Nationwide (AT&T) Cell Phone Outage

[Raptor]

AT&T said it was caused by a software upgrade.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/att-outage-impacting-us-customers-company/story?id=107440297

[Moab]

AT&T said it was caused by a software upgrade.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/att-outage-impacting-us-customers-company/story?id=107440297

A software upgrade that effected 4 different companies? 🙃

[majorhavoc]

AT&T said it was caused by a software upgrade.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/att-outage-impacting-us-customers-company/story?id=107440297

Clearly, AT&T's network engineers need to be reaqcuainted with a concept known as "beta testing in a test environment" before releasing said software update in the production environment.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

AT&T said it was caused by a software upgrade.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/att-outage-impacting-us-customers-company/story?id=107440297

Clearly, AT&T's network engineers need to be reaqcuainted with a concept known as "beta testing in a test environment" before releasing said software update in the production environment.

There's quite a few companies that need to get reacquainted with that concept, Major.

AT&T is just another on a long list of companies.

[Moab]

So all four companies loaded software on the same day?

[majorhavoc]

AT&T said it was caused by a software upgrade.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/att-outage-impacting-us-customers-company/story?id=107440297

Clearly, AT&T's network engineers need to be reaqcuainted with a concept known as "beta testing in a test environment" before releasing said software update in the production environment.

There's quite a few companies that need to get reacquainted with that concept, Major.

AT&T is just another on a long list of companies.

The company I work for has been trumpeting the idea of "smart risk" for several years now.  We're all encouraged to take "smart risks" so we can be faster, more innovative, more agile than our competitors.  Take risks!  Bypass those pesky safeguards and procedures!  Don't be afraid to fail!  Just be smart about it!  What's the worst that could happen?  ( ) 

It's something that's so easy for senior executives to say.  Probably something some CEO or CFO read in the latest business strategy book they picked up.  The corporate mantra flavor of the month.  It sounds so bold, so audacious.  The board of directors, shareholders and investment analysts lap it right up.  But it's the rank and file who have to put that concept into action, where company risk becomes personal (career) risk.  As I've told my superiors any number of times: any risk can be called "smart" as long as it pays off.  Risk is smart right up until it doesn't work out.  Then it becomes "dumb risk".  And guess who bears the consequences?  I mean, besides the customers?

I bet those engineers thought they were taking smart risk rolling out that software upgrade without fully testing it.  Some of them will probably get fired for doing exactly the kind of thing their serior leadership exhorted them to do.

[Ever (Zombiepreparation)]

Could also be a decent PR spin to cover their collective behind for something and minimize stock value drop? "These are not the droids you are looking for."

[flybynight]

AT&T said it was caused by a software upgrade.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/att-outage-impacting-us-customers-company/story?id=107440297

Clearly, AT&T's network engineers need to be reaqcuainted with a concept known as "beta testing in a test environment" before releasing said software update in the production environment.

There's quite a few companies that need to get reacquainted with that concept, Major.

AT&T is just another on a long list of companies.

The company I work for has been trumpeting the idea of "smart risk" for several years now.  We're all encouraged to take "smart risks" so we can be faster, more innovative, more agile than our competitors.  Take risks!  Bypass those pesky safeguards and procedures!  Don't be afraid to fail!  Just be smart about it!  What's the worst that could happen?  ( ) 

It's something that's so easy for senior executives to say.  Probably something some CEO or CFO read in the latest business strategy book they picked up.  The corporate mantra flavor of the month.  It sounds so bold, so audacious.  The board of directors, shareholders and investment analysts lap it right up.  But it's the rank and file who have to put that concept into action, where company risk becomes personal (career) risk.  As I've told my superiors any number of times: any risk can be called "smart" as long as it pays off.  Risk is smart right up until it doesn't work out.  Then it becomes "dumb risk".  And guess who bears the consequences?  I mean, besides the customers?

I bet those engineers thought they were taking smart risk rolling out that software upgrade without fully testing it.  Some of them will probably get fired for doing exactly the kind of thing their serior leadership exhorted them to do.

My tin foil hat doesn't allow me to entertain any possible scenario other than malicious attack by unfriendly  forces. 

[flybynight]

AT&T 'making it right' with $5 credit to customers after last week's hours-long outage
https://www.yahoo.com/tech/t-making-5-credit-customers-145856099.html

[Raptor]

I saw that and laughed. A whole $5! Wow!

It was likely that some digital key that was corrupted by the change and the guy who knew how to update it retired 18 months ago.

[Moab]

AT&T 'making it right' with $5 credit to customers after last week's hours-long outage
https://www.yahoo.com/tech/t-making-5-credit-customers-145856099.html

Meanwhile it takes 47 minutes to fill out their authorization process for the $5. 

ATT is so f ed up. They are the greasiest corporation when it comes to squeezing money out of the average person. 

While simultaneously having no company structure in the services they offer, with no training for their paid bottom dollar employees. Most of which are outside the US, have no idea what they are doing or any idea how to get to someone who can help you. And frequently can barely speak english. I once soent over an hour on the ohone with a "supervisor" in Mexico. Who could barely communicate with me. 

Then once everything is straightened out. You hang up. And when you have to call back because the same problem persists a week later. No matter who you call. No one has a record of your previous 8 calls about the same issue. 

I had them for 30 years. I'm kind of surprised I didn't kill myself about 29 different times. (Being sarcastic.)

[eugenenine]

Not just AT&T, but Verizon's still up here in South Central Tejas

https://downdetector.com

From what I've read the other carriers outages were based on users trying to call AT&T customers and not being able to get through so they thought their service was down also.

Son talked me into switching to ATT because it was suppose to be faster/better (he researches all that, I don't). It wasn't any better, just more $. I finally paid off our phones so I can get off of ATT

[Moab]

Not just AT&T, but Verizon's still up here in South Central Tejas

https://downdetector.com

From what I've read the other carriers outages were based on users trying to call AT&T customers and not being able to get through so they thought their service was down also.

Son talked me into switching to ATT because it was suppose to be faster/better (he researches all that, I don't). It wasn't any better, just more $. I finally paid off our phones so I can get off of ATT

Two words. Mint Mobile. 

I was paying over $300 with ATT for 3 phones. I now pay $45 per month for 3 phones. Using the tmobile network which runs off the ATT network. Phones are decent priced as well. But you can get even better deals on Amazon for phones. And use them in Mint. Mint also has financing for phones. But advise always buying your own phone outright. Financing phones doubles or triples the price.

[Anianna]

Not just AT&T, but Verizon's still up here in South Central Tejas

https://downdetector.com

From what I've read the other carriers outages were based on users trying to call AT&T customers and not being able to get through so they thought their service was down also.

Son talked me into switching to ATT because it was suppose to be faster/better (he researches all that, I don't). It wasn't any better, just more $. I finally paid off our phones so I can get off of ATT

Two words. Mint Mobile.

I was paying over $300 with ATT for 3 phones. I now pay $45 per month for 3 phones. Using the tmobile network which runs off the ATT network. Phones are decent priced as well. But you can get even better deals on Amazon for phones. And use them in Mint. Mint also has financing for phones. But advise always buying your own phone outright. Financing phones doubles or triples the price.

When we were out in podunk nowhere, the only network that would work at our house was AT&T.  When we moved to civilization, we discovered an AT&T deadspot existed at our new residence.  Not realizing TMobile uses AT&T network, we tried them next.  Annoying.  Anyway, now that we live in the middle of a massive neighborhood, our only option for cell service is Verizon and whatever works on the Verizon network.  I don't remember what the kids got when they got their own lines.  Cricket, maybe?  At least we get good internet here.

[Moab]

Not just AT&T, but Verizon's still up here in South Central Tejas

https://downdetector.com

From what I've read the other carriers outages were based on users trying to call AT&T customers and not being able to get through so they thought their service was down also.

Son talked me into switching to ATT because it was suppose to be faster/better (he researches all that, I don't). It wasn't any better, just more $. I finally paid off our phones so I can get off of ATT

Two words. Mint Mobile.

I was paying over $300 with ATT for 3 phones. I now pay $45 per month for 3 phones. Using the tmobile network which runs off the ATT network. Phones are decent priced as well. But you can get even better deals on Amazon for phones. And use them in Mint. Mint also has financing for phones. But advise always buying your own phone outright. Financing phones doubles or triples the price.

When we were out in podunk nowhere, the only network that would work at our house was AT&T.  When we moved to civilization, we discovered an AT&T deadspot existed at our new residence.  Not realizing TMobile uses AT&T network, we tried them next.  Annoying.  Anyway, now that we live in the middle of a massive neighborhood, our only option for cell service is Verizon and whatever works on the Verizon network.  I don't remember what the kids got when they got their own lines.  Cricket, maybe?  At least we get good internet here.

I had ATT for over 25 yrs. Cell, tv, phones etc. We can't wait for Sonic fiber to be installed on our block. So we can switch from ATT fiber.

Rural is hard. But you know what? We even have dead spots in LA. Where my friend lives near Beverly Hills there is no ATT. And its considered the middle of LA sort of.

But if can get Mint where you are - do it. I've had research and choose cell olans for over 25yrs. For my company and family. I don't know how Mint did it. But its the cheapest carrier I've ever used. And it had the best coverage. 

 

[slipkid42]

Not just AT&T, but Verizon's still up here in South Central Tejas

https://downdetector.com

From what I've read the other carriers outages were based on users trying to call AT&T customers and not being able to get through so they thought their service was down also.

Son talked me into switching to ATT because it was suppose to be faster/better (he researches all that, I don't). It wasn't any better, just more $. I finally paid off our phones so I can get off of ATT

Two words. Mint Mobile.

I was paying over $300 with ATT for 3 phones. I now pay $45 per month for 3 phones. Using the tmobile network which runs off the ATT network. Phones are decent priced as well. But you can get even better deals on Amazon for phones. And use them in Mint. Mint also has financing for phones. But advise always buying your own phone outright. Financing phones doubles or triples the price.

I've been using Mint Mobile for a few years now after switching from T-Mobile, no issues at all 

[Anianna]

Not just AT&T, but Verizon's still up here in South Central Tejas

https://downdetector.com

From what I've read the other carriers outages were based on users trying to call AT&T customers and not being able to get through so they thought their service was down also.

Son talked me into switching to ATT because it was suppose to be faster/better (he researches all that, I don't). It wasn't any better, just more $. I finally paid off our phones so I can get off of ATT

Two words. Mint Mobile.

I was paying over $300 with ATT for 3 phones. I now pay $45 per month for 3 phones. Using the tmobile network which runs off the ATT network. Phones are decent priced as well. But you can get even better deals on Amazon for phones. And use them in Mint. Mint also has financing for phones. But advise always buying your own phone outright. Financing phones doubles or triples the price.

When we were out in podunk nowhere, the only network that would work at our house was AT&T.  When we moved to civilization, we discovered an AT&T deadspot existed at our new residence.  Not realizing TMobile uses AT&T network, we tried them next.  Annoying.  Anyway, now that we live in the middle of a massive neighborhood, our only option for cell service is Verizon and whatever works on the Verizon network.  I don't remember what the kids got when they got their own lines.  Cricket, maybe?  At least we get good internet here.

I had ATT for over 25 yrs. Cell, tv, phones etc. We can't wait for Sonic fiber to be installed on our block. So we can switch from ATT fiber.

Rural is hard. But you know what? We even have dead spots in LA. Where my friend lives near Beverly Hills there is no ATT. And its considered the middle of LA sort of.

But if can get Mint where you are - do it. I've had research and choose cell olans for over 25yrs. For my company and family. I don't know how Mint did it. But its the cheapest carrier I've ever used. And it had the best coverage.

 

If Mint runs off the ATT network, it won't work here.  This is an ATT deadspot.  I'll look into to see for sure, though.

[EBuff75]

A point of clarification - Tmobile has it's own network and doesn't just use AT&T towers.  There are some locations/regions where they may use AT&T towers, just like there are some regions where AT&T uses Tmobile towers.  Those are generally due to business decisions based on the number of local users and the expense of installing additional towers vs leasing from a competitor.  Both of them also use 3rd party towers from smaller providers in some areas for the same reason.   

I believe that AT&T and Tmobile are more likely to be intertwined with each other than they are with Verizon due to the old GSM vs CDMA days (Verizon and Sprint used CDMA, whereas AT&T and Tmobile used GSM).  That's not really an issue any longer, but it explains why those two still have more interaction than either of them do with Verizon.  

Here's an article that goes into more detail about shared towers/networks:  https://robotpoweredhome.com/t-mobile-att-towers/

[eugenenine]

Wife wouldn't switch off verion when we started the ATT switch so I'm going back over there. Son may use tmobile or mint or whatever or come over with us, not sure yet, need "needs" the most unlimited plan he can get.

[Moab]

Wife wouldn't switch off verion when we started the ATT switch so I'm going back over there. Son may use tmobile or mint or whatever or come over with us, not sure yet, need "needs" the most unlimited plan he can get.

@Anianna you can check on Mints site.

@eugenenine Unlimited on Mint is $15. You pay 3 months in advance. You can save more by paying 6 or 12 months in advance. No contract. If its in your area I can see no reason not too. 

I don't know how they did it. But there is a reason Ryan Reynolds sold it for so much. He made millions off that deal. Whoever the techs or business guys that are behind it. They are genius's.