Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

AT&T Wireless Phone "Upgrades" Aren't

Posted by timothy on from the att-reception-is-lousy-in-seattle dept.

An anonymous reader writes "AT&T Wireless is requiring customers in parts of California and New York and elsewhere to "upgrade" their phones and offering free replacements. The catch? In most cases the upgrades have worse features than the phones they're replacing."

16 of 372 comments (clear)

  1. Mmmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I would say getting a phone that will be able to work is a pretty big upgrade.

  2. My favourite AT&T Phone feature by hendersj · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is the one where it disconnects randomly in supposedly good-coverage areas.

    --
    Insanity is a gradual process; don't rush it.
  3. No Camera!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    OMG! They want me to use a phone with no camera! How can that be? How does a phone even work if it doesn't have a camera? Next thing they'll want me to buy a refrigerator with no DSL or a car with no DVD player!

    1. Re:No Camera!? by GeorgeH · · Score: 2, Funny

      That's not exactly the best time and place to negotiate a better deal on car insurance.

      "Hello, I wanted to get insurance. Pre-existing problems? Uhhh...."

      --
      Why can't I moderate something "Wrong" or at least "Grossly Misinformed"?
  4. so where is the catch??? by stonebeat.org · · Score: 4, Funny

    The catch? In most cases the upgrades have worse features than the phones they're replacing."

    That is no catch. Heck some software vendors force you to upgrade, force you to pay for the upgrade, and upgrades have worse features than the original software. ;)

    --


    Consensus is good, but informed dictatorship is better
  5. Free replace? by Maljin+Jolt · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think all you customers should pay some money for those downgrades. Replacing process surely have some administrative costs, taken from pockets of poor shareholders.

    --
    There you are, staring at me again.
  6. I like the car DVD with windshield projection by AtariAmarok · · Score: 5, Funny

    I like the car DVD system that includes the windshield video projector, so I can watch movies like "Along Came Polly" while driving. It sure beats anything I'd see on the road in front of me.

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  7. Re:"Free upgrades" by Neophytus · · Score: 5, Funny

    i have a 3310

    it has 3 main features
    1) sends and recieves phone calls/texts
    2) stores names of people whom i contact using feature 1
    3) game of snake for when i'm not using 1) or 2) and am bored

  8. Who's laughing now? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    They all laughed at my refusal to join the club and my incredibly long cords, but I'll be proven right in the end. I'm staying in control of my phone destiny.

  9. 'Dupgrades' is the word you're looking for by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Example: I just dupgraded my computer to Windows XP over the weekend.

  10. Just like... by xeon4life · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...the way Windows "upgrades" aren't. :)

    --
    Real programmers can write assembly code in any language. -- Larry Wall
  11. ah Buetooth hackable duh! by linuxislandsucks · · Score: 2, Funny

    Ah how /.'s forget..most Buetooth implementatiosn currently are hackable..ie insecure..

    maybe AT&T got security minded? :)

    --
    Don't Tread on OpenSource
  12. Low Feature Phones. by triso · · Score: 5, Funny

    I cannot believe AT&T are giving out simple phones. Where did they find them? All I ever see is Bluetooth, virtual laser keyboards, SMS, digital video, WiFi, 3G, a 3D video processor and flash memory.

    Sales Droid: So Maam, this is our most fully-featured phone ...

    Me: That's great but all I want to do is make phone calls.

    Droid: Sorry! That feature was depricated last year.

    Me: What! Oh well.

  13. Not as good as the old by Prof.+Pi · · Score: 4, Funny
    I believe the "upgrade" phones run at 850mhz, providing better service to the areas the "upgrades" are offered.

    The old phones ran at 1900mhz. So the new phones are, what, like less than half as good as the old ones?

  14. Re:No Bluetooth by MNJavaGuy · · Score: 2, Funny
    There is no GSM network in the US, because according to your specs they would have to provide SIMS, and none of them does.

    That's odd. By your statement, I must not live in the US since I have both a GSM phone and a SIM card provided by my cell service (T-Mobile).
  15. Obvious answer... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I just want to make phone calls. What phone is for me?

    This one is easy. Get the Nokia N-Gage!