'Like, What's The Difference?': Users Weigh In On AT&T and T-Mobile

NEW YORK –- Cell phone users are skeptical of AT&T's claims that their planned$39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile will result in faster service and more options for customers.

While it's unclear what the deal will mean for consumers, in an (admittedly unscientific) poll of cell phone users in New York City the Huffington Post found that few users believe there would be dramatic changes in service.

"It's like, what's the difference?" said Ben, a T-Mobile user. "At the end of the day, choice is kind of irrelevant. They're all the same price, they have the same options and they all have the same phones. They're just moving closer to one cell phone company, and it's a problem, because I'm an American and I like choice."

Yet there were also markedly negative opinions, with T-Mobile customers worried that AT&T could negatively affect everything from speed to customer service.

Jean Carislil, 28, said that he was worried his service will deteriorate, despite what he says are already numerous problems with his T-Mobile service, such as dropped calls and difficulty reaching customer service representatives.

"I just got traded without my knowledge," said Carislil, 28, said outside of a T-Mobile store.

Some AT&T users said they didn’t think service would change significantly when T-Mobile is brought into the fold, predicting their carrier’s bugs would probably remain unchanged.

"It drops calls, but it's just something I've accepted," said Malu Peoples, 52, as she clutched her AT&T iPhone.

Lily Fisher, 21, echoed her concerns. "It's definitely a pain in the ass," she said of the wireless service provider, adding that she lost reception even in her 10th floor apartment.

There was some optimism, however.

AT&T user Shana Fox said her service and her upgrades got better when AT&T took over Cingular in 2007. AT&T's most touted reason for buying T-Mobile is getting hold of additional wireless spectrum to support more data-hungry devices like the iPhone.

Maybe by adding T-Mobile's capacity, AT&T would finally stop dropping calls, Fox said hopefully.

"And it might get cheaper," she added.

Quick Poll

AT&T or T-Mobile customers: what do you think will happen to your service?

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It'll get worse!

Everything will stay the same.

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Comments

[NatureNymph]

01:20 PM on 03/28/2011

If you are not using a lot of data, don't waste your money on any of them!
Go with Page Plus instead.
http://www.pagepluscellular.com/

It's a flat $45/month for unlimited talk and text, with 20mb of data. No extra fees, no contracts, and you can buy the phone you want. It runs on the Verizon network, so most any Verizon phone will work!

If you don't need as much talk time, but want more data, they also have a plan that's 1200 min talk, 2000 text, and 100mb data for $30/month.

Let the "big boys" of the cell phone world know that we refuse their outrageous prices!

[travlindr]

12:44 PM on 03/28/2011

I am a T-mobile customer and like it. They have excellent customer service. I buy my phones. We get a family plan with 1500 anytime minutes for 59.99 per month. For that price with AT&T, we will get 700,. nights will start and hour later and end an hour earlier in the AM unless we pay AT&T extra. I want a phone and an occasional text message. I do not want my email on the phone and use the texting to receive an occasional picture of our granddaughter. In some parts of the country, T-mobile reception is limited BUT where we live it is fine. I am not looking forward to the change.

[techguy1000]

12:39 PM on 03/27/2011

Everyone thinks this is a bad thing. I have had Verizon and hated the price and customer service. I have had sprint and they screw up your bill every month and it takes about a month to get it fixed so you are always on the phone with them. I liked t-mobile but they have the worst network coverage ever. I am with att and I do have dropped calls but not that many one every so often but I am usually driving so it's the same area. I have had a problem with my bill and got it fixed with just one phone call and that is how it should be. I am no fan to any company but this could be a good thing for at&t and t-mobile customers. it will give us all more towers so better coverage and for all the t-mobile customers your plan will be grandfathered so you will get to keep you plan. so before you all start your cry babying wait and see if this is a good or bad thing.

[mladyraven09]

04:16 PM on 03/27/2011

What is going happen to people who are not in a contract , but have been with T Mobile 5 years.
T Mobile gives a special ( excellent price) for those who decide to give up getting a FREE phone in exchange for a less expensive monthly plan. Our plan is great. When we need phones we buy them. Now with the corporate behemoth ATT - we are going to be forced into a plan and pay more for that plan and get nothing from this deal.
I am happy with our coverage and the people I know with ATT are not. They do not have enough towers. They are buying T Mobiles towers and customer base. All my friends who do not use IPhone left ATT and are very happy with T Mobile. I do not want an IPhone, I want a good inexpensive plan and a provider who does not drop calls every 3 minutes!

This deal may benefit ATT customers but it is going to hurt T - Mobile customers! Less competition means higher prices, that is the way this system we live in works. ATT has always had the highest rates, so , I am very unhappy with this change! I hope it does NOT go through!

[sculptor]

07:49 PM on 03/27/2011

Big companies like to "clear the market" with cash rather than compete. Writing your Senator and complaining is all you can do. Note, I almost said write your Congressman but that wouldn't do any good given whose is in the majority. Note, it's ironic that the Republican mantra is "private competition" but when push comes to shove they'll back big corporate power over competition.

[NunyaBus99]

10:52 PM on 03/27/2011

I have been with Verizon for the 8 years and it is probably the best service I have, I originally had Sprint with my corp phone and that service sucked. When I switched to Verizon it works perfectly.

I think it will be a market by market thing. Here in Phoenix, At&t have a lot more problems then Verizon. When i went on a trip to Yellowstone, i had no issues whereas those that i spoke to who had AT&T did have issues. Was it a scientific poll? No. Just a bunch of us in the hotel using are cell phones as a wifi connection.

So perhaps depending on where you live AT&T was better for you.

[NunyaBus99]

10:55 PM on 03/27/2011

sorry "are" should be "our"

[ptgkc]

05:56 PM on 03/26/2011

T-Mobile has lower rate plans. Period. Those will disappear and be replace with AT&T plans.

This merger should not go through since there will only be two major carriers left controlling over 70% of the market. Sprint has 16%. Regional companies that can't complete make up the rest. If regulators do approve the deal, one condition must be to maintain current price models from T-Mobile.

For service, AT&T doesn't have enough network coverage to service their own customers. It's why i-Phone users wanted out. Acquiring T-Mobile's infrastructure helps AT&T users get better coverage and bandwidth, but only at the expense of T-Mobile service which will suffer.

There is a reason AT&T is paying over $1,000 per T-Mobile user to buy the company (34 million customer base and paying $39 billion for the company). They know they will make much more money in the long run with higher prices in a non-competitive environment.

As a T-Mobile user, there is no upside. It is a downgrade in service with higher prices.

[techguy1000]

12:23 PM on 03/27/2011

T-Mobile has crappy customer service as well as crappy coverage. Att and T-Mobile use the same tech and you only see the down side of this, everyone is so negative to change. you will have more cell towers and that means better service. your plan with be grandfathered so you will be allowed to keep your cheaper plan. so why are you complaining? oh forgot most americans are cry babies..

[ptgkc]

01:22 AM on 04/06/2011

No guarantee on grandfathered plans. More towers, but more users will be pulling from the T-Mobile infrastructure. That's a downgrade to existing service.

Some techies agree:
http://www.infoworld.com/t/cringely/att-drags-t-mobile-the-pit-despair-166?page=0,0

As a humorous note from the article:
"Also: T-Mobile usually hires spokesmodels like the luscious Catherine Zeta Jones and that dishy brunette in the pink-and-white polka dot dress [video]. AT&T has Luke Wilson. I rest my case."

[Damian Smith]

01:54 PM on 03/26/2011

I've been a T-mobile subscriber since 2001 and chose them because they were the cheapest and offer phones I could unlock. This allowed me to use phone abroad. At the time they were the only carrier which would allow you to do this. I've chosen to stay with T-mobile, despite the lack of phone choices, and the ever increasing phone plan cost. I do fear the merger will result in poor service and an increase in the overly expensive rate plan American accepts for service. Some commenter have mentioned choice, I want cheaper, more reliable service, like they have in Europe.

[HekofajobBrownie]

09:38 AM on 03/26/2011

Many techies don't know, but I've been in the iPad2 lines all week, and the word in line is that the ATT ipad2 is the most desirable because it resells for more than the Verizon ipad2. Ipad2 ATT is harder to get and is in bigger demand abroad. People in line were turning Verizon's down after waiting in line for hours. Even on craigslist, they're all being dumped.

[techguy1000]

12:25 PM on 03/27/2011

that's because CDMA is a dying tech.. not may places have it..

[NunyaBus99]

10:57 PM on 03/27/2011

that's why eventually it will be phased out and moved to the 4g LTE which will be the new standard. (other countries i believe are moving to that as well i read somewhere )

[cabrobst]

09:10 AM on 03/26/2011

Ma Bell rises from the dead!

[cryingliberty]

05:27 AM on 03/26/2011

I've been a T-Mo customer since 2006, and largely been quite pleased with the level of service they've provided me - even gave me a free number switch when a resume scammer got ahold of my old mobile number.

Unfortunately, if this deal goes through, I will jump ship immediately, ETF fees be damned, and go to Verizon. I'll pay the Verizon premium to NOT have to have AT&T's issues. Sorry, T-Mo.

[Nick Montana]

03:14 AM on 03/26/2011

When AT&T bought out Cingular during the time I was the latter's customer, only then did I notice many these instances of dropped calls and spottier service. You would think a much bigger conglomerate telecom company buying out a smaller one would be an upgrade of your service, but I learned that was wrong. The deal can't be worse for AT&T customers, but every T-Mobile customer I know is planning to jump ship to Sprint or Verizon.

Not to mention it's not "all the same". For Android phones, AT&T is the only one with a policy banning all sideloading of apps (apps downloaded or installed to one's phone outside the official Android market) which is a big minus for Android users. And all those higher-end Android phones exclusive to T-Mobile such as the HTC G2 and myTouch 4G are now destined to be junk in a year as T-Mobile GSM bands are incompatible with AT&T's.

[techguy1000]

12:30 PM on 03/27/2011

If all the t-mobile customers leave, we will have a larger and less congested network then. It's all good for At&t customers then. You don't even know if this is a positive thing for you or not and you already want to jump ship.. give it a chance before you start running like a scared kid..

[unhipcat]

12:00 AM on 03/26/2011

maybe I'll be able to get decent reception now.

[lvdragonlady]

10:56 PM on 03/25/2011

T-mobile customers need to really show AT&T, what they think if this merger goes through and cancel, close their T-mobile service and find a way around this takeover.
I, for one, will be ending my service with T-mobile if this merger goes through, because I refuse to do business with AT&T, in ANY form.

[techguy1000]

12:31 PM on 03/27/2011

well then go to Verizon and pay more for lousy customer service..

[wrh2]

08:59 PM on 03/25/2011

ATT QUALITY IS DEPLORABLE, REFUSES TO INVEST IN DSL SPEED. WORST SPEEDS IN THE FREE WORLD.. THIS MERGER SPREADS THEIR MAYHEM

[PubicOption]

04:58 PM on 03/25/2011

What a brain-dead article. Written by, for, and about the brain-dead.

[spc5]

04:04 PM on 03/25/2011

If you want a favorable survey of AT&T, just go to Starbucks where they all have I-phones in their hands and BMW's and Audi's in the parking lot. American and German technolgy, can't miss. Its' a natural.

[Big0725]

03:43 PM on 03/25/2011

Well now at least I'll be able to get coverage out at my work site in the Everglades.