While it is only an occasional use for me, it is imperative that I have this feature. When my wife calls me because she is lost, I can put her on speaker and pop open google maps. All I need from her is a cross street and I can get her on her way. This is a priceless feature for me I've used multiple times.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Survey Looks at Customer Carrier Preferences Once AT&T Loses iPhone Exclusivity
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
While it is only an occasional use for me, it is imperative that I have this feature. When my wife calls me because she is lost, I can put her on speaker and pop open google maps. All I need from her is a cross street and I can get her on her way. This is a priceless feature for me I've used multiple times.
I wouldn't switch to VZW but if it came to Sprint I would totally jump ship. I can get a higher discount on Sprint (24% vs 15%) PLUS there plans are cheaper and give you more.
My current AT&T plan give me 450 Minutes/Month only 200 texts, plus 2GB of data for ~$65/month.
Without a discount I could get a sprint phone for $70 a month that has unlimited talk to mobiles (which is what I am calling 99% of the time) unlimited text, "unlimited" data (probably 5GB, but still more than AT&T's current plans).
Add the higher discount and it really is a no brainer for me.
As for service in my area Sprint actually has better coverage than AT&T. I had a sprint phone but switched for the iPhone.
My current AT&T plan give me 450 Minutes/Month only 200 texts, plus 2GB of data for ~$65/month.
Without a discount I could get a sprint phone for $70 a month that has unlimited talk to mobiles (which is what I am calling 99% of the time) unlimited text, "unlimited" data (probably 5GB, but still more than AT&T's current plans).
Add the higher discount and it really is a no brainer for me.
As for service in my area Sprint actually has better coverage than AT&T. I had a sprint phone but switched for the iPhone.
Me too...data and voice at the same time is essential to me day. I often speak to my assistant and i check all my emails over the phone with her while we talk, it's basically key to my day!
Except VZW carries more data overall than ATT and they seem to be doing fine.
I'm lucky enough to live in an area where ATT and VZW are pretty much on the same level coverage-wise so I don't see a reason to switch to VZW yet.
Coverage for me with AT&T is 99.9% quite fine. Have had the others...no Thank You.
Now, that being said, I'd love for Verizon and T-Mobile and Sprint to get the iPhone....more bandwidth on AT & T.
I sometimes wonder if a side effect of the iPhone being on all carriers would be that MR conversations will switch to 'how fast are your data speeds on AT&T/T-Mobile/Verizon/Sprint 's network'?
Just in and of itself, I would think it would lead to some serious competition in building out the carrier's networks.
Now, that being said, I'd love for Verizon and T-Mobile and Sprint to get the iPhone....more bandwidth on AT & T.
I sometimes wonder if a side effect of the iPhone being on all carriers would be that MR conversations will switch to 'how fast are your data speeds on AT&T/T-Mobile/Verizon/Sprint 's network'?
Just in and of itself, I would think it would lead to some serious competition in building out the carrier's networks.
Math is wrong
You can't simply look at AT&T internal adoption rate of iPhone - because AT&T was the exclusive carrier of the iPhone during the period of that adoption rate.
It's like saying Verizons current adoption rate of zero percent has some validity. It doesn't, the phone wasn't available.
By the same token every iPhone customer - for the most part had to be on AT&T.
I see why AT&T isn't afraid of these numbers - we need some comparison to other phones. Probably at any given time close to half of their customers wishes they could switch to another carrier, lol these numbers might be better than other phones.
They probably know from experience when it comes time to renew, how to retain the angry customer.
You can't simply look at AT&T internal adoption rate of iPhone - because AT&T was the exclusive carrier of the iPhone during the period of that adoption rate.
It's like saying Verizons current adoption rate of zero percent has some validity. It doesn't, the phone wasn't available.
By the same token every iPhone customer - for the most part had to be on AT&T.
I see why AT&T isn't afraid of these numbers - we need some comparison to other phones. Probably at any given time close to half of their customers wishes they could switch to another carrier, lol these numbers might be better than other phones.
They probably know from experience when it comes time to renew, how to retain the angry customer.
I wonder if Verizon will offer to pay a portion of the ETF for those WITH an iPhone plan currently on AT&T. If Verizon were to give like a $125 account credit for users to switch over, then I think that 23% figure is highly probable. However, if users have to pay ETF + $200/300 for a new CDMA Verizon iPhone then I don't see such a drastic move at least not until late 2011. Mark my words, the iPhone 5 on AT&T will have a 4G/LTE antenna, which will be a major selling point to keep people from jumping ship come next summer.
I have the 450 Minutes with Unlimited Data/Text and 4G. I pay $62 dollars a month as opposed to my iPhone plan which was $85 a month. Those are both with corp. discounts.
looking at the numbers
23% is a huge migration rate... but the number means nothing to Apple, as those are current customers. (for AT&T, these are horrible numbers)
The key graphic/stat for me would be: For Current Verizon, Sprint, and TMobile customers, how many switch to Verizon iPhone if they offered an iPhone? That's the only number Apple cares about. Well, that and the subsidy rate that Verizon would pay
All the rest of this problem is one of equilibrium. All networks 'just barely' work, as it's not cost effective for anyone to have 'excess' bandwidth. as people shift to network to network, the net will be all networks tending towards instability and performance issues of roughly equal measure ( if all other factors [cost, freedom of the market, handsets] remain relatively equal).
23% is a huge migration rate... but the number means nothing to Apple, as those are current customers. (for AT&T, these are horrible numbers)
The key graphic/stat for me would be: For Current Verizon, Sprint, and TMobile customers, how many switch to Verizon iPhone if they offered an iPhone? That's the only number Apple cares about. Well, that and the subsidy rate that Verizon would pay
All the rest of this problem is one of equilibrium. All networks 'just barely' work, as it's not cost effective for anyone to have 'excess' bandwidth. as people shift to network to network, the net will be all networks tending towards instability and performance issues of roughly equal measure ( if all other factors [cost, freedom of the market, handsets] remain relatively equal).
Agreed 100%
Same experience here with Verizon. It's the worst networks in the world IMO. So happy I switched my family to AT&T.
JD
Same experience here with Verizon. It's the worst networks in the world IMO. So happy I switched my family to AT&T.
JD
I wonder what the number of NEW iPhone users would be if Verizon got the iPhone as well, not just switchers. My sister would've gotten an iPhone, but she hates AT&T so she got a Droid w/ Verizon.
I'm not surprised by this at all.
What is more important from Apple's view is a study of how many non iPhone owners will they gain with a multi-carrier launch. Since the sales pitch as of right now is a customer saying "I want a phone like the iPhone." and the rep's response is "Android is as close as you'll get, let me show you those."
So go have a survey asking how many people will buy an iPhone on their respective carrier.
More iPhone plans will definitely help everyone out. I just wish AT&T and VZW had an iPhone plan like the Sprint Unlimited plan.
What is more important from Apple's view is a study of how many non iPhone owners will they gain with a multi-carrier launch. Since the sales pitch as of right now is a customer saying "I want a phone like the iPhone." and the rep's response is "Android is as close as you'll get, let me show you those."
So go have a survey asking how many people will buy an iPhone on their respective carrier.
More iPhone plans will definitely help everyone out. I just wish AT&T and VZW had an iPhone plan like the Sprint Unlimited plan.
Don't want Verizon
Verizon is garbage here. I'm lucky to get 2 bars, 1 is more common. Calls are dropped all the time and half of time when the call is active you can't hear people or they can't hear you.
I was in my university's student lounge the other day, in a basement. Some lady on Sprint gabbed away for several minutes, no trouble. My phone? Pfft. Can't even find a signal.
I'd be happy to jump to AT&T at this rate, but I can't afford an iPhone plan.
Verizon is garbage here. I'm lucky to get 2 bars, 1 is more common. Calls are dropped all the time and half of time when the call is active you can't hear people or they can't hear you.
I was in my university's student lounge the other day, in a basement. Some lady on Sprint gabbed away for several minutes, no trouble. My phone? Pfft. Can't even find a signal.
I'd be happy to jump to AT&T at this rate, but I can't afford an iPhone plan.
I live in downtown Chicago and AT&T coverage is bad here. I drop calls all the time at home in the South Loop/Printer's Row area and in my office in River North. My friend has AT&T with an older, very basic phone and has the same issues. Before getting my iPhone, I was on Verizon and didn't have these problems.
I would drop AT&T in a heartbeat if Verizon gets iPhones. My contract is up with AT&T in March and am keeping my fingers crossed. Currently, I absolutely hate using my iPhone to make calls. That's how bad it is.
I would drop AT&T in a heartbeat if Verizon gets iPhones. My contract is up with AT&T in March and am keeping my fingers crossed. Currently, I absolutely hate using my iPhone to make calls. That's how bad it is.
All cellular data is shared (as is voice) by all users in a given area (cell). With CDMA2000, if you get too many callers in the same area, the call quality will drop. With GSM, since it is time-division, you just won't be able to make a call. With data, too many users will mean a slowdown.
Not only is the signal spectrum shared, but also the backhaul is shared as well. Backhaul is what connects the cell sites to switching equipment, the rest of the cellular network, the internet, etc. It is almost always provided by the local telephone company, and was traditionally provided with T1s. With cellular data demand growing, it is now being provided more often with an OC3 (fiber optic link).
So to answer your question: yes, if people (especially iphone users) leave AT$T, the situation will probably get better.
I'm not surprised by this at all.
What is more important from Apple's view is a study of how many non iPhone owners will they gain with a multi-carrier launch. Since the sales pitch as of right now is a customer saying "I want a phone like the iPhone." and the rep's response is "Android is as close as you'll get, let me show you those."
So go have a survey asking how many people will buy an iPhone on their respective carrier.
More iPhone plans will definitely help everyone out. I just wish AT&T and VZW had an iPhone plan like the Sprint Unlimited plan.
Couldn't agree with you more. Its one reason I jumped ship to Sprint. Just not enough of a reason for me to keep the iPhone and AT&T. Android/HTC Sense is a great iPhone replacement for me but the service and price is far beyond AT&T.
I often wonder how long this can keep up in the U.S. Telecommunications spending is way up from what it was 15 years ago; probably by 500-700% inflation adjusted. Wages are stagnant and real income is declining, but many people are getting more and more expensive devices which require signing more expensive service contracts because the cost of the device is being paid mostly in an installment plan ("Free" or "only" $200).
I'm not sure where the money is coming from. Is everybody financing their at$t and veri$on bills and cable bills on their credit cards or eating ramen every meal?
Amen to that brother. product is pretty good but man if something goes wrong on the inside its just as you describe.
My opinion is any carrier is a loose loose. it's the nature of how they do business.
There is absolutely no reason for iPhone on VzW. Those customers are on AT&T, and they are there because of the phone. Keep the phone on GSM networks and they will stay with GSM because of the phone. HSPA+ makes VzW look like dialup too.
I'd have to have a very good reason to switch from AT&T to another carrier. Changing out my family's four phones (one iPhone, three others) would be hugely inconvenient. Plus, I was with Verizon before AT&T, and it wasn't as if their service was perfect. But, I can see where it would make sense for some people.