AT&T Wireless Named ‘Worst Carrier’ Yet Again

AT&T Wireless is the worst wireless carrier in American for the second year in a row according to the most recent Consumer Reports survey. On the other end of the spectrum Verizon Wireless has taken the top spot among large-scale providers.

To conduct its survey Consumer Reports spoke with 63,000 subscribers. The conversation focused on voice, data an customer service. What the agency discovered was that ranking from 2011 remained nearly unchanged.

Verizon Wireless scored the best rank for voice and data service quality and consumers agreed that the nation’s largest wireless carrier had the most knowledgeable staff that was capable of resolving issues quickly and effectively. On the knowledge and customer service level AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile scored low. Customers were most concerned by each of those agencies’ voice and text service quality.
While Verizon ranked atop the nation’s biggest carriers it was surpassed by smaller regional offerings. Consumer Cellular, a company that piggybacks on AT&T’s network scored higher ranks, as did the AT&T supported Credo wireless.

In terms of overall rankings the following company’s were atop the list:
“Consumer Cellular
(No. 1), U.S. Cellular
(No. 2), Credo Mobile
(No. 3), Verizon Wireless
(No. 4), Sprint
(No. 5), T-Mobile
(No. 6)
and AT&T (No. 7).”

While AT&T failed to increase its customer service position its 4G LTE network was seen as the most reliable, even if it is not the largest (Verizon).

According to consumer reports:

“AT&T is still in the cellar, but with a not-so-insignificant silver lining this year. It turns out that they have the best 4G network — that is to say, it’s the one that drew the least amount of complaints in our survey.”

Call me, maybe?

In the hit song taking the country by storm, pop star Carly Rae Jepsen, sings, “Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy. But here's my number, so call me, maybe?” Imagine if instead of handing out her 10 hard-to-remember digits, she could just say, call **Carly.  Beginning today, that’s reality as we become the first U.S. mobile carrier to offer an innovative new service called StarStar Me (**Me) that lets our customers and employees use a name they choose in place of their mobile telephone number. For example, you can give people your own memorable mobile number like **SARAH (**72724) or **CHLOE (**24563). StarStar Me allows you to choose a name, nickname or unique word in place of your mobile phone number – so people can call you on your mobile phone by simply tapping the star key twice on the phone’s keypad, followed by the name, nickname, or  unique word you chose, using keypad letters or characters. To sign up for StarStar Me, beginning today, you can call **ME (**63) on your mobile phone or visit http://sprint.starstar.me. You can have two StarStar Me numbers per mobile phone device. The service costs $2.99/month per StarStar Me number. Calls may be made to StarStar numbers within the U.S. from any Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile or AT&T mobile phone. In addition, you can download a free StarStar Me app, available now on Android-powered smartphones and soon on the iPhone, that lets you easily manage incoming calls, automatically send a text message to callers when you’re busy, or send callers your contact info, which they can easily add to their address book. You also can block specific callers, view a call log and manage multiple StarStar numbers. The app can be downloaded from Google Play (Android) and will soon be available in the Apple App Store (iPhone). Be sure to act fast to get that StarStar name you want, because we only have the exclusive from other carriers for a time, and even other Sprint customers or employees with your name may beat you to the punch.

Sprint offers $400 credits to network switchers

(Photo credit: Susan Law Cain / Shutterstock.com)

Every once in a while, carriers will try to woo subscribers from competitors through outright cash offers. If your mobile contract is up, you might want to see if you are eligible for a new phone via loyalty program (which means a new contract). Or you can switch to Sprint and get $400 in in-store credits if you will be switching from a competing carrier.

Now the promo has a few conditions. First, you will need to activate three or more lines under Sprint’s Everything Data Share or Simply Everything Data plans. The line or lines to be switched over need to be at least 60 days old. Likewise, the $400 in-store credits can only be used for qualifying devices — these cannot be used for tablets, USB modems and other accessories.

Leaked flyers also indicate that the lines to be switched must not be from a Sprint affiliate, such as Virgin Mobile, Boost Mobile or Common Cents Mobile, which run over Sprints network. Likewise, the entire amount of the credit needs to be used in full. You will also need to sign up a new two-year contract.
The promo will run from today, August 19 through September 15. Check out the leaked flyer below (which we suppose will be available in stores today, anyway).

Sprint Offering $100 Gift Card With iPhone Purchase

Sprint really, really wants you to get an iPhone right now.

After a $50 price drop last week, Sprint will now throw in a $100 American Express gift card if you buy any iPhone online with a new line of service. The promotion is only available through Aug. 26, and those who take advantage of the deal will get their gift card in the mail in eight to 10 weeks.

Sprint last week dropped the price of the 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB iPhone 4S $589.00 at Amazon Marketplaceby $50. The latest promotion brings the price of the 16GB phone down to just $50.
Even better, Apple Stores are matching the discount, according to BusinessInsider. Cupertino will give you $100 in-store credit it you buy a new iPhone 4S and sign up with Sprint.

Other retailers have also begun dropping the price of existing iPhone models in anticipation of the expected iPhone 5 launch next month. Retailer Target is now offering 16GB versions of the AT&T and Verizon iPhone 4S for $179.99 with contract. Best Buy, meanwhile, cut $50 off the price of the 8GB iPhone 4 for both carriers, and is now selling it for just $49.99.

Apple last week quietly started matching the discounted iPhone prices from other major retailers and carriers.

The tech giant is reportedly planning to debut its next-generation device at a special event on Sept. 12 and release the phone nine days later, on Sept. 21. At that point, the iPhone 4S will likely get a larger price drop, too.

The next iPhone is expected to boast a larger 4-inch screen, a smaller dock connector, LTE connectivity, Near Field Communications (NFC), and a faster processor. Rumors over the weekend indicated that it will also get a bit of a battery bump.

For more, see 5 Likely Features in the Next iPhone. Also check out PCMag's full review of the iPhone 4S and the slideshow below.

Apple Buying Sprint Might Be More Than A Rumor

Moves By Competitors Suggest Apple Buying Sprint Might Be More Than A Rumor

With the sixth-generation iPhone expected to arrive in September, now is not exactly the best time to buy Apple’s popular handset. Just to be sure, AT&T employees are said to be telling customers to buy Android or Windows phones instead of the iPhone, according to BGR.

Is ATT decision temporary, or does it suggest something else is brewing in the cellular world?
According to the report, the nation’s second largest carrier is “instructing store managers to pump the brakes on Apple’s iPhone.” Instead, employees are pushing customers to buy Android phones or Windows Phone handsets like the Nokia Lumia 900. BGR has confirmed this directive with three independent sources.

Last month, ATT  reported iPhone sales of 3.7 million units, which accounted for 72 percent of all smartphone activated in the April through June quarter. This number was down 14 percent from the previous quarter.

On the surface, ATT  decision to stop promoting the iPhone shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, a new handset is set to arrive in a few weeks. Still, the second part of the report is much more alarming:

In addition, AT&T  retail staff in at least some locations are no longer permitted to obtain iPhones as their company-owned devices, and must instead choose an Android smartphone or a Windows Phone.

This news follows similar reports earlier this year about Verizon Wireless. In May, we reported that the nation’s largest cellular carrier was actively encouraging customers to purchase Android phones and not the iPhone 4S or iPhone 4.

Stories such of these makes one wonder whether rumors about Apple buying a stake in Sprint could prove to be correct. Were Apple to purchase all or part of the nation’s third-largest carrier, it could prove to be a huge game changer. Besides, it would probably be news that neither ATT  nor Verizon Wireless would be happy about. Recall that in March, rumors began swirling that Apple was interested in becoming their own carrier.

ATT   has sold the iPhone since the first model arrived in 2007. Verizon Wireless began selling the iPhone 4, and then the iPhone 4S, beginning in January 2011. Sprint became an Apple carrier in October.
As a reminder, the next iPhone could be unveiled as early as Sept. 12, with a U.S. release on Sept. 21. These dates, which have been reported by three separate sources, remain rumors. We’ll keep you updated.
After BGR originally posted their report, AT&T  responded to charges they were no longer promoting Apple products in their U.S. stores.
They state:

The idea that we would steer any customer away from a particular device couldn’t be more farfetched.  Our reps do what it takes to align customer needs with the best device for them.  iPhone remains one of our most popular devices, which doesn’t happen by steering people away from it. Our reps are encouraged to try all devices so they are more knowledgeable on our industry-leading smartphone lineup.