Shortly after I signed on with AT&T and before I dropped T-Mobile, I performed some speed tests on each of their EDGE networks. Devices used:

1. Nokia E61 (UK) with firmware version 3.0633.09.04
2. Nokia N75 (US) with firmware version 10.1.282 (AT&T)

The Nokia E61

T-Mobile (1 to 4 bars)

#1: 100 KB / 41 kbit/sec / 3.129s latency
#2: 100 KB / 11 kbit/sec / 4.065s latency

#1: 50 KB / 61 kbit/sec / 3.255s
#2: 50 KB / 23 kbit/sec / 2.562s

AT&T (all bars)

#1: 100 KB / 127 kbit/sec / 1.22s
#2: 100 KB / 107 kbit/sec / 1.674s

#1: 50 KB / 72 kbit/sec / 1.571s
#2: 50 KB / 67 kbit/sec / 1.323s

The Nokia N75

AT&T (all bars)

#1: 100 KB / 86 Kbit/sec / 0.848s
#2: 100 KB / 98 kbit/sec / 0.864s

#1: 50 KB / 42 kbit/sec / 0.864s
#2: 50 KB / 58 kbit/sec / 0.869s

T-Mobile test is not possible due to locked device at the time.

AT&T has better coverage in my area and their EDGE network runs faster than T-Mobile. According to reports they did enhance EDGE speeds with the introduction of the iPhone and it’s nice to see the improvement on other devices. Surfing with the Nokia Web Browser is a more fulfilling experience at the faster speeds.

I’ll have to re-test with the unbranded N75 and see if the results change.
When I get a minute I’ll run the tests on my debranded N75 and see if they change.

I’ve been a T-Mobile customer for a long, long time when they first started to release great GSM handsets. If you know anything about T-Mobile, that plethora of handsets is long gone unless you love BlackBerry and Sidekick. The Dash is cute if you like Windows Mobile but that’s not me.

About every couple of months I call customer service asking about the release of Symbian handsets like the N95 or when they’ll deploy 3G. Answer? “No” and “don’t know.” Thankfully T-Mo released their Hot Spot@Home VoIP service if you don’t mind running it on a bare bones phone but the public comes to expect feature-rich phones that can play music, surf the web, maybe run Google Maps.

I ran out of patience with T-Mobile to do anything remotely interesting in the wireless market. Perhaps they are planning great things for the U.S. (iPhone wasn’t one of them) unless you live in Germany.

Here is what needs to change at T-Mobile:

• Tell the public what you’re up to: you’re not Apple so stop the secrecy already
• Deploy 3G before the end of the decade or simply give up
• Carry handsets that people care about; show some love with Nokia’s Nseries and other smartphone devices that aren’t BlackBerry

What kept me a customer:

• Excellent customer service
• The best prices for voice and data, bar none

So I signed up with AT&T and unboxed my shiny, new, Nokia N75. It’s not so much about 3G or the iPhone but that AT&T is doing something in the wireless market and not keeping silent about it. I’ll deal with the rest until my contract expires and we see where T-Mobile winds up.

This post is one of a series. Get up to speed:

• Part 1 - why switch?
• Part 2 - no soup for you!
• Part 3 - pricing standards? bah!

The telephone reps at AT&T were right: pricing at retail stores varies in more ways than one.

My wife looked at a BlackBerry Curve and was told it would cost $180 after a $100 rebate. Interesting, because the price is $200 after rebate from the AT&T web site. Likewise, he quoted the BlackBerry Connect plan as $45/month and on-line it’s $50.

As I wrote this, I challenged an on-line AT&T rep as to why the pricing varies from ‘net to phone to retail store? The reply: “that’s how ATT has it set up.”

I wonder what the FTC would say about this?

In any event, in Part 3 I mentioned how you can get any device at a discount with new activation. It’s true. Direct from Nokia, the U.S. spec N95 retails for $750 unlocked. I can buy it from an Internet merchant (hint: rhymes with NobleJanet), with new AT&T activation, for $450. How about an unlocked E61i for $260? We’re talking discounts of around 40% for unlocked devices that are better than those offered by AT&T.

What about product support? The particular merchant I was speaking with got approval from AT&T to offer these phones with new activation. You may not be able to walk into a retail store with “how do I…?” questions about an N95 but the device will work and make phone calls out of the box.

There are reasons, probably even good ones, for why AT&T pricing varies depending on the outlet you buy from. However, I’m not sure customers are accustomed to this “fluid” pricing model for phones and plans. I’m certain the prices offered by Verizon Wireless are the same wherever you go and if someone is activating with AT&T they’re probably coming from Verizon.

I’m left wondering if AT&T is doing the right thing or not but I’ve learned that getting the best deal requires asking many questions and doing some legwork. I’m not sure it should require this much effort but that’s a topic for another day.

This post is one of a series. Get up to speed:

• Part 1 - why switch?
• Part 2 - no soup for you!

We know that my first call to AT&T’s phone reps ended with “that’s the price you’re going to pay like it or not.” I figured it was worth calling a few times to see if the answers changed because they always do.

A few weeks later I spoke with a rep via on-line chat. He informed me “the price is the price” but did say that retail stores have latitude with contract length and phone rebates. I could very well get a shorter contract or none at all; I might even get a different device, all without buying an AT&T branded phone.

That’s not right. There should be a standard policy in place for AT&T and their affiliates. These are the phones and these are the rates and durations. Period. If for no other reason than keeping customers happy. Imagine if you’d just signed up for two years and your buddy had the same plan for one year because he went to a store and you called.

Days passed and I made another phone call to AT&T. Quickly into the call I asked if I could activate a phone I already owned and avoid a two-year contract. “No,” was the answer. Not only “no” but “I won’t even activate a new plan if you don’t own an AT&T phone.”

If I have an unlocked device and want to start service without buying a subsidized phone, I can’t. You’d think that by saving AT&T a few bucks on the subsidized phone they’d give me a contract length to my liking. But “no” and it gets better.

The only way he’d activate my account for an unlocked phone was if I also owned an AT&T branded phone. He suggested I look for one on eBay then he’d enable service but I’d still have a two-year contract.

Incredible.

I pressed him further about avoiding a contract at which point he got whiny and wondered “why doesn’t anyone want a contract any more?” Simple: consumers “vote” with their dollars and we’re voting to bring down the walls of price gouging and stifling contracts.

For my last question I asked about negotiating with retail stores. He, too, said that stores have more latitude with devices and pricing and I should try my luck. At least the answers have been consistent.

I called a well-known and reputable Internet dealer, not even an AT&T store. Guess what? You can have any unlocked device you want for a steep discount with new activation. More in part 4.

This post is one of a series. Get up to speed:

• Part 1 - why switch?

My first call was to Joel at Dr. Wireless; he’s extremely knowledgeable about mobile carriers and specifically Symbian devices. Could he source me an unlocked Nokia smartphone and set me up on AT&T Wireless? The handset was easy (and a great price) but he was at a loss for suggesting a data plan. AT&T offers too many and their features overlap.

I contacted AT&T Wireless by telephone and explained what features I wanted from my data plan. All said, a plan equivalent to T-Mo’s $20 would cost me $70 per month. I asked the AT&T rep what more I was getting for it to cost three times more than T-Mobile’s (and, btw, AT&T’s wi-fi hotspots cost even more). He spouted a bunch of technical mumbo-jumbo that might have impressed anyone else and didn’t amount to squat.

So began the negotiation game but he was firm: no deals. The price is the price and if you don’t like it, stay with your current carrier. AT&T is emerging as the Verizon Wireless of GSM carriers: charge a lot and deliver little value compared to the competition.

Thus began a number of calls to AT&T with surprising outcomes. Not only is AT&T arrogant but they’re slippery. Very slippery. Stay tuned for part 3.