happening. AT&T with all that money and superior networking equipment fails the American People again just like George W. Bush. Why, because they cant manage their network. At a time of the year when all of us need reliable communications, their network drops flat on its ass. Its not an issue with power, its not an issue with capacity, its an issue with how you maintain your network. Kudos to T-Mobile for not following AT&T footsteps. For all purposes, AT&T is no different than Nortel Networks/Lucent Technologies etc…all management failures. I hope they lose customers for it and that too big time, its not fair for people to be paying 10-20 bucks more a month than T-Mobile and still having nationwide outages like this. Yes, T-Mobile’s service can get spotty at times, but outages like this….this is a disaster for AT&T. Its not long before AT&T starts reporting losses just like Sprint is doing currently. Shame on them both. Thank you to our friends at Verizon and T-Mobile. We can truly count on you folks!!!
AT&T confirmed an outage that started at 12:00pm CST and has been down all day with the exception of a few bursts of clarity. I think it is effecting primarily PDA phones.
Once again corperate America gets all of our money and we get screwed. SWEET! Can we please sue them until they have to put Americans back to work?????
@ drunknbass:
“Well tmobile sucks too and I think the people that work there are recruited from special ed class dropouts.”
Your choice of name “drunknbass” explains all.
EDGE UPGRADE FOR THE JAVELIN! YEA
@ dallas maverick
well its hard to say, they both suck lol. eagles stump dat azz before half time lol. i dont like none of them but i wanted dallas to lose
Oh yeah and has anyone noticed that there is nothing anyhwere regarding this outage on the WWW??? I guess GOOGLE is doing it’s usual humanitarian bit again…
no service in fort collins colorado!!
drove home from STL to west central Illinois at 3 this afternoon. Had no service the whole way home. Got only GSM service about 5:15pm and didn’t get my EDGE service back till just now. What the heck is going on?
I have 4 at&t lines for my business. outage off and on since 10am today for the complete system..no voice mails, no text or voice at all. they better fix this NOW. I spend close to $400 A MONTH FOR THIS???
My 3G has been down all day… I’m in the Chicago area
Yet another reason that GSM, especially AT&T’s GSM, sucks.
I’ve been without data coverage since about 9:30 this morning in Minneapolis.