Monday, Jan. 5, 2008 -- 1 p.m. -- at my desk

For the past few days, you likely have been reading stories about AT&T supposedly moving its EDGE service to the weaker 1900MHz band, which could result in weaker coverage.

I couldn't post that story as fact without talking to AT&T myself. I didn't feel the reporting was complete enough to state that as fact.

Today, I got a comment.

But first, the original dilemma.

I read the story on the Open for Business Web site and I'm left with many questions.

For example, this paragraph:

"AT&T’s executive director of analyst relations, Mark Siegel, “categorically” denied to OFB that AT&T was advising customers to dump 2G equipment such as the iPhone for 3G versions. In a follow-up message, Siegel added that the company was not requiring anyone to switch to 3G equipment."

Then, Open for Business adds: "Although that is technically true, customers in affected areas are all but required to upgrade due to the dramatic signal strength drop over the last few months."

But from what I can tell, the most pressing question was never asked: Is EDGE service being moved from the 850 MHz band to the weaker 1900 MHz band? If the answer to that question is yes, then, well, people relying solely on EDGE might notice a decrease in signal strength -- 850 MHz and 1900 MHz are just not the same.

So I asked AT&T what I think is an even better question. I didn't talk to Siegel, but here's what I asked -- word for word:

Is AT&T's EDGE network slower today than it was last year at this time and if so, why? Sure 3G is faster but if I live in a non 3G area, a 3G area with poor coverage or if I just don't want to upgrade, is my EDGE slowing down?

I now understand why this story is so convoluted. The response I received is clearly not a yes or no answer, even though the question posed, I believe, is a simple yes or no answer.

"While AT&T's 3G Network is the nation's fastest 3G Network, AT&T's EDGE network continues to provide fast and reliable service to our customers as it did last year at this time."

Here is how I read the answer:

AT&T is still providing EDGE service that they deem fast and reliable to customers just as they did last year at this time.

While I was hoping for yes or no, I knew, based on what I've been reading everywhere else that I wasn't going to get that. Can someone at AT&T answer the question with a simple yes or no? Absolutely. Do I expect to find that person? Sadly, no. I can think of other people that will be found first before I find that person.

So here's what I will say.

What the story comes back to from whatever source is that upgrading to 3G to get off of EDGE makes sense, no matter if anything is actually changing with EDGE.

Sure, it does. On the surface, anyway. Whenever better technology comes out, well, you obviously want to get it as soon as you can. HDTV, Blu-Ray, PowerPC vs. Intel, cassette to CD ... that's technology. But the problem is that I don't find 3G to be reliable in Chicago at all. In fact, two days last week I needed to turn off 3G to get an Internet connection over EDGE. A "fast" and "reliable" connection.

Here's my twist on the 3G answer ... 3G is technically faster than EDGE so having a 3G phone should provide for a better experience across the board. But you are certainly welcome to stick with what you have.

But I personally cannot honestly shout from the rooftops that I love my 3G coverage. So if you write me and ask -- should I upgrade to 3G -- I can't just say a simple yes. I can tell you about my experience in Chicago. I can also tell you that I LOVE my 3G iPhone for the other things it does so for me it's not just about the 3G signal. But for some, I know that's the dealbreaker. And that's understandable.

What are your thoughts? Have you noticed a huge difference in EDGE where you live? Have you contacted AT&T about it. Let's discuss it all here and on Twitter.

Thanks for calling.

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Just thought I'd share my weekend frustration.
I spent Saturday evening and Sunday AM without service. I constantly called AT&T for help without getting any. Saturday evening I was told to wait until the morning, because some towers were out. However, none were showing up in my area. The phone said Searching....... Finally Sunday morning I was connected to tech support. He realized that 3G was and had been out in my area (South-East side of Chicago). I asked if I could just turn off the 3G, and alas you can (I didn't know that)!! After doing so, of course the phone came back on. So my phone only works at my home with the 3G off.
So if anyone is having trouble with their 3G phones on the south-east side, turn off the 3G. Because customer service won't tell you, in fact they didn't know.

SCOTT's REPLY: Wow! So sorry to hear about all this. And tell me ... 3G was out ... did they tell you what the estimated time was for a fix?

Well, Edge has been consistently degraded over the last month to month and a half here in North Jersey. I know they supposedly had turned on 3G all the way to Pennsy. So this story makes sense to me.

On the one hand, if this is true, it is not fair to EDGE customers. However, the 3G customers also need good service. There is the conundrum. From a business standpoint, ATT must service the 3G customers, what with the iPhone being the #1 selling HANDSET (not smartphone) in the country. They should be able to serve all their customers well though. Unfortunately, at least where I live we have a lot of NIMBY's. But, if they don't give good service, people will walk-that's why it's so important to have competition among the wireless carriers.

You bring up an interesting point about keeping up with the newest technology. IMO, while it's nice to do that, it's not always the #1 priority for a lot of people for any number of reasons. I've been fighting the temptation myself, mostly because of the reports of the cases cracking on the 3G phones. .....and I don't want a higher monthly bill. :)

I will be following this with interest to see where it leads.

SCOTT's REPLY: Good points. Yeah, should be interesting to see how this impact folks in more rural areas. That's going to be the biggest thing here, it seems.

I live in rural Iowa where 3G is not available. When the 3G phone came out it wasn't available anywhere in the entire state. It may now be available in Des Moines, but I spend relatively little time there. So my take on this is that I will now be paying the same amount of money for what sounds like it will be a substantially less valuable service. And, if I were to upgrade to the 3G, I'd be paying even more for something I mostly cannot use.

SCOTT'S REPLY: Sadly, you have that pretty much right.

I'm getting an error right now. "Could not activate cellular data network." I don't have a 3G iPhone and I don't plan to get one until my currnet phone dies. Is this the error others were getting?

SCOTT'S REPLY: Yep. That's the error when there's no EDGE (or 3G for that matter)

So, given that even your well put high level question will not be definitively answered, then I suppose we'll never know which are the so-called 'affected areas'. I would hope that this sort of run around and what feels like a low grade bait-n-switch will add to Apple's future decision to go with another carrier or at least multiple carriers. I'm tired of AT&T's shenanigans. At least give us the option to try other companies' shenanigans as well! :-)

SCOTT'S REPLY: Excellent point, Michael. I'm going to stay on them, though. Believe me. I'm not done with this yet.

Thanks for all the info. thought my friends with iPhones and I were all being followed by a black cloud.
I live in East Lakeview, Chicago. Switched to AT&T the day the original iPhone came out (from Sprint). Have had weak signal problems in my neighborhood from the get go but nothing compared to the last six months. It is a running joke with my friends who also own iPhones. Since one or both phones can't get a signal we are forever playing voicemail tag. Approximately 40% of my calls from in my house either don't go through or fail part way through the call. AT&T customer service bounces me back and forth between tech support and trying to push me off on apple. When I am out of town for work about 10 days a month a rarely have any trouble with my signal strength. No doubt in my mind, the signal has gotten weaker.

SCOTT'S REPLY: I believe you, John. Definitely.

I am in 60622. Haven't had an EDGE signal at all. I mean no signal. Only GPRS since mid November. I have logged 5 tickets all get closed as solved within 48 hours and guess what? They never are solved, no EDGE.

Maybe 3G is gettin better, but what is not better is my battery life or the data reliable of AT&T's 3G. All in all my experience has been downgraded and now its to late to get my money back.

considering going to the BBB on this. How can you be locked into a 2 year contract where the network can drastically change under your feet?

SCOTT"S REPLY: AB, what you are describing is absolutely abnormal. I think you should go to an AT&T store and show them what the problem is. I'm not sure if it's a faulty phone or what, but in 60622, that's not anywhere near normal.

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