I have one simple reason and two examples of why this merger should not be allowed.
Reason: AT&T hates its’ customers.
Example 1:
I was visiting Novosibirsk, Russia (The 3rd largest city) in 2010. Before leaving, I called AT&T customer support to ask their assistance with unlocking my iPhone 3GS. This is what they told me:
“Oh no, we can’t unlock your phone. Besides, we have signal in Novosibirsk.” They lied.
When my life was put into danger, it was only due to my fast thinking and talking that saved me from literally being burnt alive by a mob of drunk Russians. When I had tried to use my iPhone to call the police, it did not work. There is no signal in Novosibirsk for AT&T customers.
Example 2:
2011, I have been an AT&T customer for a little over a year now. Apple is now selling unlocked iPhone 4s. Unfortunately for me, I bought mine in 2010 and it’s of course locked. I am leaving for Russia again, I call up AT&T and ask for them to unlock my phone. I explain that I am going to an area where there is no AT&T service. Their response: “Apple won’t let us unlock your phone. Sorry. But we can suspend your account and charge you only $10.00 a month. This is what we do for our Military users that must be deployed to remote areas.”
For a moment, let us put aside what I am going to say about my life being in danger again with no ability to call for help because of these jerk offs. I want to examine the above statement. It is shameful that this American company is allowed to deny our service men and women the ability to unlock their phones and use them as personal communication devices when deployed. It’s a sham that AT&T doesn’t instead offer them an unlock and number forwarding feature for the cost of $10 while deployed. But instead limits their abilities to keep in touch with family and loved ones back home.
Now with that being said. Not only was my life put into danger by the Toxic chemical spill here in Chelyabinsk, but at the time, I had no internet, no radio or TV and no way of using my beloved iPhone to get me any information about the crisis.
As an aside in 2008 when I called T-Mobile to unlock my Motorola because I was traveling to the Ukraine. They e-mailed me the unlock process and required information in less then 6 hours.
Here is an idea for you to chew on AT&T. Get out of the personal cellular business. You want to be the best network? Then take that $39 billion to build the network and resale it at a reasonable cost to decent companies like T-Mobile. Companies who actually understand that their business is about the customers and the service they provide to them. You obviously do not get it and never will.
