Letter from the CEO

AT&T and iPhone Support

By Robert L Pritchett

http://www.att.com/wireless/iphone//

 

I am so tired of driving through areas in my part of the country where there is “no service” or “data connection lost” messages on my iPhone when I try to find customers using the iPhone map app and phone service. I have to leave those areas in order to close tickets or communicate with customers.

 

Verizon’s commercials showing coverage pretty much says it all.

 

“Verizon’s latest Christmas-themed television commercials continue the teleco’s critique of competitor AT&T, using the Island of Misfit Toys, Blue Christmas and Santa’s Elves. The three ads set out to reveal the flaw in Apple’s iPhone deal with AT&T, subtly suggesting that the Verizon Droid make its way onto Christmas shopping lists this year.

 

An adapted scene from the 1964 Rankin/Bass stop-motion animated Christmas film, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. “We’re on the island of misfit toys”, sounds the soundtrack as an iPhone swaggers onto the island. “What are you doing here?”, asks one of the toys. All becomes clear when the iPhone reveals the difference between AT&T 3G coverage and Verizon 3G coverage.”

 

Verizon Misfit Toys

Verizon Elves

Verizon Blue Christmas

 

You will notice that Verizon was every careful not to diss Apple, but focussed specifically on poor 3G coverage by AT&T, since the exclusive contract with AT&T will be up for renewal next year and that means contracts will possibly be open to all carriers, not just AT&T.

 

 

Coverage Maps

 

There’s a map for that

 

 

Verizon

AT&T

 

Work-Arounds

 

Jonny Evans posted an article over on 9to5mac regarding “tethering”. AT&T has been a “no show” after promising this service for over a year for iPhone users.

 

 

mtech20  wrote;

 

“What good is a Ferrari if the only road you can drive it is full of pot holes? I'd rather have a solid phone on a superior network, than a trendy phone on a subpar network.”

 

The work-around apparently has been use of Verizon Mifis.

 

Supported devices show 32-bit only for the Mac (G3 or later with OS X 10.4.7 or later) and none for the iPhone, so tethering has to be done with a Mac-to-iPhone connection to make this work – and the extra Verizon monthly fee.

 

A MiFi is a mobile intelligent hotspot WiFi router.

 

“Mobile Broadband Connect is a product offering from Verizon Wireless that allows you to use your device/handset as a modem if you subscribe to a qualifying data and/or calling plan. By using the adaptor cable that comes with the purchase of the appropriate Mobile Office Kit or that is contained in the box for your BlackBerry device or Smartphone, a connection can be made from your laptop computer to your Mobile Broadband Connect capable device. By linking your laptop to your Mobile Broadband enabled device, you can establish a broadband connection anywhere within our Mobile Broadband Rate and Coverage Area. When you are outside this area, your laptop will connect using NationalAccess anywhere within the Extended National Enhanced Services Rate and Coverage Area. If you have a BlackBerry device or Smartphone, you also can roam on the Canadian or Mexican Broadband Rate and Coverage Areas. By using Mobile Broadband, you can transfer files, securely access corporate email and applications - even data-intensive ones - and download short video clips, audio files and Web graphics. Having a true desktop-like experience while out of the office will help you stay as productive and efficient as ever.”

 

Why can’t AT&T offer the same service? Oh yeah, it was promised over a year ago. I’m still patiently waiting.

 

By the way, I figured my iPhone was glitchy, because voicemail apparently is batched to my iPhone. Recently the messages I get are incredibly garbled and only the last snitchet of messages are understandable. Nope, this is a problem on non-iPhone cellphones as well, according to other AT&T customers I’ve talked to. Please do not get upset if I do not respond to your calls immediately. Some voicemails take up to a week to appear.

 

So what is keeping AT&T from upgrading infrastructure services? Oh yeah, that is supposed to be completed by 2011, announced back in May –

“AT&T’s network infrastructure gives us a tremendous advantage in that we’re able to deliver upgrades in mobile broadband speed and performance with our existing technology platform,” said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “With the array of smartphones, laptops and emerging devices taking advantage of AT&T’s 3G network today, we know that customers are excited to experience higher mobile broadband speeds, and we are deploying the right technologies at the right times to help them get the most from that experience.”

 

The upgraded network platform could allow for theoretical peak speeds of 7.2Mbps. Typical real-world downlink and uplink speeds experienced by customers with upgraded 3G will be less than the theoretical peak and will vary based on a number of factors, including location, device, and overall traffic on the local network at a given time.

 

AT&T’s 3G mobile broadband network is now available in nearly 350 U.S. major metropolitan areas, with about 20 additional metro areas planned for deployment in 2009. The HSPA 7.2 technology will be deployed widely in the network, with the benefits of the network upgrade to be announced on a local basis as the faster speeds are turned up. AT&T will introduce multiple HSPA 7.2-compatible laptop cards and smartphones beginning later this year.

 

The speed upgrade is one of several ongoing initiatives to expand and enhance AT&T’s mobile broadband service. Other key projects in 2009 include:

 

• Near-Doubling Radio Frequency Capacity. In 2008 and 2009 to date, high-quality 850 MHz spectrum has been deployed in more than half of AT&T’s 3G network footprint to improve overall coverage and in-building reception, with additional markets planned for later in the year.
• More Bandwidth to Cell Sites. We are adding fiber-optic connectivity and additional capacity to thousands of cell sites across the country this year, expanding the critical connections that deliver traffic from a cell site into the global IP backbone network. These upgrades will support the higher mobile broadband speeds enabled by both HSPA 7.2 and LTE.
• More Cell Sites. Deployment of about 2,100 new cell sites across the country.
• Wi-Fi Integration. Many AT&T smartphones will be able to switch seamlessly between 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity. AT&T customers with qualifying smartphone and 3G LaptopConnect plans have access to the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network – more than 20,000 hotspots, including locations in all 50 states – at no additional charge. AT&T’s global Wi-Fi footprint covers more than 90,000 hotspots, and AT&T also can create permanent or temporary extended Wi-Fi zones in areas with high 3G network use, like a grouping of hotels or a festival.
• MicroCells. Customer trials leading toward general availability of AT&T 3G MicroCell offerings, which utilize femtocells to enhance in-building wireless coverage.

Capital investment for these projects fits within AT&T’s previously outlined expectation of total capital expenditures for 2009, targeted toward the $17 billion to $18 billion range. AT&T matches this network investment with unsurpassed choice in the range of devices, services and applications compatible with its 3G network.”

 

 

 

Jeffrey Marks wrote;

 

“I am writing to you today to express my sincere disappointment in the treatment iPhone users receive from your company. We represent the most profitable sector of your business, yet we are treated like second or third class citizens.

 

My specific concerns arise from the double standard applied to features on the iPhone versus other mobile phones. For example, AT&T has blocked tethering, despite Apple making it available in the operating system. However, Blackberry users have been able to tether with AT&T for some time. Additionally, AT&T has blocked the Sling Player application from operating over 3G. Meanwhile, the Blackberry version works just fine over 3G.

 

It shocks and amazes me that a company can discriminate against one set of customers in this way. It is my intent to leave AT&T the moment iPhones are available in the United States on any other carrier.

 

You should also be aware, that every feature you block is available if a user jailbreaks the phone. It has taken every bit of restraint I can muster to remain honest and not employ this fix.

 

It seems that AT&T entered into an agreement with Apple without understanding the burden that a phone of this nature creates for the wireless network. It is a travesty. However, you made that agreement. Now you need to accept the consequences and provide the services that iPhone users require. Otherwise, expect to lose your customers to other providers, or expect those who stay to jailbreak their device.”

 

Disgruntled,

Jeffrey Marks

 

Jailbreaking the iPhone

 

"Jailbreaking" is a process that allows iPhone and iPod Touch users to run unofficial code on their devices bypassing Apple's official distribution mechanism, the App Store. Once jailbroken, iPhone users are able to download many applications previously unavailable through the App Store via unofficial installers such as Cydia, Rock App, Icy, and Installer. Cydia is preferred by the community, while Rock App has a small catalog of mainly paid apps. Icy and Installer are officially unsupported by their developers and rarely used. Cydia founder Jay Freeman estimates that 4 million (out of 40 million) iPods and iPhones are jailbroken.”

 

Tethering worked on jailbroken iPhones prior to the 3.1 “upgrade”.

 

Jailbreaking 3.1

“Apple released their iPhone 3.1 firmware on September 9, and now the iPhone Dev Team has released their Pwnage Tool 3.1 software which can jailbreak iPhone 3.1. There is no Windows Pwnage Tool 3.1, it only works for Mac. If you’re a Windows user then you’ll have to wait for the iPhone Dev Team to release redsn0w. If you’re a Mac user, then follow the steps below to jailbreak iPhone OS 3.1.”

 

 

There is also this workaround – which if used, means the iPhone has to be tethered each time you reboot –

Jailbreak iPhone 3.1.2 firmware with blackra1n

 

“If you want to jailbreak iPhone 3.1.2 or iPod Touch 3.1.2 firmware, you can use the blackra1n software to do it. blackra1n is available for both Windows and Mac. This post has the download links for blackra1n and also gives you a tutorial on how to use it.”

 

3.1.2 Jailbreak/Unlock (all devices) iPhone/iPod Touch

 

Consequences of Jailbreaking

 

Jay Santos wrote;

“There is now a worm that is spreading in all iPhones that are jailbroken wherein it'll change your wallpaper into a picture of Rick Astley and give you messages that indeed your iPhone has been infected by a worm or virus. This is only for all iPhones jailbroken and with their SSH passwords not changed from their default ones. Having the default password for SSH means that anyone can enter your iPhone and do customizations to it without your permission. The worm spreading around iPhones isn't really that destructive but it gives you a sense or feel on how hackers can and will attack our phones.

Good thing I still choose not to be jailbroken and be locked to my carrier, Globe Telecom.”

 

Secure your jailbroken iPhone against worm

 

David Martin wrote;

 

“If your iPhone was recently "Rickrolled" by a worm that targets jailbroken iPhones, the following six steps will show you how to change the root password--used to connect to your device via a Unix software secure shell--to protect yourself in the future.

Before starting, you will need to have MobileTerminal installed from the Cydia store. Then:

1. Tap the MobileTerminal icon to open a terminal window.

2. Enter su and press return.

3. Enter the current default root user password alpine and press return.

4. Type passwd and press return.

5. Enter a new password and press return.

6. Enter the new password again and press return.

The root password is now changed, and your jailbroken iPhone or iPod Touch is now a bit more secure than it was before and less vulnerable to the first worm detected that targets the iPhone.”

l

You void the warranty if you jailbreak your iPhone. That is probably the real reason why I had to pay for a new one when my old one got wet.

 

Source: http://justanotheriphoneblog.com/wordpress/general/ironic-zibri-ziphone-site-showing-cartoon-on-consequences-of-jailbreaking

 

Egypt wrote:

“Jailbreaking means that you can add native applications (people who make home made applications) which is really useful, because it has the things that the iPhone didn’t come with such as video recording, video streaming, you can customize every aspect of the phone to the background to the icons to the sounds it makes when you open and close it to game emulators.”

 

More here and here.

 

Semi-tethering using Greenpois0n

 

ChronicDev wrote;

“Current plans are releasing a "lite" greenpois0n that supports only iPod touch 3G, as well as the updated bootrom ipt2/3G[s]. After gplite is applied, your device will be able to be used normally with Apple and App Store apps on a normal boot, then when you connect to our program and boot you will be able to use your Cydia apps as well. This is known as a “semi-tethered” jailbreak, basically meaning you can reboot normally (especially important for people with new 3G[s]) and use it as a normal iPod / iPhone, and then connect to your computer and boot when you get home or whatever to use Cydia apps and such. Later on, a full featured version of greenpois0n will be released, followed closely by the source for the backend.”

 

Digging Deeper:

 

Cydia is a software application developed by Jay Freeman (also known as "saurik") for the iPhone OS that allows the user to browse and download applications usable on a jailbroken iPhone or iPod Touch. Cydia (application)

Hacking the iPhone – Google video

The iPhone Dev Team is a group of hackers in the iPhone OS community who have developed many tools to enable the use of applications unauthorized by Apple Inc. on the iPhone and iPod Touch devices and to enable the use of the iPhone GSM carriers unauthorized by Apple.

IPhone Dev Team

iPhone Wiki dedicated to collecting, storing and providing information on Hacking the iPhone

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