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"\r\n\r\nTo begin, some background information before we get into the crux of my issues with AT&amp;amp;amp;T.\r\n\r\nMy first cell phone experience was as a customer on Voicestream\u2019s (now T-Mobile) network.\u00A0 To date myself, that was at age 17, 12 years ago.\r\n\r\nWhen iPhone 3G was launched, I switched to AT&amp;amp;amp;T.\u00A0 Prior to anyone crying, \u201Cfanboy,\u201D let me say the following: yes, I am a huge supporter of Apple products, but one of the main reasons for switching to AT&amp;amp;amp;T was the 17% corporate discount off my monthly bill I receive from my straight gig.\r\n\r\nAs an AT&amp;amp;amp;T wireless customer for over 2 years now, I have owned or now own the following products which use AT&amp;amp;amp;T\u2019s wireless network: 2 iPhone 3G devices - one for myself and one for my wife. (since upgraded to iPhone 4), 2 iPhone 4 devices - one for myself and one for my wife, 1 Android device \u2013 the other phone I carry, and 1 iPad 3G +WiFi \u2013 my iPad. Monthly bill, with aforementioned discount, roughly $200.\r\n\r\nFor the most part, I have been content, if not pleased with AT&amp;amp;amp;T\u2019s service.\u00A0 That is until recent events have caused me to consider that perhaps maybe I was missing something.\u00A0 Maybe some that decry AT&amp;amp;amp;T\u2019s service as spotty, or much worse, may be on to something.\r\n\r\nLast night, the issue came to a head when I went to a baseball game.\u00A0 What follows is my experience as an AT&amp;amp;amp;T consumer, living in Dallas, home of AT&amp;amp;amp;T's headquarters.\r\n\r\n6:30 pm: Arrive at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.\u00A0 Address \u2013 1000 Ballpark Way, Arlington, TX 76011.\u00A0 Devices carried, 2 iPhone 4s, 1 Android device.\r\n\r\n7:05 pm: Get 6 hotdogs, 3 for me, 3 for my wife.\u00A0 It was dollar hotdog night, and this has nothing to do with my story other than the fact that you know I wasn\u2019t conducting my research on an empty stomach.\r\n\r\n7:35 pm: Take our seats, Section 208, Row 5, Seats 13 and 14.\u00A0 Link to stadium picture here, my picture below:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n8:10 pm: Try to send out a tweet using Twitter for iPhone. Full bars, 3G indicated, network-related message  received below:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n8:18 pm: Try to send out a tweet using Twitter for iPhone. Network-related message  received below:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n8:28 pm: Try to send out a tweet using Twitter for iPhone. Network-related message  received below:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n8:36 pm: Try to send out a tweet using Twitter for iPhone. Network-related message  received below:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n8:56 pm: Try to send out a tweet using Twitter for iPhone. Full bars, 3G indicated, network-related message  received below:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n46 minutes, no cell phone connection on both iPhone 4s and the Android device, meaning no tweets, no Facebook updates, no calls received, no emails received, ect\u2026 So I examine AT&amp;amp;amp;T\u2019s \u201CCoverage Viewer\u201D once I arrive home.\u00A0 To my shock, I was smack dab in the \u201CBest\u201D coverage area AT&amp;amp;amp;T has to offer.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nBest is described by AT&amp;amp;amp;T as, \u201CBEST: In general, the areas shown in dark orange should have the strongest signal strength and be sufficient for most in-building coverage. However, in-building coverage can and will be adversely affected by the thickness/construction type of walls, or your location in the building (i.e., in the basement, in the middle of the building with multiple walls, etc.) This AT&amp;amp;amp;T owned network provides GSM, GPRS, and EDGE service.\u201D\r\n\r\nBest?\u00A0 Right.\r\n\r\nThen I examine cell towers located in and around the ballpark.\u00A0 There are over a hundred towers, some cell towers, some not, located around my location.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThose owned by AT&amp;amp;amp;T? 3 within 4 miles of my location, not to mention, one of the largest sponsors of the new Dallas Cowboys stadium across the street? AT&amp;amp;amp;T.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAT&amp;amp;amp;T, I have defended your service and thought there may be an issue with iPhone 4, which in part, is why I carry an Android device too (the other is to review, and use, great Android apps), but I have been out to the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington and the surrounding areas too often recently and had NO service.\r\n\r\nThis is unacceptable from a company whose headquarters are roughly 20 miles from both my home and my location last night, and has me convinced now, more than ever, Verizon\u2019s red map is spot on, Sprint\u2019s increases in network speed are formidable, and both are strong candidates to receive my business in the near future if economically feasible."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://thenextweb.com/mobile/2010/09/16/best-att-wireless-network-coverage-area-is-anything-but/>