The results of a recent survey from ChangeWave Research should surprise no one: While the overwhelming majority of iPhone users approve of their phones (97%), more than half do not approve of AT&T, the phone's sole provider of service.
Thirty two percent of respondents said the biggest problem with the iPhone is service lock-in with AT&T, while 23% said AT&T's calling and data coverage, service quality and service speed were the biggest downers about owning an iPhone. That adds up to 55% of iPhone users citing AT&T as the biggest iPhone issue.
Overall, iPhone battery issues were the No. 1 dislike of Apple aficionados.
I have AT&T service for my phone (not an iPhone), and I'm okay with it. But I'm not a huge "phone guy." I imagine most of the frustration for iPhone users has to do with the lack of choice of providers. If Apple opened up the iPhone to other providers, everyone would be happy... except, of course, AT&T. Many are predicting that Apple will open up the phone as soon as the current contracts are up, but I'm not sure.
Opening up the iPhone would be the best thing for consumers, but that doesn't mean it will happen. Like most things in life, I'm pretty sure it will all boil down to money, to who is going to pony up the most cash for the rights to service iPhone users -- if AT&T can convince Apple to keep exclusivity by driving huge trucks full of money up to the Apple offices, the status quo will remains. Meanwhile, you gotta figure Verizon is pleading its case to Apple too.
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Displaying 1–20 of 20
TheCrystal
I'm glad I am not the only one in the world who thinks this. Thank you G4, with all my heart. Like I have said in the past, I work in an environment where my co-workers are constantly picking on me for being the only one without an Iphone. They always call my phone the stupid phone, although I have a blackberry. I do not hate the phone at all, I hate At&t! I can honestly vouch that I have had all four of the major characters at one point, and I had At&t the shortest of all. I will not touch an Iphone until it is on Verizon or at least Sprint. I hate how AT&t keeps making exclusivity contracts with Apple. Right now I am on verizon with a blackberry and I have no complaints. Why not go for the network with the most carriers, best customer satisfaction, and best reliability? At&t always lies too, I have done speed tests with their 3g speeds and found a Sprint Palm Pre beating out the Iphone 3gs and my Blackberry on Verizon beating a Iphone 3g, so fastest speeds my @$$. As for the more bars in more places, those bars may be there, but maybe their just stuck on the screen for show because they get the most dropped calls and always have tingy sound and call quality. Come on Apple! AT&t is making you guys look like fools! (but you guys aren't)
Xero_Wing
i said that Apple was foolish to renew the exclusivity contract w AT&T
only think keeping me from an iphone is AT&T
SirCitadel
i stay away from at&t and the iphone... and apple. my biggest thing is batt life. i dont think ill get a smart phone until i see some serious strides in battery technology.
WildGunMan001
At&T sucks thats all there is to it, I had it for a month i never got bars or anything it was terrible. Verizon and sprint are both good i just have sprint because its cheaper. When the iphone goes to all planes i have a feeling at&t is going to go out of business
Kanaye
Studies like this only raise awareness over to the guys at Apple to aid their decision in who should carry the iPhone, seeing as the rumor scene is buzzing that the Apple & AT&T deal will end in 2011. Me? I'd prefer they choose T-Mobile. It'd be interesting for me to watch which phone will consumers choose - the iPhone or the Google Android-based smartphones they offer.
As of my experience, I've always looked up to the iPhone with lust. When I got the chance to actually get one, I was behaving like a kid when it's given a new toy. Two months after that, and already I'm feeling regret of having made the jump from my past provider to AT&T, even go as far as seriously consider to opt out of the contract and the service altogether.
Sure, I can jailbreak/unlock my phone if I wanted to take it to another service provider, but I'd rather see Apple just free the phone and let the cellphone providers fight over themselves for customers. It would only benefit us all in the long run.
Drop_Six
This is something we all knew already. The Feed doesn't need to report on it.
Punk09
I've been with ATT for as long as I can remember, and last year I went to buy an iphone. I'm a huge texting and calling freak, and the plan for unlimited everything cost about $50 more than what I was paying for my current phone. I couldn't afford that, and just walked off.
djboogymonster
Iphone users unhappy with AT&T? Really!?
Next you'll be saying people breath air, and earth has gravity!
SlickyFats
I have only been enjoying AT&T lately. I have had them for 11 years now. (since I got rid of my pager).
In February I bought the LG Incite for $600. In June I called Customer service because it was dropping calls. The sent me to warranty for a new phone for free. Same thing happened with the next 2 of them I had. I Finally got my 4th Incite and called back ANGRY they transferred me to the ESCALATION DEPARTMENT, where I got a new Blackberry Bold and 1 months free service.
Tip just call and be angry, you'll get something for free from them.
SpillTheBlood
All the people that I know that have AT&T constantly complain about the billing and whatnot, but they don't complain too much about the service. I live in KY, and from what I've seen, AT&T provides pretty good service to our area.
I, for one, am on T-Mobile and have nothing but praises to them. Personally, I don't care about the exclusivity of the iPhone to a carrier, because I found mine in the trash while taking out the garbage at work, and Apple sent me a free replacement, so I jailbroke/unlocked it, and use it without problems. T-Mobile even provides me customer service for it. I guess it's because they are the iPhone vendor in Europe.
Displaying 1–20 of 20
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