AT&T Responds to iPhone Flashmob's Threats
AT&T has responded to a proposed digital flashmob that will try and take the AT&T network down this Friday.
Announced on the Secret Diary of Steve Jobs (fakesteve.net which is down as of this writing), the mission calls for users to take AT&T down in an effort to "teach the network a lesson." The idea is to basically have everyone on AT&T load up a data-munching application and leave it running for a whole hour, clogging up the network.
An AT&T spokesperson spoke to CultofMac and called the stunt a bid for attention and irresponsible.
"We understand that fakesteve.net is primarily a satirical forum, but there is nothing amusing about advocating that customers attempt to deliberately degrade service on a network that provides critical communications services for more than 80 million customers. We know that the vast majority of customers will see this action for what it is: an irresponsible and pointless scheme to draw attention to a blog."
Judging from the comments yesterday, a lot of you think the idea is silly. Do any of you plan to take part? Let us know in the comments below!
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ATT: "an irresponsible and pointless scheme to draw attention to a blog."
translation: "we're so f%&ked"
Yea like im really going to bogg down my own network so I cannot use my own phone. Yea right idiots nice try.
Call their bluff i say...
looks like someones scared =)
This is akin to how telecom's build their landlines service. If everyone were to pick their phones up at the same time and make a call then it would crash their systems as well.. They are attempting to build the internet in the same way and they've realized people actually use their connections..
Don't do it! It's bad enough already... now It'll be worse for me.
Admittedly, there are... some parallels between this action and a DDoS. Is there grounds for AT&T to use such an event as grounds for litigation? That's what I'd be worried about.
still a dumb idea. Take down a network by users who use the very same network they themselves use? Yeah, its a dumb idea.
Use a data intensive App? I (try to) do that all day, every day. No sense in not attempting to get my money's worth, so I'll be inadvertently participating. I like the idea though, AT&T needs to address their network issues. What they are proposing as a solution is just plain criminal.
Let's go buy shovels at Home Depot and dig a giant crater in the interstate just to prove that we can bring DOT to it's knees any time we like!
Ha! That'll teach 'em... er... us.
Let's go buy shovels at Home Depot and dig a giant crater in the interstate just to prove that we can bring DOT to it's knees any time we like!Ha! That'll teach 'em... er... us.
We don't need to dig a crater in the interstate. It will fall apart on its own.
http://www.history.com/shows.do?ep [...] ion=detail
Well, the Department of Defense and several other federal departments have service with AT&T. I'll bet if it happens there will be a big federal investigation and somebody gets jail time.
I would so do it... if I lived in the US. And use AT&T. And own an iPhone. Anyway, people should still do it! "Critical communications" my a$$.
Wow, he managed to submit his "stupid idea of the year" two weeks before the year is out. I have always thought it will take till 2010 for him to come up with it.
BTW, this fake Steve should be skinned alive for suggesting a terrorist attack on this country.
BTW, this fake Steve should be skinned alive for suggesting a terrorist attack on this country.
People hold this sort of things , mass rally/picketing/strike/slow down, all over the world to air there concern. I guess sometime this sort of things are needed to show companies that the people who they are giving service who pays for them , they have a right to say and take action if required.
And on a side not , i dont think this is illegal.
TAKE EM DOWN, SHOW EM WHO'S BOSS..................
I think it is a great idea.
I threaten to fine users for using your service EXACTLY as you market it is pure hubris. We pay for unlimited data plans. In fact, AT&T REQUIRES us to have that plan. There is no choice. F$%# AT&T and their sh$ty business model and lousy planning and execution of networks. I hope their whole infrastructure crashes. It is about time that the world see that their marketing front is just that. A FRONT. The reality of their capabilities and poor infrastructure should be pointed out for all. Consider me logged on and participating on game day.
lol this was on G4 yesterday...
They talked how one person sending a text message could crash the network and AT&T will blame it on the Flashmob. lol
What does AT&T know about responsibility?
Isn't AT&T supposed to be 'responsible' for honoring their customer data contracts?
so how would that hold true if the system does go down? If that happens, then that proves their system downright sucks and can't even handle their consumers usage IMHO.
^^azcoyote - I'm pretty sure ANY NETWORK LAN, wired, wireless, or otherwise would buckle if a large number of users simultansously hit it with a large and sustained data load. This is hardly unique to AT&T and has nothing to do with their marketing. You could go out and [over] build a network to prevent this. But then no one would be able to afford to use it.
Technically if AT&T is accepting money from these customers who pay good money to have an iPhone, they should be able to use it as it was intended. The fact that AT&T touts the fastest 3G network, when there are times in major cities when 3G shows as unavailable and speeds are at a crawl, is just poor business practice. This is what happens when you promise, but fail to follow through. This is just one form of boycotting (since it would be stupid to pay the early termination fee plus shell out another few hundred bucks to buy a DROID).
There's an attack for that?
Ustream broadcaster FTW???
I would do it if THERE WAS AN APP FOR THAT!
But seriously, no, I think it's childish.
There's an attack for that?
Oh jeeze I just Lol'd... You made my day haha!
BeerGoggles - You may not be aware but AT&T has a history of poor network execution. They had a huge problem a while back with a borked system upgrade that left users without service. Sure, ANY network will go down if enough people clog it. That is like saying even the grand canyon can be flooded to the rim if there were enough rain. The point is that they market as the fastest 3G. They market and sell our data plan as unlimited. The force us to take that unlimited data plan. Now they want to punish us for using the very plan they marketed, sold, and force fed us? I call BS.
To those who do not understand why doing this is a good thing consider this. Exposing the weakness of their infrastructure will make some who are not locked into their contract reconsider getting AT&T. It will also show everyone that the there is no AT&T wizard in OZ. Just a grizzled old infrastructure behind the curtain of their marketing and bold claims.
AT&T needs to deliver to it's customers and stop the arrogance. Wanna even talk about fining me for using my equipment and service exactly as my agreement allows? Screw that. Take them assh0les down.
No one is going to do it. But i still think it is a good idea.
Oh, and if by chance someone here wants to participate and does not have an iPhone or AT&T account, just be sure to start sending email to users who do. Every packet helps.
As an AT&T customer without a iphone (yes, we still exist), this annoys the hell out of me. I'm stuck with AT&T, only provider with reliable service in my area (ironically). If I lose phone service for even a minute over this, I'm going to go over to the first iphone user I see and shove their phone up their ***.
This has got to be the stupidest, most ill-conceived plan I have ever heard of.
WANT TO STICK IT TO AT&T?
STOP BUYING IPHONES AND AT&T PLANS, not tie up their network. *Newsflash* you're paying customers, if the service is crap for you, just stop using/buying it. Better yet, buy an htc or droid phone and get better/cheaper service (in most areas, mine not included...) This is just going to result in all of these idiot isheep having tiered data plans. Enjoy it you ***holes.
"Pei-chen 12/16/2009 6:01 PM
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Wow, he managed to submit his "stupid idea of the year" two weeks before the year is out. I have always thought it will take till 2010 for him to come up with it.
BTW, this fake Steve should be skinned alive for suggesting a terrorist attack on this country."
It's a good thing i live in Europe, where i have a right to use my phone as regulated in my contract without beiing called a TERRORIST for use of service that I pay !!!
USA => Under Slavery Again , this time Corporate Slavery