AT&T Customers Angry After DSL Outage

Well, it looks like AT&T is finally apologizing for last Monday's DSL outage for customers in the Southeast. That night, there were several customer service problems as people called in and only received a busy signal when trying to get through to the company to find out what was going on. AT&T spokesperson Dawn Benton released a statement late last Wednesday afternoon: "We apologize that some customers received busy signals when they attempted to call for support. Again, this was due to the unusually high call volume."

To me that "apology" was rather lame in comparison to what the loss of an internet connection can do to a business or a student taking classes online. It seems that many people are hesitant to cancel because their email address is linked to their AT&T account, but I'm going to go set up a Hotmail or a Yahoo email address for free and start looking for other service providers in my area. I was personally affected and was so upset by the lack of concern from AT&T over what had happened.

How many of you were affected by this outage? Did you try to call AT&T only to get a busy signal? If so, you can vent here! Tell us all about it.

Google Considering Bid on Mobile Airwaves

Any news about Google these days is interesting. I read an article stating that Google may bid in a mobile airwaves auction for 700-MHz band airwaves, which can go long distances and penetrate thick walls. Last week, Google executives met with the FCC Chairman and other officials to discuss the auction and they have started making the necessary preparations to bid. Google has not announced a final decision in the matter, however.

Right now, Google is all about openness in networks. Just this month, Google unveiled the GPhone and their plans to offer software for building internet cell phones and they are creating alliances with device and software makers to foster growth in that industry. It is a very competitive market that Google is about to enter, and it could potentially hurt the big players such as AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, and Nextel. But in reality, it could set Google back because it would cost billions of dollars to create another national wireless network, but I guess we'll see what happens. This could all just be a tactic to make sure the FCC's $4.6 billion minimum bid is met and that the open-access provision that Google fought for will stay intact.

I guess we'll just have to wait to see what happens. It should prove interesting, though, if Google makes this move because it could change the entire industry.