Claims about the quality of wireless networks are all fun and games until someone gets taken to court.
Cingular has done just that in a May 9 court filing against
Sprint Nextel, setting the stage for a legal showdown that could ultimately spell the end of ridiculous and meaningless claims that a network is "most powerful," "most reliable," or "l33t." It seems the spat started after Cingular began spreading the word that its network has the "fewest dropped calls" (you know, the commercials that cleverly drop out the sound, making you think your television's busted). Sprint Nextel, with its "most powerful" claim, took issue with that, and brought it before the Better Business Bureau's National Advertising Division to sort out. Cingular, in response, told Sprint to go big or go home, bypassed the BBB entirely, and filed a lawsuit counter-claiming not only that they have the fewest dropped calls, but Sprint's network isn't the most powerful, either. (Oh, snap!) For the record, Cingular cites data from a 2004 report thrown together by Telephia, but they won't say
what data exactly, as they refuse to release the report itself (
sound familiar?). Don't expect this fight to end any time soon, folks, and don't be surprised if Verizon eventually gets dragged into the mud, too.
posted May 26th 2006 4:03PM
I really enjoy the Engadget/Engadget Mobile writing style. Oh, Snap!
I'll be the guy who's sitting back in a chair with sunglasses on, sipping a possibly alcoholic beverage and holding up the "Go T-Mobile" banner.
And I WORK for Cingular.
I know for sure, at least 6 years ago, that Sprint had about the worst network coverage of any wireless carrier in my general (Houston, TX) area.
On top of that, during the past 3 years I had a work-issued nextel, that while much better than anything I had with Sprint, didn't work for squat inside any buildings I frequented, and I had several 'dropped calls' when I was stationary--go figure. Full signal, then bam, call dropped.
From my perspective (again Houston, TX) Verizon Wireless has the best coverage while simltaneously having the worst customer service/customer policies/rates of any US wirless carrier.
I can't speak to Cingular's service, never having any dealings with them, nor knowing anyone who uses it, but I have been a happy T-Mobile customer for the 6 years since I broke the chains of Sprint PCS bondage, and while their coverage may not be the 'ultimate' their customer service has been top-notch, and I haven't had a contract for 5 years.
I do too(post no. 1). Yay for engadget!
lol, hooray! A well written and funny post, you must be one of the new guys, congrats Mr. Ziegler! I hope to read more items from you, and hopefully on regular ol' engadget too.
Good for Sprint... Cingular coverage around here in NYC is pretty damn spotty, yet their commercials are inexplicably running on the telly all the friggin time. And 2 year old data they don't release??
And i say 2 years ago because that amount of time makes a big difference. You cannot judge quality service in 6 year intervals, Levi, get a clue. And chunking Nextel 'on top of' that is an even worse offense considering the only similarities between the two technologically are the logos on their employees' paychecks.
well, out of all the people I know/work with, the guy in Houston with Verizon has the worst coverage/reception. I have had Sprint for years and have had no problems in Texas (I live in Austin). They have improved in 6 years!
Cingular Treo 650 here(Massachusetts)....cingular drops more the 50% of my calls on a daily basis. I'm on my 3rd replacement treo and they suck. If not dropping calls , callers complain of echoing and I hear choppyness when it does go through.
I wish I had the money to buy a new verizon treo 700p and cancel my cingular contract.
P.S. I have a friend who is on sprint and they hate there service too...
their
I am a merger casuality from AT&T, Cingular has expounded the most outragous comments to me that I have ever heard:
1) I could not get out of paying roaming fees because I owned an AT&T phone, therefore, I must purchase a new Cingular phone,
2) I could not extend my plans calling area, because I had an AT&T phone, therefore, I must purchase a new Cingular phone,
3) I could not fix all the dropped calls and deadzones I was encountering because I had an AT&T phone and the service provided was different, therefore, I must purchase a new Cingular phone,
4) I could not keep my current rate plan and move to the Cingular service because I had an AT&T phone, therefore, I must purchase a new Cingular phone.
I asked them why they were punishing me for being an old AT&T customer, they said I must purchase a new Cingular phone, get a new calling area, new rate plan and sign a two year contact with them.
I went over to Verizon. They at least give you the run down up front.
If there is a class action suit against Cingular, I want in.
I have had both companies coverage within the past couple of years, and in the midwest, youre lucky to find a Cingular store because of their weak coverage! I have been to 49 different states with my Sprint service and have not even roamed yet! There is no way possible that any other company has a larger service area than Sprint. Sprint is the only digital network built from the ground up, nobody else can say that yet.