AT&T

AT&T reportedly unlocking iPhones for deployed servicemen as well

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 10, 2012

The nation's second-largest carrier, AT&T, is beginning to unlock in-contract iPhones for the United States military personnel deployed abroad, a new report claimed Monday. As you know, AT&T is now unlocking out-of-contract iPhones for its regular subscribers.

The unexpected policy change has been instituted following unconfirmed reports last week that some disgruntled customers who had complained about the situation to Apple CEO Tim Cook via email saw their handsets unlocked.

As a result, AT&T subscribers can now slip in a SIM card from another wireless operator and use their 3G GSM iPhones with compatible cellular networks overseas and in the United States, such as T-Mobile USA (which welcomed the change)...

T-Mobile says it welcomes unlocked AT&T iPhone users with open arms

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Last week we heard a rumor that AT&T was going to start unlocking out-of-contract iPhones over the weekend. And sure enough, on Sunday we were able to confirm that this was indeed the carrier's new policy. We even showed you how to do it.

So now that you've unlocked your handset, you're probably wondering what the benefits are. Well aside from the improved resale value and the ability to use your iPhone abroad, you can take the device with you to another, less expensive, carrier.

In fact, it sounds like T-Mobile would welcome you with open arms...

Here’s how to use AT&T’s online chat to unlock your iPhone

Jeff Benjamin ∙ April 8, 2012

So yeah, I was lazy. Unlike Cody, I don't have the patience to wait on hold, or be placed in a revolving door of automated prompts. It was either head directly to the store, or give AT&T's technical support chat a try.

Thankfully, AT&T's technical support chat has a pretty good track record with me; I figured I'd give that a try before deciding to burn a gallon of gas to head to the closest AT&T store. Would they even be open on a holiday anyway?

At the end of the day, I'm glad I decided on this method. In less than 10 minutes the unlocking process for my iPhone was initiated, saving me time, gas money, and a potential headache.

Whereas it took Cody about 20 minutes to initiate his iPhone 4 unlock, it took me less than 10 minutes. Folks, it really doesn't get any simpler than this...

Confirmed: AT&T now unlocking out of contract iPhones

Cody Lee ∙ April 8, 2012

On Friday, a rumor surfaced that AT&T was going to start unlocking out of contract iPhones for its subscribers. This is a big departure from the typical trials and tribulations you have to go through to unlock the handset, so we had to test it out.

I'm an AT&T customer, with an iPhone 4 that's been out of contract for quite some time, so I decided to give the carrier a call. And sure enough — at least judging from my experience — the company appears to be unlocking old iPhones...

AT&T to start unlocking off-contract iPhones this Sunday

Cody Lee ∙ April 6, 2012

Unlocking your iPhone can be a fairly tricky task. Unless you pay in upwards of $600 for a factory-unlocked handset, you could be required to jailbreak or even purchase a third-party SIM mod to use your iPhone on multiple carriers.

But according to Engadget, that could change this Sunday for AT&T customers. The site is reporting that it has received an anonymous tip that the US carrier will start unlocking off-contract iPhones starting April 8th...

AT&T 4G LTE coming to Muncie, Bloomington and Bryan-College Station this Sunday

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 3, 2012

As promised last month, carrier AT&T this morning confirmed plans to roll out its 4G LTE network in new markets, beginning April 8. Of the planned twelve cities, the carrier will turn on 4G LTE in three cities this coming Sunday: Muncie and Bloomington, Indiana, as well as Bryan-College Station, Texas.

AT&T is still lagging behind rival Verizon Wireless when it comes to 4G LTE coverage. Not that their iPhone customers care - that is, until a sixth-generation model with 4G LTE support arrives later this year - but those with a 4G LTE iPad 3 might want to take notice.

AT&T and Sprint sell more iPhones than all other smartphones combined

Cody Lee ∙ April 2, 2012

Earlier today we told you that the iPhone 4S has been the top-selling smartphone for all three of Apple's US carrier partners for the last 6 months. The information came from a Canaccord Genuity investor note that was sent out to shareholders this morning.

Now, AllThingsD is pointing to another part of the report that also provides some interesting data. Not only is Apple's handset the top-selling smartphone here in the US, but some carriers are actually selling more iPhones than all other smartphones combined...

Nokia lampoons the iPhone with web videos ahead of Lumia 900 launch

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 1, 2017

AT&T is saying its high-profile launch of the Nokia Lumia 900 in the United States will dwarf the iPhone. We'll see about that, but if a new Smartphone Betatest website is anything to go by, the Finnish cell phone giant isn't afraid at all to take pot shots at the carrier's 'hero' device.

Specifically, Nokia-posted videos on the site allude to the iPhone 4's perceived weaknesses, including the infamous cellular reception issue that culminated under the controversial Antennagate headline in 2010.

AT&T says its upcoming Nokia Lumia 900 launch will top iPhone

Cody Lee ∙ March 28, 2012

Last October, the iPhone 4S launch set a number of records for both Apple and its carrier partners. AT&T claimed that it sold more than a million units of the popular handset, making it the most successful launch in the company's history.

But apparently the operator believes that it can top that with its upcoming Nokia Lumia 900 launch. The Windows Phone handset, which is scheduled to go on sale early next month, will feature LTE and a tiny $100 price tag...

iOS 5.1 confirms that Apple is working on a 4G capable iPhone

Jeff Benjamin ∙ March 22, 2012

Now that Apple has finally ventured into 4G territory with the new iPad, it's inevitable that the next iPhone will follow suit, right? If the latest rumors hold any weight, it sure would seem that way.

While we think it's a no brainer that we'll see 4G LTE in the next iPhone, we've received a tip that makes us feel a lot better about the possibility.

The following information definitely confirms that Apple is working on a 4G capable iPhone. This new evidence, along with the successful launch of the new iPad, makes us feel 99.999% sure that the new iPhone will feature 4G capability. Full details inside...

Cellular data plans not cutting it for content-hungry 4G LTE iPad users

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 21, 2012

That entry-level data plan you signed up for to go along your brand spanking new iPad? It's obsolete, thanks to the device's 4G LTE networking that allows for speeds easily exceeding your home broadband connection. As a result, folks planning on enjoying 4G speeds on the go may likely blow past through their monthly allowance in a couple days. Your mileage may wary, of course, depending on your mobile usage habits.

Here in the U.S., entry-level data plans for iPad begin at $15 or $30 a month, depending on your carrier. AT&T's entry-level 250MB plan will set you back $14.99 a month, with 2GB/5GB plans costing $30/$50 a month. Rival Verizon Wireless is offering 2GB/5GB/10GB tiers priced at $30/$50/$80 a month.

But even five gigabytes a month is conceivable insufficient when you stream high-definition movies and television shows to your device over 4G LTE networks, upload big photos to your social networks or edit and upload full HD movies to YouTube, etc. The Wall Street Journal has the full story (subscription required)...

New single-day record for iPad sales and activations for AT&T

Oliver Haslam ∙ March 19, 2012

Apple CEO Tim Cook said just this morning that the new iPad has broken records during its first weekend on sale, and now AT&T is also touting the tablet's successes.

AT&T spokesmen Seth Bloom said in a tweet this morning that the carrier has broken its own iPad sales and activation records over release weekend, with Friday seeing the biggest numbers to date.

That's no mean feat considering AT&T has had the iPad since day one, and that Verizon's LTE network is arguably stronger in the United States than AT&T's own. Cue Verizon's figures showing similar results...