In case they missed the 2G sunset announcement made in August 2012, AT&T has begun reminding 2G customers in earnest of the end of their 2G network service scheduled for December 2016.

Followed by this marketing message around noon today.

It looks like AT&T is going to hold good on their promised end date for their 2G network. A very similar strategy was used in saturated markets (I'm looking at you New York City) several years ago to gently encourage customers toward newer mobile technology.

While this is definitely a non-issue for the general smartphone wielding public, who left the 2G network years ago, there are still a large variety of machines communicating via the 2G network. Let's follow this one for the next twelve months and see how it plays out.

AT&T was back at it again with the same message.

Having been quiet for over a month now, AT&T was back with a new message reminding 2G customers of the coming sunset—this time with a link to more information.

Alright, they appreciate our business, now recommend 3G or 4G LTE devices and provide a URI for more information. However, the link to www.att.com/2Gupgrade for more information about the 2G upgrade is just a pretty URI over a support document http://www.att.com/esupport/article.html#!/wireless/KM1069631 which makes the case for network upgrades and describes paths for wireless and GoPhone customers to upgrade to 3G or 4G LTE mobiles.

Still on the theme of the 2G sunset, AT&T is now offering a bit more help (incentive) for customers still needing to upgrade to a more modern device.

There's the incentive, a modest (currently $39.99) Android device in the ZTE Maven or a classic 3G flip phone (for the set that primarily wants a telephone, currently $49.99) for free. Or fifty dollars off the phone of your choice (iPhones excluded). A modest but sweet incentive for current 2G customers.

As an aside, the note about locking the phone to GoPhone service isn't anything to be alarmed about—that's standard policy for activating a packaged GoPhone mobile on your account, AT&T will unlock the device from their network after six months of continuous service. Also, if you are activating new service on a SIM card, it will also be locked to the handset it was first used with for six months. Typically, you can get out of one or both of these locks early by calling a customer service representative and asking nicely (it helps if you have a good reason, but simply wanting to has worked in the past).

Will AT&T sweeten the offers as the summer rolls along? Only time will tell.

Another announcement about the 2G sunset...

This time with the key phrase, "without charge." Following the link redirects you to the standard AT&T GoPhone account login page. Following login, the following alert is included about your account information.

Alright, this is just a prettier version of the SMS offer of a few days ago, one modest Android device or one 3G flip phone for free, or fifty dollars off the device of your choice, excluding Apple devices

Not sweeter yet, but the 2G sunset is still just a hair over seven months away. Time will tell.

This month more of a direct command...

Following the link to att.com/mygophone shows us that it is a very similar offer and the end date has been extended a month to 8 July.

Expect the current offer to continue rolling through the summer months based on the two (May and June) we've seen already.

Another reminder, right on time. This time no offer details, just "FREE".

Following that link, AT&T is currently offering one 4G LTE Android device and two flip phones as free upgrades.

Another reminder, a couple days early. Still no offer details, just "FREE" or $50 off.

Following that link, AT&T is currently offering a different 4G LTE Android device and two flip phones as free upgrades.

At first, it looks like AT&T has increased their incentive for current 2G customers. The offer has moved from a free ZTE Maven to a free ASUS ZenFone 2E. The ASUS ZenFone 2E is currently retailing for $69.99, a Jackson more than the ZTE Maven was at the time of the last marketing message. While it might be that the death star is becoming more generous, it is probably just shifting inventory. The ZTE Maven has sold out (only certified like-new models are available) and been replaced by the ZTE Maven 2 at $59.99. So it looks like AT&T is still offering their ~$50 Android handset for free to current 2G customers in advance of the 2G network sunset. We imagine you could still sweet-talk them into a ZTE Maven 2 for free it that is the mobile upgrade you were hoping for this year.

Another reminder, this one right on schedule. Again, very little detail on the upgrade offer.

Same offer as last week. Nothing new, just the regularly scheduled reminder, four months short of the 2G network sunset.

Another reminder, this time a robo-call from the AT&T store number, 866-650-1836, giving the same message about how 2G devices will not work after December 31, 2016 and that a free upgrade is available, while supplies last. Calling customers, that's getting serious.

Another robo-call from the AT&T store number, 866-650-1836, three weeks after the first. The message was the same—2G devices will no longer work, upgrade, free ... well, here is the audio of the AT&T 2G sunset automated call (463 KB) made today.

The automated call from the AT&T store number, 866-650-1836, again, just five days after the last one. The message was the same; here is the audio of the AT&T 2G sunset automated call (463 KB) made today.

Called yesterday with the automated system, SMS today—AT&T is certainly doing their best to make sure their 2G customers know about the shuttering of their 2G network.

Exact same message as August, "FREE" 2G phone replacement. It is just about three months shy of the big off switch for the AT&T 2G network—few of their 2G customers could possibly be missing this barrage of reminders that the AT&T 2G network will be going dark very soon.

Yes, they have correctly identified the use of a 2G mobile. And they are again offering a FREE replacement via a company store, either physical or by calling the home office at 866.650.1836.

AT&T is now running a pre-call information message about the 2G sunset. We first heard it while trying to make a call a few days ago (earlier in October) and captured the recording tonight. It is the standard message, 2G devices will no longer work after December 31, 2016. Upgrade now for free by visiting an AT&T store or calling 866-650-1836. This twenty second message should sure be an attention getter—if you notice that it isn't the voicemail of the party you are trying to call.

Here is the audio of the pre-call connect message about the current 2G upgrade plans (209 KB).

Another SMS today, this time explicitly offering a FREE flip phone (as if 2G users are still solely holding out for older form factors).

Alright, it has been a while since AT&T has mentioned that they still have flip phones available with 3G radios. It looks like they might be concerned that customers are not updating due to the challenge of a form factor, and pushing that those options are still available.

and ...

Again, in just two days, a reminder about the demise of the 2G network.

The first use of "shutdown" in their SMS verbage (it was used in the most recent recorded message). Nothing else new, still FREE 2G phone replacement.

While not exactly related to the 2G sunset, this marketing message from the Death Star is certainly in the same vein.

So, that would certainly be a way to upgrade a 2G device. Digging a little deeper, the 16 GB Apple iPhone 5s is currently $149.99 with a purchase of a $45 airtime refill card at the AT&T web site. Not too shabby, a new iPhone 5s for under $200. And not a bad way to stop the 2G network demise messages.

Another copy of the last SMS reminder again today.

Nothing new. AT&T is also running the pre-call message prior to every third call or so it seems. Maybe if we made phone calls more often we wouldn't hear it so frequently.

Another automated call to remind us about the 2G sunset. The same content as last call (489 KB), your 2G device will no longer work, upgrade for FREE.

The end game is announced! Today AT&T sent an SMS with the details for their final play to upgrade 2G customers. Here is the of the message.

So, there it is. Beginning on 30 November, AT&T will be redirecting your outgoing calls to their customer service center to upgrade your 2G handset. For those who have waited, AT&T will be stepping in to interrupt your service to make the upgrade.

Voicemail is dead! AT&T turned off voicemail services for 2G customers early in November. We'd forgotten how much more productive life is without voicemail.

Another robo-call yesterday reminding customers about the demise of the 2G network (493 KB). Same content as before.

Inside of two weeks before AT&T involves their customer service force to "encourage" 2G upgrades, another standard SMS reminder.

Another marketing SMS tonight. Not exactly sure if this is an overt 2G upgrade message or just a coincidence—you decide.

Alright, probably just a marketing message as they have offered similar handsets for no charge, not even the top-off on the account required for this deal.

Another full week of notifications from AT&T over the last seven days. The pre-call notification is still running before the first outgoing call of the day, the autocall was made again seven days ago and this SMS was sent as well.

Nothing new, just the same old reminder messages through the standard channels.

The most austere 2G sunset message appeared today in the myAT&T Application.

A week into the "may intercept outgoing call" period and we have not been diverted to a customer representative. Now, we haven't tried use the voice network excessively, just the normal number of outgoing calls—no outgoing call intercepts for us yet.

AT&T is turning to the US Postal Service to do its bidding. Today a letter arrived in the mail (letters have more gravitas—at least that's what your mother would say) bearing the bold proclamation on the envelope

The single page letter inside read as follows.

So, there it is in black and white—before December 17, 2016. Now, that probably isn't a hard and fast date for throwing the 2G network switch to off, it is probably just a deadline to encourage compliance.

For the first time in a long time the pre-call message announcing the 2G network demise was not the first thing we heard during our first outgoing call of the day. Ironically, it wasn't obvious that it wasn't played, being so used to ignoring it, we didn't notice we weren't ignoring it.

The SMS update is back, sixteen days shy of the 2G network sunset. The content is the same message as last time.

Looks like AT&T is going continue repeating the message about the 2G network shutdown. They certainly are keeping their customers informed—transparency about the process, just as they promised years ago.

An SMS update again today (that's twenty-six hours after the last one for those of you who are counting).

After seven days of silence, with just ten days to go until the 2G sunset, AT&T came out firing with both barrels today. First was an autocall beginning with "Urgent, final notice" and repeating the 2G shutdown message. The audio of that call is here (547 KB).

The message is very similar to standard text AT&T has been using since March, but with one little wrinkle—they only suggest an upgrade to 4G LTE devices. Certainly that is an oversight; AT&T is offering two 3G flip phones to their current 2G customers. Just reiterates corporate focus on the data network—were the profits are found.

The "Urgent, final notice" phrasing is back today via SMS, just twelve hours after the last SMS.

It looks like the notifications are over—AT&T has given the final notice. That's it folks, just under ten days remain before the sunset of the AT&T 2G network.

Um ... the AT&T 2G network is still with us, largely in the same footprint as it was last week, as far as we can tell. While some may have been expecting a cataclysmic end to the AT&T 2G network last night at midnight—utter radio silence like the vocal content of Mariah Carey's New Year's Eve performance in New York, it didn't happen.

The sun has set.

In addition to following the notices from AT&T, we've also been filming a 2G phone through the final days of the AT&T 2G network. Our love story is told below.

Or directly on YouTube.

And the official notification from AT&T of the completion of the 2G sunset.