AT&T data outage in San Francisco?
By Ross Miller 
posted December 11th 2009 8:41PM
posted December 11th 2009 8:41PM
Reports are flying in -- using WiFi, we suspect -- that AT&T's having a bit of a data and SMS outage in San Francisco. Our own personal experiences confirm the data, although text messages are sending and receiving just fine. According to a tweet found by TechCrunch, customer service is saying it'll take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours to fix -- sounds pretty extreme to us, and unfortunately we can't get ahold of anyone to corroborate. Let's put it to you, Bay Area readers, how's that iPhone working for ya?Update: Just got a statement from AT&T. "We are seeing a hardware issue in downtown San Francisco that is causing some degradation in service. GSM and EDGE voice and data services are still accessible. Our experts are aware and working to resolve as quickly as possible. Further resolution is expected this evening." We tried it ourselves and, yep, if you turn off 3G capabilities on your phone (if possible), data will work just fine.
Update: Our 3G data seems to be working now, and you?
That's why I have my DROID.
@AndroidRokz Fuck the droid.
@Nerdtalker
Well, that's not how you're supposed to use it, but whatever floats your boat.
@Special Agent Steve
DROID Does, even if it doesn't want to
@AndroidRokz
You mean "That's why I have Verizon." The Droid is nothing more than a phone.
@AndroidRokz Whats the point? Engadget is talking about at&t network, not the iphone.
@AndroidRokz
I really want a Droid. I feel limited with my iPhone 3gs on T-mobile because I cant use their 3g.
@AndroidRokz Sadly I spoke to VZW tech support and they said all of California is facing data issues on VZW because of the recent storms. They said it should be fully back normal by morning time.
@Special Agent Steve Even if that isn't the way you're supposed to do it, it doesn't stop you android fanboys from fapping to the damn thing so much you'd think there was a world record you were trying to set.
Amazing how any discussion about AT&T and the iPhone is automatically a go signal for you to pontificate about the dumb android. Have fun with your CDMA2000 crap. Verizon crashes all the time around here. Just last month all my Verizon friends went silent for about 6 hours. You're kidding yourself or naive if you think AT&T is the only one that suffers periodic network outage. But whatever, don't let reason stand in the way of your fanboyism. This is the Internet after all. Flame on!
@Nerdtalker " You're kidding yourself or naive if you think AT&T is the only one that suffers periodic network outage. But whatever, don't let reason stand in the way of your fanboyism."
WHAT? Nobody ever even said anything like that. OF COURSE no network is immune to network constraints; and addressing your anecdotal evidence of "Verizon crashing all the time", you're gonna have to come up with more evidence than "All my friends!". This IS the internet after all.
" it doesn't stop you android fanboys from fapping to the damn thing so much you'd think there was a world record you were trying to set. "
With such an avatar, I don't really think you're qualified to make that statement. But hey it shows one thing: you're not afraid to bend over for loyalty points. "Right in here, AT&T!"
@stoopidgeenius That's the point. You're supposed to use it on AT&T. Remember that T-Mobile's 3G is that random-ass 1700 MHz band? Yeah. If you really want to stick with T-Mobitch, get a phone that's built for their network. It just makes sense.
@Special Agent Steve
HAHAHAHAHA!!!
@N900
Search engadget, Att has major outages about every 2 months. The other carriers DO NOT have the same level of issues.
@COCOViper
Bah- @Nerdtalker not N900.
@AndroidRokz Droid blows. So does California.
@AndroidRokz
Okay legitimate question. My friend has a DROID and it is a really sweet phone. However, everytime she calls me I can barely understand her. She is so garbled. And yes, I have an iPhone, but the at&t network where I live is fantastic and I've never experienced this before. Everyone else comes in crystal clear. Anyone else noticed this?
@COCOViper
Really, that is your evidence? You searched engadget? Because we all know that engadget is the place to go if you want to know abut cell phone outages as they happen. I did the same thing, and you're right, they only have posts on AT&T, Blackberry and XM radio outages. So that must mean that Verizon has had no outages, right? WRONG!
I'm starting to wonder if engadget is biased. They have only mentioned ATT outages in the past 2 years, while we know that all cell networks have had an outage or two. Just 3 weeks ago, Verizon had a 4-5 hour outage in eastern Pennsylvania/New Jersey where 19 towers were down. I also remember reading a story this summer where Sprint had an outage in L.A. Wonder why those outages were never "reported" on engadget?
Where's Luke Wilson!? I need him to hold me and tell me everything is going to be alright
@EGOvoruhk Well, I don't think he'd mention the simultaneous voice + data thing right now...
HAHAHAHA. Sorry, I had to.
Wasn't it just yesterday that AT&T was hyping how focused they were in fixing the bay area network? How's that going, AT&T?
@yankees368
maybe thats what really broke it? lol
@(Unverified) Well, usually, that does not occur at 6pm on a Friday night. That kinda stuff happens Sunday at 3am.
There goes a little more blue from AT&T's map...
@sup191
That's how the folks in Bozeman probably feel.
Service goes from full bars to "Searching..." at one point I had no 3G or "E" showing for about an hour and I get that error. Now its just doing it for about 5-10 seconds then coming back every other hour. r
How much do we need put up with before AT&T is legally obliged to reimburse us part of our monthly fee when stuff like this happens? My gosh.
YESS!! expanded replies!!
@(Unverified)
the replies! i can see them! they are expanded by default!!
this is the biggest news story of the year!
@glenskey
Josh & Co were so busy planning their in depth coverage of Michael Arrington's kids' school play that they forgot to tell us.
Interesting that we now have clearly presented when someone has "0 replies". And we can contract the newfound expanded emptiness - into less emptiness. Or at least we can have a triangle that points to the right.
@(Unverified) lol, i thought the same thing!
No worries. Use AT&T's Mark the Spot app.
I got full signal and 3g but I'm on the far south end of the bay.
@iwdwebman
See, I am in the South Bay too, and I have Full Bars 3G, but i make a call and all I hear is static and then call failed! I try and browse the internet and data connectivity is erratic. Yet it still shows Full Bars 3G!
I guess the commercial is right, Yes there are more bars, but i don't think more bars equals full service! Seems like the network is tricking me into thinking I have great coverage even though I can't make a phone call!
I used a payphone today while i had my iphone in my other hand to look for the number I was going to dial and people looked at me strangely as they walked by...One guy even started laughing...I don't blame him....I don't blame him...The iPhone is great, the service that it sits on?.....Not so much
@mchoudhry2k totally agree, and right when I tried to view your response on my iphone. what to my surprise no internet connection. but I still received emails intermittently. Thinking of switching to verizon. where I go to college AT&T just plan sucks. dropped calls almost every day. and my friend with verizon has had no dropped calls for 3 years!
@mchoudhry2k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCYD3kAnR5U
First 20 seconds just perfect for iPhone users...
My iPhone doesn't work....Oh wait a sec I don't have one.....but my Verizon phone sure works great. LOL
Whoops... Nice job AT&T.
Why is this making news? This is an everyday occurrence with AT&T.
@ZeRoCo0L True Story
@SParklingCYaNide True True
haha eah it sucks really sucks not my phone cause i got a sprint phone but my girlfriends iphones sucks so bad i was not able to talk to her over the phone i had to call her home to land line she hasnt been able to send me atext message
att SUCKS WOW I GUESS VERIZON DOESNT NEED TO RUN THOSE COMERCIALS ANYMORE
ATT IS MAKING THIS WAR EASIER FOR VERIZON BY KEEP ON WITH THIS SHITTY NETWORK SERVICE
POOR ATT
ATT RIP 2009
Ya know, not all Engadget readers have iPhones.
BWAhahahahaa!!!!
I Hate you ATT!!! Even way back when you were just a Ma'Bell company you SUCKED.
Ta!
isn't this what most AT&T customers normally see?
I imagine AT&T now plans to sue California for being misleading about how many people really live in the bay area
@sirphunkee
i'll just say, i wouldn't be surprised.
This is just hurting AT&T's public image even more!
Somebody call Luke Wilson to fix it!!
The outage seems to be over.