Fake Steve Jobs in pointless call to arms against AT&T

Fake Steve Jobs (also known as Dan Lyons) isn't pleased with AT&T's data network and has issued a call to arms to other take part in Operation Chokeholdto "teach AT&T a lesson" and overwhelm the network.

Subject: Operation Chokehold On Friday, December 18, at noon Pacific time, we will attempt to overwhelm the AT&T data network and bring it to its knees. The goal is to have every iPhone user (or as many as we can) turn on a data intensive app and run that app for one solid hour. Send the message to AT&T that we are sick of their substandard network and sick of their abusive comments. THe idea is we’ll create a digital flash mob. We’re calling it in Operation Chokehold. Join us and speak truth to power!

There seems to be a fair bit of support for Fake Steve's idea, although FSJ has received a rant filled threatening email (who doesn't?) which is kinda funny.

Cult of Mac got a response from AT&T which, as you'd expect, isn't all that pleased:

"We understand that fakesteve.net is primarily a satirical forum, but there is nothing amusing about advocating that customers attempt to deliberately degrade service on a network that provides critical communications services for more than 80 million customers. We know that the vast majority of customers will see this action for what it is: an irresponsible and pointless scheme to draw attention to a blog."

Personally, I don't think this will accomplish much. Given the feedback I'm getting from AT&T customers the network is already bad in some areas, so it might make it a little worse. Will it bring the network down? Doubtful. Will it bring AT&T to its knees? There have been a fair few follow-up posts by FSJ on the matter, mostly responses to criticisms such as those from the FCC, but the whole matter seems overblown to me.

No. If you're really that annoyed with AT&T, vote with your feet and choose another cellphone provider.