That's It, I Am Done....

I post this, on the chance it might help someone else exploring similar options... I just got off the phone with the Death Star Support Troopers (the AT&T Customer Support team) to pay my final bill and cancel my AT&T wireless account.

The effects of the 1.1.1 firmware update (not to me, but to others... I've been reading the iBrick'd horror stories) have convinced me to *not* apply the Apple update until the Dev team has released a "virgin application" and/or method for working around the "Invalid SIM issues" and/or hacking the 1.1.1 firmware. Instead, I will happily keep using my version 1.0.2 firmware that is fully unlocked and fully functional with the T-Mobile EDGE setup. Yes, I realize this puts my in a time warp, so to speak, but I will live... happily.

Yes, the new features of the 1.1.1 update are appealing (not the Wi-Fi iTunes Store, but other stuff like increased speaker volume, TV out, etc.) but *not* more appealing than being able to use my T-Mobile account, or install third party applications, or otherwise have unfettered access to my iPhone.

So, with the decision finally made to no longer use the Death Star airwaves, I made the call. It was easy and the Empire actually waved the cancellation fee, as I explained that I was canceling purely because of satisfaction issues with the iPhone. When asked what issues, I simply said "...you name it..." and then recalled items from various forum threads - stuff like display issues, low sound and ringer volumes, and less than the touted battery life. I was very careful to *not* specifically say these things happened to me, but the implication was there given I started the response with the general "...satisfaction issues with the iPhone" statement.

Along the way, I never mentioned the termination fee, just that I wanted to pay my final bill (the monthly bill I happened to have in hand.) In turn, the Support Trooper apologized for my issues, reminded me I have 59 days to re-activate without a fee (in case the Dev team develops a solution, and I would need to go back to AT&T as a part of said solution) and that hey were waving the termination fee since I had (a) paid full price on iDay, and (b) been a good customer for the past three months, etc. When the Trooper mentioned that, I acted surprised "...that I hadn't even thought about a termination fee..." and appreciative they were so helpful.

So, there you have it. A smart decision to stay far away from the 1.1.1 firmware update and an even smarter decision to leave the evil Empire... at least for now.