Comments on: The AT&T SIM-Only Drama Continues

By: SIM Only Deals

SIM Only Deals — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:21:47 +0000

Definitely agree when companies get bigger its harder to manage hence the poor customer service.

By: SIM Monthly

SIM Monthly — Mon, 11 May 2009 10:03:05 +0000

In my experience, it seems the bigger the company the worse the customer service.

By: sim only

sim only — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 07:39:50 +0000

It can work and it is expensive. Call with sim only and you will save lots of money on calling minutes and texts

By: Raja

Raja — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:53:30 +0000

Every company, big or small has made silly mistakes somewhere along the line. Some get publicized and others don’t. In the case of AT&T, the problem seems as if its getting publicized a lot.

By: Zi

Zi — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:02:20 +0000

Lo and behold, the website still doesn’t exist. Does it really take months to update their website? Is the service really worth it?

By: Roshan

Roshan — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:42:23 +0000

I’ve been reading all the comments about this sim-only offering from at&t and it seems like a big mess. Especially from such a large company. Things like this shouldn’t be happening.

By: Andy

Andy — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 02:57:21 +0000

The AT&T Website still isn’t offering the SIM-only option (it shows up in search results but the link returns an empty page). I went into 2 stores today and they told me they don’t offer a SIM-only option, even bringing my own unlocked phone I’m required to buy a phone and sign up for a contract, there is no SIM-only option available in retail, so they tell me.

By: Timothy Post

Timothy Post — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 22:51:25 +0000

I live in Russia. I use an unlocked iPhone there. I am back in Boston for 2 weeks. I walked into an AT&T store here in the Boston area. I purchased a GoPhone SIM card (I did not purchase a handset). The rep set-up the SIM card and then asked me to activate it in my iPhone. For some reason, it wouldn't activate. He then put the SIM in his own phone and activated it without problem.

It works great albeit a bit expensive. I purchased $100 worth of minutes which are good for 365 days. It's 10 cents per minute for voice and 15 cents per SMS message. I also get charged for some data usage although it's kind of difficult to figure-out the rates.

The set-up works very well. My one complaint is that there is no option for auto-refill to put more money on your account when the account reaches zero. There is an option for an auto-refill on a specific date. You must manually refill the account with money/minutes.

Anyhow, for people like myself who are only in the US for short stretches of time the GoPhone with an iPhone is an excellent option.

By: Allen

Allen — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 13:49:57 +0000

I look on this discussion with a sense of bemusement. The USA presents itself as the bastion of free enterprise and competition. I was in Shenzhen last week and picked up a sim card over the counter at a 7eleven. I expect that the call charges might have been cheaper with a contract, but I was only there for a week and it was certainly less expensive than roaming charges. Still and all, maybe the USA has something to learn about free enterprise from Communist China?

By: Nate

Nate — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 03:31:15 +0000

I am a AT&T corporate employee, I work at a major corporate store in Colorado. To confirm, yes we can do no contracts if you bring your own GSM device. You get access to all the rate plans, can make changes at any time without renewing your contract and you get access to regular rate plans. We don’t have the capability because our system hasn’t updated yet to do no contract so we do a contract and revert it in store. We show you, you have no contract and you take off. It is in our paperwork and the problem is some employees don’t care to do all the reading. Customer service over the phone is probably the worst at this and dealers will never tell you this because they get paid on contracts. I will check back and try to post this documentation.

By: Eideard

Eideard — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 23:19:12 +0000

I hope AT&T gets this up and running - if for no other reason than it might nudge T-Mobile into doing the same in the States. Then, I really would get my beloved wife an iPhone and add it to out T-Mobile package.

Om - no hollering!

By: Art

Art — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 23:07:56 +0000

Mr. Malik. I have been following your posts on this topic and I think its wonerful that you are staying on top of this. Its ridiculous how companies like AT&T are completely disconnected from how they are interacting with their customers.

By: ronald

ronald — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 20:42:14 +0000

What's the fine print anyway? Could I get a SIM and use an iphone without a 2 year contract? After they have sorted this one out. I mean if Management ever bothers to instruct the low lives. I have seen this a few times, even were they run TV commercials and their accounting Systems could not handle what they where trying to sell (Qwest). Seems to me that today's Management is about: "Sell today and figure out how to build or support it tomorrow." Which I believe will be Bill Gates long term legacy, IBM/DOS. Which also shows that AT&T and Qwest Management is able to learn, now if they could figure out how to have a thought on their own. That would be something.

I guess I got up on the wrong food today. So OM don't make me come over there and get you resting.

By: Jesse Kopelman

Jesse Kopelman — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 20:39:30 +0000

So, it seems like the old AT&T Wireless’ biggest problem is still alive and well at the new AT&T Mobility — corporate silos. When I worked there, sales, customer support, and network barely talked to each other and if something didn’t effect their particular budget, it wasn’t their problem. Promotions were continuously launched that would effect network utilization without giving engineering any sort of heads up. New features would be deployed without anyone bothering to explain them to sales or support. Customer issues related to sales and marketing or network would just enter the black hole of support, never to make it out to the departments who could actually address the problem. Meanwhile, the disconnect between “reality” at HQ vs. the various markets was staggering. Meet the new at&t, same as the old AT&T! Of course, this sort of thing goes on at other carriers too, but not necessarily to such ridiculous extent.

By: moishe

moishe — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:54:17 +0000

when are these wireless carriers in the US going to get their heads out of their you know whats and open up their networks? if they are smart about it, will be a win-win for them and the consumer. these half hearted attempts are laughable. /moishe

http:/mortyandmoishe.blogspot.com

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:29:39 +0000

Om -- that was me on the other end of the chat window with the rep -- after I got off the chat with her, I called AT&T's telesales at the number she had given me. They also denied that it was possible, telling me that even with my own equipment I would have to sign a 2 year contract to get the sim.

I would be very happy if your marketing rep contact would call sales and explain AT&T's official position!!!

Thanks,

Matt