Most iPhone owners still happy with AT&T despite network
updated 12:55 pm EDT, Fri July 23, 2010
US iPhone users happy with ATT in most places
In spite of AT&T's reputation, US iPhone owners are happier on average with the network than the rest of the industry, the Yankee Group found in a study today. About 73 percent of those with Apple's phone were "very satisfied" with AT&T. While not high, the group is above the 69 percent average for the industry and AT&T's own slightly below average 68 percent.
Analyst Carl Howe explained the approval as another instance of a halo effect created by the device: subscribers "transfer the high gloss" of the iPhone to the carrier and are more willing to forgive any perceived flaws. AT&T customers typically pay more than most smartphone customers in the US, particularly Sprint and T-Mobile users. Certain cities are also known as trouble spots, such as New York City and San Francisco; Yankee Group researchers didn't study satisfaction by region to see if this had an effect.
Android's effect on Verizon customers wasn't studied, although the CDMA network has quickly become the home of Google's platform and has had multiple high-profile launches in less than a year.
The subject of loyalty has grown steadily more important for AT&T as signs have mounted that its exclusive period for the iPhone is nearing its end. Most talk has centered on a Verizon model, but a T-Mobile version may be ready soon as well. Many have anticipated mass defections from AT&T in areas where its service is overwhelmed to whichever new carriers are available. [via CNN]
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Joined: May 2001
Analyst Carl Howe...
Halo effect my hind end. It's just like the antenna issue and every other "issue" associated with Apple. A very small, vocal minority starts screaming about this or that issue. Because it's Apple the tech media pick it up, hungry for clicks and any hint of scandal or negative spin. The minority's issue quickly becomes "everybody's" issue and the tech blogs go crazy.
The simple fact from this survey is that the majority of at&t's customers are quite satisfied with their service. No analysis required, no halo effect B.S. from some dude trying to explain his own bias. Other tech blogs are reporting this report too, all the with same amazement at the results as MacNN. The tech blog site psyche has convinced itself that at&t is crappy so any data showing the opposite needs to be analyzed and explained because, well, it doesn't fit in with the group psychosis.
Again, just because you see sick people in the hospital (tech blogs) doesn't mean the entire town is also sick, or even a significant number are sick.