Under the huge, blue, bold, all-caps heading “UPDATE NEEDED,” the carrier is telling some consumers that their devices are “not compatible with the new network” which they “need to change it to continue getting service.”
If AT&T sent you an e-mail telling you to upgrade your phone– or else– would you write it off as a fraud? Well, thats just what the company did this week, according to Android Police.
Heres the e-mail:
Image: Android Police
Image: Android Police
As Android Police mentions, what AT&T actually seems to be doing here is advising upgrades ahead of the shutdown of AT&Ts 3G network. Thats set up to happen “by February 2022,” according to an AT&T link that apparently appears in the email. When the 3G network disappears, AT&T states that phones that do not support HD Voice, which routes calls over 4G LTE, will not be able to make voice calls or use information on AT&T.
If its true that these phones will not quit working up until 2022, sending out an email like this isnt precisely the finest look for AT&T; it might be viewed as an effort to enhance sales throughout a pandemic, and therell no doubt be a wave of more recent and better phones readily available (consisting of more with 5G support) prior to that due date passes.
Strangely, consumers with more recent phones, which should theoretically support HD Voice, are getting the e-mail, too. The person who began that thread on AT&Ts assistance forum said they utilize a Galaxy S10 E, a phone that was released in March 2019.
As Android Police points out, what AT&T truly seems to be doing here is advising upgrades ahead of the shutdown of AT&Ts 3G network. Thats arranged to take place “by February 2022,” according to an AT&T link that reportedly appears in the e-mail. When the 3G network goes away, AT&T says that phones that do not support HD Voice, which routes calls over 4G LTE, wont be able to make voice calls or use data on AT&T.
One apparent issue: the company sent this in the middle of an economy-wrecking pandemic, at a time when buying a brand-new phone might be the last thing on someones mind. Some consumers were so shocked to get the email that they published on AT&Ts support online forums hypothesizing that it may be a rip-off, though Android Police says the e-mail is legitimate.
Its unclear exactly how lots of clients may have gotten this email, and AT&T hasnt responded to an ask for remark. Ideally AT&T provides clearer interaction about why and when consumers will really need to upgrade.
Another problem: terrified customers may not really need to do anything up until February 2022.
