Usually when ship’s company make major changes to their Robert William Service , a niggling advanced notification is a good thing . Unfortunately , when AT&T late began sending out email tell customers that their phones would no longer work on its connection when AT&T phase out financial support for 3 G , the flattop forgot to include one crucial particular : Its 3 G connection support is n’t slated to go away until sometime in 2022 .
Sadly , this entail that anyone who received the email who was n’t already intimate with the roadmap for AT&T ’s net ( which is probably most people ) , was suddenly confronted with the menace of their equipment maybe lose service , with their only recourse being to quickly buy a new phone .
Even in the best of times , being told that you call for to spend hundred of dollars to supervene upon what looks like a in full functioning phone is super annoying . But when that kind of electronic mail strike your inbox during a pandemic , a meter in which most people ’s budgets are already stretch thin , then it might experience like the caller is being both callous and avid .
Photo: Sam Rutherford
Based on screenshots ship toAndroid Police , AT&T ’s email begin with a big “ Update Needed ” header in all jacket crown , before explain that with AT&T currently focused on build up out its 5 G web , itwould be reducing support for 3 G , meaning older equipment would fall back cellular connectivity . But nowhere in the email did AT&T remark that that change would not happen until 2022 , which is a full 18 month away . That ’s more than enough time for a significant number of customer to naturally upgrade their phones without feeling pressured , wear you had enough info to make an informed decision .
That say , to AT&T ’s recognition , after Gizmodo reached out to the company for a commentary regarding its electronic mail , an AT&T representative responded with an official command that tell :
“ This e-mail was one of many planned to keep client inform about the shutdown of our 3 constant of gravitation internet in other 2022 . It should have include the engagement that certain devices would no longer be supported . We rationalize for any confusedness this may have make and will be more clear in future update . ”
Meanwhile , for AT&T customers occupy about old gimmick lose cell service in 2022 , what you need to know going forward is that AT&T is planning to consolidate its meshwork around 4 G and 5 G , and apply some of the spectrum presently commit to 3 G to aid bitch up its 4G/5 yard coverage .
That means for a gadget to have full support on AT&T ’s future web , it will need to be at least 4G - quick and have support for AT&T ’s HD Voice protocol . Where things get tricky is that the exploiter who sent in the screenshot claim they are presently using aGalaxy S10e , which was release not that long ago in the spring of 2019 and was even usable directly from AT&T.
However , sometimes for exploiter who use unbolted devices or bring their earpiece over to a raw meshwork from previous newsboy , AT&T ’s HD Voice protocol may not be the right way spark off or whitelisted , which could cause issues for client when AT&T does start to phase out reenforcement for its 3 G electronic connection .
Still , 2022 is a long time out , so while it ’s authoritative to know what AT&T has in storehouse for its web , it ’s a bit too too soon to start panic . And hopefully next time , AT&T will be a bit more clear when it sends out an important alert .
AT&TSmartphones
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