Data Services Abysmal in NYC

I'm going for a reality check here, as I'm new to AT&T.

It so happens that I'm using an iPhone (reason for switching
providers). But I don't think my problems have to do with those we've
been reading about relating specifically to the iPhone. Those problems
have to do with 3G connectivity, and I have not been experiencing
those with ordinary phone calling, which has been excellent for me.

However, since about Wednesday/Thursday (13th or 14th) I have
not been able to send mail more than half the time. I am getting
frequent messages saying that the device cannot connect to SMTP (I
have my own server and AT&T's as fallback configured). I'm getting the
endless "connecting to server" message until the thing just craps out,
I'm also getting the totally bizarre "cannot send mail because
recipient address is invalid". I'm getting this last one with
addresses I know are valid, including my own, and including addresses
I've mailed to using the system before.

Do AT&T's data services totally suck, or just suck some of the
time?

I am planning to call and ask for a month's credit on data
services, but don't know how far I'll get. Between my an my wife's
phones we're paying $60/month for a totally unacceptable situation.

Any insights appreciated.

DGI

PS: Again, I'm having no trouble on the telephonics side at all. In
fact the quality of the calls surpasses what I'm accustomed to, and to
the best of my knowledge I haven't missed calls or failed to connect
once.

In article <rhnha4dlao3r9q9fgrsgugcom153h4fl2e@4ax.com>,
David G. Imber <imber@maniform.com> wrote:

> I'm going for a reality check here, as I'm new to AT&T.
>
> It so happens that I'm using an iPhone (reason for switching
> providers). But I don't think my problems have to do with those we've
> been reading about relating specifically to the iPhone. Those problems
> have to do with 3G connectivity, and I have not been experiencing
> those with ordinary phone calling, which has been excellent for me.
>
> However, since about Wednesday/Thursday (13th or 14th) I have
> not been able to send mail more than half the time. I am getting
> frequent messages saying that the device cannot connect to SMTP (I
> have my own server and AT&T's as fallback configured). I'm getting the
> endless "connecting to server" message until the thing just craps out,
> I'm also getting the totally bizarre "cannot send mail because
> recipient address is invalid". I'm getting this last one with
> addresses I know are valid, including my own, and including addresses
> I've mailed to using the system before.
>
> Do AT&T's data services totally suck, or just suck some of the
> time?
>
> I am planning to call and ask for a month's credit on data
> services, but don't know how far I'll get. Between my an my wife's
> phones we're paying $60/month for a totally unacceptable situation.
>
> Any insights appreciated.

No guarantee this will do any good, but it won't do any harm, and I've
found it has helped on occasion when things have been flaky: Do a reset.

Press the power button and the main button together (whatever it's
called) and hold them for several seconds until you get a prompt to turn
the power off. Slide that. Then restart.

--

"...the writers, god bless them, are the only true commies
we have in Hollywood."
Ned Beatty

In message <copespaz-46BA2F.22525817082008@news.motzarella.org> MC
<copespaz@mapca.inter.net> wrote:

>No guarantee this will do any good, but it won't do any harm, and I've
>found it has helped on occasion when things have been flaky: Do a reset.
>
>Press the power button and the main button together (whatever it's
>called) and hold them for several seconds until you get a prompt to turn
>the power off. Slide that. Then restart.

To turn off, just hold the power button, not the home button. Holding
both will forcefully power the device off, similar to pulling the plug
from a PC.

In article <932ia4p0is5145nfqdmno5r660fi548ps3@4ax.com>,
DevilsPGD <spam_narf_spam@crazyhat.net> wrote:

> In message <copespaz-46BA2F.22525817082008@news.motzarella.org> MC
> <copespaz@mapca.inter.net> wrote:
>
> >No guarantee this will do any good, but it won't do any harm, and I've
> >found it has helped on occasion when things have been flaky: Do a reset.
> >
> >Press the power button and the main button together (whatever it's
> >called) and hold them for several seconds until you get a prompt to turn
> >the power off. Slide that. Then restart.
>
> To turn off, just hold the power button, not the home button. Holding
> both will forcefully power the device off, similar to pulling the plug
> from a PC.

Holding both is a Reset.

--

"...the writers, god bless them, are the only true commies
we have in Hollywood."
Ned Beatty

In article <copespaz-A5519D.06594518082008@news.motzarella.org>,
MC <copespaz@mapca.inter.net> wrote:

> In article <932ia4p0is5145nfqdmno5r660fi548ps3@4ax.com>,
> DevilsPGD <spam_narf_spam@crazyhat.net> wrote:
>
> > In message <copespaz-46BA2F.22525817082008@news.motzarella.org> MC
> > <copespaz@mapca.inter.net> wrote:
> >
> > >No guarantee this will do any good, but it won't do any harm, and I've
> > >found it has helped on occasion when things have been flaky: Do a reset.
> > >
> > >Press the power button and the main button together (whatever it's
> > >called) and hold them for several seconds until you get a prompt to turn
> > >the power off. Slide that. Then restart.
> >
> > To turn off, just hold the power button, not the home button. Holding
> > both will forcefully power the device off, similar to pulling the plug
> > from a PC.
>
> Holding both is a Reset.

From the manual:

Restarting and Resetting iPhone

If something is not working right, restarting or resetting iPhone will
likely solve the
problem.

Restart iPhone: Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the red
slider appears. Slide your finger across the slider to turn off iPhone.
To turn iPhone back on, press and hold the Sleep/Wake until the Apple
logo appears.

Reset iPhone: Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button
at the same time for at least ten seconds, until the Apple logo
appears.

--

"...the writers, god bless them, are the only true commies
we have in Hollywood."
Ned Beatty

In message <copespaz-A5519D.06594518082008@news.motzarella.org> MC
<copespaz@mapca.inter.net> wrote:

>In article <932ia4p0is5145nfqdmno5r660fi548ps3@4ax.com>,
> DevilsPGD <spam_narf_spam@crazyhat.net> wrote:
>
>> In message <copespaz-46BA2F.22525817082008@news.motzarella.org> MC
>> <copespaz@mapca.inter.net> wrote:
>>
>> >No guarantee this will do any good, but it won't do any harm, and I've
>> >found it has helped on occasion when things have been flaky: Do a reset.
>> >
>> >Press the power button and the main button together (whatever it's
>> >called) and hold them for several seconds until you get a prompt to turn
>> >the power off. Slide that. Then restart.
>>
>> To turn off, just hold the power button, not the home button. Holding
>> both will forcefully power the device off, similar to pulling the plug
>> from a PC.
>
>Holding both is a Reset.

Indeed -- Which does not "get a prompt to turn the power off"

Holding only the power button will give you the power off prompt,
holding both actually forces the device off.

Neither is actually a reset, you have to push the power button to
initiate the startup.

In article <udpia49nrm4namfq6f7hepn57pgh9bjjeu@4ax.com>,
DevilsPGD <spam_narf_spam@crazyhat.net> wrote:

> >Holding both is a Reset.
>
> Indeed -- Which does not "get a prompt to turn the power off"

My mistake
>
> Holding only the power button will give you the power off prompt,
> holding both actually forces the device off.
>
> Neither is actually a reset, you have to push the power button to
> initiate the startup.

--

"...the writers, god bless them, are the only true commies
we have in Hollywood."
Ned Beatty

MC wrote:
> In article <copespaz-A5519D.06594518082008@news.motzarella.org>,
> MC <copespaz@mapca.inter.net> wrote:
>
>> In article <932ia4p0is5145nfqdmno5r660fi548ps3@4ax.com>,
>> DevilsPGD <spam_narf_spam@crazyhat.net> wrote:
>>
>>> In message <copespaz-46BA2F.22525817082008@news.motzarella.org> MC
>>> <copespaz@mapca.inter.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> No guarantee this will do any good, but it won't do any harm, and
>>>> I've found it has helped on occasion when things have been flaky:
>>>> Do a reset.
>>>>
>>>> Press the power button and the main button together (whatever it's
>>>> called) and hold them for several seconds until you get a prompt
>>>> to turn the power off. Slide that. Then restart.
>>>
>>> To turn off, just hold the power button, not the home button.
>>> Holding both will forcefully power the device off, similar to
>>> pulling the plug from a PC.
>>
>> Holding both is a Reset.
>
> From the manual:
>
> Restarting and Resetting iPhone
>
> If something is not working right, restarting or resetting iPhone will
> likely solve the
> problem.
>
> Restart iPhone: Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the red
> slider appears. Slide your finger across the slider to turn off
> iPhone. To turn iPhone back on, press and hold the Sleep/Wake until
> the Apple logo appears.
>
> Reset iPhone: Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Home
> button at the same time for at least ten seconds, until the Apple
> logo appears.
>
You are correct. Holding both is a hard reset. Try it. It just might work.
And nothing will get damaged. Just pressing the power button alone will not
change anything.

In article <48a9945c$0$29506$607ed4bc@cv.net>,
"Carl" <crothman@NOSPAMoptonline.net> wrote:

> MC wrote:
> > In article <copespaz-A5519D.06594518082008@news.motzarella.org>,
> > MC <copespaz@mapca.inter.net> wrote:
> >
> >> In article <932ia4p0is5145nfqdmno5r660fi548ps3@4ax.com>,
> >> DevilsPGD <spam_narf_spam@crazyhat.net> wrote:
> >>
> >>> In message <copespaz-46BA2F.22525817082008@news.motzarella.org> MC
> >>> <copespaz@mapca.inter.net> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> No guarantee this will do any good, but it won't do any harm, and
> >>>> I've found it has helped on occasion when things have been flaky:
> >>>> Do a reset.
> >>>>
> >>>> Press the power button and the main button together (whatever it's
> >>>> called) and hold them for several seconds until you get a prompt
> >>>> to turn the power off. Slide that. Then restart.
> >>>
> >>> To turn off, just hold the power button, not the home button.
> >>> Holding both will forcefully power the device off, similar to
> >>> pulling the plug from a PC.
> >>
> >> Holding both is a Reset.
> >
> > From the manual:
> >
> > Restarting and Resetting iPhone
> >
> > If something is not working right, restarting or resetting iPhone will
> > likely solve the
> > problem.
> >
> > Restart iPhone: Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the red
> > slider appears. Slide your finger across the slider to turn off
> > iPhone. To turn iPhone back on, press and hold the Sleep/Wake until
> > the Apple logo appears.
> >
> > Reset iPhone: Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Home
> > button at the same time for at least ten seconds, until the Apple
> > logo appears.
> >
> You are correct. Holding both is a hard reset. Try it. It just might work.
> And nothing will get damaged. Just pressing the power button alone will not
> change anything.

You can also contact your provider's tech support. There are other
things they can do their end to reset your service. I had problems with
my iPhone out of the box, and they worked some voodoo at the head end.
However, if you go this route you should contact them on another phone,
since they will probably ask you to switch your iPhone off at some
point.

--

"...the writers, god bless them, are the only true commies
we have in Hollywood."
Ned Beatty

On Sun, 17 Aug 2008 22:37:21 -0400, David G. Imber
<imber@maniform.com> wrote:

> I'm going for a reality check here, as I'm new to AT&T.
>
> It so happens that I'm using an iPhone (reason for switching
>providers). But I don't think my problems have to do with those we've
>been reading about relating specifically to the iPhone. Those problems
>have to do with 3G connectivity, and I have not been experiencing
>those with ordinary phone calling, which has been excellent for me.

Thanks to all who responded. I've restarted the phone a few
times when things went south, but largely to no avail. I've also read
the manual thoroughly, and keep up with the various forums as well as
I can.

I can say this in response to my own post: things are in a
state of flux right now. This afternoon, for the first time since I
got my two iPhones, the entire system went dead in lower Manhattan.
Now I'm getting service, but it's spotty.

My impression is that when even major news venues like ABC
started trumpeting the "iPhone Users Experiencing Widespread Problems"
headlines, both AT&T and Apple realized that they've got some damage
control to take care of. That may be why my region was down this
afternoon.

I'm optimistic for no particular reason except that capitalism
works, though sometimes slowly and only with abundant remedial
assistance.

Thanks again, DGI