Sponsored Links

AT&T

*Est. $40 per month and up

AT&T

pros
  • Rollover minutes last for a year
  • Sole carrier of the Apple iPhone
  • Large selection of phones
cons
  • Higher plan costs
  • Fewer plan options
  • Spotty connectivity and dropped calls

In surveys by Consumer Reports, J.D. Power and Associates and PC Magazine, AT&T falls significantly behind Verizon Wireless (*est. $40 per month and up) and T-Mobile (*est. $30 per month and up). Overall, AT&T receives average or below average scores across the board. The one exception is in the Southwest, where AT&T is rated "better than most" by users in the J.D. Power and Associates survey. PC Magazine readers, however, score AT&T lower in five out of 11 service categories, with fees, plan options, customer service and call quality all rated significantly below average. On the upside, AT&T is the only carrier that offers the popular Apple iPhone. Another strong suit, according to Consumer Reports, is that AT&T has rollover minutes that last a year and plans that allow parents to control their children's phone access and usage. AT&T also receives high ratings by TopTenReviews.com for its phone selection, and it scores highly with PC Magazine readers for its choice of handsets.

The most reliable way to assess cellular provider performance is through large user surveys, the best of which poll users about their satisfaction with network coverage, call quality, customer service, plan options, technical support and cost. We consulted three major surveys: Consumer Reports, which based its findings on responses from about 52,000 subscribers in 23 major cities; J.D. Power and Associates, which polled more than 21,000 users; and PC Magazine, which solicited feedback from about 20,000 of its readers. We also consulted TopTenReviews.com, which compares features albeit not call quality of 10 cell phone carriers, as well as user opinions at PhoneDog.com.

Our Sources

1. J.D. Power & Associates

In this nationwide survey of more than 21,000 people, J.D. Power and Associates polls cell phone users about service, support and call quality. AT&T scores average in overall satisfaction throughout most of the nation, except in the Southwest, where it receives above average ratings.

Review: 2008 Wireless Call Quality Performance Study, Editors of J.D. Power and Associates, Mar. 27, 2008

2. ConsumerReports.org

Consumer Reports polls about 52,000 of its readers in 23 major metropolitan areas, asking them to rate their cellular providers for customer service and call quality. Results are grouped by city, and three carriers are singled out for overall satisfaction.

Review: Best Cell Service, Editors of Consumer Reports, Jan. 2009

3. PCMag.com

PC Magazine editors summarize the results of more than 20,000 responses to their reader survey. Respondents are asked to rate key elements of cellular service, including call quality, customer service, plan options and cost. AT&T ranks next to last, and it receives an overall score that is significantly below average. AT&T receives high ratings, however, for its choice of handsets.

Review: The Best (and Worst) Tech Support in America: Cellular Services, Eric Griffith, July 29, 2008

4. TopTenReviews.com

TopTenReviews.com provides a side-by-side comparison of 10 cell phone service providers, and while it covers features and costs, it does not evaluate call quality. Editors bestow their Silver Award on AT&T, based on the carrier's wide selection of phones -- including the popular Apple iPhone -- as well as rollover minutes that last for a year and a roadside assistance feature.

Review: Cell Phone Providers Review, Editors of TopTenReviews.com

5. Phonedog.com

More than 200 users post reviews of their experience with AT&T, and a common denominator among the reviews -- both high- and low-rated -- is spotty coverage and poor call quality.

Review: AT&T User Reviews, Contributors to PhoneDog.com

6. DeadCellZones.com

DeadCellZones.com is one of several sites that offers localized cell phone coverage maps. You can pinpoint coverage and dead zones down to the zip code, even to a specific address. This link leads to the AT&T coverage map.

Review: AT&T Wireless Cell Phone Coverage, Contributors to DeadCellZones.com

Cell Phone Plans Runners Up:

Alltel *Est. $40 per month and up

3 picks including: J.D. Power & Associates, Phonedog.com…

Sponsored Links

Back to top