Minutes I Can Actually Use
Written: Oct 22 '04 (Updated Nov 03 '04)
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Pros: coverage!! sweet sweet coverage!, customer service
Cons: overage charges - not from experience
The Bottom Line: AT&T provides great coverage with a decent rate plan as long as you are not extremely heavy phone user.
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| achaholic's Full Review: AT&T Mobile Phone Service in Washington/Baltimore |
I recently switched to AT&T from T-Mobile in August of this year. I have nothing but good things to say about AT&T since. If you want the long drawn out version about my experience with T-Mobile, you can read my review of their service in the Baltimore Washington area.
Essentially my experience with T-Mobile led me to switch to AT&T. I wanted to get a nicer phone and I truly fell in love with the V600. I attempted to purchase an upgraded phone from T-Mobile but they would not give me any decent deal on a better phone or give me credit to turn in my old phone. I was mainly looking for better reception overall from my phone service. My friend had AT&T before he switched to Nextel and he told me that the coverage was great. He switched to Nextel for free incoming because he uses several thousands of minutes a month and his AT&T bills were getting outrageous. Fortunately, I don't use that many minutes so overages would not be an issue.
I managed to purchase my oh so perfect Motorola V600 for $250 from Amazon, plus there was a $200 mail in rebate. So essentially I get a great phone for $50. I'm set up with the GSM National 400 plan, plus I added on 100 text messages and an Mmode package. The GSM National plan comes with 400 minutes plus 50 bonus minutes (why it can't just be the GSM 450 plan I don't know), unlimited nights and weekends, no roaming, etc for $39.99. The text messages and Mmode plan add another $12 bucks or so. One thing I did like about the text message plan for AT&T is that incoming messages did not count against your allotment for the month, only outgoing messages counted.
As I said before, my motivation for switching was T-Mobile miserable excuse for coverage. I have been more than satisfied with AT&T in this regard. I have reception in all the places I expect to have coverage, and even a little in places I don't expect. My friend lives in the backwoods near the PA line near MD. I actually get a bar or two when I'm in his front yard. Unlike T-Mobile, when I have a bar or two the quality of the sound is just as good as if I have 5 bars. With T-Mobile, anything under 3 bars was as good as having none as the sound was spotty and dropped calls were aplenty. I can actually use all of the minutes for the month since I have coverage when I want to use them; that could not be said with my previous provider.
AT&T's customer service has been fairly good as well. I have only called twice. Once to port my old number and another to switch my Mmode service to a different plan. Both times the calls were handled expeditiously and courteously. My friend with the billing issues had problems with customer service when he was with AT&T, but most of that was due to overages and roaming charges since he was on a local plan.
Overall I am very pleased so far. I have service almost everywhere and I have a brand new phone with all the gadgets I don't really need for a minimal price. I recommend AT&T at this point as they offer a decent deal and fantastic service.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 54/mo
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Epinions.com ID:
achaholic
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Member: Brian Smith
Location: Owings Mills, MD
Reviews written: 31
Trusted by: 5 members
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