AT&T Responds to iPhone Flashmob's Threats

[h0llow]

We know that the vast majority of customers will see this action for what it is: an irresponsible and pointless scheme to draw attention to a blog.

so how would that hold true if the system does go down? If that happens, then that proves their system downright sucks and can't even handle their consumers usage IMHO.

 

[beergoggles]

^^azcoyote - I'm pretty sure ANY NETWORK LAN, wired, wireless, or otherwise would buckle if a large number of users simultansously hit it with a large and sustained data load. This is hardly unique to AT&T and has nothing to do with their marketing. You could go out and [over] build a network to prevent this. But then no one would be able to afford to use it.

 

[marcusmurphy]

Technically if AT&T is accepting money from these customers who pay good money to have an iPhone, they should be able to use it as it was intended. The fact that AT&T touts the fastest 3G network, when there are times in major cities when 3G shows as unavailable and speeds are at a crawl, is just poor business practice. This is what happens when you promise, but fail to follow through. This is just one form of boycotting (since it would be stupid to pay the early termination fee plus shell out another few hundred bucks to buy a DROID).

 

[dmoney_07]

There's an attack for that?

 

[Guest]

Ustream broadcaster FTW???

 

[doc70]

I would do it if THERE WAS AN APP FOR THAT!

But seriously, no, I think it's childish.

 

[NapoleonDK]

[citation][nom]dmoney_07[/nom]There's an attack for that?[/citation]
Oh jeeze I just Lol'd... You made my day haha!

 

[azcoyote]

BeerGoggles - You may not be aware but AT&T has a history of poor network execution. They had a huge problem a while back with a borked system upgrade that left users without service. Sure, ANY network will go down if enough people clog it. That is like saying even the grand canyon can be flooded to the rim if there were enough rain. The point is that they market as the fastest 3G. They market and sell our data plan as unlimited. The force us to take that unlimited data plan. Now they want to punish us for using the very plan they marketed, sold, and force fed us? I call BS.

To those who do not understand why doing this is a good thing consider this. Exposing the weakness of their infrastructure will make some who are not locked into their contract reconsider getting AT&T. It will also show everyone that the there is no AT&T wizard in OZ. Just a grizzled old infrastructure behind the curtain of their marketing and bold claims.

AT&T needs to deliver to it's customers and stop the arrogance. Wanna even talk about fining me for using my equipment and service exactly as my agreement allows? Screw that. Take them assh0les down.

 

[deathmustard]

No one is going to do it. But i still think it is a good idea.

 

[azcoyote]

Oh, and if by chance someone here wants to participate and does not have an iPhone or AT&T account, just be sure to start sending email to users who do. Every packet helps.

 

[Guest]

As an AT&T customer without a iphone (yes, we still exist), this annoys the hell out of me. I'm stuck with AT&T, only provider with reliable service in my area (ironically). If I lose phone service for even a minute over this, I'm going to go over to the first iphone user I see and shove their phone up their ***.

This has got to be the stupidest, most ill-conceived plan I have ever heard of.

WANT TO STICK IT TO AT&T?

STOP BUYING IPHONES AND AT&T PLANS, not tie up their network. *Newsflash* you're paying customers, if the service is crap for you, just stop using/buying it. Better yet, buy an htc or droid phone and get better/cheaper service (in most areas, mine not included...) This is just going to result in all of these idiot isheep having tiered data plans. Enjoy it you ***holes.

 

[kategra84]

"Pei-chen 12/16/2009 6:01 PM
Hide


Wow, he managed to submit his "stupid idea of the year" two weeks before the year is out. I have always thought it will take till 2010 for him to come up with it.

BTW, this fake Steve should be skinned alive for suggesting a terrorist attack on this country."

It's a good thing i live in Europe, where i have a right to use my phone as regulated in my contract without beiing called a TERRORIST for use of service that I pay !!!
USA => Under Slavery Again , this time Corporate Slavery

 

[Guest]

As an AT&T customer without a iphone (yes, we still exist), this annoys the hell out of me. I'm stuck with AT&T, only provider with reliable service in my area (ironically). If I lose phone service for even a minute over this, I'm going to go over to the first iphone user I see and shove their phone up their ***.

This has got to be the stupidest, most ill-conceived plan I have ever heard of.

WANT TO STICK IT TO AT&T?

STOP BUYING IPHONES AND AT&T PLANS, not tie up their network. *Newsflash* you're paying customers, if the service is crap for you, just stop using/buying it. Better yet, buy an htc or droid phone and get better/cheaper service (in most areas, mine not included...) This is just going to result in all of these idiot isheep having tiered data plans. Enjoy it you ***holes.

 

[Guest]

This kind of scheme is not possible under an ATT plan because the connection will drop within 5 minutes of starting your data transfer 😛

 

[sliem]

Two wrongs don't make a right. Two thousand wrongs or more certainly do.

 

[Guest]

I have two iPhones on AT&T ready to go for the 18th.

 

[Guest]

Don't own an iPhone, so I can't be particularly specific... But they are within their contract to use as much bandwidth as they want.. Honestly... Since they have the opportunity to tell when this is going to happen, I bet they'll just start throttling bandwidth when this stuff goes down... If they cant, Then the network falls apart for a few days... Proof of instability and probably a great discouraging factor for future iPhone customers.

 

[joebob2000]

AT&T was being nice... in blunt terms this flashmob thing set for friday is a brutally ironic attempt by customers to come up with a reason for a company to impose many many new and interesting limitations, caps, and extra fees on the subscribers. Want to max out your data plan? Oh that's $.99 /meg for every meg over the average meg count you go (See comcast for a demonstration of this). Want to use your phone during heavy network traffic? Oh your fart app (or whatever it is that you do with your oh so important iphone) is de-prioritized to the bit bucket and you are only allowed to make phone calls and send text messages until the traffic subsides (drops below 50% util.)

How can so many people be so stupid as to think anything good (for the customers) can come of this incredibly childish stunt? I just thank god I am not an ATT customer.

 

[beergoggles]

Yes, because we ALL know that Verizon/Sprint/T-Mobile would not crash and burn if a huge number of their users hit their services in a drastic and sustained fashion :roll eyes:

While your at it, watch and learn how the roadway infrastructure is not sufficient when a mass evacuation is called of a metro center; have everyone turn their AC units on full bore during the next heat wave and marvel how the electrical grid has its limits; have your whole town open their water spickets at the same time and watch the water pressure go to hell; have everyone pick up a POTs line and marvel and the limitations of the old telephone system; have everyone STOP buying gasoline and see how the system gets borked due to lack of upstream storage.

Face it, these delivery systems are designed for sustained and peak loads. Peak loads are not everyone everyone getting on board at the same time. That is called a disaster for all involved. Recall 911 when we were asked to stay off cell phones so that emergency crews could communicate? Over design your system to your heart's content. But don't go crying when your more streamlined and efficient competition goes eating your lunch by offering comparable performance at cheaper prices.

 

[dfusco]

The cake is a lie!