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.
The Door For Current ATT Customers
- Thread starter rdowns
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
jav6454
macrumors Core
Look, if history shows us something, it is Apple puts it (it being whatever they refuse or don't offer) on stage when it is least expected to.
Also, if history shows us another thing is that Steve Jobs is in charge who shows what and when and where. In this case, take the iPhone 3G S for example. It was Phil Schiller who announced at WWDC, not AT&T Mobility CEO.
For the more reason, this Verizon event will be something else. Everyone assume it is Apple backed due to the fact that Gizmodo didn't get an invite. That's barely evidence even though they had a problem with Apple; if people think it is big evidence, how wrong they can be.
This event is most likely for LTE plans and devices with Android shipping as well as Android tablets.
Now as per iStuff on Verizon, Apple only on their stage, with their people on their event will it be announced. That's how it has always been and knowing control freak Steve Jobs, that's how it's going to be for a long time. So, Apple event in January, iPad 2, Verizon model available very likely. iPhone 5? Well, I will not be surprised if it's released this year during WWDC. Also, the AT&T contract is stated to end this year might end when the iPhone went initially on sale... if that's the case; which I doubt.
cocky jeremy
Suspended
I've seen as many reports of people preferring AT&T over Verizon as i have the other way around. I don't think everyone will leave AT&T the way a lot of people seem to think.
No, of course not.
The whole "AT&T Sucks!" thing is overblown because that's all you see on the internet. No one posts on MacRumors, or their blog, Facebook or Twitter page when their AT&T phone successfully makes several calls throughout the day without dropping any, with crystal clear quality, gets fast, consistent data speeds everywhere they go and has a generally positive experience. But if one single call out of 20 they make in a day drops (and it might not even be their fault, but the phone on the other end that dropped) then they take to the internet and scream bloody murder. Things are heavily skewed towards the negative.
The thought of a mass exodus to Verizon when they get the iPhone is laughable. As seen by many posts on MR these past couple days, when people actually have a choice, many say "No, I'm sticking with AT&T". Yeah, some AT&T customers who drop a call once in a blue moon or the ones whose data speeds are slower than they like every now and then are going to go out with guns blazing the day the Verizon iPhone goes on sale, and will be just as disappointed when they have the exact same experience on Verizon and will be begging for a Sprint or T-Mobile version. But let's be honest here - if AT&T's network was really as bad as a few people on the internet act like it is, they wouldn't have 90+ million customers, iPhone or no iPhone.
jav6454
macrumors Core
I would like just to add more to this.
AT&T was the biggest wireless provider before the Alltell buyout. That means, Verizon had to buy, not earn their place as biggest wireless provided.
Oh and AT&T was even bigger than Verizon even before the iPhone. Surprising, huh?
+1
AT&T has 90 million customers. Let's assume 20 million are iPhone users - I can't find numbers anywhere, but I think that's being a bit generous. That leaves 70 million people on AT&T without iPhones. So, why are they still on AT&T?
Could it be because of another AT&T exclusive phone? Let's see. Their Android lineup is, IMO, the worst of the 4 major carriers (although that seems to be changing with the CES announcements). Their Blackberry lineup is average, and save for the Torch which is quite a "meh" phone, their Blackberry models are available elsewhere. Verizon and Sprint both have the Palm Pre, as well as AT&T. And T-Mobile has Windows Phone 7 too. So other than the iPhone, there is no smartphone that AT&T has that other carriers don't. So those 70 million people aren't staying for a smartphone. The dumbphones are a dime a dozen, and there is nothing special about any of them either. So it's not that. Could it just be the fact that for 70 million people, despite what a handful of complainers on the internet say, AT&T provides good service at a reasonable price?
the rest of the world knows them as Vodafone. A very VERY large cellular provider.
darkflounder
macrumors regular
I feel like I'm one of the few people that's actually happy with AT&T. Granted, I think all mobile carriers in the US suck.
I'm so happy with AT&T, I finally went and got my iP4 a few days ago. My poor old 3G needed to be retired (and rebuilt and sold on eBay).
But I will be getting an iP4 from Verizon if they announce it on Tuesday. Not for me, for the fiancee. We were going to get her a Droid X, but she's been pining for an iPhone. AT&T coverage at her work is 1 bar at best, while Verizon is 4-5 bars.
At least I'll have someone to SexxyFacetalk with.
I'm so happy with AT&T, I finally went and got my iP4 a few days ago. My poor old 3G needed to be retired (and rebuilt and sold on eBay).
But I will be getting an iP4 from Verizon if they announce it on Tuesday. Not for me, for the fiancee. We were going to get her a Droid X, but she's been pining for an iPhone. AT&T coverage at her work is 1 bar at best, while Verizon is 4-5 bars.
At least I'll have someone to SexxyFacetalk with.
Swiss Miss
macrumors member
I've had AT&T - in whatever fashion it was before it evolved into the AT&T wireless it is today - since the beginning of the last decade (yikes). I'm no super AT&T fanatic by any means, but I've never felt the need to leave them and go elsewhere.
Figuring out who the lesser of [however many] evils is doesn't really interest me enough to switch. Don't get me wrong, AT&T has been downright terrible at times. But Verizon is no better than AT&T (visit your local Consumerist and do research if in doubt) and I'm willing to bet many who are switching to Verizon to be "saved" from AT&T are going to be sorely disappointed.
I understand many people will switch for more logical reasons like signal issues or maybe even a cheaper plan, which makes perfect sense... but running away from big bad AT&T "because they just suck", is a silly move.
Like OP, I 'll wave a farewell and wish the best of luck to people switching. If the prices and service are better with Verizon than AT&T when a new iPhone comes out or my contract is up, I'll make a decision then. But til then, I'm perfectly fine with my iPhone on AT&T.
Figuring out who the lesser of [however many] evils is doesn't really interest me enough to switch. Don't get me wrong, AT&T has been downright terrible at times. But Verizon is no better than AT&T (visit your local Consumerist and do research if in doubt) and I'm willing to bet many who are switching to Verizon to be "saved" from AT&T are going to be sorely disappointed.
I understand many people will switch for more logical reasons like signal issues or maybe even a cheaper plan, which makes perfect sense... but running away from big bad AT&T "because they just suck", is a silly move.
Like OP, I 'll wave a farewell and wish the best of luck to people switching. If the prices and service are better with Verizon than AT&T when a new iPhone comes out or my contract is up, I'll make a decision then. But til then, I'm perfectly fine with my iPhone on AT&T.
Geckotek
macrumors G3
And Verizon was bigger than AT&T shortly before that. They've been playing leapfrog for years.
Edit: just read an intersting article about how Verizon only reports "live" wireless users (actual people carrying phones) where AT&T counts wireless devices as well (industrial machines, electric meters, etc..) The current count as of the end of December counting live users on AT&T is 85M.
Likewise if the Verizon iPhone is true.
You're pretty close, they have about 23M iPhone subscribers.
Don't forget to account for friends and family members that want/need to be on the same network as their friends/family with iPhones for either family plans or just to get free mobile to mobile. With Verizon getting the iPhone some of that motivation will be gone.
Others stay for the rollover minutes.
Oh, and the network has gotten better....so there's that too. 😉
Last edited:
RetiredInFl
macrumors 68020
Maybe because it's easier to scam AT&T and get a 25% off FAN plan. Try that on Verizon. Of course Sprint is even easier. There the reps give it to you without even asking. On AT&T you have to actually Google a link and do some work. 😀😛🙄😎🙂😱
jav6454
macrumors Core
Yes, because back then Verizon was known as AT&T. Remember Verizon is a Baby Bell gone rogue.
Geckotek
macrumors G3
What? It was a baby Bell, but it wasn't AT&T. AT&T Wireless already existed and then was snatched up by Cingular.
My point is, these two have been going back and forth for years. And until either Sprint or T-Mobile get their crap together to offer some serious competition, it will continue.
brock2621
macrumors 65816
webbuzz
macrumors 68030
Too bad Vodafone is a GSM provider....
It is more of an investment for Vodafone than anything else. Every year or so, you hear either Verizon or Vodafone making a statement that they are willing to buy the other out.
Had Vodafone not been outbid by SBC, Cingular would have become Vodafone and not AT&T. Then Vodafone would have sold it's stake in Verizon Wireless.
webbuzz
macrumors 68030
Gecko is correct, I will go one step further Gecko. There will be more consolidation in the future among wireless carriers.
TEG
macrumors 604
Too bad VZW's 3G is no where near as fast as HSPA, and just barely faster than EDGE.
webbuzz said:
Slightly incorrect history. AT&T Wireless (formerly McCaw Cellular) was the item up for bid. SBC/Bell South started Cingular, and outbid for AT&T Wireless. Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Vodafone and Verizon, Verizon being a merger of GTE and Bell Atlantic. Funny thing is that Verizon Wireless had been Airtouch Cellular (formerly USWest Cellular, later Vodafone USA) and a couple of smaller cellular companies. Oh, and Sprint (PCS), used to be a division of GTE, like how the current at&t, Inc. bought out AT&T Corp., and made it a subsidiary.
TEG
Last edited:
Jett0516
macrumors 65816
say the whiners do go and at&t network is still clogged. who do you blame??
I highly doubt current at&t customers will jump therefore the network will still be clogged.
ReallyBigFeet
macrumors 68030
I may jump, I don't really care if the hardware is equivalent to what I have today on AT&T. But that's because I already have a family plan set up over on Verizon and the move to a total pool of shared minutes is equivalent to my ETF on AT&T, plus I'll easily make back my money on my iPhone 4 purchase price. So for me, its a net gain.
I don't really understand the speed comparisons. I've been using a Verizon Mobile Broadband for years now and EVDO is equivalent to my AT&T 3G speeds everywhere I've used it. I'm sure for some couch surfers who never leave their living rooms, they may have an optimized location on one carrier or the other. But if you are mobile, both carriers have their weak signal areas and frankly, AT&T has far more of these than does Verizon.
Still, I'm amused by all the "Go to Verizon you farkin' traitorous bastitch iceholes" posts. Its so obvious which posters view owning an iPhone as somehow part of their self-esteem; they are just upset that their exclusive club is now being shared with the unwashed masses.
God help us all if it turns out that the iPhone V (TM) contains some small widget or improvement over the iPhone 4; watch their fragile worlds asplode when they realize the "other half" has something they don't. 😀
I don't really understand the speed comparisons. I've been using a Verizon Mobile Broadband for years now and EVDO is equivalent to my AT&T 3G speeds everywhere I've used it. I'm sure for some couch surfers who never leave their living rooms, they may have an optimized location on one carrier or the other. But if you are mobile, both carriers have their weak signal areas and frankly, AT&T has far more of these than does Verizon.
Still, I'm amused by all the "Go to Verizon you farkin' traitorous bastitch iceholes" posts. Its so obvious which posters view owning an iPhone as somehow part of their self-esteem; they are just upset that their exclusive club is now being shared with the unwashed masses.
God help us all if it turns out that the iPhone V (TM) contains some small widget or improvement over the iPhone 4; watch their fragile worlds asplode when they realize the "other half" has something they don't. 😀
I can't believe you are discounting the Gizmodo evidence like it's nothing. Gizmodo even contacted Verizon regarding why they were not invited and they were told "no comment". Even a person without an ounce of logic would be able to deduce that this was influenced by Apple. As far as I'm aware, Gizmodo has never been rejected by Verizon or any other tech company.
As for whether it might be an event to highlight Android devices, I don't know whether you've been living under a rock for the past week, but there was an event called CES where everything about Android and LTE was announced. Why in the world would Verizon hold an event two days later in a city on the opposite side of the country from CES, to announce prices? If I was a journalist who had to make the trip, I sure will be pissed come Tuesday if I had to travel all the way across the country just to hear some prices for previously announced phones.
I hope all of this makes AT&T lower there unlimited plan... I'm tired of payin $135 a month for unlimited... If I can get lower at verizon, I'm gone..... That's the only way...no other reason for me😀
