For folks who switched from AT&T to Verizon

[Glideslope]

If you live\work\travel in good AT&T areas, they're 1000x better. The technology is better, the network deployment is better in most areas, and the functionality of the phone is as Apple intended. To take a smartphone with all the bells and whistles and not be able to be on a call and send off a text (or iMessage), or check directions, or do anything requiring internet, is plain primitive.

I would sooner go T-Mobile and live on EDGE before I'd go Verizon, because at least then the crippled phone would be saving me money. Verizon has done a fantastic job in marketing the last 10 years. They've got people convinced that their network is better. Don't get me wrong, in some places (particularly more rural, non-densly populated areas) it can be better, but that's where they have focused their effort. In a way it's smart because they know they're never going to beat a CDMA carrier, so they have to focus their efforts on the tier 2 markets. Look at their LTE map and you'll see what I mean. How do you think they can say "we have 20x more LTE than AT&T" ... because they light up cities like Boise, Bozeman, Billings, which require 1/20th of the manpower and resources to do. That's where their loyalists come in.

If you live in a top 200 city, AT&T has always and will always be your best network option for a fully functioning phone. All carriers have dead spots, so it comes down to where you live\work\play, and each has to make their own decision. I would not personally go with VZW though, as that no simultaneous voice and data would be going back into the stone age.

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Sorry, for those of us with iPhones, "text" is now a commonly used word for "iMessage" ... on Verizon you cannot do that. Nothing that uses data while on the phone.

This is really the correct answer. The plan costs are very similar these days. It's about "what is the coverage like in your area". Period.

In our area we have excellent at&t LTE & HSPA+. If you live in an area where at&t has great LTE coverage for your 5, IMO, at&t has a more refined product. If not, then you have Verizon.

LTE is nice, but be prepared, it sucks your battery. Running LTE all the time you will be lucky to get 50% of Apple's claimed Battery Stats.

On my 5 I only turn LTE on when downloading, or watching a video clip.

So that's my 2 cents. Pick your provider based on how well they cover the area you travel most. Otherwise they are both the same. They want to squeeze as much $ out of you as they possible can.

 

[CyBeRino]

As it is, I'm irked that the iPhone 5 on AT&T drops to HSPA during a voice call.

It has to.

No network in the world, so far as I know, does voice on LTE yet, and it can't be actively exchanging data with both for lack of radios. Just like you can't be on UMTS and GSM at the same time, one for data and one for voice. (Luckily, voice over UMTS is implemented everywhere, so you don't have to.)

 

[nizmoz]

To each their own. I also travel all across the country, on a weekly basis and have to say they are about equal on coverage maybe giving verizon a slight edge. My wife comes with me on more than one occasion, but she has verizon and I don't notice her reception as being better than mine.

You will miss voice and data at the same time if you are used to it. One thing to consider and alot of people miss this. ATT network is way faster than Verizons on average. What good is better coverage if your 3G network is molasses?

When switching from 4G LTE to HSPA+ I dont notice a difference in usage speed. ATT's LTE is almost twice as fast as Verizons on average. ATT's HSPA+ is almost as fast as Verizons LTE. ATT has more backhaul to their towers as their 3G network and 4G network share the same data lines. More data lines means more data that can be broadcast out as cellular signals.

Verizon has two seperate lines for their LTE network and their slower CDMA network.

But going from Verizon LTE to Verizons' 3G network is painfull. Or going from LTE 20Mps to Verizon 3G, 2Mps max to average 1Mps to 500kps is what you will see.

ATT you will go from LTE 40Mps/20Mps to 14Mps to 7Mps on HSPA+ to 7Mps to 3Mps to HSDPA at the slowest speeds.

I switched my whole family to Verizon a while back and it was okay but I really hated it. $50 more a month for the same plan, less coverage in Texas when I went to different towns, and their LTE was not near as fast as AT&T. Their LTE was what AT&T gets on hspa plus. So I moved back to AT&T and been happy sense. Works better in buildings too. No drop calls here. Most drop calls. Have noticed are usually phone problems.

 

[AFPoster]

LTE allows you to send/call simoutaneously. That's what Verizon has been lacking with the iPhone and the 5 fixed that.

 

[megapopular]

LTE allows you to send/call simoutaneously. That's what Verizon has been lacking with the iPhone and the 5 fixed that.

It allows to send/call what simultaneously? As far as I know and have read, on LTE, verizon can only be on a call and send a regular SMS... If you're on the web and a call comes in, it stops your data flow until you're off of the call. You can't use iMessage or any service that uses regular Internet service while on a call.

 

[Shockwave78]

LTE allows you to send/call simoutaneously. That's what Verizon has been lacking with the iPhone and the 5 fixed that.

wrong..it is fixed with every other 4g LTE device on Verizon...Apples single chip radio in the i5 prevents it from working. So its basically the same as Verizon customers have been used to

 

[LapsangSouchong]

Thanks for all the replies. AT&T is really terrible in my area, so that's a big deal. I'm in this area probably 300 days a year, and traveling the other days.
When I'm here I'm on Wifi MOST of the time week days.
I have to use a micrcocell at work, and have to sit in the back yard during summer at home to make calls.
So, you can see why I'm considering the switch...

 

[rufhausen]

Today will be a big test for me since switching to Verizon. In 2010 (ok, I know, things may have changed since), I went to the Colts/Broncos game in Denver with my brother. He had an AT&T android phone and I had an AT&T iPhone 4. Neither one of us could make a call or access data, presumably due to the over use of the towers with so many people in one place. I had experienced similar problems at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indy and other large events as well.
It was annoying to say the least and we both swore then to ditch AT&T when our contracts ended.
Going to the Broncos/Raiders game today and I'm curious to see what the experience will be like with a Verizon phone.

 

[bruinsrme]

Any regrets?

Has anyone missed the simultaneous voice/data to the point where they regretted the decision?

Anyone feel their service is worse?

Customer care is worse?


Hubs and I are contemplating the move, but I have concerns...

Like: if I'm on the phone and want to send an imessage, does it go as text? or wait til I'm off the phone? Same for receiving....

I kinda understand what happens otherwise.

(For the verizon die hards, please keep in mind, I've had s since 2002 or 2003. It would be a big shift.)

I may have used the data/phone call 3 to 5 times max in my 4 years with ATT.
If imultaneous voice and data is important to you then I personally would not consider making the shift.

 

[Glideslope]

LTE allows you to send/call simoutaneously. That's what Verizon has been lacking with the iPhone and the 5 fixed that.

It's amazing more people are not aware of this. Of course you pay for it with Battery live. Can do it on 3G with GSM.

 

[Sean006]

Whoever posted about LTE draining the battery.

WRONG I get about 30 hours having Bluetooth wifi and lte on all the time.

I've been on Verizon since the 4s and I won't look back. In the Tampa Bay Area Verizon can't be beat.

 

[timothyjay]

I live in Jacksonville, FL, and while I've been with AT&T since the release of the iPhone 3Gs, I finally switched to Verizon with the 5.

AT&T has never really given me a problem, and it was actually cheaper for me to stay with AT&T because I was paying at an even $100 after taxes with unlimited data. Whenever I would travel to big cities, I had no problem with my reception.

The reason I switched to Verizon because lately, I've been traveling to a campground in the middle of Georgia frequently and during our drive, AT&T would have marginal signal, dropping to edge frequently or losing signal, while a friend of mine who has Verizon would have a solid 3G and signal.

We travel once a month and stay for about a week, and with my job requiring me to stay in touch via phone or email, it's a necessity. AT&T wouldn't have signal at the campsite at all, which was a deciding factor for me.

Like many have mentioned, it really is all about where you are and where you travel. As far as simultaneous data/voice for me, I may have only used it once or twice with AT&T, and that was because I wanted to try it out.

 

[AR15MBP]

Today will be a big test for me since switching to Verizon. In 2010 (ok, I know, things may have changed since), I went to the Colts/Broncos game in Denver with my brother. He had an AT&T android phone and I had an AT&T iPhone 4. Neither one of us could make a call or access data, presumably due to the over use of the towers with so many people in one place. I had experienced similar problems at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indy and other large events as well.
It was annoying to say the least and we both swore then to ditch AT&T when our contracts ended.
Going to the Broncos/Raiders game today and I'm curious to see what the experience will be like with a Verizon phone.

This is exactly why I switched from AT&T to Verizon. I was at the Niners - Packers game in Lambeau with 3 friends. They had Verizon, and I had AT&T. They were posting to Facebook, sending texts, emailing pictures, and I had no service. Every time I have gone to an event my AT&T phone has failed. Given that and the fact that my new home didn't get great AT&T coverage (1-2 bars and I had to move to a window to call sometimes) made the switch easy for me. Now at home I have 4-5 LTE bars, I never drop any calls and the calls seem much much clearer.

The only thing that should matter is the coverage you get in the places you are most likely to be. However, I still don't trust AT&T's service when needed. Glad to be on Verizon.

 

[bidwalj]

Today will be a big test for me since switching to Verizon. In 2010 (ok, I know, things may have changed since), I went to the Colts/Broncos game in Denver with my brother. He had an AT&T android phone and I had an AT&T iPhone 4. Neither one of us could make a call or access data, presumably due to the over use of the towers with so many people in one place. I had experienced similar problems at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indy and other large events as well.
It was annoying to say the least and we both swore then to ditch AT&T when our contracts ended.
Going to the Broncos/Raiders game today and I'm curious to see what the experience will be like with a Verizon phone.

Go raiders! I'm a raiders season ticket holder and had the same issues with AT&T out here as well. It's a common issue when too many people jam the network. I switched to Verizon last year and calls and texts all went through. Data still was slow but that was fixed with lte. I was at the game last week and data with lte worked perfectly fine.

 

[james92se]

LTE is nice, but be prepared, it sucks your battery. Running LTE all the time you will be lucky to get 50% of Apple's claimed Battery Stats.

Lol. Yeah okay. As you can see this is web browsing AND currently playing some music. Apple has done a phenomenal job with LTE and battery consumption (or lack thereof). My iPhone 5 battery life is blowing my 4S and all other iphones out of the water in every regard.

 

[asleep]

Made the switch as well. Live in the Houston area and have been really pleased. No dropped calls in over a week of use. No data drops while I drive around town. Getting better reception and reception in places where it was poor on att, including where I work.

Sure, I miss unlimited data and talk/surf, but the reliability more than makes up for it. It all depends on your needs and your coverage.

Where in Houston???

 

[AuroraProject]

I had att for 13+ years. I work in 5 different locations and in all 5 locations the data speed was slow and the data connection unreliable. I would frequently drop calls, people couldn't hear me, or I couldn't hear them. Same situation in my home. I switched to Verizon last Sunday with a new iPhone 5. So far I have tested it in my home and 2 work locations and it has been far beyond my expectations, data is fast and always present, and voice calls sound great.

I still need to test it in the other 3 work locations, but so far I'm very happy with the switch. Also it costs me $5 less per month and I now have unlimited minutes.

 

[TG1]

I'm pretty neutral on the switch. I think for data, AT&T was the better network for me. Both carriers have LTE in my area now but AT&T's 3G speeds blow Verizon's out of the water. I do think that voice service is better on Big Red both in terms of dropped calls and call quality. Verizon is also a little more expensive for me.

 

[drill423]

Where in Houston???

Medical center, southwest loop, northwest loop. These are the main areas I am.

 

[Glideslope]

Lol. Yeah okay. As you can see this is web browsing AND currently playing some music. Apple has done a phenomenal job with LTE and battery consumption (or lack thereof). My iPhone 5 battery life is blowing my 4S and all other iphones out of the water in every regard.

Image

Sorry. I don't buy it.

 

[phinsup]

No issues here, very happy.

 

[srcampana]

If you live in a top 200 city, AT&T has always and will always be your best network option for a fully functioning phone.

I, and the majority of users on the West Coast will call BS on that big time. Los Angeles and San Francisco are notorious for crappy AT&T service. San Diego is a nightmare half the time. Seattle and Portland fair better but not by much. Orange County? Forget it.

Yes, when and where AT&T works, it works. But Verizon works consistently. If AT&T works well where you are, stay with them. OP has stated a few times the connection is awful for her.

My friend was just in a motorcycle accident in the middle of Santa Monica (broke his femur) and couldn't call anyone on his phone (AT&T). Passersby made calls for him (to 911, friends, and family) and they all had Verizon. As he said, "No network when I need it? Goodbye."

 

[phinsup]

iMessage uses data to send messages so it does not work on calls, I can assure you regular texts do send and receive during phone calls, iMessages do not.

 

[LapsangSouchong]

iMessage uses data to send messages so it does not work on calls, I can assure you regular texts do send and receive during phone calls, iMessages do not.

I've been testing it with a friend. Seems if imessages are sent to a phone number they'll go (as a text), but if they're sent to an appleID (thus, data) they won't. Easy enough to deal with.

 

[foxnews1]

If you live in a top 200 city, AT&T has always and will always be your best network option for a fully functioning phone. .

Nothing that uses data while on the phone.

is this your own statistic? or your personal opinion?

my last two years with AT&T in Charlotte, NC was NOT and WILL NOT be the BEST. Their LTE coverage is no where near Verizon here.

if you want to justify your reasoning of staying with AT&T due to your need of data and voice at the same time, then no one can argues against it. but stating publicly with that 200 cities statistic will make people roll their eye balls and and walk away.