AT&T Releases New Commercial Targeting Verizon

Despite losing the lawsuit against Verizon, AT&T has released a new ad titled Side by Side that specifically targets Verizon. The commercial stars actor Luke Wilson and compares four features of AT&T and Version; The nation’s fastest 3G network, The network that lets you talk and surf the Web at the same time, The most popular smartphones and Access to more than 100,000 apps?
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AT&T Sets the Record Straight on Verizon Ads

AT&T recently released a letter to it’s customers addresses the latest Verizon Ads and their misrepresentation of AT&T’s coverage. Below is their letter.
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The Truth About AT&T vs. Verizon

AppleInsider has published an excellent article that compares AT&T’s network to Verizon’s network. The article gives information about the difference between the two companies and their coverage. Definitely an article you will want to check out. You can view the full article HERE.
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Despite Lawsuit, Verizon Continues Bashing AT&T & iPhone

Despite the recent lawsuit from AT&T, Verzion has released another round of commercials just in time for Christmas depicting the iPhone as just another misfit toy because of it’s lack of 3G coverage. I’ll admit that 3G coverage is limited, but I’d rather have the iPhone over the DROID or other Google Android Phones I’ve used. It’s just not an iPhone…

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iDon’t Care – Reply to Verizon’s iDon’t Ad

Ok guys, this video technically hit YouTube about a week ago but I thought I would post it for those of you who haven’t seen it. It is in reply to the Verizon Droid ad – “iDon’t.” It’s pretty fun. Ok honestly… I totally laughed out loud!
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AT&T Third-Quarter Results – iPhone Activations at Record High

AT&T recently published their Third-Quarter results and iPhone activations are at a record high. In the third quarter alone AT&T activated 3.2 million iPhones, 40 percent of which were new AT&T customers. This marks AT&T’s highest quarterly increase of iPhone activations to date. Actually, this past third quarter marks quite a few records for AT&T including; “4.3 million postpaid 3G integrated wireless devices added to AT&T’s network, the largest quarterly increase in the company’s history.”

Below are a few quotes from the Third-Quarter Results. You can view the full report HERE. Read more

Verizon Droid Ad Specifically Target iPhone

I know you guys may have already seen this, but it’s one of those things I just have to write about. Last week, Verizon launched an ad that targeted the iPhone and AT&T however, that ad (There’s an Map for That), doesn’t attack the iPhone as obviously as Verizon’s new Droid ad does. The new ad is titled iDon’t and points out all the features the iPhone does not have in which the Droid does.

It seems that Verizon is taking a very pointed and specific marketing strategy… make the iPhone look bad. Even the Droid’s website is playing up the theme. Check it out HERE.

You can view both ads below.
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AT&T To Allow VoIP Apps (Skype) on Network (Including iPhone)

Previously, AT&T and Apple had an agreement that AT&T would not allow apps like Skype to run on AT&T’s network. They could only run on Wifi, probably to lessen the load on the system. Today, AT&T sent a letter to the FCC stating they “informed Apple that, effective immediately, AT&T consents to Apple enabling third-party VoIP applications for the iPhone that use our wireless network, including our 2G and 3G capabilities.” Now you can use Skype any time without using your minutes. It most likely will not work immediately but require an update to the apps or iPhone firmware via iTunes.

Vonage just announced their app for the iPhone yesterday that allows discounted international calls. AT&T’s recent announcement doesn’t seem to have effected the status of the Google Voice application. Read more

Refurbished iPhones Available Through AT&T – 8GB $49.00, 16GB $99.00

AT&T has refurbished 3G iPhones available. You can get an black 8GB iPhone 3G for $49.00 (normally $99.00) and/or black and white 16GB iPhone 3G’s for $99.00 (normally $149.99). They are both $50.00 off the original price and are only available while supplies last.

In order to get the iPhone 3G at the refurbished price it requires a $30/mo data package & 2yr Service Agreement.

Check HERE for availability near you. Read more

AT&T Gears Up for Launch of MMS

AT&T is gearing up for the launch MMS that is scheduled to happen in three days (September 25th). They have started sending a text message (screenshot below) to customers that informs them of the date in which MMS will be available and that while they prepare for the launch, they will be turning off the “view my message” experience. Read more

The Truth About AT&T, MMS & The iPhone

Ok, I can’t take it anymore. I’ve got to rant on this whole early MMS coverage by all the media out there. AT&T is not officially releasing MMS early. I’ll try to explain it all.

AT&T blocked MMS on the iPhone when firmware 3.0 was available from Apple. Firmware 3.0 has always supported MMS, that’s why when we had the 3.0 Beta we have screenshots showing how MMS worked, but the messages would never go through because AT&T had it blocked by entering an “opt-out” code. Not to mention many other carriers through out the world started supporting MMS when 3.0 was released when AT&T did not.

AT&T has recently announced that they would finally be releasing MMS to the iPhone on Sept 25th, 2009. How will they do this? First, AT&T needs to remove all the opt-out codes they added to accounts to block MMS when 3.0 was released. This is rumored to be part of the reason of the delay in MMS, but it’s also because the iPhone is a heavy bandwidth device and AT&T needed time to upgrade it’s network to handle the addition of MMS. Next Apple will push a carrier update from AT&T to iTunes. This is not a normal firmware update. Once you update, you will see the little camera in your text messaging and will be able to send pictures along with video, contacts and map locations.

Now the question is, how are people getting this early? Simple, they are getting the code early, running iTunes is a mode designed more for Apple engineers than the average user, and uploading it to their iPhone. But, that’s not all that it takes. AT&T still has to remove the opt-out code on your account. That’s why some people can run the hack and still not have MMS. There is nothing you can do but wait for AT&T to get to your account and remove the code. If you want to know how to get the code early and update your iPhone’s carrier file, check out this article I recently wrote about it. Read more

How to Enable MMS (picture messaging) on Your iPhone (AT&T) [UPDATED x2]

UPDATE: The original carrier file v5.0 I had was not allowing Visual Voicemail for some people. I have updated the link below to a v5.0 that allows you to edit your settings and allows both Visual Voicemail & MMS to work. See the guide below for updates. (I’ve added steps 9 & 10.)

If you want to revert back to the carrier file 4.0 (no MMS) you may download here.

Ok, I’m super excited that I got this to work. I really think it has to with AT&T allowing it to work by removing the opt-out codes (the code AT&T put in to block MMS when firmware 3.0 came out). That’s why I think it took a few days for mine to work after doing what I’m about to show you. It’s really really easy. I’m running an iPhone 3GS, jailbroken, not unlocked, on firmware 3.0.1. Your iPhone does not need to be jailbroken for this to work and I have linked to the file needed for firmware 3.1. Here’s how I did it:

PC/Windows Instructions

1. Download this carrier update file (v5.0) if you are running iPhone firmware 3.0 or 3.0.1 (it might work with lower firmware but I haven’t confirmed it.) If you are on the new 3.1, download here (v5.1).
2. Close iTunes.
3. Click Start > Run > type:cmd then press enter. Run this command: “C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunes.exe” /setPrefInt carrier-testing 1


4. Open iTunes.
5. Hold the shift key while clicking update under your iPhone in iTunes.
6. Change the file type to “iPhone Carrier Configuration files” by clicking in the the bottom right corner and switching to *.ipcc.

7. Find the file of the carrier update you just saved to your computer in step 1, select it and click open.

8. You iPhone is now updated. You may have MMS right away if AT&T has removed your opt-out code but mine took a few days.
9. To allow for Visual Voicemail to work on firmware 3.0 & 3.0.1 using carrier file v5.0, go to your Settings app > General > Network > Cellular Data Network > and under Visual Voicemail change wap.cingular to acds.voicemail

10. Double check your MMS settings below the Visual Voicemail settings above to match this (do not enter anything in blank fields):
APN: wap.cingular
Username:
Password:
MMSC: mmsc.cingular.com
MMS Proxy: 066.209.011.32
MMS Max Message Size: 614400
MMS UA Prof URL:

NOTE: If you are on EDGE it will take a while for the image to send. If AT&T hasn’t removed the opt-out code on your account yet, you will get a red exclamation point next to the message.

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Friday Night Movie Night: AT&T Tries To Explain Why MMS Took So Long

Ok, I have A LOT to say about all of this, so here goes. First, I’ve officially created a #fail category for our website. AT&T seems to continue to fail so much that I thought we needed the category to keep track of it all. Next, I really need to rant about the AT&T “blogging” guy. It’s really sad that they give him any kind of “tech” title. He’s is the epitome of what tech guys do not want to be. I really think that whoever hired him thought that he was such a “nerd” that he would relate to all the iPhone “techie” people.

I mean seriously, if you had some real tech guy like, Kevin Rose, or someone “normal” sit down and say, “Look, we’re sorry that we’re so far behind. The iPhone really just uses way more bandwidth than other devices and it caught us off guard. We’re working really hard to get it right, and when we do, we’re gonna get you tethering too. And since we’re slacking, we’re gonna give you the first 6 months of tethering for free. And we’re sorry we said end of summer. We missed it by a few days, our bad…”, we’d all probably be kewl with AT&T. That all said, we’d actually be kewl with them if they actually had MMS back when the iPhone first launched. As you all already know, most free phones even come with MMS. I’m on my 3rd iPhone, the iPhone 3GS, for sure the more advanced phone EVER and I can’t text someone a picture.

And tethering! My crappy old black and white screened Palm used to tether to my laptop via serial cable 8 years ago! Since I’m on a very long rant, may I add that I have no 3G in my area but I still pay the upgraded $30 data fee. It used to be $20 with the 1st Gen iPhone. An AT&T rep told me the increased fee was because of GPS. FYI: GPS is ran by the US Military. It’s free. That’s why you can buy a TomTom and have no monthly fees. To those saying it’s because of AGPS (assisted by cell towers), baloney! Also the network is now so bad in my area that I guarantee it’s worse than dial-up and I pretty much can’t use it. Thankfully I have wireless most places.

Ok, I think I’m done… So now for the video that got me going on all of this: Read more

AT&T’s MMS Annoucment Displays 1st Gen iPhone (which doesn’t support MMS) #fail

Doug noticed that the image AT&T uses on the MMS Launch Day Press Release displays a 1st generation iPhone. Why is this a problem? The first gen iPhone doesn’t even support MMS. Major #fail on AT&T’s part! Seriously guys… seriously?

FCC Investigates Apple’s Rejection of Google Voice Application

It seems the FCC has decided to get involved with the rejection of the Google Voice application by Apple. If you remember, after they rejected the official Google Voice application, they also removed all thrid party Google Voice applications from the App Store (one of which was then released in the jailbreak community). In letter from the FCC, “the FCC asked why Apple rejected the Google Voice application for the iPhone and removed related applications from its App Store. The letter also seeks information on how AT&T, the exclusive U.S. iPhone carrier, was consulted in the decision, if at all.” Below is are the full letters from the FCC to Apple, FCC to Google and FCC to AT&T.

The Boy Genius Report quoted this at their favorite part of the letter (and I would have to agree). Read more

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