[untog]

Their entire site is a really bad example of ASP.NET development. As someone who knows the technology well, it can make great sites. It just rarely does.

I like my T Mobile service but there's something odd with their backend systems and/or customer service. I logged in to disable their "WebGuard" service that seemed to be blocking pages at random. It required address and social security verification, but I couldn't get it to verify my details.

I called, and the customer service agent hopefully told me that my address didn't exist. I live in the middle of New York, and I've never had this issue before. I can't help but wonder what crazy verification system they're using.

[newman314]

Having worked with telcos previously (both OSS/BSS but not TMobile specifically), I can say that I'm not surprised at all.

In fact, I'm pretty amazed that things even work at all. The amount of random connectors and systems is mind boggling.

Some examples: A Tandem system used for nothing BUT ftp from telco switches for call details. Multiple enterprise message buses. Systems with only object files and no source. The list goes on...

[kineticflow]

Regarding your WebGuard issue, I actually had the same problem (they started blocking imgur!). For me, the actual issue was that the opt-out process does not work for prepaid accounts, but no one at T-Mobile call center knows that. I had to go into a store and show them my ID.

[heretohelp]

>As someone who knows the technology well, it can make great sites

Example?

[untog]

Stack Overflow, for one.

[nopal]

SO is built with MVC, which encourages good development practices. T-Mobile looks to be using Web Forms. I'm sure there are good sites out there that use Web Forms, although as a .NET developer, I've found a that Web Forms encourages practices that I consider bad.

[untog]

Oh, agreed. It's just a shame to see the whole framework judged by the crappy WebForms implementations you see out there.

[nopal]

I agree. But I hate the crappy abstraction that is Web Forms. It throws so much garbage on top of the HTTP request-response cycle, and so many developers are content to remain ignorant of what's going on underneath or how the Web actually works.

[cmelbye]

StackOverflow and its sister sites.

[joshu]

Orkut!

[glassx]

Only up to 2006, at least according to this link:

http://www.quora.com/Orkut/Why-was-Googles-Orkut-built-on-AS...

[recoiledsnake]

NewEgg.