4th Gen iPhone..AT&T or Verizon? Your Opinion ?

[OneMike]

I like AT&T

I think the main reason I would want iPhone on another carrier is to get out of the having to have a specific plan for iphone.

Any carrier that gets the iphone will have an iphone plan and most likely comparable to what you get with at&t now

 

[southerndoc]

I'm betting Apple does something similar to Palm with their Treo smart phones.

Apple will probably sell iPhones through AT&T and Verizon. I can see them offering one through Verizon, especially if they implement the new 4G data transmission in time (iPhone 4G on 4G). I don't see them alienating a bunch of AT&T users from upgrading after being locked into 2-year contracts when they upgraded to the 3GS.

My only wish for the iPhone 4G is to bring back the aluminum design. I hate the plastic. I hate the oil on it from my fingers/palm.

 

[Bacong]

http://theappleblog.com/2009/07/20/it-must-be-nice-to-be-verizon/

It Must Be Nice to Be Verizon
Written on July 20, 2009 by Tom Reestman

It must be nice to be Verizon right now. Free from the intense scrutiny AT&T receives by having the hottest and “smartest” smartphone, it can appear to rise above it all. It can have TV ads to claim the best network on the planet, and it’s done. It can have legions of people claiming they’d drop AT&T in a heartbeat, or snap up an iPhone tomorrow, if only it could be on its network.

Even setting aside that the iPhone on Verizon would not likely be the iPhone we recognize, this is ridiculous.

Before we get into it, let me first say that if you live where there’s little or no AT&T coverage, then obviously Verizon or another carrier is what you need. But every carrier has holes in its coverage. Every. One. This article isn’t about that.

No, what this article is about are those places (and there are many) where either carrier is an option. In that case, there are general perceptions where Verizon seems to either have people fooled, or it’s no different than AT&T but it isn’t noticed.

* It must be nice to sell phones with less usability than the iPhone so your customers don’t hammer your network, and then sit back and let people assume you could handle the load under which AT&T is straining.
* It must be nice to utilize the same pricing and subsidy strategies as AT&T, but get to remain above the fray while AT&T takes the heat for what the whole industry is doing.
* It must be nice to charge for carrier cash cows like SMS and tethering, but have everybody only complain about AT&T doing it.
* It must be nice to brag about having visual voice mail on some phones, while quietly hiding that it’s an extra $3 a month.
* It must be nice to not allow convenient syncing of data, media, bookmarks, etc., via the excellent iTunes environment, instead using clumsier tools if anything is allowed at all, and have your customers just take it in stride.
* It must be nice to disable hardware features on many phones, such as Bluetooth, GPS, and Wi-Fi, with little complaint from the masses.
* It must be nice to avoid GSM, still using CDMA-based technology that the rest of the world (and AT&T) has abandoned. Its rollout to a 4G network could come with headaches as a result.
* It must be nice to brag about 3G speeds, and have no one point out that your CDMA 3G technology (EV-DO) can handle voice or data, but not both simultaneously. Browsing the web when a call comes in? You can have the call or the web, not both. Oops.

If Verizon received even half the scrutiny AT&T does, it’d be buried with criticism. If AT&T is getting a lot of bad press, Verizon would be ripped to shreds. But since it doesn’t offer a phone that’s particularly compelling, one that taxes its network, one that people actually want to use, few have bothered to look beyond the geek with the glasses it puts on TV. It must be nice.

Finally, this in not intended as a defense of AT&T, and in no way excuses it from legitimate complaints. I’ve certainly grown tired of all that company’s talk, but no action. However, the idea that Verizon would somehow be free from all these complaints — even assuming it allowed the iPhone as is — is not supported by its own actions. As a U.S. carrier it has far more in common with AT&T than people seem to realize.

I was a Verizon customer for years prior to switching for an iPhone over two years ago. The “Verizon envy” many AT&T customers possess is akin to the grass always being greener on the other side. Problem is, most of you would find out it’s crabgrass.

 

[doteyes9]

I personally hope that it goes to both when the exclusivity ends. That way whenever everyone is happy, and people can choose a network they like. All Apple would have to do is make an iPhone with both a GSM chip and CDMA chip and just use a carrier file to determine which radio to use. With both radios you can use Verizon here, and then make one call to activate the other radio for world-wide use (Verizon already does this with the Blackberry storm and all other world edition phones, and the sims are included with the phone already). And if you wanna use AT&T, the GSM radio will already be active, and all you have to do is activate international use and you're ready to go.

 

[AiralynRose]

I really hope it is both. I like AT&T, I'd never want to go back to verizon. But I am sick of hearing people complain.

 

[kdarling]

* It must be nice to sell phones with less usability than the iPhone so your customers don’t hammer your network, and then sit back and let people assume you could handle the load under which AT&T is straining.

Non-realtime-critical web browsing kills ATT? Big whoop, compared to people Skyping, using Pandora and Slinging on Verizon... all of which are allowed, not just tolerated.

* It must be nice to utilize the same pricing and subsidy strategies as AT&T, but get to remain above the fray while AT&T takes the heat for what the whole industry is doing.
* It must be nice to charge for carrier cash cows like SMS and tethering, but have everybody only complain about AT&T doing it.

That's true. Without the iPhone, there's a lot less whiners on other carriers.

* It must be nice to brag about having visual voice mail on some phones, while quietly hiding that it’s an extra $3 a month.

Agreed. Should be included everywhere.

* It must be nice to not allow convenient syncing of data, media, bookmarks, etc., via the excellent iTunes environment, instead using clumsier tools if anything is allowed at all, and have your customers just take it in stride.

That's pretty much an iPhone specific topic.

* It must be nice to disable hardware features on many phones, such as Bluetooth, GPS, and Wi-Fi, with little complaint from the masses.

Never seen them disable WiFi or Bluetooth on a smartphone.

GPS is now unlocked, so that's moot as well. But it had some reason to be locked before:

Verizon has used A-GPS for E911 locating (unlike ATT's rougher tower based scheme) for almost a decade. (This also allowed TBT navigation.) However, in order to afford A-GPS in nearly every phone, it was set up to rely on network servers to do the calculations. In other words, it could not act totally standalone. This cost money.

* It must be nice to avoid GSM, still using CDMA-based technology that the rest of the world (and AT&T) has abandoned. Its rollout to a 4G network could come with headaches as a result.

That's backwards. It was be nice for them that they were always using superior CDMA, unlike GSM which had to move from TDMA to WCDMA to get 3G.

* It must be nice to brag about 3G speeds, and have no one point out that your CDMA 3G technology (EV-DO) can handle voice or data, but not both simultaneously.

That's true. Of course, the original iPhone had the same problem and it didn't stop sales.

 

[Maven1975]

I have another question/commenmt.

I reluctantly canceled my Contract after being with AT&T since day one with an iPhone. Although, I could deal with the issues with the service (Dropped Calls - Several times), the plan costs are outrageous! Is there going to be an adjustment anytime soon for business/family users that have multiple iPhones on their shared plan?

I had two iPhones and two flip phones on one plan and my bill was $240 per month! The $30 per phone data plan and TXT fees are a real scam when considering what the competition has to offer.

I switched to Sprint, with the same plan spec's, picked up 3 Pre's and a flip phone all on the same plan and my bill is $100 per month less! Also, as I am sure I am in the minority, the coverage here in the AZ desert is better with CDMA technology.

So my question is, was there something I was missing about how AT&T discounts their plans? Is there some magic code I could give them to drop the monthly rate? My company discount with AT&T is 7%, and with Sprint its 27%! This still would not have mattered much as AT&T refused to discount the data.

I actually would have stayed, but I felt as if I was throwing money out the window. I feel the iPhone is still the superior device for my needs, but the Pre is no slouch for business. However, there are no entertainment app's on the Pre's at the moment and I am having withdrawals.

So, while I feel that you may be right about Apple sticking with AT&T, it wouldn't hurt if someone else had the iPhone to give AT&T some competition with plan rates.

 

[NJMetsHero]

It depends on when Verizon rolls out their next gen network. When it will be able to support the iPhone, I think Verizon will get the iPhone. My bet is on 5th gen, not 4th.

 

[Tallest Skil]

It depends on when Verizon rolls out their next gen network. When it will be able to support the iPhone, I think Verizon will get the iPhone. My bet is on 5th gen, not 4th.

That and... the 4th gen iPhone won't be LTE anyway, so it wouldn't work period.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

I'd be willing to bet all the one who want to jump ship to Verizon, If the iPhone had been on Verizon since it was introduced, everyone would want to jump to AT&T.

So true.

 

[alFR]

Verizon = CDMA
rest of world = GSM (pretty much, anyway)
so iPhone = GSM

/thread

 

[Chupa Chupa]

It depends on when Verizon rolls out their next gen network. When it will be able to support the iPhone, I think Verizon will get the iPhone. My bet is on 5th gen, not 4th.

It will take years for Verizon to get LTE network completed. Next year is just the start. Look how long it took to roll out digital phones nationwide and kill off analog. Verizon will need to maintain and sell CDMA phones for a few more years yet so forget about a Verizon iPhone until LTE network is near completion.

 

[JoJoCal19]

All of you who say that there will not be an iPhone on Verizon because of CDMA because either Apple wont put in a CDMA radio or cant fit it in with the GSM radio are wrong.

A. It would not be difficult at all for Apple to engineer a CDMA variant of the iPhone. Its not like they are having to re-engineer the entire phone. They are just going to have to put in a different RADIO.

B. I currently have the BB Tour and it perfectly houses both a CDMA/GSM/HSDPA radio in it. It can handle domestic GSM bands (except US 3G was left out purposely) and can handle overseas GSM and 3G bands. This is with GPS in it, Bluetooth too so the iPhone could definitely house all of the radios needed to keep the iPhone a worldwide phone. It could even sell the same phone to ATT that has the CDMA radio in it deactivated so there would be no need to manufacture different phones.

With all of that said, the iPhone will be coming to Verizon next year. Mark my words

 

[Chupa Chupa]

All of you who say that there will not be an iPhone on Verizon because of CDMA because either Apple wont put in a CDMA radio or cant fit it in with the GSM radio are wrong.

A. It would not be difficult at all for Apple to engineer a CDMA variant of the iPhone. Its not like they are having to re-engineer the entire phone. They are just going to have to put in a different RADIO.

In theory, yes, it would be an easy feat. But the FCC sees it as a completely new phone. That means Apple has to test TWO phones & get certification for two phones which costs them 2x as much money. Now maybe if CDMA wasn't on its deathbed that might be a worthwhile investment, but CDMA is a dead technology, so I doubt Apple would waste R&D money for a clearly limited return.

Also it's unknown if Verizon has softened it's original stance since Apple originally offered Verizon the iPhone. At that time it's reported that what killed the deal was Verizon's demand that it dictate what technologies go in the phone as they do with their other phones.

 

[beamer8912]

In theory, yes, it would be an easy feat. But the FCC sees it as a completely new phone. That means Apple has to test TWO phones & get certification for two phones which costs them 2x as much money. Now maybe if CDMA wasn't on its deathbed that might be a worthwhile investment, but CDMA is a dead technology, so I doubt Apple would waste R&D money for a clearly limited return.

Also it's unknown if Verizon has softened it's original stance since Apple originally offered Verizon the iPhone. At that time it's reported that what killed the deal was Verizon's demand that it dictate what technologies go in the phone as they do with their other phones.

WOW. Twice as expensive! No way Apple could do that!

......oh wait, RIM and PALM have been doing it for YEARS!

Even if the money were a factor, Verizon's consumer base is LARGER than AT&T's. If Apple is making a killing now, think what they could do on Verizon...2x the cost of certification or not.

 

[JoJoCal19]

In theory, yes, it would be an easy feat. But the FCC sees it as a completely new phone. That means Apple has to test TWO phones & get certification for two phones which costs them 2x as much money. Now maybe if CDMA wasn't on its deathbed that might be a worthwhile investment, but CDMA is a dead technology, so I doubt Apple would waste R&D money for a clearly limited return.

Also it's unknown if Verizon has softened it's original stance since Apple originally offered Verizon the iPhone. At that time it's reported that what killed the deal was Verizon's demand that it dictate what technologies go in the phone as they do with their other phones.

Well yes and no. I agree with you on R&D money and testing, but I dont agree on "a clearly limited return". A clearly limited return would be keeping the iPhone exclusive to ATT. Its been shown in statistics that the iPhone is reaching max saturation with ATT because alot of the iPhone purchasers are existing iPhone owners. There is a whole 87+ million (Verizon) CDMA subscribers waiting to be tapped. Add in Sprints 50+ million and thats alot of money to be made. There are alot more people not willing to leave Verizon for ATT for the iPhone than those that have made the jump.

Also I think that CDMA is as dead of a technology as GSM. They are both going to be eventually left behind (atleast in the states) when LTE is fully operational nationwide and handling voice. Also you cant discount the two other most populous countries in the world run CDMA (China & India).

Trust me, Apple is not losing money by creating a CDMA iPhone. There is a lot of money to be made even if by supporting only CDMA for the next 2 years. Also LTE has already been specced out by Verizon and is ready to be put into phones so if they did want to futureproof the iPhone they could easily create a CDMA/LTE version.

 

[Tallest Skil]

All of you who say that there will not be an iPhone on Verizon because of CDMA because either Apple wont put in a CDMA radio or cant fit it in with the GSM radio are wrong.

With all of that said, the iPhone will be coming to Verizon next year. Mark my words

Ignoring everything about how Apple won't allow Verizon's content stores on their phone and Verizon won't let Apple's phone on their network without half of the features blocked, yes, THIS is the reason it won't be coming...

 

[JoJoCal19]

Ignoring everything about how Apple won't allow Verizon's content stores on their phone and Verizon won't let Apple's phone on their network without half of the features blocked, yes, THIS is the reason it won't be coming...

Hmmm... have you used Verizons smartphones lately? Yea didnt think so

Verizon doesnt put their content stores on their smartphones. Also you forget that ATT does the same thing with their dumbphones as Verizon does their dumbphones, so your argument has no basis. And as far as not letting Apples phone on the network without half the features blocked. WRONG AGAIN. I have a BB Tour and all of its functionality is there and nothing is blocked. Wifi is gone on every BB Tour model and that was not mandated by Verizon (Sprint, Telus, others have no Wifi).

Also the iPhone is a special case phone. Obviously ATT made concessions and didnt touch it like they do their other phones, Verizon will do the same. So yes that is why it will be coming to Verizon next year.

 

[Tallest Skil]

Verizon doesnt put their content stores on their smartphones. Also you forget that ATT does the same thing with their dumbphones as Verizon does their dumbphones, so your argument has no basis. And as far as not letting Apples phone on the network without half the features blocked. WRONG AGAIN. I have a BB Tour and all of its functionality is there and nothing is blocked. Wifi is gone on every BB Tour model and that was not mandated by Verizon (Sprint, Telus, others have no Wifi).[/QYOTE[

Too bad for your argument that this was the reason Verizon turned Apple down in 2006, then.

So yes that is why it will be coming to Verizon next year.

I'll be here to mock you when you're wrong, just like everyone else mocks me.

 

[JoJoCal19]

Too bad for your argument that this was the reason Verizon turned Apple down in 2006, then.



I'll be here to mock you when you're wrong, just like everyone else mocks me.

Not really. It wasnt that Verizon turned Apple down, and not for that reason. For one thing Verizon didnt want to leave out all of their 3rd party retailers and distributors. Also they couldnt come to agreements on revenue terms and other financial terms and it was getting close to time where Apple needed to have something in place so after a period of discussions going nowhere they went to ATT.

There IS a reason why Apple went to Verizon first ya know

There IS also a reason why Apple is looking to Verizon for relationships in the iTablet. Verizon is superior to ATT. You dont hear rumors of Apple being in talks with ATT for this iTablet do you? You dont see Apple jumping for joy to do a deal with ATT on anything other than the iPhone and Apple hasnt been exactly running to the table to extend the contract with ATT. This is for a reason.

And I dont feel sorry for you getting mocked. How do you think us Verizon people feel here with all of the ATT fanbois telling us hell will freeze over before Apple releases the iPhone for Verizon lol. Well I guess next year hell will be frozen over and all the naysayers will be eating crow

 

[kdarling]

In theory, yes, it would be an easy feat. But the FCC sees it as a completely new phone. That means Apple has to test TWO phones & get certification for two phones which costs them 2x as much money.

So what? What did you think FCC certification tests cost? Millions?

If it's like other FCC tests I've been involved with, we're talking perhaps an extra $30-50K for another set of certification tests. Even double that, is corporate chump change.

Heck, Apple's already on its third public iPhone design, remember? The 3G version added WCDMA, which is a close cousin to EVDO in more ways than it's not.

Now maybe if CDMA wasn't on its deathbed that might be a worthwhile investment, but CDMA is a dead technology, so I doubt Apple would waste R&D money for a clearly limited return.

Right... and yet Samsung and HTC keep bringing out new CDMA smartphones.

CDMA isn't going away for another decade. It'll simply be augmented by LTE in some cases.

Also it's unknown if Verizon has softened it's original stance since Apple originally offered Verizon the iPhone. At that time it's reported that what killed the deal was Verizon's demand that it dictate what technologies go in the phone as they do with their other phones.

You are definitely repeating some of the more ignorant fan sites.

It was Apple that was too controlling, not Verizon.

Apple wanted to cut out Verizon sales partners, control warranty work, take monthly revenue, and not allow customer subsidies. All in all, a pretty bad sounding deal.

If Verizon had been able to dictate technology, we'd have had 3G and GPS in the first iPhone version, like most of their other smartphones.

 

[labman]

Yp Verizon

is perfect every company should be just like them and evey other company blows. that's why I eft them ol they were just too damn perfect for me!

at best Apple will make a CDMA version for Verizon but highly unlikely they would go Verizon exclusive since the rest of there market is GSM. Verizon would have a better sht at a contract if they would convert o a GSM network. oh wait they are not the controlling ones at shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Tallest Skil]

And I dont feel sorry for you getting mocked. How do you think us Verizon people feel here with all of the ATT fanbois telling us hell will freeze over before Apple releases the iPhone for Verizon lol. Well I guess next year hell will be frozen over and all the naysayers will be eating crow

As with everything involving a telecom, I'll believe it when I see it.

And IF I see it, I'll be trading this, my current phone, since I have Verizon service and a never-used 2G iPhone, for a CDMA iPhone.

 

[alphaod]

Unless Apple wants a CDMA version and a GSM version of the same phone, they should stick with AT&T.

 

[thaliagoo]

I like Verizon... GREAT coverage in the areas I've been in. Really really hoping iPhone comes to VZ next year then I can talk to ppl in my network for free! I know a few ppl will want iPhone when it comes on VZ. The reason why they don't have it now is b/c they don't wanna leave Verizon.