“We are truly honored that Business Traveler readers have once again chosen AT&T as having the Best Mobile Phone Coverage in the World,” said Bill Hague, executive vice president of International for AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets, in he press release. “AT&T is committed to helping our customers stay connected to their world when traveling abroad. From offering more phones that work around the world to aggressively expanding our global voice and data footprint, we are thrilled our customers know they can count on AT&T for all of their international wireless needs.”
AT&T operates a GSM/HSPA network, the worldwide standard for wireless, making it easy for customers to stay in touch with family, friends and business colleagues while abroad — all on the same wireless number and device they use at home. AT&T offers more than 40 world devices. AT&T customers can take these devices around the world, including Japan and South Korea, which require a device that operates on 2100 MHz.
With the largest global footprint of any wireless provider, AT&T customers can make and receive calls in more than 215 countries and send e-mail and browse the Web in more than 185 countries, including more than 100 countries with high speed 3G coverage. AT&T also offers voice and data coverage on 130 major cruise ships including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Celebrity Cruise Lines.
Source: AT&T Inc.
ATT’s PR firm will be getting an extra cheese log this year.
Well, remind me never to trust anything written by such a “venerable” publication such as “Business Traveler” magazine. What is FAR more relevant to those who are with ATT is how good the service is in the USA. And I think it is pretty obvious that it sucks – both according to users and REAL publications like Consumer Reports
Truthbearer:
You might not know this, but United States is one of about 193 countries of the world. Many people who live in the US and use mobile phones often travel outside and to one or more of those countries. Some on business, others for pleasure (or other purposes), they all have learned to depend on their phone service regardless of the corner of the planet. It is very helpful to them to know which mobile operator will give them best mobile solutions for their own needs.
If for nothing else, I like using AT&T phones because they are GSM. AT&T always helps me unlock a phone as soon as I get it. When overseas, I can easily swap SIM cards when I need to be accessible on a local phone number by locals. I frequently put my US card in, to check voice mail, SMS and such. You simply can’t do this with Verizon (they’ll never let you unlock their hybrid world phones).
@ Truthbearer
Unless you have other evidence to prove otherwise, the statement,
“With the largest global footprint of any wireless provider, AT&T;customers can make and receive calls in more than 215 countries and send e-mail and browse the Web in more than 185 countries, including more than 100 countries with high speed 3G coverage. AT&T;also offers voice and data coverage on 130 major cruise ships including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Celebrity Cruise Lines,” is unchallengeable.
No matter how many anecdotal comments by users/wannabe users or the likes of Consumer Reports to the otherwise are made.
Not to mention that a solid majority of AT&T’s phones are quad-band, which means that they will operate on ANY GSM frequency in the world. T-Mobile is also fairly reasonable with their quad-band offerings.
Verizon’s selection of world phones is a tasteless joke. As for Sprint, I’m not sure if they even offer world phones at all.
@ Truthbearer – Funny, the area I live in, I’ve had absolutely NO problems with my AT&T service whatsoever.
While I’m aware it’s not perfect in all areas, I think you’re a bit too quick to exaggerate those problems.
@Truthbearer
What Gabriel said.
Truthbearer…
uh… suck to be you yet?
@Truthbearer,
Would you like some cheese with that whine, sir?
@Truthbearer
What Gabriel said. And Predrag. And MDMac. And… aww if you don’t get it by now….
I say we all line up and punch Truthbearer in the taint. Seriously no AT&T;issues here either.
I hate to chime in but I couldn’t resist. International service is excellent with AT&T;, and yes, other countries really exist. There’s a huge one just to the north of you.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
ATT coverage is fine here, too, with only occasional dead spots. What hasn’t been fine is their customer service and the lies, inconsistent statements, customer-blaming, overcharging, and other problems I (and others) have experienced with them.
Way to go Geddy. Say hi to Niel and Alex for mé too. 😀
If AT&T;is the best, I’d hate to see the worst! Maybe they were kidding and AT&T;didn’t get the joke.
I have had no problems with at&t;. Customer service has ben excellent as well.
Verison does suck when it comes to traveling abroad. But, Truthbearer is correct. Every survey I’ve seen has Verizon at the top and AT&T;at or near the bottom in the US.
Truthbearer was correct, he just maybe didn’t express himself transparently enough. First, I’m not in the USA so I can agree, without bias, that “What is FAR more relevant to those who are with AT&T;is how good the service is in the USA”. Sure a percentage of Americans travel outside the US but most don’t.
Second, and more-significant to me, is the voting of AT&T;as the best coverage “in the world”. Such nationalistic nonsense. Every GSM carrier in the world has exactly the same coverage as AT&T;. What Business Traveller should’ve said is that “of US carriers, AT&T;offers the best world coverage”. To that extent, Truthbearer was also correct in criticizing the magazine itself.
It’s just like America holding world championships in, for example, baseball. Note no other country is invited to submit entrants so “best in the world” becomes synonymous with “America IS the world”. Just another example of why some people still have “feelings” about America that transcend the feelings that Bush provoked.
@ Glenn Holland
Can you read?
It is an American travel magazine published for Americans business travellers. The survey was conduct on Americans and their opinion on which U.S. wireless provider offered the best options for business people travelling abroad.
“The award was part of an annual survey of readers (of the magazine) on various issues, including cell phone coverage, conducted by the magazine.”
“AT&T;, for the third year in a row, has claimed the top spot among U.S. wireless providers.”
There is nothing in MDN or the original article that says anything about “…AT&T; as the best coverage “in the world”.
I gather English is not your first language and thus, you may have interpreted wrongly. No excuse for anybody else.
MDmac
Well said.
Joe:
Who is ‘Niel’?
@ MDmac & HughB
Your readings skills are apparently not as you state. Where in the text above does it say that the magazine is an US publication?
It could as it’s written mean that when traveling in the US AT&T;is the best, right? I myself doesn’t know whether AT&T;is the best in US as for my business US is irrelevant and I do most of my business travel in Europe and Asia Telenor giving me all the coverage as Glenn Holland describes, so in all essence he’s right.
@Geddy
I think Niel is Bob’s friend?
@ Scandinavian view
Re “It could as it’s written mean that when traveling in the US AT&T;is the best, right?”
No. The award as MDN’s quote by Hague is quite clear in that it refers to “when traveling abroad.”
As for the rest, I never ever just read the sound bites. I read all the links if they are there and for sure seek out the source. As as researcher, I don’t trust hearsay and in particular, commentary unless they are referenced properly.
This page once again is living proof how perception can become reality. It is unfortunate, that claims are not referenced and when challenged are left unmarked. I have always suggested, either provide evidence or remove it. If you don’t, the host/editor should do so until it is shown otherwise.
As a reader living in China, who travels to the USA often I can say cell phone coverage in the USA is a joke! It sucks.
Every time I land in the USA I head over to the AT&T;store and buy a disposable SIM card. I usually spend about $25 per week. Lots and lots of dropped calls. In China I spent $15 per month for my iPhone with 3G service. I have 5 bars everywhere I go.
There is no way AT&T;is better than China Unicom.