Consumer Reports: AT&T's network might hinder iPhone success

The national publication that rates and evaluates everything from mattresses to cars to washing machines points out in a press release Wednesday that for “several years running AT&T…has been among the least-satisfying service providers. This is according to the journal’s annual customer satisfaction surveys.

Consumer Reports says customers complain about static and busy circuits. “Frequent service-related problems were compounded by the company’s relatively low mark for helpfulness in handling customer questions and complaints,” according to the magazine.

The consumer journal also points out that the iPhone will not run over AT&T’s highest-speed 3G network based on high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) technology. The iPhone will only run over AT&T’s 2.5G Edge network.

HSPDA supports download speeds between 400K and 700Kbps. and bursts up to 1Mbps.

Edge on the other hand only averages download speeds of 70K to 135Kbps.

Industry watchers say a 3G-capable iPhone is under development, but since the iPhone hitting the streets on Friday will cost $500 to $600, early adopters will not likely run out and get a new one.

Consumer Reports says the combination of a slower network and poor customer service rankings may make the new iPhone less enjoyable for consumers.