As a long time AT&T subscriber, I’ve had mixed feelings about my cellular and data service.
Some times, I could browse the Internet on my iPad or iPhone at blazing speeds.
At other times, content would load at a snail’s pace.
And some times, not at all.
Occasionally, calls would drop, if they even connected in the first place.
Being in the Northeast, I took it for granted that getting a strong cellular signal was a challenge with all the tall buildings jamming the airwaves.
I also accepted the fact that AT&T didn’t have the largest cellular or data network, and that was okay.
For the most part, in the connected world in which we live, I was usually able to jump on wifi and took signal or connection shortcomings in stride.
In the back of my mind though, I wanted something better.
Folks with Verizon service always seemed to be the ones whose phones always seemed to work regardless of circumstances or surroundings.
If I lost my signal on the train or in a tunnel, Verizon customers were still yapping, texting or surfing away.
I would watch those Verizon Wireless commercials with a certain degree of envy.
From the “can you hear me now” featuring the bespectacled geek to the coverage map comparisons, I marveled at how good Verizon customers had it.
I wondered what it must be like to always get a signal and be able to surf the internet regardless of a wifi connection.
So it was with unbridled glee that I received the news that my company was switching from AT&T to Verizon and getting us all iPhone 6s to boot!
You can imagine my excitement when I powered up my 6 Plus for the first time.
Man was it fast!
I was browsing and calling, texting and apping away!
The world was my oyster and Verizon’s blazing fast network, my playground.
At least so I thought.
You see, I had been using the 6 Plus in the office, where I was rocking wifi.
However, when I hit the mean streets of NYC…
Let’s just say, I’m calling bullshit.
Verizon sucks.
Full stop.
Their connection may be robust in West Jablip, but here in the city, their shit is fugazee.
Things that I thought would be a cakewalk for the company with the largest cellular network in North America, ended up being serious challenges.
I dare say Verizon was actually worse than AT&T.
To add insult to injury, things that I could formerly do with my iPhone on AT&T, I couldn’t with my Verizon device.
For example, before Verizon, I could talk, surf the internet, check my emails and text all at the same time.
Not literally all at the same time, but with certain things running in the background, while I worked on other things…
You know what I mean!
But today, if I’m not on wifi, there’s no multitasking.
Anything that requires a cellular signal to complete is blocked until I get off the phone.
C’mon Verizon!
What kind of shit is that?
I’m so pissed that I forsook (the past tense of forsake – get with the program people) AT&T and coveted another carrier.
How could I have been sooooo wrong?
Verizon can kick rocks for all I care.
I want my AT&T back!
How about you? Are you suffering from regret after switching from one carrier to another? I’d love to hear about your experience, so please share in the comments!
Stephen Chukumba 