AT&T

AT&T expands 4G LTE network ahead of new iPhone launch

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

With just days before Apple is expected to unveil its new iPhone, AT&T Thursday announced its 4G LTE network is expanding into nine new US markets. The carrier also said it expects to add 43 more markets for the high-speed network by the end of 2012.

Although Apple's not talking ahead of the Sept. 12 media event, observers expect the Cupertino, Calif. company to introduce a new iPhone that supports the faster LTE networks. The new iPhone would join the latest iPad as two iOS devices compatible with LTE.

Alleged iPhone 5 cases pop up in AT&T’s internal accessory systems

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 5, 2012

Right on time, the first batch of cases modeled after the leaked two-tone iPhone 5 design are beginning to make an appearance at a major U.S. carrier. We wouldn't normally report on this, but this is AT&T, originally Apple's first and exclusive iPhone carrier in the United States.

Company of this size surely wouldn't screw customers by putting cases on store shelves that may not fit the final iPhone 5 design. With just a week until Apple's iPhone 5 presser, this is yet another indication that the two-tone design is in fact the real deal...

LTE iPhone could be a game changer, especially for Verizon

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

If you're looking to handicap which iPhone carrier is ahead in the LTE horse race, one Wall Street analyst points to Verizon and Sprint as the big winner and loser. Indeed, an LTE-enabled iPhone 5 would "change everything," making it "the biggest consumer product launch ever."

Jeffries & Co.'s analyst Thomas Seitz Thursday advised investors to buy Verizon shares, hold onto AT&T and sell Sprint-Nextel. Verizon now has 230 million LTE POPs -- more than all other US carriers combined. As a result, Seitz sees "a share shift towards Verizon, primarily at AT&T's expense."

AT&T announces new 10,000 square-foot flagship store in Chicago

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

This is actually pretty impressive: AT&T has just announced the upcoming opening of its new 10,000 square-foot flagship store on Chicago's famous Michigan Avenue. It's said to be a beacon for the carrier's "It's what you do with what we do" campaign.

The location will house over 100 digital screens, including multitouch App Tables, and an 18-foot high Connect Wall that will show interactive content and product info. It will also showcase AT&T's home automation and street services, and much more...

How I factory unlocked my iPhone 4S in 10 minutes

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Recently, I've been interested in factory unlocking my still on-contract iPhone 4S. I'd heard of various services over the past few months, but never really investigated them until recently.

After asking around on Twitter, I stumbled upon Cellular Medic — one of many services available online that claims to be able to factory unlock the iPhone for a fee.

I was pleasantly surprised that the entire unlock process took a mere 10 minutes. I went from an iPhone 4S locked to AT&T, to a permanently unlocked iPhone 4S that's usable on virtually any GSM carrier. Take a look inside for a video walkthrough documenting the experience...

AT&T denies rumors of employee vacation blackout

Cody Lee ∙ August 27, 2012

Over the weekend, it was reported that AT&T employees were seeing a blackout on vacation dates in late September, likely due to the new iPhone launch. Apple is widely expected to roll out the handset on September 21.

The information seemed spot-on, considering the timeframe matched up with both Verizon blackout dates and previous reports. But it looks like, for whatever reason, AT&T is denying the employee blackout rumors...

AT&T vacation blackout further confirms September iPhone launch

Cody Lee ∙ August 26, 2012

Apple has yet to make any kind of official announcement regarding when the next iPhone will be unveiled and become available, but we're almost positive we know the dates. Apple is expected to debut the handset on September 12, and launch it in stores on September 21.

There's already a mountain of evidence in favor of this timeline, such as reports from multiple credible sources and news outlets, and blacked out vacation dates for Verizon employees. But in case you needed any more proof, AT&T employees have just thrown their hats into the ring...

AT&T’s new Mobile Share data plans now available

Cody Lee ∙ August 23, 2012

AT&T made good on its promise today and rolled out its new Mobile Share data plans. The launch comes amidst swirling controversy regarding the plans, and the new FaceTime over Cellular feature in iOS 6.

The new plans look extremely similar to Verizon's Share plans, where subscribers start with unlimited talk and text, and then pay extra according to how much data and how many smartphones they need...

JD Power: Verizon most reliable carrier with AT&T far behind

Ed Sutherland ∙ August 23, 2012

Once again, Verizon Wireless is ranked the top U.S. carrier in fewest complaints of dropped calls, transmission problems and slow text messages. This is the 14th time the carrier has led J.D. Power's U.S. Wireless Network Quality Performance Study. AT&T and other major carriers landed further down in the cellular reliability survey.

While Verizon Wireless led in the busy Northeast corridor, it also trumped competition in the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Southwest and Westerns sections of the country. U.S. Cellular was picked as the best carrier in the North Central U.S. for the 12th time. AT&T's reliability was consistently ranked the lowest, except in the Mid-Atlantic and Southwest areas, where it was second to Verizon...

AT&T: FaceTime fears are ‘wrong’

Ed Sutherland ∙ August 22, 2012

AT&T Wednesday tried to clarify its position on limiting the iOS 6 FaceTime over Cellular feature to its Mobile Share data plan customers. The carrier called concerns that last week's move might require subscribers change data plans "wrong" and "another knee jerk reaction" about net neutrality.

"The FCC's net neutrality rules do not regulate the availability to customers of applications that are preloaded on phones. Indeed, the rules do not require that providers make available any preloaded apps," AT&T said in a blog post. The cell provider said subscribers can download a number of video chat apps that compete with AT&T's service, a requirement of net neutrality laws...

Verizon vacation blackout suggests iPhone 5 may be available September 21

Ed Sutherland ∙ August 21, 2012

It's not often that vacation schedules mean much to anyone other than the person getting some days off. But Verizon's vacation schedule has iPhone fans predicting Apple's newest handset will appear Sept. 21. Today's report mirrors one earlier this month that AT&T is also expecting something big in late September.

Citing a "trusted Verizon employee," TechCrunch writes the carrier has forbidden worker vacations between Friday, Sept. 21 and September 30. The next iPhone "will almost certainly be available in stores" on the first day of that vacation blackout, the blog claims. Earlier this month, we reported on another claim that AT&T (which also offers the iPhone) was preparing for a "huge announcement" during the third or fourth week of September...

AT&T’s FaceTime limits could violate FCC rules

Cody Lee ∙ August 21, 2012

AT&T sent shockwaves through the tech community last week when it announced its future plans for iOS 6's new FaceTime over Cellular feature. The good news is that it won't be charging separately for the service, but the bad news is only customers on its new Mobile Share data plans will be able to use it.

As you can imagine, this has folks upset — particularly AT&T customers who are still on unlimited, or other legacy, data plans. Why should they have to switch to a [likely] more expensive data plan to use the feature? Well, according to Public Knowledge's senior lawyer John Bergmayer, they shouldn't have to...