AT&T has failed the United States citizens again.
700 Mhz
The 700 mhz spectrum, once owned by broadcasters used for analog television, was now open to take the first steps in creating a national wifi.
Google had eyes on the 700 mhz with free national wifi for the entire United States (read more . . .). All geeks, including myself, would want nothing more than to travel route 66 with our laptops having internet access the entire way.
But, the bidding was won by AT&T. AT&T will use the spectrum for its planned broadcast video service and other two-way communications. In other words, AT&T has missed the boat in reaching an entire nation via technology.
Even if AT&T would have charge $10/month for national wifi as a foundation for a stronger, faster and better systems. To build an infrastructure that reaches from border to border seems to be only a corporation’s dream if profit is undeniably visible and viable.
Can you make money having a national wifi? Yes. Imagine an entire system connected to consumers needs. Think GPS on steroids. But AT&T has limited vision and this will hurt them, hoarding the 700 mhz for such a specific limited profit without the building infrastructure will only lead AT&T into one avenue . . . becoming a minor player in wireless/cellular service.
AT&T Waste Money in Court to Keep Truth
Verizon put out a couple commmericals, “Map for that”, which shows the limited 3G network of AT&T. Wait? What?
Didn’t AT&T didn’t just win 700 mhz? Wouldn’t that give them the basis for an intrastructure for a national 3G network? You think.
What did AT&T do with the 700 mhz? Nothing.
AT&T has pledged in the past to introduce the 4G Network in 2010 but, the US will not see the first phase of trials until 2011. with commercial services available 2012.
What is keeping AT&T floating? Is the iPhone their main product? Pity. Rumor has it that the 4G iPhone is coming to Verizon in 2010.
How does AT&T react to the Verizon “Map for that” commercial? AT&T takes Verizon to court.
“AT&T doesn’t argue that the maps are incorrect in terms of showing its 3G coverage. But it says that Verizon is misleading customers by implying that they cannot use their phones or access the mobile Web when they aren’t in 3G coverage areas. The reality is that customers can make phone calls and access the Internet from their phones using the company’s slower EDGE or GPR networks.
Verizon argues its advertisements are simply pointing out the fact that AT&T has not invested enough in upgrading its network to handle increased traffic from smartphone devices, such as the Apple iPhone.” (read more . . .)
Again, AT&T fails their clients by spending money on a stupid court case instead of spending it on their wifi systems.
Please Stop Using the Phone For Surfing
AT&T wants you to spend over $3500 for their phones (2 year plan, unlimited data, and cell phone), but don’t want you to use it for anything more than a phone. AT&T begs customers/clients to stop using their network for data traffic (read more . . .).
No iPhone For You!
Anyone in New York, Seinfeld‘s city, no more iPhone. AT&T has stopped selling iPhone to New Yorkers (read more . . .). No reason mentioned, but “AT&T may be trying to ease congestion on its network in the wake of the holidays, when many consumers who received iPhones as gifts would start using the devices at the same time“.
I wonder what would happen if all iPhone users wanted to use their cell phone at the same time, let’s say during business hours? The answer: outages. These AT&T outages happen all over the United States on a continuous basis (search news . . .) (search web . . .).
AT&T Future
Put your sunglasses down, AT&T future isn’t bright. AT&T is stumbling in the wrong direction. The first step was to hold down that 700 mhz and now there isn’t infrastructure to support their products. Doesn’t look good.
My personal suggestion: AT&T should open the 700 mhz to a national wifi and make money with a kick ass location based service search engine. Once that structure is in place make it better, invest in the infrastructure.
“AT&T, a wireless providor. A company barely alive. Citizens, we can rebuild AT&T. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world’s first national wifi. AT&T will be that company. Better than it was before. Better, stronger, faster.”
AT&T — what do you got to lose? Go for it! You already have the logo, why not go for the technology and profit? Anything less is just failing the US citizens.
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