Yankee Group Finds That 73% of iPhone Users Love AT&T

In a surprising finding, given the insane amount of media negativity towards AT&T, the Yankee Group reports that 73% of iPhone users are "very satisfied with AT&T's service", a higher number than any smartphone group feels about their various wireless carriers.

Despite the fact that the tethering feature was MIA for a good year despite being offered on other worldwide carriers, people suffered (and still are suffering) through periods where it was easier to drop a call then make one, and the fact that "iPhone owners pay AT&T nearly $12 a month more for service than the average smartphone user", people still seem to love their service.

According to Carl Howe of the Yankee Group, "Consumers transfer the high gloss of their Apple iPhone experience to AT&T. The iPhone creates a halo effect that rubs off."

AT&T obviously doesn't believe in "reality distortion fields", and instead says that "There's a gap between what people hear about us and what their experience is with us. We think that gap is beginning to close. It doesn't mean we're perfect; we still have work to do. But that's no surprise to us, because we have a great network."

Whatever the reason is, it'll be interesting to see how many people abandon AT&T when/if the iPhone moves to multiple networks. "Drake Johnstone, an analyst with Davenport & Co., forecasted that poor experiences with AT&T would drive as many as 40% of iPhone customers to Verizon once that network gets the iPhone." After this finding, I'm not so sure.

[Source: CNN Money]