vB Easy Archive - Using an iPhone on AT&T where only partner towers are available

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Using an iPhone on AT&T where only partner towers are available
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Posted by: XcvX

Okay, so long story short, I finally decide I'm ready to own an iPhone. So I call AT&T to get it all set up and shipped to me only to find out they 'cannot' set me up on a contract because I live in a location where there is not an AT&T tower and event though AT&T gets great service, they only use partner towers.

So I don't think this is a big deal, I can activate it from my parents house or something and just use it where I live now. I talk to a few people at AT&T to get the details straightened out and read the terms and conditions. In the T&C it says AT&T can cancel your contract if you use their service on partner towers more than 40% of the time two consecutive months.

Basically, my real question today is, does anybody have any experience with using an iPhone exclusively in areas where partner towers support AT&T clients? If so, how long have you been in your location and has AT&T said anything to you?

Any help would be appreciated as I need a new phone asap.

Posted by: toomer

Quote:

Originally Posted by XcvX

In the T&C it says AT&T can cancel your contract if you use their service on partner towers more than 40% of the time two consecutive months.

I believe "partner tower" basically equals "roaming". And since "roaming" equals "expensive", what AT&T is saying is that if you roam ... all the time ... you basically shouldn't be a customer of theirs (probably better as a customer of their roaming partner, instead - since that's where your minutes go).

Posted by: XcvX

Yea, at first I was upset that I had to switch to AT&T to get an iPhone, now I'm pissed because I can't get an iPhone. Oh well.

Posted by: cokeman73

This has nothing to do with th iPhone it's any phone you use. It's AT&T's way of cutting cost on roaming.
Personally I don't see how they can claim no long distance no roam charges then limit the amount of roaming your allowed. They started this last year when it was still Cingular.
You could get it unlocked & use a different provider. The only thing you will loose is visual voicemail.

It use to be 50% of the calls made. Another option how close is the AT&T tower? As long as you use 60% of the minutes a month on AT&T your safe, if you will never pick up a AT&T tower forget it. Not to mention it has to be 2 consecutive months. It's also a handy way to get out of a contract.

Also not sure what part you live in but I looked at the coverage map AT&T has better coverage in your area than mine. You might want to check out the map.
http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/