AT&T Explains Data Outage

Looks like Ma Bell had some problems this morning on the East Coast, as multiple reports said there was no mobile data access. The problem was particularly affecting iPhone 3G users (<a href="http://www.informationweek.com/news/personal_tech/iphone/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=210200897">what else is new</a>), but some reported that there was absolutely no AT&T cellular data. AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel gave me the skinny.

Marin Perez, Contributor

September 3, 2008

1 Min Read

Looks like Ma Bell had some problems this morning on the East Coast, as multiple reports said there was no mobile data access. The problem was particularly affecting iPhone 3G users (what else is new), but some reported that there was absolutely no AT&T cellular data. AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel gave me the skinny.Siegel said a "routing issue" was determined to be the cause of the outage, and the problem had been fixed as of noon EST. He said only cellular data was hit, and that there's no estimate on how many people this affected.

Now, there's always going to be technical snafus every once in a while, but this can't help AT&T's reputation. The company seemingly rushed to expand its 3G network prior to the iPhone 3G's release, and that has led to (deserved or not) many complaints about connectivity.

Over on DSL Reports, an iPhone user seems to have had enough:

I expect it to work. 3G is down, Edge is not connecting, either. Another co-worker's BlackBerry Curve is working fine. They made a big deal about being able to use the iPhone with Exchange and it is not working.

I expect something to work, pretty plain and simple. I have given SWB-Cingular-AT&T more than enough money over the years.

If a consultant of mine doesn't work out, I hear about it and correct the problem. AT&T should do the same. My $100 BlackBerry would be working now. My $500 iPhone is not. Cut and dry to me.

Being on the West Coast, I didn't get affected. Any Informationweek readers get hit by this?

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